Visit the Conch House, Mon

The weather is absolutely beautiful here. Mid-seventies, a generous breeze, and clear skies that make even the worst photographer look like a pro.
But it's never enough, is it?

So yesterday we went to our favorite slice of the Caribbean, the Conch House. We haven't been there for a couple of months, and I was excited to go again.

If you haven't been to the Conch House, you should know about some of the things that make it special: they have a ton of tiki's all over the place (they're worth walking around to look at--I took some photos but I can't remember which camera they are on, so as soon as I do, I'll post them), they are right on the water, the temperature there is about 25 degrees cooler than anywhere else (so take a sweater, even if you're sweating when you begin your trip there), and they have these really cool tiki huts up on piers where you can eat (and sway a little in the breeze).

When we got there yesterday, there was a tiki hut available (probably because the wind was a little whippy...and other less hardy souls decided to eat inside, or on the ground floor). We hopped on up there, and enjoyed the view and the breeze.

It definitely feels like the Caribbean. There's the rustle of the palapa's dried roofing material, the reggae music in the background, and the easy laid back attitude of the young and good-looking staff.

I started the meal with one of my favorites--the Minorcan conch chowder. It's a tomato-based stew, filled with potatoes and conch, and enough red pepper to leave a pleasant burn in your mouth afterwards. For my main course, I had the blackened mahi tacos, which were excellent. They had a little cabbage, and a tangy sauce that reminded me of doctored thousand island dressing (which downplayed the blackened part pretty well).

Mike got the Anastasia key lime shrimp, which comes with pasta. I snagged one of the big crustaceans off his plate, and it tasted very good.

Other members of our group got the cheesesteak (which came with batter-dipped fries, or "lumpy fries" as my FIL likes to call them), the fried oysters (which were big and sweet, according to Grandma), and the fish of the day (which was wahoo). We all were happy with our meals.

Unfortunately, we were too full to get the key lime pie, which I got last time we were there. I'm very fussy about key lime, and this one was a tart variety--which I prefer to the really sweet variety (although I could have done with a little more sweet on this particular version).

But it's okay...we can come back to the Caribbean again soon. It's just a short drive across the bridge; no passport required.

Guest Profile: Haven and Tony

You know how your mother always told you to be nice to the other kids?

She was right. Because you never know when you might marry one of them.

That's what happened to Haven B. and Antonio R.

Here's the story: when Tony was born, he had cataracts. That meant he had to wear thick, thick glasses--even in the first grade. Tony said the other kids used to tease him, but not his cute classmate Haven. She was always nice to him. He never forgot that.

In ninth grade, Tony finally worked up the nerve to tell Haven that he had a crush on her. Haven doesn't even remember it: she said "I was just a typical ninth grade girl...I probably didn't know what was going on!"

Somehow, in the last few years, Tony either honed his message and made it more clear, or Haven figured out how to tell if a boy liked her.

They got married yesterday, on our second floor deck.

After the ceremony, Tony pulled out a large gift bag and asked Haven to open it. Inside, there was a framed photo of their first grade class, circa 1989!! Tony, that romantic leading man, went to the storage locker at his old school, and rummaged around until he found the old photo. He said the lady at the school didn't really want to let him do it, but he kept calling and bugging her.

We saw the picture yesterday, and there was Tony, on the far left, with his glasses on. Next to him, there was another little boy, and next to him, there was Haven. We're guessing he tried to stand next to "his girl", but that was as close as he got.

He doesn't have to worry now...the two will be side-by-side in all of their pictures from now on.

Congratulations to the happy couple--and best wishes from everyone here!!!

Top o' the Mornin to You, Lads and Lassies

So, the other night I was enjoying a hamburger and the amazing french fries at Meehan's on Matanzas, and I was thinking about how I might like beer more if it were green.

Of course, I'd also like it better if it tasted more like a whiskey sour and less like a beer, but that's another story entirely.

It's easy to think about beer when you're at Meehan's, as it's a true Irish pub, complete with lots of laughter, people who seem to have known each other forever, and a tall Irishman who checks in on his patrons periodically. Oh, and some of the staff (I'm talking to you Reggie) have the strongest Irish accents you'll hear this side of Dublin (I'm convinced Reggie is actually from the Bronx, and I keep trying to get him to break character, but so far he's been good. Very good).

Anyway, Meehan's is the perfect place to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day. I'd suggest you get there early...they will probably be packed.

For the past week, they've been sponsoring the Romanza Festival, which is a celebration of everything Irish. You can read more here: http://romanzafl.org/romanza-staugustine-celtic-festival.php.

What's happened during this weeklong festival? There's been a cluster of people around the end of St. George all week (which is where the main stage is). There have been musicians, artists, writers and poets all over the place. They came from around the world, including Ireland (duh), the United States, and the Celtic region of Spain (what? You didn't know there was such a thing? Shame on you...it's the home of St. Augustine's founder).

Anyway, it's all coming to a head tomorrow...when they say the party will be gigantic. There is music planned all day (see the complete list of events here).
And I'm not sure...but I'm guessing there will be plenty of green beer as well.

In Like a Lion

After five long years, the venerable lions are back at the base of the Bridge of Lions. I've been told that they're protecting Anastasia Island (apparently from low-lifes like us in the historic district). Even if they're there to discourage me from crossing the bridge, I think they're absolutely beautiful. It's good to have them back!!

Sacking Saint Augustine

Today is a good day to hit the sack.

We're not talking about taking a nap (although that is always an appealing option!), but rather the "Sack of St. Augustine: Captain Robert Searle's Raid of 1668."

In 1668, Captain Searle (and by "captain", we mean "viscious pirate leader") sailed from Jamaica to Saint Augustine, with his eyes set on a stash of royal silver ingots here in Saint Augustine. Once he got here, the "sack" began. It wasn't pretty.

It's a lot less dangerous in the re-enactment, which takes place today at the Fountain of Youth Archeological Park on Magnolia Drive. There's food and fun there, as well as lots of 17th-century arms (unarmed, we're assuming). We plan on checking out the food later today, hoping that there's deep-fried fried snickers, or something similar. The event opens at 10 am, which is a little early for fried snack bars, but we'll see how we feel by then.

But the fun doesn't stop there.

Tonight at 4:00, the Raiders will proceed to the Plaza de la Constitucion. Then at 5:00, they plan on attacking the militia of Saint Augustine (faithfully enacted by the Historic Florida Militia), as well as the ancient city's citizens, chasing them (us) down St. George Street. We figure it will be a good way to work off that fried Snickers.

You can find more information at http://www.searlesbucs.com/.

George Washington Would Eat at the Bistro de Leon

President's Day weekend is almost here, and we just got an awesome deal to pass on to our guests.

Bistro de Leon, one of the best restaurants in town, is offering our guests a free kir chardonnais from February 17 through the 20th. If you're interested, just stop in the office and we'll print a coupon for you. The coupon is only good this upcoming weekend, so celebrate the holiday the George Washington way--with a wonderful Frenchman (if you care more about food than history, I'm referring to Washington's bud the Marquis de Lafayette).

Jean Stephan and Valerie Poinard (two of our favorite French) have brought a little bit of their country to 12 Cathedral Street in Saint Augustine (about 3 blocks from our inn, so if you have really really cute shoes you want to wear to dinner, you can probably do it without too much pain). Jean Stephan is a fifth-generation chef, and his dna shows up in every meal, from the complementary amuse buche (last time I went, it was an amazing little spoon of soup) to the French pastries that greet you from behind glass as you walk into the door.

Don't plan on running into the Bistro for a quick bite. In fact, the menu itself extolls the virtues of slow food (it warns in a pleasantly broken English "as everything is home made "a la Minute" be aware that Chef Jean and sous chef Florian need some time at least 25 to 30 minutes to prepare and cook your entree, so order an appetizer waiting for it"). I have to agree--get an appetizer. I recommend their goat cheese salad...the smooth cheese is baked in honey and datil pepper sauce, and its combination of cool and hot and smooth and fiery is an awesome way to start the night.

For an entree, I love the Chicken Tajine, a breast of chicken slow cooked in candied lemons and Moroccan spices. It's complex and warm...a perfectly cozy little dish.

I usually don't have the gumption to get dessert, but as I said, the pastries will beckon you from the case (that's them, pictured above). I've been known to ask for one in a to-go box.

No matter what you ultimately eat, make sure you come downstairs and get your coupon for a free drink. And then get out there and celebrate...George Washington would want you to.

Guest Profile: Lovebirds Angela and Robert

You know how they say it's never to late for a new beginning?

Well, Angela and Robert Prescott of Georgia know it. They're guests who just got married at the BMH. Besides being very nice people, they also have a very cool love story. (Attention Hollywood: this would be a great flick!)

Angela and Robert grew up in the same rural neighborhood. In fact, Robert was the first boy that Angela ever kissed (he was a very smooth 15-year-old she said, to her sweet and innocent 13). They were what Robert calls "school bus sweethearts."

And then Angela disappeared. She didn't move, but her parents pulled her out of the public school and shipped her off to a private one. (Having met Robert, who is so friendly and sweet, we're sure it wasn't because of him. He is literally the type of person that parents would love--quick to laugh, very considerate, and very handsome. Come to think of it, he's probably exactly the kind of boy that parents don't want their 13-year-old daughters to meet. So never mind!)

Angela's parents were strict, and Angela didn't get a chance to hang out with all of the boys and girls from her old school.

"I used to drive past his driveway for years," she said, "and look in there and think, Oh, that's where he lives!" She sounds a little like a smitten teenager even as she says it now.

So, time passed. Their lives went on. They met other people. They divorced other people.

But they didn't forget those school bus kisses.

And then a little thing called Facebook hit the scene.

"I kept looking for her, and looking for her," says Robert, laughing. "But she didn't use her maiden name online, so I couldn't find her!" Then, Angela's brother opened an account, and Robert asked him what had happened to Angela.

In a few days, they were Facebook friends. They talked, caught up on old times, scrutinized each other's picture, and finally decided to meet up again.

The rest, as they say, is history. They got married last Friday--on 2/11/2011.

"She could run, but she couldn't hide," says Robert, laughing again.

But who would want to hide from such a sweet man? Not Angela, for sure, who looked beautiful and happy during the wedding, and earlier today when they checked out. Robert bought her a Bayfront Marin House robe and some coffee mugs to remember their special day. They shared kisses in the dining room before they said goodbye.

"It won't be goodbye for long!" promised Angela. "We'll see you before our first anniversary!"

We hope you do, Mr. and Mrs. Prescott! And, in the interim, be sure to stay in touch on Facebook!!!