Update on Storm Chasing

Looks like this is going to be a non-event down the shore. Party on!

Storm Chasing

I'm paying special attention to the path of Hurricane Earl - as all the shore should be. If it's not going to be THAT bad, I might hunker down in Atlantic City on Thursday night to cover and/or watch what happens.

I've sat through two shore hurricanes and one Florida hurricane, so I know that this is no joke. But if it's going to be a tropical storm and I can get a room that's secure? You bet I want to be on the beach for the day after.

How is the impending storm affection your Labor Day weekend plans?

Also, if you're a shore merchant and trying to make up for cancellations of people who are backing because of the storm, let me know and I'll post whatever information I can.

News from Around the South Jersey Shore

Cape May's in this post - promise.

Home prices in Cumberland, Cape May and Atlantic Counties are up.

YAH FOR BUSCH'S!!!!!!!!!!

Hockey's coming to Atlantic City.

Get good deals in Stone Harbor while you can. Ann Delaney gave it a write up too (P.S. to Ann - nice new blog design!)

Say cheese!

Take THAT, Cape May bike thieves!

I think the headline of this one says it all: "Coast Guard rescues kayaker near Cape May after she falls asleep and drifts into marshes."

Cape May's getting a Renaissance Festival.

This isn't about the Jersey Shore, but I think it highlights a huge sector of shore real estate market: vacation homes that are a self-run business.

Last summer, I walked by what remained of the Sea Isle lighthouse every weekend at least twice. It's hard to believe it was actually a lighthouse, and it's in terrible shape. So I don't know how I feel about this. It seems slightly ridiculous, but probably because we'd kind of make fun of the fact that the ramshackle place used to be a lighthouse.

Boardwalk Buzz

"It's one of the most visually sumptuous and detailed productions ever shown on the small screen..."

This is one of the great quotes from New York magazine's piece about HBO's Boardwalk Empire. Read the rest of the article here.

Finally

Remember this? I don't blame you if you don't. It's been a while.

In April 2008, I worked the salt water taffy line at Shriver's in Ocean City for an article into which I then poured my heart and soul.

It never ran. I'd rather not get into why it never ran, or steam might come out of my ears.

I almost sold it to another publication, which loved loved loved the piece, but it didn't fit their schedule since I pitched it to them so late in the summer season. So I tossed it in the archives and figured it would never see the light of day.

Until now. It's going into the second edition of the book - updated and revised, of course.

Writing can be a tricky business. I don't think the essay was bad. I still don't. The fact that another publication seriously considered buying it tells me that, and when the book comes out in April 2011 - a full three years after I wrote the piece - I'll offer it as excerpt to magazines.

I hope you enjoy it - when it finally comes out in April 2011.

Talk about full circle, too. Marc, who took the picture above that was SUPPOSED to run with the story, is taking my new headshot on September 19 on the Ocean City boardwalk. He's been doing great shore work lately, too. Check out his latest photos here.

Man Vs. Food at the Jersey Shore

The Travel Channel's Man Vs. Food is at the Jersey Shore in the episode airing on Wednesday night. They visit three spots at the North Jersey Shore. While I don't mean to bash our northern brothers, I'm annoyed.

This pizza segment is so flat. Yes, those beaches are closer to New York, but they couldn't consider coming to Mac & Mancos to watch pizzas flying around the store and being sauced by the sauce hose? Or down to Wildwood for a Mack's vs. Sam's smack down?

I'm sure the pizza place they visited is great, but it just didn't seem as special or even visually interesting as what we've got down here.

Small quibble. There's some nice stuff in here - the Chicken or the Egg segment is great, and I learned that the kind of pizza we eat down the shore is called Trenton style pizza. I should be happy that they did a nice spot about our beaches. We'll be getting plenty of coverage on next season's Diners, Drive Ins and Dives as Guy Fieri was just filming at George's in Cape May and Quahogs in Stone Harbor.

But, hey, they asked my opinion. Let me know what you think when it airs on Wednesday. Here's a preview.

Getting there

The book so far. This'll all come together somehow. I hope.

News from around the South Jersey Shore

Will Busch's live to see another day?! Maybe! (This isn't great news for the owners but wow would I like to keep this one around).

FINALLY. Hopefully more shore towns with dwindling school populations will follow.

KABOOM! Manholes are exploding in Atlantic City.

It's not a news update this summer without something about the Cape May Convention Center.

Ooo, a new train! Well, an old train, but new again.

Cookies & Beer?

While on vacation in Sea Isle last month, I was introduced to something that sounds like it would be disgusting: cookies with beer - Entenmann's soft chocolate chip cookies with Yeungling, to be precise. While this pairing doesn't necessarily need to be eaten together down the shore, I was told that something about the salt air (and probably being on vacation) makes this combination taste even better.

Weird, right? But you know what? It's true.

A chocolate chip cookie with a beer shouldn't work, but it does. I can't even explain why. And even though I enjoyed a combo last night of homemade chocolate chip cookie with a Pabst, something about the founding pairing and ocean breezes makes it worthy of beach snack standard status.*

Anyone else ever try this? Or have a weird beach snack that they'd like to share? I'm partial to goldfish crackers and plums.

*This post does not condone drinking alcohol on the beach. I'd never do that. Right.....

Checking In

Sorry it's been a little quiet around here. I'm plowing through the work that needs to be done on the revision of my book. I'm very happy to report that, as of Sunday morning, the Atlantic City and Sea Isle chapters are done. Well, done except for the final read through I'll do in September. It's nice to put a big, black Sharpee line through them on my "to do list" - and it's not a good Sharpee either. It's one with a tip that's been beaten up through use, so that big, black line is looks mean. I cross you off my list, you town!

So while I start in on Cape May, here are two shore related articles I've written. The first is about a couple in Cape May (with a nice surprise at the end!) The second is about a family in Wildwood Crest. Enjoy!

Asbury Park App

The creative folks at the Asbury Park Boardwalk have put together a knock out app for the iPhone and iPad. I played with it over the weekend, and as someone who has spent a good deal of time in Asbury but don't live there, it's incredibly helpful. The best part for me is the events listing. Since I don't live nearby, I have to make a special trip up to Asbury, and by scrolling through the app, I can plan ahead.

Here's a video showing the features. Best part? It's 100% free!

News from Around the South Jersey Shore

Things aren't looking good for the Borgata these days.

STILL with Convention Hall in Cape May.

Did you know there was a lighthouse in Sea Isle? I did, but only because it would be pointed out to me every weekend last summer on the way to the bar. It's not a lighthouse as you'd think of one, but some folks tried to save it. Apparently, they failed.

Rumor is true: Stockton is buying Seaview.

I scratched my head when I heard this one on NPR. NOTHING about the state takeover of part of Atlantic City? And a glancing mention to corruption?

After getting yelled at by a biker on the Wildwood boardwalk - while I was standing in a non-biking lane - I have to agree with North Wildwood on this one.

Rude or genius?

As seen in North Wildwood on Saturday. So, brain trust: is this rude? Or genius?