My Epic Weekend In Pictures: Some Delicious Food And Family Fun

This can definitely be considered as an Epic Summer Weekend in Northwest New Jersey. The fun all started Friday night at Moonshine Tiki Bar on Campus at Minerals Sports Club. I had Awesome Girlfriend Megan with me this weekend, so that made me happy. We had many laughs with our besties Jasen, Brendan, Carrie, and a few more usual suspects. Their draft beer taps were out of order, so I had a couple Tito's Vodka and Seltzers instead. Ah well, better for the waist line anyway. We enjoyed a gorgeous August summer sunset. Even though it was still technically July, it felt and looked like August already. It kinda felt like a Fall weekend this weekend, right? While Meg wasn't happy with the weather, I was psyched to not have it be 95 degrees with severe thunderstorms. This has just been one of those summers where everytime there's been a chance of thunderstorms we have been nailed with them, right? Friday was a fun, chill night poolside at Tiki Bar. Totally just what the doctor ordered. Then we went to besties Jasen and Brendan's place for a night cap to round out our evening. Just one of those fun summer nights on Campus in the condos at Great Gorge Village where you feel like anything can happen. After the stressful charity bike event on Campus last week, I think we all needed a nice, relaxing night. While I support that this bike charity does wonderful things helping many people, I just wish that the organizers cared more about everyone's safety. It was definitely dangerous at times driving home on Campus when folks wouldn't even look up from the ground and walk in front of your moving car, several times. Sorry, rant over about Campus life, LOL.

Saturday morning Meg and I slept in a little to rest up for our busy weekend. I made a quick Dunkin Donuts run, and Meg stayed on my deck trying to warm up and soak up whatever sunshine she could get. I also watered my sunflower, which is beating the odds and somehow still growing despite me being its caretaker. I water it every other day. When my Mom and Sister Zannie visited last month they wanted to move it. It was a classic family battle immediately when I chirped back at them "wait, your sunflowers did NOT grow, yet mine is despite me having it and you want to move it on me?" They looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders and kept it where I have it. I think it's over three feet tall now!

Saturday we were starting our travels. We first went for a quick Perpetual IPA beer at The Irish Cottage Inn in Franklin. We knew we had at least an hour plus of driving ahead of us so why not. Meg's Awesome Family was having a going away party for future bro in law Kevin and his wife Maureen's daughter Morgan. She is going to Texas A&M for Veterinarian school. You can understand how near and dear that is to my heart, being the Pet Of The Week guy. We are all so very proud of her.

While game planning for this, I mapped it out with Meg. The party was in Glen Gardner, New Jersey, approximately 20 minutes past Meg in Hackettstown. Meg agreed with me that it would be easier for us to stay in Hackettstown Saturday night. Then for added value, I could get pickles to bring back to some of my friends. Yes, pickles. More on that in a bit.

We had a wonderful time with Meg's family. Due to my work life and timing, location, etc I don't get to see them as often as I would like. They're all amazing people. They took me in from day one like a stray puppy. It's almost like I'm their Pet Of The Week.

There was delicious food and beverages all along the way. When I'm with Meg's brother Kevin at family parties, we love to give each other a good craft beer to try. I brought Jersey brewed Magnify Vine Shine IPA, and then he had me try the beer I pictured from Vermont. They were both fantastic, I'll admit the Vermont one was even better. The Vine Shine IPA is one of those I call "just about right." One of those that's not too much of anything, not too hoppy, not too strong, just about right. Then when Meg's brother Rick and his wife Mel showed up, I knew I hit a home run. They also enjoy an occasional craft beer.

I was grinning ear to ear when Kev asked Meg "did you bring me a present too?" Meg said no. Then he looks past her and says "Oh but it looks like Steve did!"

We had such a great time with Meg's family. I think we got home just before midnight. I played with a sparkler at one point, because alcohol and pyro go together like peanut butter and jelly as we know. LOL.

Sunday morning I woke up starving. This was a good thing. Between my allergies and that pesky recent sinus infection, I haven't always had much of an appetite lately. I started looking up local Hackettstown restaurants. Everything didn't open until Noon, and at 10 I was starving. Meg than looked up Marley's Gotham Grill in Hackettstown. They opened at 11:30 now! YES! During Covid restrictions, most restaurants / sports bars / pubs didn't open before Noon. Many still don't. Marley's Gotham Grill is our go to wing place for sure. They have over 250 different sauces for their wings. Want a peanut butter and jelly flavored wing? Mac and Cheese? Dorito flavored? You name it, they have it. Me? I'm a classic hot wing diehard lover. I usually do their Nuclear Wings, but I can't take on the hot spice like I used to before the pandemic. I went with Hot BBQ wings and they were fantastic.

Then, we successfully ventured over next door to Kilhaney's Pickle Store. This is a store in Hackettstown that sells just pickles and hot sauce. Have you ever heard of that working? I haven't! That's how good Kyle and his team are. Whenever I go to Hackettstown I'm quite popular with my pickles when I return to Sussex County. (Yes I'm aware of how awkward that likely sounds.) Their full sour pickles has always been my go to that I pass around and share with my friends. Well now I have also expanded to their Spicy Garlic pickles. I bought one for myself, and also acquired one for my friend Artie and one for my friend Marky. They were both psyched. The Spicy Garlic pickles have a good kick to them. So good that last time, Artie saved the jar and did pickled eggs with them. They were also fantastic.

I then took Meg and the kids out for ice cream at Tranquility Farms. I was stuff from my wings, but I wasn't planning on getting ice cream for myself anyway. I just wanted to surprise Meg with her favorite Vanilla Ice Cream with Peanut Butter swirl. Meg and the kids were all happy with their ice cream choices at Tranquility. I was psyched to go there. It's one of those places on 517 in Allamuchy that I've driven by so many times on my way to and from Meg's in Hackettstown but never went. I'm glad I did.

I was having fun sharing my pickles with my friends after the ice cream adventure. I love watching my Bar Rescue marathons on Paramount Network. It's one of my favorite ways to unwind on a Sunday night. I was tired out from all the fun we had this weekend and was in bed by 8pm. Tonight will also be an early night. I need a weekend from my weekend! Great times with wonderful friends. A terrific Jersey summer weekend. Than