CBMWG 2.0

[Bob23]

Oh boy...choices. Do I attend the CBMWG or go get in trouble with Susan's girlfriends. BAM!! Ouch!! Careful Linda. Someone could get hurt with that ax!
I hope Lesa and Becky show up...and I'll work on the Admiral. Usually all it takes is to mention there are antique shops nearby.

[K3v1n]

A final decision will be made today!

At a quick glance we vote for Willaby's, looking at the menu they seem to have more 'Normal Food'. Merrior seems heavy on seafood and we don't eat Oysters.

PS. Unless you guys have more insight on Merrior's menu than I can glean online, it looks like an awesome location. We might be swayed...who has the better beer selection? 

[Bob23]

Kev: I believe both Pedro and Rick have been to both.

[K3v1n]

IT'S OFFICIAL!
Lesa and I are coming down. We have reservations at The Chesapeake Inn in Urbanna!

[Mas]

Ok as far as the bait of antiques for Linda, uh.....we are all antiques as are most of our boats! She will be surrounded by antiques. 

Regarding the menus, in particular Merrior: They are a tasting room/restaurant for the Rappahannock Oyster folks so they are heavy into the oysters. The setting is quite nice and the food top notch. Good beer and wine selection. Only grilled no fried food. Willabys is more of a traditional kinda place where most of the seafood is fried but tasty. We clearly go for the seafood at either since we don't live down there. We end up at Merrior mostly if for no other reason we stare at it from our boat so uber convenient and know the staff pretty well now. You aren't going to go wrong with either so we will go with the consensus opinion. They are both close to each other on either side of the Rappahannock 'Rivah' bridge. Maybe Pedro will weigh in. If folks come for the weekend we could hit the restaurant not picked the day before to visit for lunch on Sunday before we drive back.

So Kev lets get you guys to work on Linda, I am NOT going to be the one who has to keep Bob out of trouble. Gunna have enough work keeping Susan out of trouble, well maybe me too!  Cant wait to hear about your new boat. Know Pedro gave you a little guided tour last time you and Bob were down for CBMWG so since down for the weekend you guys should plan to go to the Deltaville Maritime Museum, a great place to visit. We are going on Sunday or possibly after the CBMWG if others wish. We also will be visiting Interlude to check on her while down.

[Mas]

oh...forgot to weigh in on beer selection. Willabys has more taps with over two dozen, however Merrior has many taps (maybe a dozen?) as well and always a good variety of craft beers. Probably the better wine selection of the two but again either is good. The setting at Merrior is pretty spectacular especially with the oyster docks and equipment there to tour. Willabys is also a cool place on the water. We are going for the company, and as mentioned the venues are both nice and we are good with either. Weigh in everyone!

So Tim, you gunna reach out to Citroen Dave? We need to get him out this time. Also don't forget all the bottles of rum for us from your trip to lower latitudes!

[K3v1n]

Okay we change our vote to Merrior! We also do plan to take in the sights some before we head home on Sunday.

[peterg]

Okay, I've got to weigh in on this quandary over where to eat, drink, and be merry, having sampled every place around here that pretends to serve edible food. Willaby's has a good view and great indoor seating accommodations for a group such as ours......however, they close at 3:00 PM on Saturdays. They serve reasonably good normal food- burgers and such, in quantities that might fill a hard working sailors belly. Merroir has seating on the porch for groups and outdoor seating for when the weather allows. They have great Blueberry soda from Maine. They have a good view out into the Rappahannockk, and there are no flies in the winter. They pride themselves on being a "tasting room" complete with "presentation". As my neighbor critiqued....."tasted great, but I spent ninety bucks and had to stop at Burger King on the way home". I've had several tasty tastings- clam roll, angels on horseback, and lamb 'n' clam- all yummy. No sides. Their burgers are excellent. They are open 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM. There is a third possibility in Urbanna......a place called Something Different, that has a really good Cuban and all sorts of tasty fare, as well as a selection of crafty beers. It is a comfortable venue for our group, but lacks a view, though Bob did seem somewhat entranced by the "view" of our waitress! They are open 10-9.
Another possibility is the Indian Creek Yacht and Country Club, which sounds snootier than it is- our car club is having its annual luncheon there tomorrow. Recently had lunch at the Tides Inn, and the view, service, food, and value were excellent. This place always makes me feel like I've been time-machined to a more genteel time period.
And there are antique shops- there is one in Kilmarnock that you will get lost in!! Hint, hint Linda!!

[K3v1n]

Oh Boy....Well I leave it up to you guys to decide. We are coming even if it's Burger King!

[Bob23]

  Choices, choices. I'm glad that Kev and admiral Lesa are attending. Someone should video this epic gathering otherwise no one will believe the stories!
  As far as where, I have no personal knowledge of any of these places although Pedro alleges that I had a view of the waitress! Oh...that place. And that waitress!!! Yes, we could go there!!! Where did we have the first one, where I was unjustly accused of finishing all the beer? I wonder if we invited Rich and Gerry if they could write this whole thing off as a business expense? But what fool would be silly enough to leave sunny Clearwater for chilly NJ?
  I'm game wherever the general populace chooses.
Bob23
 

[Mas]

I will defer to Pedro for the knowledge of the Indian Creek yacht club. don't know a thing about it except the website indicates something about membership. Thought about the Tides Inn and dining room as well but they are now closed for the season effective about a week ago. Eaten at Something Different and the food is indeed good, just not on the water. Merrior is a wonderful place, great view, uber tasty food but Pedro is correct in that you can spend a bunch and leave hungry if not careful. Just like a French restaurant!

As far as Willabys closing at 3 that shouldn't be a problem if we are having lunch, which is what we did last time (we met at 11:30). If we are there same time as last year's rendezvous  three and half hours should give us plenty of time to get in trouble, heck they will throw us out before they close. It does mean an early morning depart for folks coming from warm and balmy NJ. They also are open for dinner from 5-9 I'm kinda thinking that Willabys may be the best overall bet for price, on water, good beer selection, filling. We just have to decide lunch or dinner. We have a three hour trip so lunch is quite doable. It is same distance as last year for us but a bit longer for points North. Could push back meeting time till 12-12:30 which is still plenty of time for gathering.

We love Merrior but as Pedro said can be pricey. They are not as filling cuz not fried and no big sides of hush puppies and such. folks can always go there next day if spending the night. We probably will cuz Susan will insist! I practice saying "yes dear" it seems to work well. 

Will call ya Pedro to learn more about the yacht club, don't forget this is the Compac YACHT Owners Association! There are many antique shops around, but i am trying to keep Susan out of them. Oh well if it gets Linda here i guess I will just close my eyes and acquiesce. We are still good with most anywhere but would love to have it on the water since we don't live on any and have great restaurants here, not on the water!

[Bob23]

Rick: I need to get some pointers on how to keep the wife out of an antique shop. I swear she can smell them 10 miles away! We do go to some together...cheaper than marriage counseling and way cheaper than a divorce attorney. On a serious note, I doubt she will attend but I have a plan...
Bob23 Bwooohahahahaha!

[peterg]

Will check out ICYCC tomorrow at car club luncheon. I think that the restaurant is open to non-members. I am okay with Willabys or Merroirs- hell, I like rags and stinks!!  I'll report back tomorrow.

[Mas]

Rick: I need to get some pointers on how to keep the wife out of an antique shop. I swear she can smell them 10 miles away! We do go to some together...cheaper than marriage counseling and way cheaper than a divorce attorney. On a serious note, I doubt she will attend but I have a plan...
Bob23 Bwooohahahahaha!

Well my friend let me tell you how i do it as i sit in my antique chair, with feet up on the antique stool, having arisen from a nap in the antique bed.........I don't. Your right it is cheaper than either marriage counseling or a divorce. The good news is our home, our cottage, our barn are filled so no more room!!!!!

Guess you could just throw her in the trunk and let her out at an antique store where we will grab her and whisk her away to the gathering. Or maybe not even mention the gathering and say you are taking her down to an antique store......after a gathering, spending the night, enough friends around to keep her on her toes till sleep takes hold and then go by on the way home next day. I will tell Susan about the plan, though it may cost. Oh, finally take a small vehicle, can only fit so much stuff! Pedro and Becky may have a plan as well.

[Mas]

While we wait for Pedro's assessment of the Indian Creek Yacht club, I thought we would give an idea as to typical costs for both Willabys at lunch and Merrior any time. If you assume a couple draft beers, an appetizer at either and a main course (Willabys) and two or three selections per person from Merrior (no sides) including tax and 20% tip you will drop $80ish at Willabys for 2 and $120ish at Merrior for 2. You can clearly spend less or more at either but if you budget the above you will not be surprised.

Susan and I watch our spending and always have, which is why we are able to get a boat(s). With that said, the Charlottesville area, where we call home, has an incredible selection of great restaurants and when we do eat out we watch what we order unless it is a special occasion. Little bits add up. When we travel for special events and occasions we still are mindful of our budget but are also mindful that we do not do this often and thus are more inclined to let the situation dictate the choices and not a daily budget. It seems a shame to travel to new locations and not experience something special. If we lived there, the factors in choosing would be more like what we do here. If it were me, i would look at the reviews, the menus at both and select based on that rather than just cost. As said earlier, you will not be disappointed in either. Hope this helps frame a decision better.

T minus 26 and counting!