Too Do- FL!

Three Lessons I Learn Day 1 on the #NASATweetUp

1. Anyone can appreciate NASA

 

I am the first to admit that I am not a die-hard “space tweep”. I consider myself more of a general nerd. I probably have a just above average knowledge of what the people a NASA actually do day-to-day; however coupled with my enormous respect for NASA and it’s accomplishments,  I was just as excited as everyone at the TweetUp to for the experiences of the day.

 

What I quickly learned from the opening words is that you don’t have to be a die-hard “space tweet” to appreciate the awesomeness of what goes on at NASA daily—and how cool experiencing the Atlasntis STS-132 launch was going to be. I realized that you don’t have to be a rocket scientist or engineer to appreciate the program. As Jon Cowart, an orbiter engineering manager who came to talk to us, said: NASA works for us—the everyday person who looks into the night sky to dream and wonder. I realized, bedazzled, that NASA exists for me.

 

 

2. NASA will continue to need everyone’s support—and its worth the investment

 

The NASA TweetUp is an incredible smart idea. There was a room full of Tweeters who are, obviously, into NASA, with thousands and thousands of followers between us. They got guerilla coverage dirt cheap! Considering I’m into the power of the internet, I think it’s not only cool, but inspiring. It’s a new day and age when average-day people can cause and sustain enough buzz to warrant special treatment by NASA. Technology has changed the way we get and receive information. I already knew this, but talk about confirmation. NASA used us to create excitement and interest from our friends, followers, tweeps, fans, families, colleges…. And excitement and interest equal funding! If no one cared about NASA, would it have such strong support, I wonder? And that support has been paid back dividens, with new discoveries in everything from medical and engineering discoveries to fashion jewels and drag-resistant swimsuits.

 

3. Innovation never dies

 

During the TweetUp there has been a lot of questions about policy. I’m not getting into the politics of it. However I will say that there seems to be so many things planned for the future of space exploration. Hearing about the future plans involving asteroid and Mars would get anyone “geeked up”. Being at NASA has inspired me to continue to move forward in my life. Might involve changes, but at such times you must focus on the positive as you look ahead. Seems that is what the NASA folks are doing: good life lesson.

Cheap Date: Downtown Melbourne

Brevard, Florida

09/09

 

The Historic area of Downtown Melbourne is a wonderful option for a cheap date. The atmosphere is relaxed and ideal for discovering points of interest through a leisurely stroll. Jay and I took advantage of all the local flavors we could—but we were determined to enjoy ourselves on less than $50!

One of the most obvious strategies when going on a cheap date is to find “free” things to enjoy. So when we heard about the Florida Beer Company’s free beer tasting, we knew exactly where we were going first. The company is located in a run-down looking building, and at first we were unsure that we were in the right spot. But for the sake of free beer, we pushed on. At the top of the dark staircase we found a cozy, well-lit tasting room that looked more like a friendly bar. We were quickly greeted by a worker who was eager to tell us all about the company and the process of making beer. We took it all in, along with lots of great samples, without feeling pressured to buy anything. We walked out more educated about beers, and having discovered a new local favorite.

We drove about 5 blocks away into the heart of the historic district. After finding free parking provided by the city we began a long stroll down New Haven Avenue. We quickly began to find historic spots of interest, and would stand and talk about them. It’s so easy to pass by historic land-markers when you’re in a hurry; sometimes if you slow down you’re surprised to find history that directly links to you and your heritage right under your nose. We took the time to admire the architecture of some of the building that had been standing since before the World Wars. Hand-in-hand we darted in and out of local galleries and shops. It was fun just to admire the work of local artist, or the passions of local collectors. At the edge of downtown we found Henegar Center for the Arts, where a local company was putting on a production of Treasure Island at the time. It wasn’t on our agenda for the day, but I couldn’t help but note that the tickets were pretty cheap. At about $25 a person, it could be a reasonably priced night on the town.

By the time we crossed the street, walking on the other side back towards the car in the hot Florida sun had gotten Jay. We slipped into the cool air condition of Meg O’Malley’s, a local Irish pub that’s pretty darn authentic. We decided on an appetizer to split, and enjoyed tall cool drinks while listening to a live folksinger’s performance in the jovial atmosphere.

After a rest we continued on our walk and found only a few steps away from Meg’s a cool-looking spot called Foo Bar that was just setting up for the night. We took a quick look inside, and even met the manager. After figuring Happy Hour was the best time to return, we kept it moving. After taking in a few more shops, and a manatee/ wild-life viewing station in the heart of downtown, I quick changed into something cute for nightlife, and we headed back to the bar.

By the time we got there we could see it was going to be rocking by the night’s end. Alan, the manager, was singing along with 80s hits he had blasting until the DJ arrived later. He took our orders, and made the dangerous signature concoctions for Foo Tea and Pomegranate Punch Any thought that they could have been overpriced was quickly dispelled when these huge, strong drinks were placed in front of us. After a few sips, Jay and I were discussing the genius Peter and Stewie, and how odd it is that Brain speaks but never wears pants but sometimes wore dress coats (Family Guys fans know what I’m talking about). We were singing along with the 80s music, a becoming mesmerized by the fog coming off our icy drinks. Needless to say, they were good drinks.

 

After our cocktails we headed to Matt’s Casbah to put some food on our stomach at one of the swankest restaurants on the strip. The ambiance of the place is cool, and I’d heard about the food. It didn’t take long to get seated near the sushi bar. After flip-flopping between the many choices we decided to get a Spicy Conch and a Bagel Roll. The food was great, and Jay and I had romantic end to a fun, educational, and cheap, date!

CHECK PLEASE! (prices listed include tip if applicable)

Parking   $0

Florida Beer Company Tasting $0

Local Galleries’ Admissions   $0

Meg O’Malley’s $9

Wildlife Viewing    $0

Foo Bar   $23

Matt’s Casbah   $ 16

TOTAL: $48

We did it!

Follow Us On Foot!

Florida Beer Company

2500 South Harbor City Blvd.

 Melbourne, FL 32901

http://www.floridabeer.com

Meg O’Malley’s

812 E. New Haven Avenue

Melbourne, Fl. 32901

http://www.megomalleys.com/

Foo Bar

816 E. New Haven Ave

Melbourne, FL 32901

Phone: 321.728.7179

Matt’s Casbah

801 East New Haven Avenue

Melbourne, Florida 32901

http://www.mattscasbah.com/