Weekend Dispatch

Friday, April 28, 2017

When we planned our vacation to Arizona, I specifically left this weekend somewhat blank so we had a chance to catch up and regroup. But as it turns out, it has filled up quickly with both concrete and tentative plans.

On Sunday is the Asbury Restaurant Tour. It's from 12-4 and the cost of $35 (get tickets here). A restaurant tour is a fantastic way to sample dishes from multiple restaurants before committing to eating a full meal at one of them. Most locations offer small bites, food sampling, and cooking demos. The participating restaurants are locations throughout town including the boardwalk, downtown, and Main Street area. Find more info here.

Also on Saturday and Sunday is the first annual Allaire BBQ and Brew Festival at The Historic Village at Allaire located within Allaire State Park. Admission is $5 (beer tickets are additional) and those under 18 are free and festivities run from 11 to 5. Hops and hogs will abound if that's your thing.


The Handmaid's Tale on Hulu is a must-see. I read the book back in the late 1980s while I was in college studying literature. It was a required read, and I've often thought about the book ever since and have considered re-reading it several times. The Handmaid's Tale (by Margaret Atwood) tells the story of of a "handmaid" who lives among other women who are stripped of all their rights and freedoms and are forced into sexual servitude. If you are into dystopian fiction, you'll definitely like this one. If you're not into reading but would rather watch, check it out on Hulu.



On Saturday morning, Emma has a lacrosse game in Manahawkin. The weather should be ideal, warm but cloudy. Since it's not exactly close by (it's at least 40 minutes away), we'll be stopping at Rook Coffee to fuel before we get on the road.


Last week after we landed in Phoenix, we stopped by Starbucks which is conveniently located at the baggage claim area (!). I grabbed a much needed iced latte while Harper had a morning bun. While they're not new, it had been a while since I had a morning bun. One small bite of Harper's, and I knew I wanted to find a copycat recipe to make once we got home. This weekend we'll be making this recipe.
photo via

My latest podcast obsession is S-Town. If you've ever listened to Serial, then you'll love S-Town. The producer is the same for both. If you like murder/mysteries and all the nitty gritty details behind them, S-Town is for you.

So, tell me. What do you have planned this weekend?

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