Sunday, February 28, 2010

Annapolis Weekend - Part 1

Geof and went on a mini-getaway to Annapolis, Maryland for a long weekend. Neither of us had been there before and we were looking forward to it. We left on Thursday to get out before another storm hit at home. It only took about two hours to get to the hotel. We checked in, got settled and headed across the way to the Westfield Mall. It was really nice and we ended up having lunch at Red Robin. It was my first time there and I thought my burger was delicious. We did some window shopping and then had a relaxing night at the hotel. I also got to watch the long program for ladies figure skating at the Olympics. I’ve never seen better skating before in my entire life.

Friday, we headed to downtown Annapolis to explore. I got some great suggestions from Nat on where to go and what to see (thanks, Nat!). We started on Main Street and worked our way down to the bay. I couldn’t believe how quaint, charming and clean everything was. It was so cold and windy, but we still made the best of it. The sailboats were beautiful and I can only imagine what the bay looks like in the summertime. I would love to come back once it gets warmer out. For lunch, we went to McGarvey’s Saloon. We ordered crab balls for an appetizer and they were so good. Lots of crab and just the right seasonings. For lunch, I had a bowl of chili and a mug of Bud Light for $5. It was so good and you can’t beat that price. Geof had seafood gumbo and kept saying how tasty it was.


Such a cute little town


Down by the bay


Cute little seagull


Crab balls at McGarvey's


Geof and I at McGarvey's

After lunch, we headed to The Pink Crab (a Lilly Pulitzer store) and it was adorable. I’m more a fan of the accessories than anything else, but it was so fun to look around at everything. One of the ladies that worked there had her dog, Wally in the store and while I shopping he and Geof became good friends. The ladies in this store were as sweet as can be. When I go to the King of Prussia Lilly store, I always feel like an outsider, so this was a good experience. I’m obsessed with scarves and the Murfee is a favorite of mine. I got one in Lilly’s Pink Grandscale Access and also got a plain pink tank top on sale.


The Pink Crab


I love this photo...Geof and Wally

We headed to a few other shops and boutiques. Everyone was so friendly and some people even said “y’all”. I love that and it just makes me want to live in the south. One of our last stops was Nostalgia Cupcakes and this place did not disappoint. The “Pink Lady” cupcake was so good. We walked around some more and then headed back to the hotel for a nap.


Paradigm boutique...I loved this display


Nostalgia Cupcakes


The Pink Lady cupcake


I loved all of the buildings, shops and restaurants


Top of the Maryland State Capital Building

Later, we headed down to Annapolis Towne Centre at Parole. This shopping center is gorgeous and looked brand new. They had a 3-story Target! We went to Anthropologie and looked around and the place I wanted to go, Poppy and Stella was closed. Their tagline is “everything but the clothes” and since I love accessories, this place looked right up my alley. We did go to Brio for dinner and it was tasty (I’ve eaten way too much this weekend thank god our hotel has a gym). We came back to the hotel and relaxed in the hot tub for a bit and then called it a night.

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

What an awesome time!!! I would have played with Wally too :-) The pink cupcake looks soooo good. I love how you post, Jules. You always make me feel like I'm there on the trip/experience as well :-)

Have a great week!

Perpetual Prep said...

Love that area! Looks like y'all had a blast :) You look so pretty, too :) Hope you're having a great rest-of-the-weekend!

Jo said...

Lucky, lucky you! I adore Annapolis and all its sweet shops. My husband is a Naval Acad. grad so we end up there at least once a year for a function or just for fun. The Pink Crab is one of my favorite Lilly stores and you are so right about them being so kind and welcoming. If you have a chance go back when the weather is warm ~ it's even better!

Jo

Melissa said...

Glad you guys had fun on your trip! We went to Red Robin when we were in a suburb of Baltimore this past summer and their mozzarella sticks were amazing! I wish we had Red Robins in CT! :) The Pink Crab store looks adorable!

I found that people in MD were a lot friendlier than they are in CT!

Gina said...

Awesome! I never knew I wanted to go there until now. :)

Ashley said...

Oh, I wish I had known you were coming. My hubs and I live there. :)

Shoshanah said...

The only time I've ever been in Annapolis was for a Navy soccer game. It was pouring rain the whole time, so there wasn't really a lot of sightseeing going on afterwards. Your picture all look great, and its nice to see the sight that I never had a chance to.

KatiePerk said...

What fun!! Hooray!! I get to go up there once a year for work. I love the ladies in the Pink Crab! They are so sweet!

Anonymous said...

I am so glad you enjoyed Annapolis. I have lived here all of my life and ADORE this town! A little tidbit...the photo you have of the downtown harbor...that is nichnamed "Ego Alley" because all of the boaters come through there and whip their huge boats around for everyone to see. :) It is a really small space, so every once in a while a boater gets his ego bruised by bumping into another boat or the sea wall. Glad you hit McGarveys...definitely an institution here.

Brittany Ann said...

Awww! Fun! My brother lives there! I'm going in May to watch him graduate!

Unknown said...

Oh how I love Anapolis! I went about 8 years ago and absolutely fell in love! That pink cupcake is so "you"! =)

MCW said...

Yayee for MD! So glad you had a great time in Annapolis. I love it there...My aunt lives on the Bay about 5 minutes from downtown. We used to hang in Annapolis all the time in college. So fun...

B said...

those places looked so neat! i've always wanted to visit annapolis!

Mrs EyeCanSee said...

That looks like the cutest little town ever! What a fun weekend....love the bag in the first pic! And we love Red Robin, especially the endless fries!

Linda said...

I've been to Annapolis once a long time ago. I thought it was so cute. It looks like you two had a great time.

Lindsey said...

How fun! Those crab balls look delish!

Copyboy said...

nice town!!! gotta go there. BTW...I gave you a well deserved thanks in my post today. http://jesseacohen.blogspot.com/2010/02/lame-blogger-gives-many-thanks-for.html

Gwen said...

What a fabulous trip!!! Those cupcakes look delicious and I'm loving your bag!!! So jealous. :) XOXO

Katie said...

sounds like a nice getaway! I love your scarf!!

Annie said...

that's so awesome you two just packed up and headed out! what a cute town! looks like you guys had so much fun! lots of pink in those pics ;) the food sounds delicious too!

have a great day hun!!

Blair @ Reasonably Swanky said...

OMG...this place looks so cute! I wanna go! And how much do I love Wally? I wish I could bring Bo to work with me!!!
And how precious are you in your black pea coat and LV bag...Looking great Jules!


xo
Blair

Mrs. McB said...

Sounds like a great time!!! All the stores look adorable!

Lexilooo said...

Annapolis is such a neat city! I should go more often than I do, considering it is less than an hour from here!

Suzanne said...

Oh, it looks like fun!

Would love to get down to Maryland, have only driven through.

Kate said...

Looks like such a fun trip! these cupcakes look yummy! And I love the display with the moped!

Nat said...

Yay!! I'm glad you enjoyed Annapolis and I'm sooo glad you went to McGarvey's and Nostalgia- both are musts!!
I love the Pink Crab but I have to limit my shopping trips there or my bank account will hate me! Hopefully next time you come I'll be in MD not PA!

BLC :o said...

Geoff and Wally --- priceless!!!! You should submit to LP immediately!!!! He is such a trooper. Xoxo-BLC

Leeann @ Join the Gossip said...

Looks like an amazing trip!!! I have always wanted to go here, I love New England/East Coast. Being from LA, there is no "real" history here. I love the colonial period and that's why I long to visit the other side of the country =)

Tasha said...

What a fun trip! Thanks for sharing your pics! I want a pink cupcake now. :-)

Miss Sweet Tea said...

I love mini-getaways!!! Wasn't the ladies figure skating amazing?! I was so impressed!

I just hate when the weather doesn't cooperate. But I guess it doesn't really matter what the weather is as long as you are with the one you love! Haha, so corny, but true!

That's so fun that you got to go to an LP store. There is only one in LA and it's fairly small. I love the Murfee scarf - I think its perfect for spring!

Last thing - the cupcake looks delicious! What flavor is Pink Lady, though??!

Kate said...

What a fun getaway! I love Annapolis!

Jill said...

Oh my goodness... what a cute town! I never knew Annapolis was so quaint. The photo of Jeff and the dog is so cute. That store looks amazing!