Taking 2012 by storm!

So far I'm rocking 2012 :) I'm doing well on my resolutions (not biting off more than I can chew but still making progress), doing well at work, and having fun. Today I took a short day trip with Adanna up to Salem and had a blast! I'd originally planned to go to Marblehead and Swampscott as well, but didn't end up having time. It was cold, but it was really nice to get out of the city, to DRIVE, and to walk around a new town! I'll definitely head back there this summer and around Halloween (it's supposed to be EPIC). Here's a look at what we did today:

So we were driving down the road, trying to figure out which way the GPS was telling us to go and all of a sudden Adanna says "hey look!" and I look and there's a street named after me! I've never seen my last name any other place before, so of course we had to stop for a photo op

Wahoo!!! I'm famous!!! And by I, I mean my last name...is...semi-famous...

We found this bookstore with *brand new* books and everything inside was 50% off. I got 5 brand new books for $36. Granted it was a treasure hunt but just look at this place - who wouldn't want to get lost in here for a few hours and surface with a ton of cheap books???

Piled to the ceiling. Don't ask me how you would get to a book on the bottom...no clue.

And still more....

Oh, you know, just reading :)

One of the books I bought - "Blink" (about making snap decisions)

It never ends....

Oh hey! It's Adanna! :)

Hahahaha I couldn't get over this tote - I wanted to get it but couldn't justify spending $17 on a bag like this.

So one of the big draws to coming to Salem was The Lobster Shanty. A coworker of mine recommended it and it was featured on one of my favorite shows, Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives (video clip can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myEDgNCvk4A).

They weren't really kidding about the service...

We made it!

Trying to jump...and failing miserably to catch it on film.

Oh who's that walking up behind me?

It's Radekal! (Radek lives nearby and met up with us for lunch.)

The inside is really quirky...a cute little pub by the sea. I was dead set on getting the grilled half lobster tail on cheesy bacon grits but....today was the last day they were open before closing for the season (re-opening in April) and they were out of a ton of stuff. Including said lobster tail on grits. After being wildly disappointed, we decided to look elsewhere.

We checked out a couple of other spots but eventually landed on Scratch Kitchen (thank goodness for Yelp reviews and smartphones with maps). We were pleasantly surprised to get lunch and a show! And - oh goody - it was bluegrass, my fave (not). I had no idea they played banjos this side of the Mason-Dixon.

The label was too cute. Raspberry lime ricky yes please!

So I got something that to the outsider would seem pretty average - a grilled cheese. But when you make it with a ton of Vermont cheddar cheese on house-made white bread with bacon onion jam and pickled jalepenos, it turns into a thing of pure culinary bliss :)

We passed this adorable shop called Pamplemousse (French for grapefruit) and it was a specialty cooking shop. I loved this window display and when I get my own place I will have dishes that have peacock print on them!

Only in Salem can you get designer witches hats :)

Ended the day with a jumbo-sized red velvet cupcake from Kickass Cupcakes. They only make red velvet on Saturdays and I was lucky enough to get there just as they restocked the tray and got the only jumbo cupcake - success!

Today was a blast and I can't wait for it to get warmer and to take more of these day trips around New England!