During the next sunny morning, we slept in. "Rising to meet the shine", Yvonne took us to Beauty & Feast for Saturday brunch. It is within the Atlantic Hotel on Beach Boulevard.
Within spitting distance of the glorious beach, the restaurant was cavernous, cool, and sleek.
We opted for unlimited Bloody Marys--each with plenty of horseradish, piquant spices, Worcestershire sauce, and freshly-cracked pepper!
We watched their wood-burning oven cook our clam pizza.
Lewis and I ate slow-cooked pulled pork burgers and sage sausages. They had great flavors!
Yvonne lingered by the omelet-making buffet, and Lewis added a side-order of blistered Brussels sprouts.
Then, we burned some calories (and sweated them out), as we counted the quantity of over-browned bodies on the beach. Many of them will have "raisin" skin when they're older.
Yvonne drove us past many gated inlets/islands featuring rows of mansions with both driveways and yacht docks. It must be fun to take your boat to your neighbor's dinner party.
Los Olas Boulevard is a "wannabe quaint" upscale shopping strip, which intersects the beach (like in the Hamptons). Notice the "golf cart" below, driving amongst the traffic. We saw a few of them.
Some of the newest buildings are carefully designed after Central American/Spanish Colonial style. Unfortunately, too many new buildings are huge condominiums resembling Shanghai. Yvonne expressed concern over how the (corrupt) state's resources/infrastructure will support so many huge structures, drawing immense population increases. It's hard to think that they'll fill all the new buildings!
Talking with the proprietor (who was familiar with Astoria's food/coffee culture), I admired his ethics of pure ingredients, creative flavors, hospitality and how he and his partner hand-finished the shop to their own creative specifications.
Advice to gay men--like the flavor above--is tempered with serene wisdom--like below--made out of hand-created metal.
I savored theses flavors: coffee and triple rum raisin. Since they had "dog friendly" flavors, Lewis shared a tasting with Dumpling (above). Once we got back to Yvonne's home, he was eager to help them both burn off the calories (below).
Dumpling is not a rowdy dog. She's the only dog I know who doesn't pull at the leash; you're the one pulling her!
The streets around Yvonne's building were pretty in their own (hot) way. The variety of palm trees was impressive.
Lewis loved his hearty duck breast and leg confit, and I enjoyed lamb shank. We all drank Manhattan cocktails! At nightfall, the crowd swelled, and the place was livelier!
Many physiques that we saw were overstuffed.
A few guys compelled a second glance.
Yvonne drove us past many gated inlets/islands featuring rows of mansions with both driveways and yacht docks. It must be fun to take your boat to your neighbor's dinner party.
Los Olas Boulevard is a "wannabe quaint" upscale shopping strip, which intersects the beach (like in the Hamptons). Notice the "golf cart" below, driving amongst the traffic. We saw a few of them.
Some of the newest buildings are carefully designed after Central American/Spanish Colonial style. Unfortunately, too many new buildings are huge condominiums resembling Shanghai. Yvonne expressed concern over how the (corrupt) state's resources/infrastructure will support so many huge structures, drawing immense population increases. It's hard to think that they'll fill all the new buildings!
Anyone who drives in Florida must be aware of the delays and risks of the huge population of elderly drivers on the roads. Due to America's focus on cars and its lack of reliable public transportation, old retirees are compelled to maneuver their (often oversized) cars... with dexterity. Due to America's focus on cars, its Department of Motor Vehicles seems to allow dangerous drivers to exist.
Back in Wilton Manors, we refreshed at Wilton Creamery.
Talking with the proprietor (who was familiar with Astoria's food/coffee culture), I admired his ethics of pure ingredients, creative flavors, hospitality and how he and his partner hand-finished the shop to their own creative specifications.
Advice to gay men--like the flavor above--is tempered with serene wisdom--like below--made out of hand-created metal.
I savored theses flavors: coffee and triple rum raisin. Since they had "dog friendly" flavors, Lewis shared a tasting with Dumpling (above). Once we got back to Yvonne's home, he was eager to help them both burn off the calories (below).
Dumpling is not a rowdy dog. She's the only dog I know who doesn't pull at the leash; you're the one pulling her!
The streets around Yvonne's building were pretty in their own (hot) way. The variety of palm trees was impressive.
As sunset approached, we enjoyed our reservations at the seaside restaurant, Casablanca Café. It occupies a former oceanfront house. We asked the hostess for a table outside on the porch for al fresco dining. Lewis and I enjoyed watching the sky change colors as the sunset blended to twilight.
Lewis loved his hearty duck breast and leg confit, and I enjoyed lamb shank. We all drank Manhattan cocktails! At nightfall, the crowd swelled, and the place was livelier!
Join us in the finale as we go south to Miami!
These were some really great shots! I can't believe you took them!
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