Last week, I had a Mom’s night out and celebrated my good friend Louanna’s 42nd, I mean 24th😉, birthday at Watermark at Pier 15.
It’s an outdoor restaurant right by the water with a killer view.
I chose the messiest foods on the menu 🤣, but it was all yummy. I had corn, steak tacos, and a seafood platter with oysters and lobster.
The restaurant was a vibe, with a DJ and a lively crowd. The best part of the night was randomly catching a drone show celebrating Hip Hop. Second best, some drinks came in pouches!
I will say the only downside is the bathroom situation. There are no restrooms in the restaurant area; you have to leave and use public bathrooms with only a few stalls, or you can use the public porta potties.
Overall, a fun night and I would recommend it for a good time.
The family and I recently had lunch at Mad for Chicken in Astoria. It had a bar feel but was still family-friendly. We ordered the wings and drumsticks combo (soy garlic and honey bbq flavor), japchae, and fries. All yummy!
My family and I randomly came across the new Nuts Factory on 30th Avenue in Astoria. They have an impressive selection of nuts, gummies, and chocolate.
Nuts galore!Yum Yum!
We went a little nuts (pun intended) and got a variety of goodies. I selected strawberry and watermelon gummies and a crunchy corn mix. My husband, Andrew, got a few chocolate pieces, and we got our daughter Maxine banana chips.
I’m incredibly grateful my family has a beach house in Shirley, Long Island. Two weeks ago, my husband had off, so we took advantage. The weather wasn’t great, but we had a great time regardless.
My daughter, Maxine, was obsessed with counting how many mermaids were in one of the rooms.
We took advantage of the time we had outside as much as possible.
Maxine loved walking and running on the grass.💕
My Uncle was nice enough to take us out on his boat. Maxine was not a fan of the boat going fast, but she was all smiles after awhile.
My Uncle and Aunt’s dog Tessa.💕
The beach is about a 10-15 min walk from the house. It was so windy, and no one was around because it was cold. It was extremely peaceful, regardless. Maxine did not care for the beach. I think it was too windy for her.
While we were out east, we enjoyed the Animal Farm Petting Zoo in Manorville.
🥰The chicks were only a day old!
They also had really cool playground areas within the zoo.
We also enjoyed some yummy food from the area. On our first night, we ordered from Fratelli’s Restaurant and Pizza.
Best chicken marsala with linguine I ever had.The linguine with alfredo sauce was also very yummy.
One night, we steamed some clams my Aunt and Uncle caught; they were so tasty!
We also stopped by Varney’s in Brookhaven. They are known for their muscles, which were delicious (the red and white sauces were both good). I also couldn’t resist the lobster roll.
We also got ice cream and shakes at Carla Marlas Ice Cream Parlor and Candy Shoppe in Bellport. So good!
Hopefully, we will be back soon to create more amazing memories.
In Early May, my husband, daughter, and I went to Maryland for a friend’s wedding.
The wedding was on Sunday, so we left New York Saturday afternoon and arrived at night. The first stop before the hotel was Cracker Barrel, and we ordered a feast. Maxine got the scrambled egg and biscuit. Andrew got the country fried steak with green beans and bacon mac and cheese, and I got the chicken fried chicken with broccoli and dumplings. Everything was yummy. Maxine ate all my dumplings, so I wish I had gotten a larger order. I know for next time! We need a Cracker Barrel in NYC.
We stayed at the Homewood Suites by Hilton Frederick. It was a nice hotel near many restaurants and, most importantly, had an indoor pool. Maxine and I took advantage and were the only ones in there.
For lunch, we got food from the Silver Diner. Maxine got silver dollar pancakes, Andrew got a sausage omelet, and I got a shrimp and grits dish. Everything was good.
Then came the wedding! The wedding and reception were at Dulany’s Overlook. The space had a country feel; the main venue was a barn.
Here are some pictures of our night.
Beautiful groundsEnjoying some watermelon and cheeseFam pic!The lovely couple😍👯Maxi was all over the dance floorLine dancing!
Before we headed home on Monday, Andrew wanted to check out a buffet situation, so we ended up at the Golden Corral. This is the first I have heard of this chain; the food was pretty good. I got about three plates worth of food.
😍One of my plates
Overall, it was a great weekend trip, and I want to come back to explore more soon.
The Casual Explorer 