Fresh From Market
Organic markets at the beach are as rare as crab cakes in Wyoming. So it’s not surprising that Susan and David Ryan’s Good Earth Market has attracted a loyal following since the day it opened. The cute cedar-shake shop, which sits on the couple’s nine-acre farm just 10 minutes from Bethany Beach, offers packaged goods, produce and dairy items — 80 percent of which are certified organic, either grown on their farm or brought in from a grower in nearby Greenwood, Del. The shop even includes a gluten-free section for those allergic to wheat, and a “demonstration garden,” where visitors can see for themselves just how things are grown. “We encourage them to stroll in the garden,” says Susan Ryan. “We want them to have that experience, that connection.” . —K.H.E.
Ciao Bella
“One of my customers calls it ‘estrogen heaven,’” says Janice Elder of her feminine boutique, Bella Luna. “I didn’t mean for it to be so girly, but the guys’ stuff got pushed back and back.” What you’ll find here are items for a girl’s “home, body and soul” as the store’s tag line goes. Think delicate touches for the beach house — laundry and bed linen scents in lavender, passion fruit-scented candles, retro art prints — but also great evening bags and pocketbooks, including fantastically colorful designs made from vintage material by Severna Park native Michelle Cooley. Several counters full of reasonably priced jewelry also tempt browsers of the fairer gender. “It looks like the jewelry they have at Nordstrom for $130, but here it’s $30,” says Elder. Sounds like heaven to us. 127 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach, 302-227-0267, http://www.bellalunatic.com. —J.S.
Go Blue
Sleeping in downtown Lewes just got a little more sophisticated with the opening of Hotel Blue, the brand new “adult” boutique hostelry on the beach side of the canal. The coastal Victorian boasts 16 suites, all with balconies, and sleek designs including curved walls and contemporary colors. Summer views from the rooftop pool, with a fireside grotto for cool nights, might only be bested by the fireplaces in each room — perfect for even winter romantic getaways. Lewes, 302-645-4880, http://www.hotelblue.info. —K.H.E.
Cottage Industry
“Shabby chic meets French country meets the beach,” is how Shelly Kennedy describes The Cottage, her home accessories boutique. The tiny space on Lewes’ main drag is lined with toile touches, Lollia bath foams, aromatic linen bags, scented soaps and candles and Oprah-endorsed Elizabeth W sachets and hand lotions. We especially like the funky throw pillows constructed from ‘40s and ‘50s tea towels by a local artist. 142 2nd St., Lewes, 302-644-1544. —J.S.
Plein Talk
The Preservation Forge building in Lewes just got a new tenant. Above the blacksmith shop lies a small, ultra cozy art studio, compete with potbelly stove and exposed rafters that’s now the studio of plein air painter Denise Dumont.
Last year the former illustrator, and graduate of Parsons School of Design, traded a corporate post on Wall Street to paint full time. “The plein air bug bit me really hard,” she says. Dumont’s landscapes and seascapes, many images of local spots, as well as of Montana, Maine and Europe, are awash in earthy tones and moody skies. Her work, which also includes portraits and still-lifes, is for sale in her studio and ranges from $500 to $1,500. Her work is also found at Bishop’s Stock Gallery in Snow Hill (410-632-3555). By appointment only. Preservation Forge Building, 114 W. Third St., 2nd floor, Lewes, 302-245-6258, http://www.denisedumont.com. —K.B.
Go Fish
You’ll find Fish On! in an unfortunately hideous barracks-like building in the Villages of Five Points Town Center, a booming residential-retail development near the intersection of Coastal Highway and Savannah Road. Despite its less-than-picturesque setting, Fish On! has been receiving rave reviews for what’s going inside the space since its opening last spring. Its handsome “industrial beach” interior — exposed pipes, gray concrete floor and fishing poles cleverly sprouting in pots of sand like some sort of new beach plant — makes up for its lackluster exterior. Seafood naturally plays the starring role here: Choose from a Lewes seafood stew, jumbo shrimp with chorizo sausage and spicy grits, or the steamed fish of the day, prepared simply with olive oil and sea salt. Patio dining is also available, but be warned: You’ll get a whiff of asphalt with your mahi-mahi. Lewes, 302-645-9790, http://www.fishon.bz —J.S.
All Jazzed Up
Don’t let the old-fashioned white-clapboard-sided exterior fool you. What’s going inside Rehoboth’s 59 Lake compares to any glitzy Manhattan hot spot. Local designer Bryant Hastie has transformed the once sedate Third Edition restaurant site into a chic and sexy supper club. Bold reds, oranges and yellows adorn the walls while red-shaded lamps dangle above the bar — which will assuredly evolve into one of the summer’s most happening scenes. Live jazz music — and dancing! — ups the fun factor on weekends and a piano player sets the mood on other nights of the week. Unfortunately, the pricey fusion cuisine, which wanders from red snapper with tomato and saffron oil to rack of lamb and goat cheese fondue, was as bland as sand on our first visit — admittedly just a week after the restaurant’s opening. Here’s hoping Scottish-born chef Ross Fraser can equal Hastie’s handsome design. Open daily for breakfast and dinner. 59 Lake Ave., Rehoboth Beach, 302-226-5900, http://www.59lake.com. —J.S.
Good To Go
Sure, Rehoboth Beach has a wealth of ice cream shops and pizza joints, but there aren’t a lot of options when it comes to healthy “fast food” on or near the boardwalk. Thanks to Beach Pack Wraps, beachgoers can now grab a healthier lunch to go, like the barbecue or teriyaki chicken wrap or the veggie lovers wrap (loaded with spring mixed greens, portobello mushrooms and sprouts in a raspberry vinaigrette) in wheat or plain tortillas. Figure-minded condiments include cucumber sauce, mango chutney, avocado and hummus, while not-so-healthy choices include the Philly cheese steak wrap and grilled Reuben wrap. Kids in tow? Opt for the peanut butter and jelly — and since Beach Pack Wraps shares space with a TCBY, they’ll appreciate the stop all the more. 160 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach, 302-226-7801. —K.B.
Burn Baby, Burn!
Don’t wait until you get back home to hit the gym. Now you can hit the Body Shop, likely one of the only workout spots in the Mid-Atlantic where you can make tracks on the treadmill while watching the waves crash on the beach. Owners Roseann and Pat McGeehin’s boutique-sized gym is replete with loads of equipment as well as a massage therapist, tanning bed and four certified personal trainers, who are ready to make you burn — and we’re not talking about UV rays. Day rate, $12; weekly, $40; seasonal (5/16-9/7), $169. One-hour session with a personal trainer, $50. Boardwalk & Virginia Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, 302-226-0920, http://www.rehoboth.com/bodyshop. —K.B.
Yee Ha!
Surfer girls will dig the beach babe emporium, Saltwater Cowgirl, owned by three twenty-something Rehoboth natives, all mad about surfing culture —and clothes. Here you’ll find sassy minis, short-shorts, layered T’s, baby doll tops and cropped pants from labels such BCBG Girl, Junk Food and LeTigre. For the die-hard she-wave riders, the store also stocks Crossland and Lost surfboards as well as wet suits. Non-surfer girls will enjoy their assortment of beaded jewelry, woven and beaded belts, sequined clutches, vintage picture frames and bath products from Side Saddle, whose Dance Hall body wash label reminds shoppers, “A gal’s gotta do what a gal’s gotta do.” 146 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach, 302-227-1917. —K.B.
French Toasts
Nage gets our vote for best new restaurant at the beach. Open since last spring, the French bistro already has a devoted clientele who stop by regularly for chef Kevin Reading’s baked oysters, seared pork tenderloin with butternut squash crepe, and seafood stew swimming in a lobster-saffron broth. A three-course pre-fixe dinner ($28) spelled out nightly on a blackboard might be the best deal of the house. The attractive space — also designed by Bryant Hastie, the creative mastermind behind 59 Lake — strikes the right balance between sophistication and comfort: a row of booths surrounds the square space and small bar, and diners can watch Chef Reading do his thing through the open kitchen. Open daily for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. 19730 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth, 302-226-2037, http://www.nage.bz. —J.S.
Links by the Bay
The Delaware developer of Sea Colony and Village at Bear Trap has done it again. Bayside, a new golf/water resort community near Fenwick Island, consists of more than 1,500 homesites, from townhouses to grand estates overlooking the golf course on Assawoman Bay. The Jack Nicklaus-designed links, which open this August, feature water on each of the 18 holes, with wetlands and unique “pot bunkering” reminiscent of the great Scottish courses. (A nine-hole mini-course is also included in a special teaching area.) Visit livebayside.com. —K.H.E.
Massage with a View
Smart folks. Carolyn and Paul Novakoski (she’s a massage practitioner formerly with Rehoboth’s Bellmoor Hotel and Spa) found a niche in Bethany Beach by opening the town’s only spa, Oceanova, the Spa at Ocean View. Now massage-junkies and wax-a-holics can get their bodies polished, peeled and pampered without having to make the half-hour drive north or south.
In eight treatment rooms, the full-service spa offers 12 types of massage ($40-$110), 11 body treatments ($75-$95), 16 varieties of facials using top-of-the-line Yonka products ($20-$120), hydrotherapy ($30-$75) and manicures and pedicures ($25-$60). Rainy day at the beach? Book a half-day spa package, like the Lady’s Spa Retreat, with massage, facial and anti-cellulite sea salt treatment. What to do with the other half of your day? Go shopping, of course. Lunch provided with packages with 48 hours notice. 17 Atlantic Ave., Suite 1, Ocean View, 302-537-2313, http://www.oceanovaspa.com. —K.B.
More Beach News
img src="http://www.baltimorestyle.com/images/travel/beach_circa.jpg" width=200 height=301 border=0 align="left" alt="">North Bethany’s Red Fin Seafood Grill is being revamped by the folks who operate Lewes’ Fish On! Look for them to keep a similar menu, but operate under a new name — Blue Coast. Also look for the ever-expanding restaurant operation to debut a “New England-style” seafood restaurant, NorthEast Seafood Kitchen, in Ocean View. — The venerable Rose and Crown on Second Street in Lewes has been sold and will open with a new fishy theme, Jerry’s Seafood. — Another Lewes favorite, Striper Bites, has nearly doubled in size— Savannah Café offers “casual fine dining” — sandwiches, salads and seafood and meat entrees — in the Villages of Five Points Town Center. It also has a convenient storefront carryout. — Antique dealers Bill McGee and John Roman have moved their antiques and decorative accessories business, Circa Home, to 142 Second St. in Lewes. — Down the street, Cotton Company, a new boutique, is the place to stock up on women’s casual wear. ... In Rehoboth, Finbar opens adjacent to Dogfish Brewery on Rehoboth Avenue, and Fins (no relation), another seafood outpost, opens down the block. — The funky Purple Parrot Grill has moved to a new space at 134 Rehoboth Ave. Look for the same over-the-top island décor. — Fenwick Island’s Nantucket’s has undergone a total renovation, adding a cathedral ceiling, lobster red walls, a tap room and flat-screen TVs that play old movies. — And at Indian River Inlet’s Hook ‘Em & Cook ‘Em, anglers can buy bait and fishing gear, and then have staff members fillet and steam their catch on the spot. —J.S.
