Mr. Hatfield's Neighborhood: Pentagon City, Virginia

My All-Time Favorite Places To Dine:

  • Buzz's Original Steak House (Kailua/Lanikai, Hawaii) (The greatest steak house in the WORLD. You will especially love the smell of the warm ocean air while you dine. No credit cards accepted!)
  • Captain Parker's Pub (West Yarmouth, Massachusetts) (A Cape Cod icon, this restaurant serves the GREATEST clam chowder on the face of the earth - no exceptions!)
  • Ivar's Salmon House (Seattle, Washington) (I love salmon. I can eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Ivar's prepared a salmon steak for me many years ago that, I swear to God, I still savor today! Heaven!)
  • Clyde Cooper's Barbeque (Raleigh, North Carolina) (This is authentic North Carolina style barbeque at its very best! The restaurant itself isn't much to look at, but after your first taste of barbeque you will think that you were dining in dreamland!)
  • Brown's Seabrook Lobster Pound (Seabrook, New Hampshire) (An old lobster shanty to die for, and no better place in America to spread out and crack lobster claws! I couldn't help notice that the Seabrook nuclear power plant was not far away. Perhaps that's why the lobsters seemed so big, so juicy, and so red! Doah!)

  • Honorable Mention: Fat Canary (Williamsburg, Virginia) (I used to hate black eyed peas, but when this casual but elegant little restaurant carefully placed a pork tenderloin onto a bed of Hoppin' John, years of cursing the little bean came to a stunning end! Eat here!)
  • Honorable Mention: Harry Caray's Restaurant (Chicago, Illinois) (One expects to find a lot of great steak houses in Chicago, but I was surprised to find that Harry Caray's is about the best there is in Chicagoland.)
  • Honorable Mention: Unknown Manhattan Chinatown Restaurant (New York City, New York) (When I was a young college student at Georgetown University, I was once invited to visit a high school friend attending Barnard College in New York City. She took me to a wonderful restaurant in Chinatown that served me the greatest Chinese meal I have ever eaten! Sadly, the name of the restaurant has been lost to both her and me due to the lengthy passage of time (see here), so instead I honor the whole extraordinary dining experience by saying: I Love New York...well, at least I love its Manhattan Chinatown restaurants!)
  • Honorable Mention: Original Joe's (San Jose, California) (A busy place that serves a fine veal parmigiana!)

    • My Favorite Local Eateries:

  • Ray's The Steaks (Arlington, Virginia) (Better steaks than Morton's or Ruth's Chris! Reservations are not accepted anymore, so you need to get there especially early!)
  • Hard Times Cafe (Arlington, Virginia) (Be sure to try the Texas Chili-Mac, Cadillac Style!)
  • Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Company (Arlington, Virginia) (They're back! They serve the greatest pork ribs in the Washington, D.C. area! The Arlington restaurant closed in 2006, but reopened in late 2007 at a new location.)
  • Cafe Pizzaiolo (Arlington, Virginia) (I've grown to love their New York style pizza pie, which is baked in a stone hearth oven. A very pleasant place to relax on a lazy Saturday.)

  • Honorable Mention: RT's Restaurant (Alexandria, Virginia) (Cajun cooking abounds in Virginia! Try the "Death By Gumbo" meal served with shrimp, oysters, lump crab, crawfish tails, and Andouille sausage. A quiet dining atmosphere in the Arlandria area.)
  • Honorable Mention: El Paso Cafe (Arlington, Virginia) (A family friendly restaurant that was a favorite of George W. Bush when he was President. Very fine Tex-Mex fare and a fun atmosphere. You better get there early because parking is limited and it fills up fast!)
  • Honorable Mention: Peking Gourmet Inn (Falls Church, Virginia) (My mother introduced me to this fairly common Chinese restaurant back in the 80's, and I then discovered that this was also a favorite dining place for President George H.W. Bush and his family. If you like to go where Presidents hang out, this is another place to visit.)

    Some Delaware Delights:

  • Honorable Mention: Gilligan's Waterfront Restaurant (Lewes, Delaware) (We have frequently enjoyed evening drinks on the covered patio bar that overlooks the Lewes Rehoboth Canal.)
  • Honorable Mention: The Roadhouse Steak Joint (Rehoboth Beach, Delaware) (Read their hilarious menu, then enjoy their very tasty steaks!)
  • Honorable Mention: The Lighthouse Restaurant (Lewes, Delaware) (A perfect place for breakfast on your way to or from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. Make sure you have a side order of scrapple with your Maxi Breakfast!)

    • My Favorite Fast Food Joints:

  • Popeye's Fried Chicken (I love that chicken from Popeye's!)
  • Potbelly Sandwich Works (This is a growing franchise, and I really enjoy their toasted roast beef & provolone sandwiches. Be sure to keep an eye on these guys!)

    • Places Where I'd Like to Eat:

  • Woodman's of Essex (Essex, Massachusetts) (Birthplace of the fried clam!)
  • Ben's Chili Bowl (Washington, D.C.) (Birthplace of the half-smoke!)
  • Crabby Dick's (Rehoboth Beach, Delaware) (Home of Obscene Balls. Crab balls, we presume.)

    • Some Things That I'd Like to Taste:

  • Briar's Orange Cream Soda (No preservatives. Made from a special brewing process!)
  • Hatfield Quality Meats (Hey! Its my namesake! And I'm told that they make some great country links!)

    • Addenda: Gone But Not Forgotten

  • Il Radicchio (Arlington, Virginia) (Chef Roberto Donna had a good thing going here, but his lack of business acumen brought his local restaurant empire to a stunning end. What a darned shame. I especially loved the Bolognese sauce with my spaghetti...)
  • The Skyroom Restaurant at Hotel Washington (Washington, D.C.) (According to the Washington Post of December 31, 2007, "...the Hotel Washington, which has stood across the street from the White House since it became a hotel in 1917, is closing. Closing for a year to undergo renovations... It will be called simply W...The Hotel Washington's rooftop terrace is famous for its open-air panoramic view. The hotel's new owners reportedly intend to enclose the terrace in glass... What a pity, you think. Behind glass, Washington from this rooftop will not look the same." ~ DeNeen L. Brown)
  • Woo Lae Oak (Arlington, Virginia) (For at least twenty years we used to be able to cook a meal at our table in this terrific Korean restaurant, but it closed its Arlington location and moved out to Tysons Corner. Our loss.)
  • Stars & Stripes Restaurant (Arlington, Virginia) (July 31, 2007, was the last day this restaurant was in operation. I always recommended the Beat the Rush (4:30 to 6:30pm) prime rib special. In late 2005, the restaurant introduced a home-made New England style clam chowder that was, quite possibly, the finest soup of its kind in the entire region! This family friendly place will be missed.)
  • Roy Rogers Restaurants (Not many stores are left. I used to love the Double-R Bar Burger with a little touch of barbeque and horseradish sauce.)
  • Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips (Not many of these stores left, either. I thought their clam chowder was quite good.)
  • Shakey's Pizza (There are plenty of national pizza chains today, so Shakey's has fallen to the wayside. They still exist, especially out west, but you can't find any in my area.)
  • Farrell's Ice Cream Parlours (My first summer job was at a Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour in Kahala Mall (Honolulu). At one time there were over a hundred franchises. Now, apparently, only two remain. You should also visit here.)
  • Ernie's Original Crab House (I'm now in search of a local crab house to call home since the demise of this Alexandria institution.)
  • Lone Star Steakhouse (We're not certain if this franchise is thriving or dying, but we do know that the franchise at our favorite location in Bailey's Crossroads, Virginia, is now closed. My wife enjoyed the atmosphere and loved their baked sweet potatoes, and I always enjoyed the Texas Ribeye steak.)
  • Taco Time (The company used to have a franchise in the Pentagon City Mall, but it didn't last very long. I will especially miss the yummy Crisp Burritos. *Sigh*)
  • Stacks (A kosher sandwich shop in Washington, D.C., now closed. I'm not Jewish, but if someone could have promised to deliver to me on a daily basis one of their great pastrami sandwiches, I might have considered conversion.)
  • Mr. Eagan's (A neighborhood bar that lacked a neighborhood. I patronized this place for many years, and I sorely regret its passing.)
  • John Harvard's Brew House (Washington, D.C.) (Closed January 15, 2006. Although it was basically just a standard brew pub, it made a very acceptable chicken pot pie and it brewed its very own, and very tasty, root beer. Sad news for the downtown lunch bunch.)
  • Lazy Susan's Seafood Deli (Lewes, Delaware) (This was a great place to eat steamed crabs! There is now a Mexican restaurant at the location.)
  • Olympia Beer ("Oly Oly Oh!" The Olympia Brewing Company of Tumwater, Washington, produced a smooth beer that should have taken the nation by storm. Instead, Oly is only a memory.)

    • My Favorite Soft Drinks

  • 365 brand (Whole Foods) Orange Creme Soda
  • IBC Root Beer
  • Snapple Peach Iced Tea
  • 7-Up
  • Coca~Cola
  • Dr Pepper
  • Canada Dry Ginger Ale
  • Arnold Palmer Lite Half & Half Iced Tea/Lemonade
  • Orange Julius

    My Favorite Adult Beverages

  • Bombay Sapphire Gin
  • Boodles British Gin
  • Miller Lite Beer
  • Budweiser Beer
  • Gala Beer

    My Favorite Men's Fragrances

  • Escada Pour Homme
  • Royal Copenhagen
  • Obsession For Men
  • Old Spice

    • My Favorite Recipe

    Jay's Spicy Rice
    
Makes 4 Servings
    
Ingredients:
1 c white rice, washed
2 tb olive oil
1 ts chopped garlic
1/2 ts salt
1/4 ts black pepper 
1/4 ts cayenne pepper
1 tb dried onion
1/2 tb dried chives
2 packets instant beef bouillon
2 c water
    
Instructions:
In a medium rice cooker, stir together rice, olive oil, 
spices, bouillon and water. Cook for 25 minutes.
Toss lightly with a fork. Serve immediately

    More Lists:

    My Favorite Championship Teams

    Boston Red Sox
    (MLB World Series Champions: 2004, 2007)

    Washington Redskins
    (NFL Super Bowl Champions: 1982, 1987, 1991)

    Georgetown Hoyas
    (NCAA College Basketball Champions: 1984)

    Boston Celtics
    (NBA Champions: 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008)

    Boston Bruins
    (NHL Stanley Cup Champions: 1970, 1972, 2011)

  • Honorable Mention:
    • New England Patriots
    (NFL Super Bowl Champions: 2001, 2003, 2004)

    Professional Sports Teams That I Most Thoroughly Detest:

    New York Yankees
    (baseball)

    Dallas Cowboys
    (football)

    Los Angeles Lakers
    (basketball)

    Philadelphia Flyers
    (hockey)

  • Dishonorable Mention:

    New York Mets
    (baseball)

    New York Giants
    (football)

    • A Collegiate Summer Baseball League I'd Like To See Someday:


    Cape Henlopen Collegiate Baseball League (CHCBL)

  • Lewes (Anglers)
  • Georgetown (Bulldogs, Buff & Blue, Bluefish, Blue Birds, Blue Sox, or 'Blue' Somethings...)
  • Rehoboth Beach (Sea Hawks or Pirates: from Eastern Shore League Team, 1947-1949)
  • Indian River (Breakers, Broilers, Beacons, Tidewaters, Tayacs)
  • Milford (Sandpipers: from Eastern Shore League Team, 1923)
  • Seaford (Eagles: from Eastern Shore League Team, 1946-1949 & The City Hall's New Weathervane!)
  • Laurel (Bees: from an 1870's Laurel team. See Here)
  • Delmar (Twins: See: "The Little Town Too Big For One State")

    • Note: Delaware is becoming an increasingly attractive summer vacation locale, and summer collegiate baseball's pastoral nature would blend in perfectly with Sussex County's beautiful and historic environment. Over time, a Delaware summer league could easily become as attractive to local residents, businesses, and to collegiate players nation-wide as the venerable Cape Cod League. The short travel distances between sites would also make this league especially appealing and affordable. All CHCBL teams would be non-profit Community Based 501(C)(3) Organizations. Startup costs for a team could run as high as $125,000 (using the New England Collegiate Baseball League model), so fund raising and sponsorships will be a major task.

    Sample Baseball Fields: Cape Henlopen High School (Lewes) ~ Delaware Technical and Community College (Georgetown) ~ Delmar Junior Senior High School (Delmar) ~ Indian River High School (Frankford) ~ Laurel High School (Laurel) ~ Milford High School (Milford) ~ Millsboro Baseball Complex (Millsboro) ~ Rehoboth Elementary School (Rehoboth) ~ Seaford High School (Seaford) ~ Sports at the Beach Complex (Georgetown) ~ 
    Sample Travel Distances (in statute miles):
            Lewes   Rehoboth   Georgetown   Frankford   Milford   Seaford   Laurel  Delmar  
Lewes         -       4.84       12.80        16.38      18.42     25.41    27.79   32.16 
Rehoboth     4.84      -         15.26        14.97      22.46     27.76    29.04   30.92
Georgetown  12.80    15.26         -          14.21      15.70     12.78    13.73   19.11
Frankford   16.38    14.97       14.21          -        29.37     23.35    18.23   18.81
Milford     18.42    22.46       22.46        29.37        -       20.52    26.00   32.51
Seaford     25.41    27.76       12.78        23.35      20.52       -       6.52   12.96
Laurel      27.79    29.04       13.73        18.23      26.00      6.52      -      6.95
Delmar      32.16    30.92       19.11        18.81      32.51     12.96     6.95     -      

Shortest Travel Distance: Lewes to Rehoboth, 4.84 miles
Longest Travel Distance: Delmar to Milford, 32.51 miles

Compare travel distances with other collegiate leagues:  Click HERE
    Note: The shorter travel distances between teams preclude the high cost of overnight stays, which is roughly 25% of the yearly operating costs of the New England Collegiate Baseball League model.

    State records report that approximately 13 million visitors come to Delaware every year. The beach and resort areas of Sussex County comprise about 36% of the state’s total tourism industry (about 5 million tourists annually). Click HERE. (FYI: An estimated 6 million tourists visit Cape Cod each year, with nearly two-thirds of all visitors arriving in the summer and early fall.)

    "During the non-tourist season the permanent residential populations are approximately 1,250 in Rehoboth Beach and 450 in Dewey Beach. The tourist season, which can begin as early as the Easter holiday, typically runs from May through September. Early tourism can result in an influx of 25-30 thousand during the Easter weekend with peak summer weekend populations approaching 80 thousand." (Click HERE)

    Population of Sussex County, Delaware: 168,027 (2003 estimate) ~ Tourist Season Population of Sussex County, Delaware: NA

    Possible Alternate Venues: Dover, Delaware (Soldier Field); Ocean City, Maryland (Northside Park)

    (Some Of The Aerial Views Here Were Found At: HomeTownLocator)

    Places Where I Might Consider Retiring Someday

  • Lewes, Delaware:

  • The Villages of Five Points
  • Henlopen Gardens

  • Woodstock, Virginia

  • Pawley's Island, South Carolina

  • Orleans, Massachusetts

  • Kailua (Lanikai), Hawaii

  • Newport, Rhode Island

    • Songs That I Wish I Had Written

  • In My Life (John Lennon)
  • I'll Remember You (Kui Lee)
  • Here, There And Everywhere (Paul McCartney)
  • Dear Prudence (John Lennon)
  • The Days Of My Youth (Kui Lee)
  • Revolution (John Lennon)
  • Grow Old With Me (John Lennon)

    • A List of the Worst Movie Casting Jobs in Hollywood History

  • Henry Fonda as Pierre Bezukhov in "War and Peace" (1956)
  • Kevin Costner as Robin Hood in "Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves" (1991)
  • Will Smith as James West in "Wild Wild West" (1999)
  • William Bendix as Babe Ruth in "The Babe Ruth Story" (1948)
  • Peter Frampton and The Bee Gees as The Beatles in "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (1978)

    • Music Videos

  • Revolution (The Beatles)

  • Hey Jude (The Beatles)

  • Hey Bulldog! (The Beatles)

  • Johnny Be Good (John Lennon & Chuck Berry)

  • Come Together (John Lennon)

  • Yer Blues (John Lennon & the Rolling Stones)

  • Imagine (John Lennon)