Westside Market

Today, Jamie and I went to the Westside Market to check it out. I had never been before and was curious about it, so since we both had the day off we decided to go walk around. It was definitely more than I expected!



The produce was great! I wasn't really intending to shop, but I ended up buying 2 bunches of broccoli, 2 bunches of asparagus, 2 artichokes, 2 poblano peppers, 8 gala apples, 11 navel oranges, 2 lbs. of red seedless grapes and a bunch of bananas all for $20. Then we went inside to one of the meat counters, where Jamie bought 3 pounds of London Broil for $13. I was surprised at the amount of meats, cheeses, breads & pastries, spices, and I even saw some Mexican and Chinese foods. Definitely going to have to make shopping there a regular thing...



We also ate breakfast at the Westside Market Cafe. I just had the regular breakfast special with eggs over-medium, wheat toast and hash browns. The eggs were perfect though, and that doesn't really happen very often! Jamie had the Benedict Arnold, which was Eggs Benedict with tomato and avocado slices. Everyone was super friendly too. The gentleman next to us heard our discussion about apples and gave us some info, and the service was great. I'm really glad that we got out today and did something! Even if it is a little gloomy looking....

Blue October @ HOB

Finally Blue October took the stage! It's been 2 years almost to the day since we saw them last time (in Dallas for Edgefest '08). They just get better and better. :)


























She's My Ride Home


Say It


Weight of the World


Congratulations


Into The Ocean


Come In Closer


Hate Me


Hate Me

Blue October @ HOB :: Opening Bands

Sunday, after our 6 hour drive back in from Baltimore, we went to House of Blues to see Blue October. This was our fourth time to see them, and this was the best so far. I love House of Blues for concerts, because even if you're in the very back you can still see everything. We had a pretty good spot towards the front though, because we got there a little early and waited in line for the doors to open.

Hurricane Bells was the first band. It appeared to be just one guy, and one at a time he had other people come out and jam with him. By the last song there were members of Scout, Stars of Track and Field, and Blue October all playing songs with him. It was really neat to see all these bands in a jam session together to start the night. Never seen that before...wish I would have taken more video!





The second band was Stars of Track and Field. I love it when I go to a concert and I leave absolutely loving the opening band. This time I left loving Stars of Track and Field. After the concert, they were in the front selling CD's and signing autographs, so I bought two CD's and they signed them both. Adding those to my collection with Anberlin, Faktion and The Vanished.

Vacation :: Videos

Driving to Baltimore - this video was somewhere in Pennsylvania. Big discussion about whether these were mountains or hills. Jamie said mountains, I said hills. Either way, it made for nice scenery on the drive.



We were very happy with the hotel room. It had a little kitchen with a fridge and a microwave. That was good, because I'd brought sandwiches and fruit to eat on the trip. The bed was big and comfortable, which is always the first thing I check when I stay at a hotel. The staff members were friendly and the service was great...except for the crazy shuttle driver who scared the life out of me.



I shot a quick video of our view from the patio at dinner.



After the thunderstorm started, Jamie recorded some people running by and a waiter quickly cleaning off the patio tables. Our table was covered, so we just sat and watched.

Vacation :: Day 2 in Baltimore

Our second day in Baltimore, we both ventured out on our own. I took the car and went to the I Do Brunch, which was the whole reason we came to Baltimore in the first place. My GPS took me in circles around downtown Baltimore for about 20 minutes, and then I finally found my way to the highway. This was a first for me...I had never ventured out on my own in a city I've never been to before! I made it to the brunch, had a fabulous time and had the pleasure of meeting Linnyette Richardson-Hall from Whose Wedding Is It Anyway, one of my favorite shows.







While I was at the brunch, Jamie went walking around downtown Baltimore and the Inner Harbor and took some photos and videos.









Jamie decided that I needed some good walking shoes so we could go exploring when I got back from the brunch. So, while I was gone, he did some shopping and sent me pictures as he went along.... good thing he did, because I think he was going to buy me these plaid shoes until I veto'd them. (He ended up getting me plain black ones).







That afternoon, we went walking around the harbor and took a Water Taxi to Fells Point. We walked around a bit, Jamie had a beer at the Green Turtle, but that place wasn't tickling our fancy, so we went in search of dinner. We came across BOP (Brick Oven Pizza) and decided to try it out. We had seen it in our water taxi brochure, and Guy Fieri had been there with his Diner's, Drive-In's and Dive's show for Food Network. We figured if it was good enough for that, it must be something special. So we waited in the long line, crammed ourselves into a tiny table, and ate two whole pizzas. It was excellent pizza, I'll give them that....but to be honest, I still think Frosty's on Put In Bay is the best...











After dinner and exploring, it was getting dark and windy and chilly, so we took a cab back to the hotel and called it a night.

We didn't have a day 3 in Baltimore really, we got up in the morning and packed up to leave. We did stop for breakfast at Tug's, the restaurant in the hotel. We both had Eggs Benedict with lump crab meat (which they call Chesapeake Benedict). We were on the road by 11am and headed back to Ohio, but I did get a few last photos on the way out of town...

Vacation :: Day 1 in Baltimore

We drove in to Baltimore yesterday, and it only took a little over 6 hours. We made great time! I tried to take some pictures on the road on the way, but it wasn't working out for me. I got a couple, but most of them didn't turn out well.







We made the block three times before we figured out where our hotel was. Luckily, Priceline selected a great place for us, The Tremonts Plaza Hotel. Free valet parking, free internet in your room, and the service has been great so far....except for the shuttle driver who took us to the Inner Harbor for dinner. I was seriously scared for my life. He stopped in the middle of the intersection every time a light turned red, so we were constantly honked at...then he tried to go around another large van and clipped the side mirror....so he had to stop and get out and go speak to the other driver. I was completely stunned. I turned my video camera on to document the last of the ride, but by then all the good stuff was over. Jamie says that's just how people drive in north eastern cities. And I thought Dallas was bad.....







We walked around the Inner Harbor and took a few pictures. There were tons of boats, all shapes and sizes. There's even a pirate ship you can take a cruise on. We might do that tomorrow, if we have time! The USS Constellation is also here.















I shamed Jamie for never using his camera while we're out....our albums have a million pictures of him, and none of me....so he decided to try and sneak a few photos of me. :P





We sat down for dinner at Phillips Seafood. We got a table on the patio and could overlook the water during dinner. I had Lobster Bisque and Salt & Pepper Calamari....Jamie had the Fried Seafood Platter with a Maryland crab cake, shrimp and flounder. While I was looking over the menu, I noticed that 1 crab cake was $13. When the tiny thing arrived on Jamie's plate I was kind of shocked....I guess I expected a little more size for $13! But what do I know about the price of Maryland crab cakes? I tried it and didn't like it. That's a bummer too, because I was so excited to try some authentic Maryland crab cakes. My lobster bisque was great though.









During dinner a thunderstorm rolled in. We were finished eating and just about to leave, but they evacuated the rest of the patio diners who were still eating and moved them into the restaurant. We took cover until it slowed a little, then we grabbed a cab back to the hotel.





The cab driver wasn't much better than the shuttle driver. Jamie says New York is worse, which is another weekend trip I'd like to take.....but I don't know if my heart could handle that. :)