Kari's weekend continues

Back to our home away from home for our sunset cocktail hour with hummus, pita, olives and carrots.  We quickly freshened up and we were back on the road again going north to the big city.  Our friends who own the condo strongly recommended Catch 31 in the Hilton on the boardwalk.  Talk about chic, cavernous, open space with huge modern lights hanging from the ceiling, circular booths, open kitchen with eating bar, and huge lounge area with bar and flat screen TVs for the March Madness crowd.  Sheri was disappointed with our table.  While it was a window seat, it was in the corner away from the action and she was facing a wall.  We had called several times to let the staff know this was a special occasion so our table was a disappointment at least to Sheri.  The waiter was a little stiff initially rattling off the specials and how to read the menu.  However, by the end of the evening, we made him laugh and he warmed up to us.  Now to what you really care about...the food.  It did not disappoint.  Broiled fresh mahi mahi and rockfish served with savory risotto carbona, moist oyster mushrooms, tasty pancetta, brown butter spinach and chive oil (love the lime green color).  Need we say more....The other entree we shared was perfect fettuccine with sauteed fresh shrimp and chicken in a gorgeous gorgonzola cream sauce, roasted tomatoes, and pepper.  Our taste buds were in heaven. www.catch31.com  Off to see the moon!!!

Back to Aqua Boogie for Mums champagne (Mom and Dad's favorite) and yummy chocolate cupcakes from Pastry Expo in Merrifield.   Kari opened gifts wearing a silver and pink tiara and purple feathered boa.

Day 3

We toasted off the new day with bagels, salmon, cream cheese, fresh fruit, juice and left over cupcakes.  Having picked up Starbuck's the day before, we nuked the coffee and enjoyed hot beverages.  We sadly packed up and loaded the car realizing the weekend went by too fast.  We drove down to the Back Bay Park at the end of Sandbridge and walked among the dunes to the beach.  Very windy and cold, but sunny.  No one else was there so we had the beach all to ourselves.  After an hour of walking, we were in the car heading north to Bubba's Seafood Restaurant & Crab House on Shore Drive. However we got tangled up in another marathon and it took one and a half hours to get to North Beach following detours.  Saw some beautiful neighborhoods though.  Bubba's was on the water and we sat on the covered deck.  Great view watching boats coming into the marina.  Broiled fresh tilapia (catch of the day) and crab cake ("Absolutely the best") sandwiches with fries, lettuce, tomato, onion and ice tea.  Simple but so delightful.  Never ate so much seafood in a short period of time like this weekend. www.bubbasseafoodrestaurant.com

 Stuffed with seafood we headed home the back way via Route 17.  Pretty countryside and nice ride until we got to Fredericksburg.  Both Route 1 and I-95 were backed up so it was a very long ride home, but the memories and chance to be together more than made up for the hassle.  Great sisters.  Great Memories.  Great Restaurants.  Now that is something to talk about.  (It took us a week of diet and exercise to lose our "weekend" weight.  Can't wait for Lori's 50th next year.)