There is a certain initial aggression that permeates the air here in Israel. I'm not certain whether that is because of the harsh syllables of a language I cannot decipher (the raspy Hebrew "hat" and "raish" sounds that come from the back of one's throat), or the centuries of war and bloodshed that were fought over these lands, or the fact that it's mandatory for every Israeli to do military service for three years of their youth, that gives this country the impression of being "playfully aggressive".
Travel Escape Part 4: 50 Shades of Delray #31-40
31. Try the Lobster Pad Thai at House of Siam (25 NE 2nd Ave # 116 Delray Beach, FL 33444, (561) 330-9191, houseofsiam.info). This little Thai place in Pineapple Grove serves up a mean and really pretty Lobster Pad Thai. Their ingredients are fresh - they grow their herbs fresh in planters right outside their restaurant.
32. Grab some yummy fish, deep fried Thai-style, and oh, some sushi too, at Ziree (401 W Atlantic Ave Delray Beach, FL 33444, (561) 276-6549, zireethai.com). A local man who spent his formative years in Thailand took me here with his wife. They say this is the town’s best Thai restaurant. It just so happens to serve Japanese food as well. So you can get your fill of spicy Thai food along with sake and sushi. It is a little bit away from Atlantic Avenue, but this place is worth the drive.
33. Invest in art at DeBilzan Art Gallery (38 E Atlantic Ave Delray Beach, FL 33444, (561) 266-2090, williamdebilzan.net) William DeBilzan’s striking art comes in several forms – the static kind for hanging on walls and such or the mobile kind like on bags and luggage, perfect for a traveler like myself – I love the latter.
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34. Check out the wine and food pairings at the Delray Wine and Seafood Festival (dbwineandseafood.com). If you’re in town in November, get drunk at this festival and get an all you can drink pass – be warned the food is cash only do bring loads of cash if you don’t want to get drunk fast like I did and pass out at 7pm on Day 1.
35. Check out the Garlic Fest (dbgarlicfest.com) in February for the best of the best of everything garlic and amazing musical acts! A video of me trying their famous crab cake that literally draws crowds is coming soon!
36. Listen to local musicians jam out at Kevro’s Art Bar (166 SE 2nd Ave Delray Beach, FL 33444, (561) 278-9675, kevroart.com). This art bar is a bit off the strip. It’s a funky find that feels like you’re hanging out in someone’s garage. Peppered with pool tables, pinball machines and hula hoops, and a huge open space to hang out under the Florida sky, it’s a great spot to meet locals.
37. Catch a show at the Arts Garage (180 NE 1st St Delray Beach, FL 33444, (561) 450-6357, artsgarage.org). A musical act or a play, My friend Anna Haas played a show at the Arts Garage and I also saw a girl that I went to NYU with Lauren Gundersen was having a play reading there. Delray is rich is supporting the arts.
38. Sake and sushi at Yama (200 NE 2nd Avenue # 110 Delray Beach, FL 33444, (561) 266-9929, yamafreshsushi.com). Located in the Pineapple Grove Arts District, this tiny unassuming sushi joint serves up some great sushi. Sit at the bar and get to know the sushi chef and maybe he’ll even make you your own sushi roll! He made one for me, the Patricia roll: eel, salmon, avocado, and brown rice.
39. Grab an Irish coffee at Park Tavern (32 SE 2nd Ave Delray Beach, FL 33444, (561) 265-5093, parktaverndelray.com) and watch the game. Doesn’t matter which game – football (American or European), this tavern is one pretty cool spot. I met up with local John Butler here – pretty awesome guy who runs Delray’s ATP tennis tournaments – and we shot the shit over multiple Irish coffees and beers.
40. Get your coffee with cinnamon at Caffe Martier (411 E Atlantic Ave Delray Beach, FL 33483, (561) 450-6169, caffemartierdelray.com) Uber-friendly local fitness-trainer schooled up me on how cinnamon is a healthy sugar substitute that does wonders for your sex drive. Thank you, Stan Frydrych!
50 Shades of Delray #1-10 #11-20 #21-30 #31-40 #41-50
