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Tom & Betty’s

Tom and Betty’s

was once a favorite place for a weekend dinner and entertainment with LB.

 

The restaurant was in business for nearly fifty years when due to circumstances that were seemingly beyond their control, the owners Duane and Valerie Atkinson announced that Tom and Betty’s would be closing their current location.  The owners described Tom and Betty’s as “a local gathering place, offering great food and drink to generations of ‘Westsiders.’” (source)

I am among those Westsiders who remember the first Tom and Betty’s Restaurant at Park Street and Cassat Avenue.  The restaurant was then owned by Tom and Betty Fritsch who opened in 1971.  The location at Park and Cassat was destroyed in a fire in 1988 and then relocated to 4409 Roosevelt Blvd.  The Roosevelt Blvd. location closed in May 2017.

I thought I mentioned it in this blog last May but apparently I did not.

Last Friday

Tom and Betty’s new location opened in Orange Park.  LB was eager to check out the new place which is exactly what we did on Saturday night.  There was quite mass of former patrons standing outside as there was an hour wait to be seated plus additional waiting time to place an order.  The menu was limited, but those items were excellent choices.

The dining area was a bit small/crowded.

 The dance floor was also a bit small… and well lit.  I like the dance floor to be dark, so I’m not quite as visible to the public (smile).  Many other people have no fear of the spotlight as they graced the dance floor.

The band (the TOP SHELF Band) was energetic and entertaining.

I enjoyed seeing the signature automobile memorabilia including the back of a red corvette with its tail lights lit and the vintage Tom and Betty’s logo on the tag.

I can’t say enough good things about the

Wait Staff

The young ladies that waited on us were exceptionally attentive and courteous.

The chicken wings were superb.

It seems to me that the popularity of the restaurant was underestimated.  After the initial kinks are worked out, I’m sure this place will be a favorite once again.

It’s Chili in Here!

Here is a good question for trivia lovers: In 1977, what state designated chili con carne as their official dish?

Stay tuned.

According to The National Calendar Day website, every day is a special day, and you are invited to

“Join us as we #CelebrateEveryDay!”

As with every fourth Thursday in February

today is

National Chili Day

It’s also National Margarita Day, but we won’t talk about that.

 

Most chili recipes include such ingredients as beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce, jalapenos, chili powder, red pepper flakes, black pepper, salt, garlic powder and sometimes corn

 

 

However, my cave girl recipe is SIMPLE. And plain.  And occasionally lacking in flavor.  To compensate I have often over-seasoned my chili and brought LB to tears (and a runny nose).

Today LB and I are celebrating National Chili Day at home with my recipe for turkey chili from the cave girl diet I often follow: Cavewomen Don’t Get Fat: The Paleo Chic Diet by Esther Blum.

This is dinner on day 2 of that diet:

“Turkey chili: In large skillet, brown 1 pound ground turkey in 1 tablespoon coconut oil. Add 32-ounce jar organic tomato sauce. Simmer 30 minutes and remove from heat. Stir in spinach leaves from 1 bunch, cover, and let steam for 2 minutes and serve hot. Serves 4.”

Excerpt From: Esther Blum. “Cavewomen Don’t Get Fat.”

Of course I’m going to add onion, cumin, cayenne pepper, minced garlic, and a little salt.

This particular photo is an example of how LB enjoys my cave girl chili… complete with shredded cheddar, crushed corn chips, and sour cream.  And no spinach.And who wouldn’t enjoy chili this way?

 

The National Day Calendar suggests the following recipes on to observe NATIONAL CHILI DAY

Enjoy the following recipes:

Three-Bean Vegetarian Chili
Chili-Corn Chip Pie
Spicy Slow-Cooked Chili
Spicy Chicken Chili Stew
Biscuit Bowl Chili

Then take a picture and use #NationalChiliDay to post on social media.

 

 

 

What state designated chili con carne as their official dish?

Texas

 

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

 

Friday Favorites featuring Hobby Lobby

Being the self proclaimed awesome blogger that I am, it is my duty to share a Friday Favorites post at least twice a month.  I’m already behind.

Favorite # ONE

There is a new Hobby Lobby at the St. Johns Town Center!

Last weekend we were shopping for fabric to cover a cornice board (which is a post for another day). We decided to check out the new location and loved it!

It was so tidy, organized, and filled with all sorts of fun items…

Favorite # TWO

 Mexican Restaurants!

In addition to Hobby Lobby, we also checked out the new restaurant “Chuy’s” at the St. John’s Town Center this weekend.

It is a cute place. 

The acoustics in the building make for a very loud dining experience.  When we discovered that the bar area is not quite as loud, we decided that it would be the best place to sit if we decided to go back. 

I can’t say that this is my favorite Mexican Restaurant, but Mexican restaurants in general are my favorite!And leftovers are always great!

Favorite # THREE

This outfit that I wore last Saturday.

Unlike a blogger that has it all together, all I can say is my top is from Shein.com and my denim is from Venus.com.  My handbag was a gift from my sweet girls Stephanie and Amanda.

Favorite # FOUR

Kohl’s for a quick shopping trip during lunch.  (Sometimes you just need to get away from the office even if only to accumulate steps on your FitBit).  Today I stepped away to visit the Kohl’s that is minutes away from my office.  I tried on jeans and my pictures are horrible.  But it is still the best getaway place EVER!

Favorite # FIVE

At the end of a long week I have enough energy to get myself home and that is about it.

When my son and his family are close by I don’t always catch up with them, but I always catch the notifications and posts he and Emily share.

This picture of little Lydia (My GlamBaby) was shared to reveal the coming of her sibling and My 2nd GlamBaby.

This little picture is genius!  I Love It!

Weekend Whirlwind

We had such a good time at the Hall & Oates concert last Thursday that I wrote a post about it and published it on Friday. LB was sitting close by as I played through the different YouTube videos that I shared in that post. He was happy that I was enjoying myself and was formulating a plan for a weekend whirlwind trip.  In addition, he decided he would surprise me again by purchasing tickets to a second concert to see my favorite duo…

Saturday Night!

In Charleston, South Carolina.

So we headed out Saturday afternoon and hit the road. Destination: North Charleston Coliseum, 5001 Coliseum Dr.
Since we arrived early for the concert there was time for dinner at

– you guessed it –

a Mexican Restaurant. Conveniently right across the street from the concert venue.LB enjoyed his chips and salsa!I was just happy to be out of the car.

But I did enjoy the chips and salsa, too.

The concert was great… didn’t make any new friends this time. But I managed to acquire a tee shirt!

The first day of October

began with a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks then a tour of downtown Charleston. It was a beautiful day, unlike the day my fellow Floridians were experiencing.  Each time we checked the security cameras it was raining at our house!  If ever there was a good time to take a whirlwind trip, [even if for no other reason than to follow the sun] it was this weekend!

We walked through Charleston Waterfront Park and back up the street along Rainbow Row towards the Historic Charleston City Market

Where LB was able to collect a few items he found to be interestingYes that is dehydrated okra.  And it is actually pretty good!

Saturday Night Alive

LB is always looking for new and different ways to provide weekend entertainment, especially on Saturday night.  He is also very gracious and will offer several options before making a final date night decision.

Yesterday LB gave me

Four Options:

  1. The Cellar Upstairs at San Sebastian to hear “Ain’t to Proud“.

2. Jerry’s Sports Grille to hear “Spektra“.

3. Whiskey Jax to hear a new band called “Fat Cactus“.

All three are great places.  The bands I’ve heard are great fun.  I haven’t had the opportunity to see Fat Cactus yet, because LB also mentioned that we could go to the never before seen

4. Outerbanks Sports Bar & Grill to hear the very talented “Bluff 5 Band“.

We decided to check out the Outerbanks Sports Bar & Grill.  This little restaurant is in Kingsland, GA and takes about 40 minutes for us to reach via I-95N.  From the outside it looks very nice.  Inside was dimly lit, and my eyesight is waning, so I’m not sure how it is decorated.  There is a LARGE television positioned in front of the “stage” area (thus the “sports bar”).  But the memory that lingers most is the fact that it was filled with smoke.

At the advice of my sweet LB, I try to stay positive in all of my blogging remarks, so I will continue on that path…

This restaurant is perfect!  Lets say you are hungry, in the mood for good music, and in desperate need of a smoke.  Upon entering Outerbanks, if you need a nicotine fix, but have no cigarettes on hand, just step inside.  Problem number three is immediately solved.  LB and I were Not in need of a nicotine fix, but were ready for dinner.

Dinner hit the spot

We split one of these:We each had a taco, 2 jalapeño poppers, and chips with salsa, and, of course, little packets of taco sauce!

About the Bluff 5 Band…  we heard them first during the Shrimp and Grits Festival last year.  Four guys accompanying a lively lead singer.  She’s cute, animated, and extremely talented.They are a GREAT group.

Although we enjoyed the entertainment, we didn’t stay long and made it home safe & sound.

Still breathing!

 

 

Friday Favorites

It’s Happy Time People:  Friday Favorites!

Favorite # ONE

Halo Top

Every day is a reason for Halo Top. #ScoopItUp #ThePerfectPint

sweetened with organic Stevia, Halo Top ICE CREAM is low in calories and high in protein, and my new favorite dessert!

Last Sunday night, LB and I enjoyed a pint of vanilla bean.

This morning on my way to work, I stopped by Winn-Dixie and picked up four pints of Halo Top to celebrate Wendy reaching her first weight loss goal. I chose Pistachio, Black Cherry, Birthday Cake, and Mocha Chocolate Chip.

When I asked Wendy if she had reached the goal she responded with “I didn’t check, I’m going to wait until Tuesday”

So we celebrated anyway…

Like this:

Saturday Night Live snl saturday night live nbc cake GIF

JK

Black Cherry was my favorite

Favorite # TWO

these jeans

Embroidered jeans are a Fall trend and these hit the top of the list of jeans I’ve shopped.  Vera Wang is an awesome designer and I love her work.  Although the pants/jeans in her collections are a bit curvier than I’m accustomed to, these were snug enough to convince me to take with.  I have lopped off the hem and have worn them once.  Yes, they do stretch, and I will wash and dry them to see if they shrink appropriately.  But the jeans are most assuredly cute and I will continue to enjoy them, I’m sure!

Favorite # THREE

my Breakfast Smoothie, which I took notice of when I discovered the Cave Woman Diet last year.  It wasn’t until earlier this year that I started enjoying my own version of that smoothie.Mine contains ½ banana, ½ cup mixed berries, 1 T chia seed, 1 T Stevia, ½ t cinnamon, a handful of spinach, ice and water.  It amounts to about 120 calories.

I enjoy it Every Day!

Favorite # FOUR

Fajitas… because Today is

National Fajitas Day!

so we went out to enjoy Fajitas! This Amigo was there with UShe is MY BABY and going to be a Daddy for the second time.

I adore him.  Always have.

Family is important.  The Most important thing!

Favorite # FIVE

Life as we know it is about to change FOREVER… For ALL of us!  Trust me on this one.

My Glam-baby is going to be a BIG SISTER… just like her Glammy.  I knew we would have a lot in common!

This morning I got a text from LB telling me my Mama wanted to know when I would be home from work today, as she needed a few minutes of my time.  Obviously I was DISTURBED and sent her a message inquiring about her well being.  She’s fine, of course, and just wants me to “meet someone”.

Really?

Lord Have Mercy.

I KNOW she hasn’t adopted a pet or began a new romance.

She wants to be a buffer for the news to come:

GLAMMY, the SEQUEL.She’s excited.  She’s happy.  Her Glammy is too!

We just couldn’t seem to get her to sit still for a picture of the shirt

 

 

 

Jekyll Island

There are so many places to visit in the Southeast and what better way to enjoy the summer than with a weekend trip as near as your own backyard.  This past weekend LB and I had the opportunity to visit Jekyll Island, Georgia. LB and I headed north on Saturday afternoon and reached the island around 5:30. As per usual on the weekends, having skipped lunch, we were ready for dinner.

We enjoyed dinner at

Tortuga Jacks is the land of the beach taco and was our dinner destination of choice.

While enjoying the outdoor seating area, overlooking the ocean

LB and I savored our usual fajitas

and the music of Backbeat BlvdWith the exception of a few bothersome insects buzzing about, the evening was lovely and we had a nice time.“cheese”

Our adventure continued on Sunday afternoon when we visited the new shopping area on Main Street.

Jekyll Island Beach Village

One of the most unique shops we’ve ever come across was the Jekyll Market, a gourmet grocery store. We almost passed it by, thinking it was only a restaurant. The sign says “Eat Drink Shop” and that is exactly why you can spend a couple of hours exploring this store.  In the Jekyll Market, you can find an assortment of things including…

Especially relevant is not the Farmhouse Peachshine, but the Feta Stuffed Olives, .  We love these at my house!

Another shop that we spent time in was Tonya’s

  It is no secret that I love to discover new boutiques.  Tonya’s is part boutique and part gift shop.  In the front of the store there were so many pretty little chachkies and personal items.  Especially intriguing were the Kate Spade accessories

and this cute little plaque

I restrained myself and did Not purchase this for Gina, as I didn’t know if she would like pink.

Once again, we had a lovely weekendStay tuned for our next adventure!

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