It was! Really! Higbee, which is known now more for being dog-friendly and birder-popular, used to be a nude beach. That ended in 1999, though as I mentioned in this piece in the June issue of New Jersey Monthly, not everyone honors the ban.
I learned that in September when I took a post-book-deadline trip down the shore to sit on the beach and do nothing. I tried Strathmere first, but the bugs to got to me, so I headed down to Higbee with what may or may not have been an alcoholic beverage.
And this happened.
Emily is also a fan. She learned how to swim in the teeny waves on that beach. I'll try to bring her back down to Higbee this summer.
I am back from my shore tour and am working on a post of all that happened. A few highlights: a broken toe (not mine), a casino salon, Bar Tampa's 1999 club mix and Lucy the Elephant's new tail. VERY interesting weekend.
Resorts allegedly fires older cocktail waitress who were deemed not good looking enough in new, skimpy 1920s themed uniforms. Yeah, THAT'LL end well.
The casinos are about to face compliance checks that they're ADA compliant. Really? The casinos rely on seniors in wheelchairs playing slots for money. When I first toured Resorts, the PR guy boasted that there are no stairs between their bus depot and the casino floor to accommodate older gamblers. Sheesh.
Big rodeo in Atlantic City this weekend. Of course people are protesting.
Cape May-Lewes Ferry is adding a fuel surcharge.
Firefighters deliver baby in Wildwood.
First, it was pizza boxes. Now coloring books. What's next? A beach ball?
Apparently I missed Sea Isle City Girl's Weekend. Who knew? Also, there's apparently a website called www.seaislerevitalization.com. Scratching my head over that one. In a slip of an island with many million dollar plus homes...what needs revitalizing?
Behold! The Colonial Mills Ridgevale Stone Harbor Chair Pad, available at Walmart. No, this isn't really shore related. But neither was this.
Back from the beach! Well, I've been back since Saturday morning, but what a glorious weekend it was. I finally got some serious beach time in: Thursday in North Wildwood and Thursday night in a barefoot beach run in Sea Isle (yeouch on the calves), and then Friday in Sea Isle. Each day was packed, busy and beautiful.
One highlight of the weekend was checking out the new Rusty Nail in Cape May. It's the renovation of a classic lifeguard hangout -- it's change for the old bar, but the chill and relaxed vibe is in tact. You can sit outside under the stars by a bonfire, or inside to listen to music. Best part? Beer served in frosted mugs (so says Bill and my brother since I was the designed driver). It opened on Wednesday and was busy yet not overcrowded on Friday -- much different scene from the mess that was the Whitebrier in Avalon earlier in the day. Yikes.
We had also stopped at the renovated Windrift in Avalon before heading down to Cape May. I'm not feeling the changes. It's like when you knock down a quaint shore cottage and build a bland vinyl-wrapped building in its place. It loses character, whether they're now serving sushi or not. Best bet? Head upstairs to the deck. It's still the same. Why did the Rusty Nail renovation work better? Because it didn't try to change the bar. It was an upgrade, not an attempt to make it something it's not.
On another note: I drove home very early on Saturday morning. I was the DD on Friday night because I knew I'd be leaving at about 6am Saturday. I saw not one but two arrests on the Atlantic City Expressway on the way home. Remember, kids: just because it's morning doesn't mean you're sober.
I got the Victoria's Secret fall catalogue today. WHAT?! July 1 and apparently I'm supposed to be thinking about fall? Nuts to that -- here's your Fourth of July weekend shore report:
THURSDAY
Traffic. Lots and lots of traffic...and a FREE concert at Chicken Bone Beach in Atlantic City.
Plus movie under the stars in Sea Isle.
FRIDAY
Il Divo is divoing at the Borgata.
And the Doobie Brothers are, um, doobieing at the Tropicana.
Wallflowers! Also at the Borgata.
SATURDAY
Boom boom pow! We've got fireworks in Atlantic City, Sea Isle, Wildwood and Cape May. FREE
Other than fireworks...Joe Cocker is playing the Atlantic City Hilton.
There's a beard growing competition wrapping up in Cape May.
The House of Blues at the Showboat at in AC is having a free Michael Jackson Tribute Concert show at 10:30pm.
Ocean City's having two bike parades. And there's one in Cape May, too.
Lots of stuff going on in Stone Harbor, too.
SUNDAY
Cape May Stage will feature Go North Penguin, an extra special show for families by puppeteer Scott Hitz & Company in the spirit of Jim Henson.
And, of course, there's the beach -- the beautiful, glorious beach. Weather reports are calling for a stand out weekend -- warm and sunny with low humidity.
I'm heading down on Thursday morning to Wildwood for work, then will be in Sea Isle until Saturday morning when I...drive home. WHA?! you might ask? Why leave on what could be the nicest shore weekend of 2009 so far?
One word, folks: family. It's the big Verzella family shin dig on July 4 where we eat, drink, swim and light little pellets we call "snakes" on fire (not actual snakes), then watch fireworks and drink some more. It's not the shore, but for me? That's a nice way to spend the weekend.
So enjoy the July 4 weekend! And if you see a sort of tall women with shoulder length blond hair watching the scene at The OD in Sea Isle, stop by and say hello. It might just be me ;-)
Thirteen down, two weekends to go, people. This is just about the end of Summer 2008, so let's get right to it:
The most important thing (obviously) is that I'll be signing books at the Book Nook (37th and the Boardwalk) in Sea Isle City on Saturday night from 6-8pm. It's my second to last summer signing, so stop by to buy a book, hang out or just say hi. Should be a nice night for it.
Some other people might be interested in that Jimmy Buffet guy, who's playing Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on Sunday night, but what's he got that I don't? Parrot heads?
But before he gets there, Jordin Sparks and Jesse McCartney are playing Boardwalk Hall on Friday night.
Do you think he's sexy? If you do, Rod Stewart will be at the Borgata this weekend.
I don't think Rod's so hot. But John Mayer? Yeah, he'll do. He's playing the Borgata on Sunday.
Bust out the bleach blond hair and earring Billy Idol will play the House of Blues on Friday.
It's sidewalk sale time in Stone Harbor! Check it out on Saturday. Want a preview of the scene? This New York Times article from last summer just about sums it up.
Up for a workout? There's a triathalon and duathon in Wildwood on Saturday.
And there's a "hands on art" event at Historic Cold Springs Village this weekend.
If you're looking ahead: Monday is the Taste of the Quarter at the Tropicana. Proceeds benefit the The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Hard to believe that it's almost over, isn't it? I spent some time down the shore this week, and it didn't even feel like summer -- we didn't have that bone crushing humidity but sunny skies, nice breezes, and cool nights.
If you're itching to go but don't you have a shot at scoring a place to stay, I have a suggestion: get online (or get to my book) and start calling places. Many are booked, yes, but you never know when a cancellation will open up a prime room. I stopped yesterday to visit Jay and Mary Ann Gorrick of Cape May's Inn at the Park yesterday, and while we were talking, someone called in to cancel. "That'll get booked back up," saidMary Ann. "They've been calling all day." So if you still want to go, take a little time, make a lot of calls, and you, too, can have your shore weekend!
Weather's supposed to be gorgeous at the Jersey Shore this weekend. I was trying to sneak out today for some beach time, but my brothers are coming in from NYC and DC, so I'll be staying local.
In any case, here's what's going on:
PEACH FESTIVAL! OK, the Gloucester County 4H Fair and Peach Festival isn't quite at the Jersey Shore, but it is on the way if you take Route 55 to the shore. I visited yesterday (and if I hadn't dropped my camera and had to use my mom's then realize I didn't have the right cables, there would be pictures on the blog -- I hope to put them up by Monday), and had tons of fun. Information's here. If you can't get to the festival, look out for those roadside stands selling produce. It's prime peach season. And try to get a pit popper. I picked one up yesterday, and it takes care of that peach pit problem.
Aretha Franklin's performing at the Borgata tonight.
Also tonight Donna Summer at Caesars and Gov't Mule at the House of Blues. Summer is also playing on Saturday night.
Fan of The King? Then check out tonight's Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest at Resorts.
Whoopi Goldberg will be at Harrah's on Saturday (on a sad note, George Carlin was scheduled to perform Saturday night as well -- RIP).
PAULA DEAN! She'll be putting mayonnaise into every recipe possible at Caesars on Sunday.
Cahal Dunne’s Grand To Be Irish Show is in Ocean City tonight.
Saturday in Ocean City is the 44th Annual Miss Hemisphere Pageant.
It's War at the Shore time in Sea Isle City. No, not real war -- it's a rugby tournament. (And if you missed it yesterday, here's my video about Sea Isle City -- also lots of info about Wawa)
In Avalon, there's two reggae concerts on Saturday, one at noon and one at 7pm.
Wildwood's hosting an Ultimate Frisbee tournament this weekend.
If you've got kids (or are a kid at heart), there's a Radio Disney Concert in Wildwood on Saturday.
And in Cape May, check out the Captain Kidd hunt on Saturday and Sunday.
Oh, and it's shark week:
This isn't one you read about every day: FakeFest at The Deck at Trump Marina today through Sunday. It's a bunch of cover bands.
Steely Dan is playing the Borgata on Friday.
Chicago and The Doobie Brothers are also play the Borgata, but on Saturday. This combo holds a special place in my heart. The first time I ever drank too much was in the parking lot before their concert. Memories.......
Ringo Starr is playing Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort on Saturday.
This looks like a whole lot of yummy fun: the 22nd Annual Red, White & Blueberry Festival is on Sunday at the Hammonton High School Grounds. And it's free!
The Ocean City Pops 80th anniversary concert is on Sunday.
There's a free concert at Veterans Plaza in Avalon tonight.
Avalon is also hosting a triathlon on Sunday.
North Wildwood's holding their annual Italian-American festival this weekend.
The Cape May Designer show house is open. Check out this article I wrote about it for the Philadelphia Inquirer for all the details. It's amazing what the designers did to that house. If I had a spare $2 million, I'd buy it. Better get me a lottery ticket...
As for MY shore weekend, I'm headed to Margate for a meeting followed by my first trip to the beach this year. Yes, it's sad but true: I have not been on the beach all summer. So me, my beach chair, ipod, book and suntan lotion will be doing some sunning before I head out in Atlantic City tonight. Have a good weekend!
