Tag Archives: luxury weekend activities

For The Weekenders: Workouts and Wakeboarding, Tongue & Cheek Dining, Skateboarding Without the Board

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If there’s anything I like more than summer – it’s summer with epic things to do…and damn am I always thinking up ideas. One in particular, being sprouted from memories of my teen years. Back then, before cars, I was a huge fan of board sports…

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….and since I still am today, after doing some shopping around Miami Beach thanks to my party bible UD, I came across something beyond epicness. I know, that’s not a word, but hear me out for a second.

I’m talking about freeline skating. If you’re not entirely sure what that is, that’s okay – for a while I didn’t know what it was either…and then I realized this was something that absolutely needed to be a part of my life. The sport itself is so unique, yet so simple, when looking into it it leaves you with a sense of “how the fuck…did I not think of that?“.

The writers at Urban Daddy so cleverly labeled them as “mini skateboards for your feet,” a phrase which I’d have to wholeheartedly agree with. The video on how it all began will explain in detail how the genius of a man came to invent such awesomeness.

So what do you do? Well, you can either pick them up at Fritz’s Miami Beach like I did, or order them online. Hit up your nearest skate park (I recommend stretching first, if it’s been a while), and away you go. I won’t lie, it’s a bit tricky at first – but once you get it down, it’s the ultimate sense of freedom.

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You may get a few odd stares here and there for those who’ve never seen it, despite the fact it’s been out for a few years now – but that’s okay…because when you and a few friends decide to relive your youth – or maybe that date of yours is a fan of board sports, and you need something unique to do – the impressed looks will far outweigh the odd ones.

Girl Skater

Farrr, outweigh.

Once you’ve had your fill of freeline skating, and trusting you haven’t pulled or sprained anything – if it seems this summer is getting a little too hot, and you want even more of a workout – I recommend skipping back over to Fort Worth Texas, minus the drive-in movie this time, and instead head 14 miles Southwest, hitting up WakeSport Ranch – the name obviously implying your next move.

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…because if you’re going to wakeboard, you might as well do it big – like second largest wakeboard track in the world big. For an experienced wakeboarder, this is your happy place – your temple, your holy ground. With fun boxes, A-frames, wedges, kickers, and transfer boxes – there is no excuse to not have fun and show off.

The place is huge, and easily accommodates you bringing a large group to get in on the action – just be sure to book your hotel room(s) at Best Western and mention WakeSport Ranch for a discount – hell maybe you can even ask if they have any suites available, if you’re going with a certain someone (*wink*). The best part is they’re also conveniently located at Motorsport Ranch – the world’s first Sports Car Country Club.

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Go ahead…get your need for speed fix while you’re at it. If you won’t, I will….

….but let’s say you’re okay with just shredding concrete waves this weekend, and now you’ve worked up an appetite. The friends are tired too, and your date looks a little famished (y’know, from getting all hot and bothered by your sheer awesomeness).

Besides passing around smart comments out of good fun and having your way with words, while you’re doing that why not try something even more…Tongue & Cheek.

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…which is the name of the restaurant you’ll be going to.

Why…? Well besides the fact that the name in and of itself indicates the place is worth checking out (duh.), they happen to have very good drinks…I mean food. Also good drinks. Forget Hooters for now – their Fried Chicken with Pickled Red Cabbage and Tabasco Hollandaise is worth passing up one night of naked wings dipped in franchise hot sauce (as a side note – Hooters, your wings are amazing).

Even if you’re not a fan of fried foods and prefer to eat a little cleaner, the Long Island Scallops with Hearts of Palm and Roasted Mushrooms will be sure to leave you speechless and wanting more.

Order a Blue Moon to go with the chicken, or an after dinner Tawny Port to complement the scallops and you’ve got yourself a grand old time, with a full stomach, good friends, and relatively impressed date.

While the casual post-sport session look may fly, I highly recommend showering up and throwing on something smart casual. The restaurant will thank you. Your date will thank you. Your friends will follow suit.

Stay awesome.

– Rego

Related articles

For The Weekenders: Workouts and Wakeboarding, Tongue & Cheek Dining, Skateboarding Without the Board is a post from and appeared first on Rego’s Life

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For The Weekenders: Gravity-Free Plane Rides, Bruce Lee Surfing, Drive-In Movies

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All this week I’ve been itching for some creative fun things to do. So I got to thinking of all the things I like – and this is what was created. Enjoy.

I’ve always been a fan of travel – travelling on planes especially. Flying above the clouds at 37,000 feet always seemed so calming for me…floating would’ve been even cooler…and now I can – and now you can…with Zero G.

These guys, are pure genius. If you ever wanted to be an astronaut, and feel what it’s like to float effortlessly from your bedroom to the living room – they can deliver. Well, minus the living room and bedroom. But you can catch drops of water in mid air with your mouth, just by floating your way over to them.

It’s like Hungry Hungry Hippos…but cooler.

It works a little like this:

You grab a few buddies who are thrill seekers like yourself or maybe just like doing kung fu moves mid-air without risk of injury and slow motion style, and you book 4-5 reservations for a trip on a Boeing 727. Sounds pretty standard, no? Well, did I mention this particular 727 is modified to do parabolic arcs?

Lo, ladies and gentleman: the ancient smiling fist punch.

Yeah. Pretty insane.

So once you’re all booked and paid up, you head on over to Las Vegas, this Saturday, grab your new flight gear and suit up, shuffle over to the plane, board, and away you go. It’s from here the cap’n does a few whirls and loops until boom – gravity free…and you’re floating, effortlessly like a dandelion in the wind (poetic much?). Just don’t get too caught up in the moment and close your eyes – lest you bump into your best mate and end up bumping heads – literally.

It costs a few grand for this insane adventure, but it’s well worth it and most definitely a story worth looking back on and telling. The best part is it’s not just Las Vegas you can make your reservation at – but numerous other cities, such as New York. So when you ring up your guys/girls this weekend and ask what they’re up for, ask yourself: what sounds better? Beers at the usual bar, or gravity free high flying oh-em-gee adventures? The answer is clear.

So after all that mid-air slow-mo kung-fu judo action, you don’t want the good, high flying times to end. What do you do? Well, you hop over from Vegas to L.A., call up that girl/guy you’ve been wondering about regarding how good they look in swimwear, and make it a good excuse to try some at the beach martial arts. In the water. On a paddle board. Did I mention in the water?

Don’t take that wave set. I will Judo kick your ass the next time you cut me off for my set.

In being a fan of the ocean, fitness, and at one point taking three different forms of martial arts plus fencing all in one go, this is probably the most fun hands down…I won’t lie – I scream like a little fan girl every time I think of the awesomeness of whoever took such an idea and put it into an activity like this. It’s downright original, and refreshing…it will also kick the absolute crap out of your core.

Dammit Jack. You had one job. Don’t let go. Was that so hard? Now reach, dammit, like your life depends on it.

Looking for that extra step to carve your abs even more? Congratulations – I present to you a solution.

Paddle board martial arts is more than just a fun time – it’s a work out. Think about it – you’re there trying to do crane poses and high kicks, but not on a nice dojo mat, no, and not even on the wood floors we’ve all grown so familiar with – but instead, a board. A paddle board. That sways back and forth with not just the help of the ocean, but any tiny little movement you make.

Master this and you’ve officially gained bragging rights to say you outgrew the dojo, the pond was too small and you needed an ocean (did I just make a pun? I believe I did.)

Classes can be found held off of Marina Mother’s Beach, D-Basin, Marina Del Rey, and run four times a week, two of which are by reservation only. Check out the full details on scheduling here.

Ninja status.

Ninja status.

So your wish came true and you got to see that that hottie does look great when they hit up the beach, and have now invited them out for a movie…but a regular movie is so…well, regular. Also you can’t drink at movie theaters. Boo. No fun.

But wait, what if I told you you could? In fact, you could eat, drink, and be merry? Picture a movie theater with a beer garden….that also serves wine. Not to mention thin crust pizza – and quality burgers. A whole menu, really.

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Classic, meet modern day.

Boredom of standard movie theater, meet Coyote Drive-In. Created back in 2011 by four guys who envisioned their perfect idea of a great, super chill time, they went ahead and kicked it old school, making a blast from the past become reality once more with a Drive-In movie set up located in friendly Forth Worth, Texas. They didn’t reinvent the wheel – just pulled it from the dusty corners of the garage and cleaned it up.

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Vintage.

I remember going to the drive-in when I was a kid, thinking it was the best thing since sliced bread. Located in a small little town and one of the few left, it was the highlight of my weekends after school.

10-15 years later and I still get stoked just thinking about it. The comfort of your car. The sounds, voices, special effects pumping out through your own vehicle’s speakers, just by tuning to the assigned station. The much desired privacy when you and your date have that moment…wait – what…? Rego, you mean no awkward strangers slurping the last of their soda while eyeing me stealing a kiss anymore…? I’d say that’s win.

I can watch Iron Man 3 or Fast & Furios 6 and finally put those Audio Bahn speakers to good use I invested a fortune in, for more than just music you ask? You sure can.

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Welcome to the future…with a little bit of the past. Drive-Ins, congrats. You were missed enough to be brought back. Clearly, you must be doing something right.

– Rego

Related articles

For The Weekenders: Gravity-Free Plane Rides, Bruce Lee Surfing, Drive-In Movies is a post from and appeared first on Rego’s Life

For The Weekenders: Surfing in Santa Cruz, Luxury Racing in Texas, Absinthe in New York

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Sun. Sand. Bikinis. Surf Boards.

Everything you typically expect during summer, especially in California….but how about a surf lodge that feels like a blast from the past, with a touch of class? Found in Santa Cruz, I’m talking about the Santa Cruz Dream Inn, a beachfront luxury hotel (and the only one at that) in California’s city of surfing.

Why yes, those two glasses are for us…let’s shuffle on over, shall we….?

Amenities included are enough to make anyone want to live here. Imagine starting your day off with waking up and walking out to a balcony with breathtaking views of Monterey Bay, as you snuggle up to your S.O. (or person you met the night before…this is a getaway, after all) to keep each other warm from the cool morning breeze. From there you get ready for the day and step into the shower, that’s fully equipped with a badass, super luxurious rainwater style shower head and wand, that makes you feel like those shampoo models on TV (because you’re worth it…go ahead, embrace that feminine side.)

Good morning, Santa Cruz.

From there, reach into your snack basket and mini fridge and grab a healthy snack and some sparkling mineral water while you wait for the hotel staff to bring up your in-room breakfast to the 10th floor…you’re going to need a big breakfast, because you’ve booked private surf lessons that make for an interesting date, and have plans to hit up the jacuzzi and outdoor spa after.

But let’s not stop there, no…you continue the day with the intent to get even further away from your usual techy side, turn your phone off, leave it in your room, and kick it old school by trying your hand at some classic board games and finally finish off your day with a pillow library…if this isn’t bliss, you’re not living enough.

After all that relaxing, you may want a bit of an adrenaline kick…well, let’s jet over to Texas for some luxury car racing at Texas Motor Speedway, one of the many spectacular spots to blow off some steam, burn some rubber, and get that adrenaline gland pumping…go ahead, you know you want to.

I’m sorry, I can’t hear you over the sound of my own mind-blowing AWESOMENESS.

The place that supplies the concept of luxury automobiles and high speed race tracks for access to anyone who’s willing to pay? Exotic Driving Experience. They dominate in the area where luxury meets thrill.

The GT-R being my favorite car, I naturally, would suggest it first. Yet if you fancy something other than Japanese import, they also have a range of automobiles, including but not limited to the sleek, sexy Ferrari 458 Italia…the masculine, powerful Audi R8….or if you feel like emulating Daniel Craig as the best Bond to date, the refined, prestigious Aston Martin Virage…and so many more, each car’s MSRP being upward of $90,000.

Strapped with a radio-equipped helmet and your own trusty driving instructor, from there you can do what you do best and tear up the track, pupils dilated and hands gripping the steering wheel while your super car hugs the curves of the road as if drawing the outline of Scarlett Johansson‘s measurements.

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Ready. Set. Go.

Alright, so after the relaxation, and the thrills, let’s say you wanna close off the weekend with a touch of class (as if it weren’t classy enough). So what do you do? You hop a plane once more, this time to New York. As you leave the airport, you think to yourself you don’t just want regular drinks to close off your weekend, but something different. Something refreshing…something….adventurous.

So what do you do…? Well, you make a phone call seeing what buddies – or attractive acquaintances – of yours are free for the evening, and make your way over to Maison Premiere for an Absinthe and seafood fest.

Absinthe….makes the heart grow fonder.

As you walk in, you’ll hear the sounds of choice, carefully selected jazz, catch site of historic style interior design, and a big, borderline ostentatious absinthe and cold water delivery tap with a miniature Napoleon statue atop. Though absinthe is the main center-piece, not everyone can handle it – so if you have friends that need something lighter, they also serve wine and various cocktails…which also brings us to the seafood options available.

I’ll take the shrimp…and the lobster.

Being (unfortunately) allergic to oysters, I appreciate the wide variety in seafood options they have, which ranges from succulent crab and lobster, to melt in your mouth red snapper and cod. Under very specific circumstances, you can book a reservation, or hold private events.

So when you start feeling the absinthe come on in waves, you can crack open the menu and order up a plate of Cod Brandade, followed by cheesecake for dessert which comes with marcona almond, chocolate ganache, and maldon salt.

Want a double serving of dessert and feel your buzz slowly fading after filling that stomach of yours? Well, then go for a dessert cocktail and request the Moveable Feast, consisting of bols genever, rum, cane syrup, absinthe, coffee liquor, and aromatic bitters.

If that’s not enough to satisfy your palette….well then you’re just not trying hard enough.

Stay classy.

– Rego

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For The Weekenders: Surfing in Santa Cruz, Luxury Racing in Texas, Absinthe in New York is a post from and appeared first on Rego’s Life

For The Weekenders: Jet Set Dining, Izakayas, Let’s Sail Skipper

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It’s Thursday again…meaning fresh ideas for what to fill your weekend nights with.

So check out these 3 top spots I highly recommend that will leave you wanting more:

Daikaya Izakaya, D.C. – I remember my days of living in Tokyo, going to izakayas and lounge bars with friends and late night coffee after…often walking down the streets some hour in the A.M. taking in the less crowded sights of the Metropolis that nevers sleeps. When I found myself back in the states for a while, it took time to adjust and whenever the urge for hitting up a good izakaya or Japanese styled bar struck, I could never quite find one with that authentic feel. This, is where Daikaya Izakaya comes in.

乾杯！

The place is packed with authenticity, from the snacks and booze upstairs right along down to the ramen on the first floor. The sights and smells all pull you into a world that, if you never stepped outside the front door, maybe added a couple of forty-something Ojisans and change the menus to complete Japanese script, would actually make you feel like you’re (back) in J-Land. If you’re ever in the area I highly recommend popping in. Check out the gallery to see what I mean here, and the full article on the UD site.

Let’s Sail, Skipper… – Okay, okay, so I know I talked about things to do in San Francisco last week, but I’ll make it brief so hear me out: Sea salt filled air, sails, rum, and a four man crew (minus the dead man’s chest).
I’m talking about private excursions on an 84′ America’s Cup Race Yacht, or a more casual day trip around SanFran Bay, only to be topped off with checking out what other things Pier 39 has to offer.

Land ho.

The best part is you don’t need to know a thing about sailing, but if you want to get in on a bit of the action it’s certainly not discouraged. Check out their website if you’re up for unleashing that inner sailor in you.

If you’ve had experience in the dating world, or a relationship for that matter, after a while, dinner and a movie seems pretty drab…

Jet Set Dining is here to jazz that up for you.

Hailing from Miami, these guys really take it up a notch…and they do it a little like this:

You grab your date’s hand to lead her to the restaurant…dinner and conversation being something she’s done before, she’s curious to know how this time will be different but not exactly ecstatic.

But wait – what’s this…you’re not walking towards a restaurant, but what seems to be a private jet. In order to get to the restaurant, you must first go by plane, because – “well hun, the restaurant is kind of on a remote little island – I lied about it being a stone’s throw away…” you shrug saying as you non-chalantly run your hand over the back of your head trying to keep a cool, suave expression.

I also kind of lied about it being a quick drive…it is – but it’s just…in the air…with a plane…minus you know…pavement…But hey – did we or did we not skip traffic?

Surprised, you both board the plane where the usual safety precautions are taught while you pop open some bubbly and hand a glass to your pleasantly surprised date while trying your hardest to avoid a cheesy French accent and Cheshire Cat grin as you instruct them to “relax and enjoy the sights,” knowing you pretty much just owned the night with this one little hat trick.

I know where I’ll be dining next weekend.

– Rego

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For The Weekenders: Jet Set Dining, Izakayas, Let’s Sail Skipper is a post from and appeared first on Rego’s Life