Annapolis and Chick and Ruth's Delly

We hit the road on a Sunday morning to visit nearby Annapolis, Maryland. It was my first trip and I was excited to see Maryland's waterfront capital city and to check out another Man v. Food restaurant. It was a gorgeous Fall day with brightly colored leaves as far as the eye could see. We brought our bikes so that we could get some exercise and maximize the ground covered during this short trip.

No visit to Annapolis would be complete without a stop in the Maryland State House. It is "the oldest state capitol still in continuous legislative use and is the only state house to have ever served as the nation's capitol." The State House is also famous as the place that George Washington came to resign his post as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army in 1783. Tours are free and all you need is a photo I.D. to enter the building.

Across the street from the State House is a memorial to Maryland native Thurgood Marshall. The benches surrounding the memorial provide a nice place to sit, relax, and reflect.

Another must-see Annapolis attraction is the United States Naval Academy. The waterfront campus is a beautiful place for a walk, with many interesting buildings and memorials to explore. The chapel steps provide a raised vantage point overlooking the activity in the Yard.

Located in the center of campus is the Tecumseh statue which is painted by the Midshipmen for special events. On our visit, it was painted in a "Where the Wild Things Are" theme for Homecoming Weekend.

It wouldn't be a Two DC roadtrip without a stop at a special restaurant. This time, we went to the scene of Adam Richman's Man v. Food challenge: Chick and Ruth's Delly. While Adam Richman completed the Colossal Challenge (6 lbs. milkshake and 1.5 lbs. Colossal Sandwich), we opted for a tamer meal.

The Delly has been serving up good food in large portions since 1965. It's bustling and colorful, and has an overwhelmingly large menu selection. The tables are packed in so you get to know your dining neighbors.

We started with milkshakes (peanut butter moose tracks for me and cherry vanilla for B) and found that the small size was plenty. It would be fun to come back with a group and try the 6 lb shake served in the comically large glass.

The onion rings were crispy and my burger was juicy. I ordered the smallest burger (1/3 lb) and it was still a ton of food! Chick and Ruth's is not the place to go if you're counting calories. But everyone loves a splurge, and this is a fun place to do so.

The star of the meal was B's deli sandwich. He ordered pastrami and roast beef with provolone on wheat bread. Though it appears to be a simple sandwich, he couldn't stop raving about the tender deli meat that was packed full of flavor. We'd drive back to Annapolis just for this sandwich.

I'm eager to return to Annapolis to check out some of its waterfront attractions and sample some famous Maryland seafood. We just might have to pay a visit to Chick and Ruth's to see if their milkshakes and sandwiches are still up to par...

Second Thoughts From B

I love roadtrips. I love quaint towns. I love historical landmarks. And I love sandwiches. Need I say more? Probably not, but I will anyway.

This was my second time to Annapolis (the first time was with my dad a couple of years ago) and I still think it is a perfect destination for a day trip. Having it less than an hour's drive from DC is something we need to take advantage of more often if this pleasant October day was any indication. J mentioned the fall colors briefly but let me reiterate what a wonderfully fascinating occurrence this is for us. I only wish I was able to capture the brilliance better in my photography. And while I'm on this topic, let me mention The Foliage Network which is a website that tracks and maps the progression of color every fall. For people planning trips, this is a great resource.

As for that sandwich... wow. I do love a good sandwich but plain ol' deli meat sounds pretty boring, right? High quality is usually guaranteed but seldom, if ever, is it something that makes you groan, roll your eyes back, and celebrate each bite with a fist pump. I don't know what their secret is but that is the exact reaction this sandwich generated in me and it will forever raise the bar for what a simple sandwich can be...

Michael Jackson's This Is It

Normally J and I wouldn't blog about a movie. It just doesn't seem blog-worthy. Even if movies are something that the two of us do together (less often than we'd like), movies aren't unique to DC like a restaurant, a tourist attraction, a hike, or a play. But Michael Jackson's "This Is It" was different. I'm not talking about plastic surgery or naming your kid Blanket different. I'm saying that the movie experience was different.

Michael Jackson occupies such an odd place in our culture. I can think of no other person who causes people to react similarly. Let me explain. Like many other public figures who reached iconic status, Michael Jackson is a hero to many people around the world. On the other hand, he has also been implicated on several occasions with an indefensible wrong. In Michael's case, he's the extreme of both ends... the King of Pop accused of child molestation. However, unlike any comparable situation that I can think of, fans seem to be able to separate the two sides of this tragic person and personality.

Think of others who have made a dramatic fall from grace. OJ Simpson - star NFL running back who most people believe is guilty of double homicide. Bill Clinton - President and adulterer/liar. Manny Ramirez - gifted baseball slugger and steroid user. In each case you can easily find people who will adamantly defend these heroes. Fans of OJ are convinced he didn't do it and was framed, while supporters of Clinton or Manny will debate the seriousness of their indiscretions. These two paths appear to be the norm. Either denial or rationalization is required to justify our adulation.

However, as I said, Michael Jackson is different. While some people would argue that he is innocent (at least according to the law), even these fans would agree that what he did was inappropriate, at best. Still more of us would believe that he was guilty of far more than poor judgment. Regardless, I am amazed that no matter where you land on this spectrum, no denial or rationalization is required to enjoy him as an entertainer. It is this separation of emotion that I find so interesting.

But enough philosophy... J and I grew up with Michael's music. I lived through the huge events that coincided with his music video debuts and specifically can remember where I was when I first saw Thriller. My mother also, at least musically, grew up with Michael through the Jackson 5, and consequently, Motown was the soundtrack of my childhood. Contrasted against all those warm and fuzzy feelings is the absolute horror of child abuse in any form. I don't understand how I can continue to sing along to his music or buy tickets to his movie without feeling the pangs of guilt that I'm supporting his highly-questionable lifestyle... but clearly, I'm not alone.

Seeing "This Is It" puts you behind the scenes of Michael's final days as he prepares for his most recent concert. It is not sappy or preachy, but it does show Michael and his creative team at its best. This allows you to focus solely on his genius as an artist, which was clearly still strong at age 50. For 2 hours, you are brought behind the scenes while accompanied by a greatest hits soundtrack that will be recognizable to anyone. Besides a great sing-along, you'll see stunning new visuals that were being prepared for the show, as well as dance moves that remind you of MJ's influence. As far as this experience that I spoke about? Don't expect to sit in a quiet theatre. In our case, some came to be entertained (and sing), some came to celebrate his life (and cry), and some came to show their appreciation (and miscellaneous Michael Jackson paraphernalia, including a sparkling glove). As we left the theatre, the energy and conversation was identical to what I would imagine would come following the concert itself. Pure amazement and idolatry. Count me among those in awe of this man. Is it hypocritical to condemn his actions yet support him by seeing his movie? Perhaps. Or perhaps Michael is just different.

J Says

I'm in the same camp with B when it comes to feeling conflicted about MJ. I adore his music and dance moves but, after working with abused children while in law school, have a really hard time supporting anyone who is an alleged abuser. Despite my mixed feelings, I really enjoyed "This Is It."

I was swaying along with the beat for the entire two hours. Every time I thought I heard my "favorite" MJ song, he would bust out another classic that made me smile. The movie brought me back to the times when my sister and I would break dance on the living room floor to the Thriller album.

As B noted, even at age 50, the man knew how to move. He is incredible to watch and a pleasure to listen to. Go with a good sense of humor as there might be a lot of chatting and singing along by the other theater-goers. I can't count the number of times that the lady in front of us screamed, "I love you Michael!"

Horace & Dickie's

We're loyal Man v. Food viewers so we were really excited to see that Adam Richman was coming to D.C.! It was Mr. Richman that led us to a residential neighborhood in Northeast (that is fond of electric blue paint) to sample the fried fish sandwich at Horace & Dickie's Seafood.

There was a long line out the door of this tiny carryout restaurant at 3 p.m. on a rainy Saturday afternoon. After we waited for about 15 minutes, a man came out and announced that anyone who wanted 1 or 2 sandwiches could form a separate line. We jumped in that line and were inside in about 10 minutes. After squeezing in the door, we were greeted by Big Mama herself. She was busily packaging up fish sandwiches, but was happy to flash a huge smile when B called her a T.V. star from her appearance on Man v. Food.

The fish sandwiches are served with 4 or 6 pieces of fried fish on top of Weber's wheat bread (did you know Weber's made wheat?). The 6 piece sandwich comes with 8 slices of bread and could feed a small family. Since we were in the "express line" we were given two 4 piece sandwiches.

They normally come topped with coleslaw, but they had run out on this busy day. Instead, I slathered our sandwiches in hot sauce (bottles available on the counter) before we headed home to enjoy them in front of the T.V. We also added a little bit of the tartar sauce that was provided in our to-go bag.


You're probably wondering if the sandwich is worth the trek to Northeast and the lengthy line. I would say that the experience is definitely worth it. The sandwich (sans coleslaw), though fun to try, was nothing amazing. I think the lack of coleslaw left it a bit too dry for my taste. The fish was crispy and the hot sauce added a flavor kick, but it needed the creamy crunch of the coleslaw to moisten things up a bit. I hope to make a return trip to see how the sandwich fares when it is fully dressed.

Second Thoughts from B

In my younger days I would have taken Adam Richman's lust for culinary gluttony as a challenge to prove my manhood (and considerable appetite). The more mature and sophisticated me (I say this with more than a touch of sarcasm) finds the food challenges comical and rather disturbing. Still, Adam's enthusiasm for hole-in-the-wall "pig out joints" is always entertaining and he's yet to steer us wrong.

First, a disclaimer: I've never been to a place that features someone named "Big Mama" that I didn't like. However, without the coleslaw, Horace & Dickie's certainly competed for our adoration with one arm tied behind its back. One bite of the sandwich instantly cried out for something creamy and crunchy. However, not all was lost. Even without a signature ingredient, I enjoyed this odd concoction. In some ways it tasted like what I'd call an "urban fish taco." And if you know me, you know that anything that reminds me of fish tacos is good in my book.

Butler's Orchard Pumpkin Patch

Happy November to you! We hope you had a nice Halloween and are enjoying the extra hour of sleep that the "end of daylight savings time fairy" brought today. If you're feeling festive for Fall, take a trip out to Butler's Orchard to pick your own pumpkin to decorate your Thanksgiving table, take a hayride, shop at the farm market for seasonal goodies, or pick your own produce (more on that here).

Last weekend we headed out to Butler's to pick our Halloween pumpkins. If you're looking for a peaceful walk in the pumpkin patch, I don't suggest the Sunday afternoon before Halloween. It was packed! There were pumpkin pickers everywhere, but Butler's handled the crowds well with plenty of parking. Even the long line to purchase pumpkins went quickly.

We had a great time wandering the field looking for pumpkins and soaking up the scene. There were babies dressed as pumpkins, kids scrambling to find the perfect gourd, and parents trying to capture the whole thing on camera. The selection was a bit picked over because it was so close to Halloween, but that was just fine for me because I love the odd, "special" looking pumpkins. I highly recommend Butler's during any season for a refreshing taste of the outdoors.

Second Thoughts From B

Have we mentioned we're from Southern California? Oh yes, all the time... Anyway, fall colors and accessibility to farms are not things we're used to. A trip to Butler's provides just that. You certainly could find a similar selection of pumpkins at equal, if not better, prices at your local grocery store ($0.59/lb). And to be honest, our pumpkins, while cool to look at, were duds. They grew mold before we had time to carve them just 5 days later. But even so, it was the experience that makes this trip.

It is difficult to adequately describe the wholesome and simple pleasure of wandering a field with young families searching for the perfect (or in J's case, least perfect) gourd. The soft afternoon light and squeals of little kids seemed to perfectly frame the moment and bring me back to a simpler time. That's why we go to Butler's. Sure the produce is great but it is the ability escape the city, if only for a moment, and make life slow down. It is like our own little time warp located just a few miles away. So in the spirit of Halloween, "Let's do the time warp, again!!!"