Summer will be here in less than a month! It’s time to start planning this year’s beachy getaway, and why not get a few relaxing rounds of golf in while you’re on your trip as well? If you’re headed to the ocean this season, you’ll want to tack on an extra vacation day for golf at one of these breezy seaside courses.

Rum Point Seaside Golf Links

Ocean City, Md.: Rum Pointe Seaside Golf Links

Rum Pointe Seaside Golf Links is located eight miles south of Ocean City in Berlin, Md. Seventeen of the 18 holes on this course have a view of the Sinepuxent Bay and the Assateague National Seashore Park, and at a few of the holes, experienced golfers can start the ball over the water to shorten the hole if they dare.

Gorgeous scenery coupled with Scottish-style links makes for a day of relaxation at this 4.5-star course as rated by Golf Digest. Make a day of it and enjoy on-course cart service for food and beverages or get a few quick hits in at the double-ended driving range.

Rum Pointe was designed by Pete and P.B. Dye, a father and son team, and opened in 1997. In order to keep the bent grass in pristine condition, no metal spikes are allowed on the course. The course staff members belong to the Professional Golfers’ Association of America.

72 par | 7,001 yards | 122 slope | 72.6 rating

Rum Pointe Seaside Golf Links
7000 Rum Pointe Lane, Berlin, MD 21811
rumpointe.com

Rum Pointe

Rehoboth Beach, Del.: Old Landing Golf Course

Golf alongside Rehoboth Bay for a day at Old Landing Golf Course. Seven of the 18 holes include water hazards, specifically three ponds and one stream. The second hole is a challenging 431-yard par 4, featuring a narrow tree-line fairway and a large sand bunker. The course features Bermuda grass. With reasonable prices, Old Landing gives golfers a good deal.

Russell Roberts designed Old Landing Golf Course in 1968, and in 1996, Golf Digest rated it the 5th best public course in the state. 

Jim Powers, the PGA professional on staff, is available for individual or group lessons and teaches clinics throughout the year.

71 par | 6,097 yards | 108 slope | 68.2 rating

Old Landing Golf Course
20836 Old Landing Road Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
oldlandinggolfcourse.com

Virginia Beach: Newport News Golf Club at Deer Run

Newport News Golf Club at Deer Run sits on the 8,000-acre Newport News Park in Tidewater, Va., near Williamsburg and Yorktown. Just 45 minutes from Virginia Beach, a day trip for golf is totally doable as a break from the beach. Thirty-six holes of golf await you at the original Cardinal Championship Course and the Deer Run Championship Course.

The golf club opened in 1969 after the designs of Edmund B. Ault were completed. The Cardinal Championship Course’s front nine holes give you long, open fairways to test your swing, and the back nine holes test your shorter, targeting abilities. The courses feature Bermuda grass fairways and bent grass greens.

Take some time in between swings to look around at the park scenery and wildlife. Players often see deer, bluebirds and other animals around the courses.

Players 16 and under play for free with an adult. Take advantage of the “Learn to Play Golf Program” with the club’s PGA Professionals or consider holding a tournament event for a family reunion there while on vacation. This is a mandatory soft spike course.

Cardinal: 72 par | 6,645 yards | 118 slope | 70.9 rating 
Deer Run: 72 par | 7,206 yards | 133 slope | 73.7 rating

Newport News Golf Club at Deer Run
901 Clubhouse Way, Newport News, VA 23608
nngolfclub.com

But that’s not all–the celebration will continue on June 20 with the Grand Opening Party featuring an in-store beauty bar, refreshments, cupcakes, giveaways, swag bags and, of course, great deals–20 percent off throughout the entire store from 6-9 p.m.

Mark your calendars!

And, as always, Happy Shopping!

 –Rebecca Norris

It might be the scariest, yet most rewarding, experience you have in your life. / Photo credit: Migel / Shutterstock.com

Where: Virginia Motorsports Park, Petersburg
When: Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013
Cost: $55 through June 7, 2013; $60 until July 12; $65 until Aug. 9; $75 until Aug. 16
Online: thegreatbullrun.com

If running with the bulls is on your bucket list, but getting a new passport is nowhere on your to-do list, the Great Bull Run in Petersburg was created with you in mind.

Keeping the long-honored legacy of Pamplona alive, while being safer than the Spanish version — the bulls’ horns are blunted instead of sharpened — the Great Bull Run will be held in nine locations across the country with Virginia as its inaugural spot.

Participants will run down a quarter-mile track while being chased by 12 half-ton bulls. The event’s website states that each run will be organized into hourly waves of up to one thousand adrenaline junkies. 

Naturally, the inherent danger of the event can be scary for non-daredevils. Tickets are also available for the Tomato Royale food fight ($25) following the run or for just spectating ($10).

And if the City Where “Lincoln” Was Filmed is still too far of a drive for you, Congress most likely has enough bull to have a run of its own.

Superman is meant to fly. Spider-man is meant to spew cobwebs from his hand. Don Draper is meant to look infuriatingly handsome. And dares are meant to be met, even if the challenge is outrageous, especially for a week night.

My co-worker Mike, the designer of Relish, the food section’s print pages, came with my husband and me to Guajillo Grill in Arlington. In the middle of the menu, boxed in red, we stared at the description for El Cachudo:  

“We challenge you to take on the BIGGEST, BADDEST & HOTTEST burro de la casa. Get 4 types of meat, rice, beans & yummy voo-doo salsa. If you finish it, it’s on us!”

Mike looked at the menu. He saw his calling. 

He tore through the flour tortilla pulling it to the side of the plate. He dug right into the shredded, identifiable meat. With every bite, the voo-doo salsa became hotter. Mike ate tortilla chips in between bites to cool his burning tongue.

Mike did not finish the burrito. El Cachudo won. 

Photo courtesy of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria

Forget about whatever plans you had for this Thursday evening because we’ve found something that’ll easily trump anything you might have planned. Anything. I’m talking about the Bow Wow Luau. A rhyming awesome name will only be the tip of the fun iceberg at this Hawaiian-themed animal fundraising event, a Doggie Yappy Hour sponsored by the Canine Wingman Company. The Bow Wow Luau will take place at the Hotel Monaco Alexandria and all the funds raised will be donated to the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria and the homeless animals under their care at the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter. There will be dog treats and a full menu offered by Jackson 20.

Bow Wow Luau events include but are not limited to:   

Costume Contest(for both dogs and their humans). 

Shutterstock.com/AnetaPics

Drink Specials thanks to Jackson 20. 

Raffles.   

Prizes.

Leis.

What: Bow Wow Luau, a Doggie Yappy Hour

When: Thurs. May 23, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Where: Hotel Monaco Alexandria courtyard, 480 King St, Alexandria.

How Much: Admission is free!

If all of that is not enough to make you change your Thursday night plans, guaranteed this video will be: 

Ninth Annual Night of Heroes Gala

Celebrate Memorial Day early at the ninth annual Night of Heroes Gala and hear country music artist Josh Gracin, a former “American Idol” finalist and member of the United States Marine Corps, entertain guests at the Ritz-Carlton in D.C.

PenFed Foundation, a non-profit that works to help military personnel and their families manage their finances through a grant program and required financial literacy course, is holding the gala to honor those who have proved themselves to be heroes.

There are three major themes for this year’s gala: dealing with post-traumatic stress disorders, promoting financial literacy and promoting the PenFed’s Defender’s Lodge, a free hotel for veterans undergoing medical care at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Palo Alto, Calif.

The transition from military combat overseas to life back in the States can be challenging. With the average returning service member’s compensation at $35,000 a year it can be difficult to pay for civilian life’s necessities, according to Kate Kohler, former Army captain and chief operating officer of the PenFed Foundation.

Veterans coming home with post-traumatic stress disorder is a common occurrence that isn’t always recognized immediately by families and loved ones. 

“Right now when a service member comes home, we think it’s really happy, but we have an idealistic image of what is happening,” says Kohler. “Over 80 percent of our military heroes have some element of post-traumatic stress. These are the signatures of war that haven’t been recognized before.”

The night will begin with a reception and silent and live auctions. Items in this year’s auction include an Apple iPad, a tasting package for eight at Barrel Oak Winery and wine samplers. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. in the main ballroom.

After dinner, there will be a presentation of awards and speeches for American Hero, Military Hero and Community Hero for military services and duty. There will also be a special recognition for Lee and Penny Anderson, who have donated $3.5 million toward the Defenders Lodge.

Night of Heroes Gala

The Ritz-Carlton, 1150 22nd St. NW, D.C.

RSVP www.penfedfoundation.org/heroes_events_gala

Dress: black tie or military dress

Price: $1,000 per ticket

May 23, 6-9 p.m.

Pressmaster/shutterstock.com

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

All Virginia Students to Use Computers for Standardized Tests

Washington Post

Fairfax Search and Rescue Team Ready to Help Okla. Tornado Victims

NBC Washington

Jackson Could Be Gift and Curse for GOP, Experts Say

The Virginian-Pilot

Laurie Millard Charged with Assaulting 6th Grade Students

WJLA (ABC 7)

Death in Zimbabwe Results in Unusual U.S. Charge

My Fox DC

(Compiled by Jasmine Lee)

Zigzag Mountain Art/ Shutterstock.com

Emily Nichols Grossi,  Em-i-lis Catering owner, will hold a free canning and preserving seminar tomorrow at Twins Ace Hardware in Fairfax. [Fairfax Patch]

RGIII fans purchase kitchen goods for the quarterback’s wedding registry. [Yahoo]

Bobby’s Burger Palace opens today in Potomac Mills. [Woodbridge Patch]

A match made in food heaven: find out which chips pair well with your favorite sandwich. [Food Republic]

Five D.C. area restaurants, including NoVA’s TNT Bar, make special cocktails for fans to win a chance for tickets to The Rammy Awards‘ June 23 Gala. [NVMwire]

 Andrew Zimmerman interviews Yelp Director of Affairs, Luther Lowe. [Eater] 

Kellogg introduces new (low calorie) brand, Special K Nourish. [HuffPo]

IGWT Canvas Zip Tote

For a trip to Charlottesville, you’ll need a cute yet functional overnight bag. The journey isn’t so far and long to need an over-the-top suitcase, and totes like this can be stylish, functional and easy to carry. Something light that matches your earthy surroundings should look right and fit all of the clothes you’ll need for wining, dining, beer-ing and listening to tunes all over the Monticello and Blue Ridge Wine Trails.

$100, ingodwetrustnyc.myshopify.com

AmorePacific

AmorePacific CC Cushion Compact SPF 50
Provides instant hydration as the liquid transforms into an emulsion that cushions the skin with smooth and long-lasting sheer coverage.
[Sephora; 1.05 oz] $60

Stila

Stila Stay All Day 10-in-1 HD Beauty Balm SPF 30
Reduces skin inflammation and improves texture with skin-perfecting microspheres. Pores stay away all day for flawless-looking skin!
[Sephora; 1.3 oz] $38

Garnier

Garnier BB Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector SPF 15
This budget balm gives the face a glorious glow. Your skin will look like a million bucks—for a fraction of the price you’d expect!
[Ulta; 2.5 oz] $12.99

Smashbox

Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream SPF 35
A product that lives up to its name! Get picture-perfect matte skin with this all-day oil-controlling balm.
[Sephora; 1 oz] $39

Nine skin perfectors were tested for this column. Makeup? What makeup? We’re all natural. 

(May 2013)

Photos courtesy of AmorePacific (AMOREPACIFIC); Courtesy of sephora (Stila, Smashbox); Courtesy of Ulta (Garnier)