Down the Shore with...Chris Illuminati

Hey, it's back! The latest and greatest installment of the "Down the Shore with..." series. During the rush of the summer, I had trouble keeping up with it, but I'm happy to bring it back, starting with the one and only writer and blogger Chris Illuminati, who not only loves the shore but has been writing some interesting posts about his and his wife's quest to get in top shape. He also runs a funny site called 9 to Fried for those who love to hate their jobs. But here's his thoughts on the shore.

1. What's your favorite shore town and why?
This is honestly a rough question so I'll answer it by saying "it depends on my mood." For example, if I am looking for a night out with the wife where we can get a taste of Jersey shore the way it was when we were little ankle biters, we will take a trip to Wildwood. We ride the coasters, get a sausage and peppers sandwich, lose our paycheck on the cranes. Oh, and did I mention fudge? Well, fudge. If we want to go out and have a good time with a younger crowd, catch a decent band, and drink probably more than my liver would allow I'll meet friends down in Manasquan. If we are looking for the best of both; the beach and food and a step away from nightlife, we go to Brigantine. If you twisted my arm and made me choose just one I'll take Brigantine.

2. How's Wildwood now different from the Wildwood you knew as a kid?
This is what I love about Wildwood; it feels exactly the same as when I was a kid. The old hotels are restored to look the way they did when they were first built and all of the new buildings follow the rule of trying to look retro. Everything is just stuck in freezeframe of time from my childhood. I went down last summer to find Duffers Ice Cream almost exactly as I left it back in 1987 -- except they have new video games. I was hoping they still had Pole Position with my name in the Top Ten scorers but EVERYTHING can't stay the same forever.

3. Manasquan's a bit out of the range of what this blog covers. Are beaches further north that much different than the southern shore?
I feel the Jersey Shore is the Jersey Shore (profound, I know). I think each beach has its own feel, its own history, and its own type of people that it attracts. You won't feel uncomfortable anywhere along the coast but there are certain places that don't feel warm to certain people. So you scope out a different area and mark it as your summer destination.

4. How long have you been going to Brigantine?
This will be my fifth summer. My parents were going to AC frequently. They aren't big gamblers, they just liked to gamble, get drinks, and my dad is a sucker for a good buffet. It felt like they were throwing money away by constantly staying at a casino. They've always wanted a place at the shore to call their own, so they took the money they were going to spend on my writing lessons and bought a condo in Brigantine. At first I thought, "where the heck is Brigantine?" and thought it was a bad idea, but I went for a visit and immediately fell in love with the town. Sure, I am a so so writer but at least I got a beach house out of the deal.

5. What's your favorite place to eat down the shore?
Right as you come out of the tunnel from Brigantine into Atlantic City there is a place on the corner of Fairmount and Mississippi Avenue called Angelo's Fairmount Tavern [Jen note: I also LOVE this restaurant]. My wife is an incredible cook, and my mother is of course one of the best around, but while they are both fighting for the top spot Angelo's is fantastic for authentic, home cooked (if you live in a bar/restaurant) Italian food.

6. When did you start your blog?
I started my blog about two years ago. I had all this personal writing that didn't fit it in my daily content for work, and it wasn't quite material I'd use for freelancing. It was just personal experiences, funny situations, or stupid thoughts that ran around my brain. It started to get an audience, which came as a huge shock because it meant people where interested in my personal life. It's an odd thing to think about so I try to forget that I am telling friends and strangers about all of the things that should usually be kept a secret.

7. How's the fitness/dieting going?
The wife is doing absolutely fantastic. I can't explain how much I admire her for doing this fitness competition. I am going along for the ride, blogging about it, and trying to be as supportive as possible. I slip up constantly, especially where diet is concerned, but I make sure she stays on track. She has much more will power than I do. She could sit in front of a cake and not think about a single bite while someone in Utah says cookie and I get a craving so bad I am hijacking a Tastykake truck like I am in a scene of the Italian Job.

8. Tell us about 9 to Fried.
Well when I was hired at phillyBurbs, one of my assignments was the Job Search section. Basically, it got a ton of traffic and management wanted to figure out a way to keep people interested even after they finished looking for a new job. So it started out as a blog to help people; info about resumes, how to dress for interviews, etc. It bombed. Then one day I found an article online that was job related but completely absurd. So I posted that article and ripped it to shreds. I was merciless. Of course, people loved it. So it got me thinking that people checking out jobs are obviously ticked off about their own so why not a blog for people that HATE their jobs? 9 to Fried was born and it's now one of the most popular sections on the site. I even have a group of dedicated readers called the 5 O'clock Shadows. It's honestly my favorite thing to work on because of the subject matter and my "shadows." I am like a proud parent of a dysfunctional child.

9. And apparently you went to college with my sister. What was Rider like?
Rider was probably one of the smartest moves I made in my life. I was at a small school in Pennsylvania that was celebrating their first year of running water. I was miserable. I was a Jersey kid stuck in farm land. I trasnfered after my Sophmore year and it was like a whole new world. My grades improved, I made a ton of great friends, and I wasn't far from home, my family and childhood friends. I have everything I could want in life for those two years. Blast you graduation!

Down the Shore with...Joseph Czachowski

Remember that adage your English teach told you about showing and not telling? I try to apply that to my writing, especially about the Jersey Shore. Joseph Czachowski shows the shore's history -- literally -- in Historic Photos of Jersey Shore, a step back in Jersey Shore time through pictures. So here's his thoughts on the shore, then and now.

1. You're connected to a lot of shore towns. If I had to twist your arm and ask for your favorite, what would it be?
Spring Lake. It has a great boardwalk to walk on passing great houses to look at as well as The Breakers and the retirement "spa". I wish I could spend my golden years there -- lots of sentimental attachments since my wife loved it so much. It has really nice clean beach with jettys that you can't walk on anymore and is a relaxing part of the shore and great for sitting on the boardwalk and people watching.

2. What's your favorite shore thing that's no longer around?
Barney's was an outdoor eatery in Seaside Heights where you could get a fantastic breakfast for a couple of bucks. When you're 17, 18, 19 and only have limited funds after party-ing all night long, it was just a great place to go.

3. A lot of people go to the shore to eat eat eat. Where's a must stop?
I think Doris and Ed's in Atlantic Highlands is tops for seafood. It's pricey and I usually save it for special events, its far and away a great meal and a great time. Not to be chauvinistic but its an impressive place to take a date.

4. Where did the idea for this book come from?
The book idea is explained, but I might add that in doing the Shore and then a Hoboken book, the words flowed a lot easier for the Shore. I might add also that my editor asked why I kept capitalizing the word Shore. Being from the south I had to explain to him that in Jersey, Shore is always capitalized :-)

5. Where did you find the pictures?
The picture acquisition question stands as is. The Trenton Archives is amazing in the amount of pictures they have. Tons of photos were taken by the Depression era Works Progress Administration (WPA) photographers, which is a history lesson in itself.

6. Any interesting research stories you'd like to share?
I can add to the interesting research part in that it is very rewarding to dig into "things" from a couple or more sources and find cross referencing facts or a fact or two from one place that you had already given up hope of finding in a different place. It's sometimes like working on a jigsaw puzzle, always fun, sometimes frustrating.

7. What do you think is one thing the shore lost that could have been saved?
What "hasn't" happened to Asbury is a sin. Whenever I drive through I can't help but shake my head in amazement and ask out loud, "what happened here"? I simply can't understand why it still isn't a vibrant community.

8. And what's the best thing that should have been saved that has been saved?
I just think that grass roots people's activism has made the state sit up and take notice as to what a real natural resource the beaches and water are. Agencies have to keep pushing visitors to respect the Shore. We also need to realize that while you might be able to fight city hall you can't always stop mother nature and that needs to be realized and respected as well. The beaches are cleaner. Also...Lucy the elephant. :-)

Down the Shore with...Trish Ryan

Trish Ryan is one of those people I found out about because of my blog. She's a former Villanova law student-turned-memorist who has a lot of memories of the Jersey shore. Her first book, He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not, just came out (my review is here), so I asked her about the shore, the book, and, of course, Upcakes.

1. What do you consider your shore town and why?
Avalon. I rented a house there one summer when I was in law school with 11 of my girlfriends. For those three months, it was my salvation...I spent every week counting the minutes until I could leave the office on Friday afternoons!

2. Did you know about 'the shore' before you went to Villanova Law?
I didn't! When I got my welcome letter from the head of the VLS Student Association, it said, "I hope you're all having a great summer down the shore..." I thought, "Pennsylvania doesn't have a shore...does it???" I had no idea about this integral part of Philadelphia life.

3. What surprised you most about it?
That people started planning for their shore houses right after Christmas!

4. What's your favorite shore food?
That particular summer, I think my favorite food was beer :) But if I went back now (as a more mature, much less stressed out individual) it would definitely be upcakes!

5. What's your thoughts on upcakes?
First, why has nobody thought of these sooner? And how do they make the Irish Creme upcake taste just like a chocolate martini?

6. Where did the idea for your book come from?
When I was trying to sort out my love life and my spirituality, I read all kinds of self-help books and memoirs, but never one by someone who tried the Bible as a spiritual path. Also, there weren't many that had a happy ending. I guess I wrote the book I would have liked to find back when I needed some encouragement that might life might turn out okay.

7. Tell us a little more about how the book went from idea to actual book.
I emailed my agent, Elisabeth Weed, with a query letter that essentially said, "I've got this quirky story about how Jesus saved my love life. I don't want to convert anybody, but I think it might be a fun, funny story that readers would enjoy if it's written in the right way. Would you be interested in helping me do that?" She had just had lunch with an editor who'd said, "I'm looking for an unusual story about spiritual exploration...keep me in mind if you hear of anything." After that, it all fell into place.

8. Have any of your ex's contacted you yet?
Just one...he was quite relieved to know that he's not in the book!

9. And what's the leading name for the frog on the cover of your book?
Right now I'm torn between Roger and Hubert...but the suggestions keep coming in on my blog, so I'll wait a few more days before making such an important decision!

Read more at trishryanonline.blogspot.com.

Down the Shore with...Paige Wolf

Paige Wolf of Paige Wolf Public Relations is *the* girl about town. Not only does this outstanding PR gal write the fabulous "Paige Turner" newsletter, but she's also organizing a fundraiser for Career Wardrobe, a great charity that helps women in need.

She's also has some shore memories, so let's go Down the Shore with Paige!

1. What do you consider 'your' shore town and why?My grandmother has a shore house in Ventnor and my parents are big fans of Atlantic City, so I usually stay in that area when I visit. But I much prefer the simplicity of Ocean City’s boardwalk – French fries, funnel cake, and Ferris wheels!

2. What was your favorite ride on Wonderland Pier?
When I was a kid I loved all the roller coasters and spinny rides. Now I am close to 30 and my belly can’t handle all that motion! I’d rather stick to the games at this point!

3. What are your thoughts on one of my favorite Jersey shore foods, the upcake? OK, you introduced me to Upcakes and it was love at first bite – sweet and delish! The icing all over is brilliant and the flavors are fabulous! Bailys Irish Cream!

4. Where do you like to go now at the Jersey Shore?
Atlantic City has improved tremendously in the past five years. It used to be way seedier, and now there are so many great restaurants and way better shopping. It’s so nice to see them trying to be more like Vegas, but there is still a ways to go.

5. Tell us about Career Wardrobe.
The Career Wardrobe is the nation’s largest nonprofit organization that provides women in transition with free professional clothing and educational opportunities to help them successfully find and retain employment. The Wardrobe’ services empower women by inspiring the confidence necessary to achieve self-sufficiency for themselves and their families. The Career Wardrobe also offers a Gateway to Success Seminar Series, where volunteers with expertise in fashion, financial management, employment law and human resources present monthly seminars on personal and professional development. The organization helps about 5,000 women a year!
Our seventh annual fundraiser, A Perfect Fit: Fashioning Futures For Women will be held Wednesday, June 11, 2008 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at World Café Live in Philadelphia. The evening includes a fashion presentation by local media personalities, live music by Philadelphia singer-songwriter Christine Havrilla, and a live auction of handbags inspired and autographed by national celebrities. This year’s event incorporates the theme “Living an Empowered Life,” and includes a keepsake resource program book with articles detailing how women can take control of their personal and professional lives.

6. How can people get involved in the event?
Tickets are only $60 and are available online, www.careerwardrobe.org. Or they can call (215) 568-6693. The wardrobe also always has volunteer opportunities available.

7. I also know you're 'green minded.' What are some easy things you can do to go green?
There are so many super easy things! For instance, there is no excuse to not be using CFL light bulbs which also save time and money. Recycling is easier than ever –I know in my area we don’t even have to separate – paper, plastic, bottles, and cans can all go in one bin! And just say no to plastic bags! It is much more comfortable and convenient to carry one of the many reusable totes or even a large shoulder bag.

I'm donating a shore themed basket to the event. If you our your company would like to add to the basket, send me an email at jenmiller27 [at] gmail [dot] com.

Down the Shore with...Jen Singer

Jen Singer is, in a word, amazing. Not only does she run the very cool website mommasaid.net; not only does she blog for Good Housekeeping; and not only is she also author of the very funny You're a Good Mom (and Your Kids Aren't So Bad Either); but she's also a cancer survivor -- and she managed to keep all three things going, plus wrap up a home renovation and still run her family show while undergoing treatment.

She's also a big Wildwoods fan, and it plays a part in her story. So here we go:

1. What do you consider 'your' shore town and why?
For the past few summers, my husband’s family has joined us in Wildwood – actually, Lower Township. We stay at Seapointe Village, a quiet, family-oriented condo association near the end of the Wildwood beach. We picked it because it’s perfect for kids: large beach with tame waves, pools, kitchen for cooking, proximity to the boardwalk and to Cape May. We often run into neighbors from Kinnelon there.

2. Why did you start coming to the Wildwoods?
We had been vacationing in Martha’s Vineyard, which I love, but it was a haul to get to, especially with kids in tow. So we looked closer to home. My sister-in-law’s friend brought her family there and recommended it. We’ve been hooked ever since. This summer will be our sixth vacation there.

Last summer was an especially sweet time for us. I had just spent my second week in the hospital undergoing chemo for non Hodgkin’s lymphoma. On the day I was to leave for the shore, my husband, Pete, was on his way into Manhattan to pick me up, and my oncology nurse was double-timing my chemo. As a result, I was snoozing on and off, tired from the benedryl blast. When my roommate asked my nurse if she could have my window-view bed after I leave, he said, “If she leaves.” I bolted awake and said, “I don’t care if you have to strap my gurney on top of my mini-van, I am going down the shore today!” Two hours later, Pete was driving me down the Parkway.

3. Most people come to the shore to eat. Any recommendations?
Every year, my husband and I take advantage of the free babysitting and head over to Cape May for dinner for two at the Ebbitt Room in the Virginia Hotel on Jackson Street. They have fantastic seafood meals and awfully good champagne drinks.

4. How did you get the idea for You're a Good Mom?
I’m a recovering mom-aholic who used to feel guilty for folding laundry because I wasn’t making teaching moments for my toddlers, even though I was a full-time mom who spent upwards of 100 hours a week with them. Over the years, I’ve seen mothers try too hard to try to keep up with Super Moms, thereby giving up and becoming Slacker Moms. One’s bad for mom and the other is bad for the kids. But I knew that there was a sweet spot between the two where you can raise perfectly good kids without losing yourself or your sanity. And so I wrote the book.

5. How did you stay inspired finish the book while undergoing chemo?
Writing is one of the things that helped me through all the chemo, baldness, pain, fatigue, all the nastiness of cancer treatments. Getting lost in the writing helped me deal with the fact that I was 40 and facing death. If nothing else, writing is cheaper than therapy.

6. Which parts of the book did you write down the shore?
I don’t even remember which I wrote before my diagnosis and which I wrote after, which, considering I write humor, is pretty darn cool. I didn’t leave our vacation rental much in the first few days down the shore, so when everyone else went to the beach, I flipped open my laptop and banged out a few pages. Or I wrote one sentence and fell fast asleep in front of the TV. Somehow, I managed to finish the book a week ahead of my extended deadline.

7. What do you hope to do in summer 2008 that you couldn't do in summer 2007?
Everything. Swimming, making sand castles, mini golf, going on the water rides on the boardwalk, visiting the Cape May Zoo and taking my kids on in that water gun game where you race to blow up the balloon. I’ve got cheap stuffed animals to win, darn it!

As a bonus, here's a trailer for Jen's book!



Read more at mommasaid.net.

Down the shore with...Devin Haggerty

I'm a t-shirt person. I'm on a mission to find one vintage t-shirt of every shore town in my book (more on that later), and given that I work from home I'm always looking for cool t-shirts to wear to 'work.'

The gentlemen at www.dirtyjerseys.com are happy to oblige with shirts about the great garden state. Some are specifically about the shore (though all are not PG, so check the website for all the Dirty Jersey designs), so I asked Devin Haggerty to be part of our series.

1. What do you consider 'your' shore town and why?
There are actually two shore towns that are dear to our hearts, Belmar and Long Beach Island. We love Belmar because it's where we vacationed with our families during the summer. We spent hours at the beach, put up terrible numbers playing mini golf on the boardwalk and of course lost most of our allowance money at the late "Belmar Playland." Belmar also became important to us as we got older and discovered the wonders of Bar Anticipation.

Now that we're mature adults, a point up for debate of course, we have come to love LBI. LBI is has great beaches, great waves, and most importantly great Jersey folks that constantly remind us why we love the shore.

2. Most people go to the Jersey shore just to eat. Any recommendations?
Tough question. Pete and Elda's in Neptune City has by far the best thin crust pizza in NJ and quite possibly the world. On the other hand, one can never go wrong at the Ming Dynasty Buffet in Manahawkin where they offer everything from crab legs, to sushi, to unlimited soft serve ice cream.

3. Where did the idea of Dirty Jerseys come from?
The idea to start a T-shirt company actually originated on a long car ride back from Penn State after a night of desperately trying to recapture our youth. Tired and feeling less than perfect, we decided to pass the time by thinking of silly t-shirt slogans. After writing down about 20 or 30 ideas on the back of a Taco Bell napkin a business was born. I could be wrong, but I believe the story behind Microsoft is quite similar.

4. How do you come up with shirt concepts and designs?
We really just try to come up with things that New Jersey residents can relate to...especially if it is something that differentiates NJ from other states. A lot of times we are just sitting around joking and an idea accidentally gets blurted out. Some ideas are decent, but most are tossed aside. Other than that, we seek advice from friends and anyone on our email distribution list. If someone submits an idea that gets made into a t-shirt they are given a free shirt. What better incentive is that?!?

5. Where can people buy Dirty Jerseys?
Right now we sell them primarily on our website www.dirtyjerseys.com and at various street fairs and town events. We would really like to get our shirts into some boutiques or specialty stores, so if any store-owner is reading this and would like to make some money selling NJ shirts please contact us at information@dirtyjerseys.com. We'd love to create some great partnerships with local store owners right here in New Jersey. We also sell our shirts to our parents, because let's be honest, it's their job as parents to support their son's most misguided business ventures.

6. Any hints at new designs to come?
We've got a lot of ideas coming down the pike and we really wish we could make them as quick as we think of them. We're still taking some polls on shirts to gauge interest and hopefully the results of those polls will help dictate a few of the new ones coming out. Just as a sneak peak for your readers, we currently have one in the works about rock legend Bon Jovi and another focusing on the dangers that were Action Park.

Down the Shore with...Benjamin Orlock

I was going to hold off writing about this until Friday, but, well, I got Benjamin Orlock of the Ocean Drive Marathon to sit down and chat for this week's "Down the Shore with..." so now's as good a time as any to say that I'll be in Wildwood and Cape May this weekend running the 10 mile portion of the Ocean Drive Marathon. Aside from reading and writing, running is a passion of mine, and this is going to be my longest race -- ever. How fitting that it's down the shore.

So I asked Ben about the history of the race and what we runners can expect. And if you're a runner and like taking jogs by the beach, come on out! There's a 5k portion of the race, too (and if you buy my book, make sure to look out for the special feature about how to run at the Jersey Shore -- because it's not quite the same as running inland).

1. What do you consider 'your' shore town and why?
Unfortunately, I haven't been to the shore much in the summer months in many years. My recent experiences at the shore have been mostly the work I do for the Marathon--which is in the off-season for the area. So I'd have to say, these days I've been partial to Cape May as it seems to have the most life during the off-season. Although I have also come to appreciate the emptiness of Wildwood in the winter.

2. A lot of people go to the shore just to eat eat eat. Any recommendations? Especially for those of us who are carb loading?
This weekend I'm going to try a new place I haven't been to yet but it's
come highy reccommended by a few whose judgement has proven reliable before -- Gecko's in Cape May promises to be a great little Mexican place, though I'm not sure it's the best choice for carb loading.

The official pasta dinner for the race will be at the restaurant at the Montego Bay Hotel in Wildwood. This is where many runners stay as well as the site of the Boardwalk finish line for the 10 miler.

New to this year's events are the race festivities that will be going on at LaCosta Lounge near the finish line in Sea Isle City. Festivities will include food, drink, music and good cheer from 10:30 AM until 3:30 PM. The LaCosta will also be the venue for the OD 5K & ODMarathon awards ceremony. For some other ideas, we've been refering our runners to
www.capemaytimes.com.

3. How did the OD Marathon get started?
The idea for the Marathon began 10 years ago when our Race Director, Ed Depalma, presented the idea for a marathon to the Cape May County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The idea was embraced by the Board as a great way to bring exposure to the shore communities as well as a great opportunity for all the local communities to get involved in a beneficial and exciting event.

4. When did you add the 10 mile and 5k portions?
The 10 mile and 5K began the same year as the marathon. The 5K was created primarily as a small event to keep our volunteers and spectators involved at the finish area in Sea Isle between during the time between the start and finish of the marathon.

5. What makes the Ocean Drive Marathon a fun race?
Its a great way to see a beautiful stretch of shoreline and shoretowns, especially since its during the offseason. You get a whole new perspective on the area--so many people only get to the shore during warmer times.

6. I'm worried about the wind and the cold being so close to the water. Any suggestions?
You should worry! It's March on the Atlantic ocean--what more can I say? Hope for the best, but be prepared for worse. The wind can definitely make its presence known--if we're lucky it's from behind! There's a good portion of the race that's run near the water but also some good escapes inland so there's usually relief ahead. I'm not a runner myself, but there will be apparel vendors on hand at the Expo on Saturday to advise runners on what apparel and gear would be best for Sunday's conditions.

For more information, go to www.odmarathon.com.

Down the Shore with...Amy Hill Hearth

It's not every day that we get a Peabody Award winner on the blog. So I'm happy to introduce you to Amy Hill Hearth, author of Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years, which is where that Peabody came from. The book was a bestseller that inspired what Hill Hearth calls "Delany Mania."

She's also author of "Strong Medicine" Speaks: A Native American Elder Has Her Say, which will be published tomorrow. It's an oral history of the mother of the chief of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape of Cumberland County (you can see my review here). We also happen to share our alma matter -- The University of Tampa -- and were both editors of The Minaret, the UT college newspaper. Small world.

I met up with Hill Hearth to interview her for a newspaper article, and realized she'd be perfect for this series, even if her favorite towns are a little bit due north. So here we go:

1. What do you consider your favorite shore town and why?
I actually have two towns that I consider "mine." One is Ocean Grove, where I go when I need that Victorian-houses-by-the-sea experience. The other is Long Branch, specifically Pier Village. It's only three miles from our house, so I like to go there when I need a breather, and it's very, very dog-friendly.

2. How did you end up living near the coast?
My husband and I were living in Westchester County, New York and he received a job offer in Monmouth County, New Jersey. We were happy to have a chance to move back to the seashore because when we met, we were living in Daytona Beach, Florida and our early years together included long walks on the beach there. Interestingly, it may be fate that I've ended up at the Monmouth County shore because my father's family were the first white settlers here in the 1600s. One of our ancestors was a Lenni-Lenape Indian woman named Mary. So in an odd way I've come home again.

3. What's the best and worst thing about living near the shore?
The best thing is that I am where I want to be. I'm not somewhere else, longing for the seashore. The worst thing is that in the summer we have to take the crowds and traffic into consideration. I love summer but I'm always happy when life gets nice and quiet in the fall.

4. What's your favorite Cape May memory?
I have two favorite memories of Cape May. One was in 1982, on a visit with my parents. I had just graduated from the University of Tampa and the three of us drove "the old way" up the coast, avoiding the highways for Route 1. We took the ferry from Delaware to Cape May on a cold but beautiful day in late spring. My second favorite memory is taking my husband there for a romantic getaway in the late 1980s. He had never been there, so it was great fun to share it with him. He grew up in Florida, where so much was bulldozed, and appreciated that Cape May had not been ruined.

5. Are you surprised that it's become such a romantic getaway?
I didn't realize that Cape May is one of the most popular places today for getaways and weddings. Yet it makes sense because it is so lovely and, because of its location, it almost feels like you're on an island, thousands of miles away.

6. What do you think is the biggest misconception about the Lenni-Lenape tribe?
The biggest misconception about the Lenni-Lenape Indians is that people believe they are extinct. The largest (more than 3,000 individual members) and most vibrant Lenni-Lenape tribe still living on ancestral lands is the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape of Cumberland County, not all that far from Cape May. They have a Powwow that is open to the public. This year, it's June 14 and 15th and will be held at the Salem County Fairgrounds.

7. What do you hope this book does for the tribe?
The best thing about the book is that it is giving the tribe a voice. For four-hundred years, outsiders wrote about them without their input. As a result, my book is giving them a chance to "have their say" at last.

Read more at www.amyhillhearth.com. You can also see a video of Hill Hearth on BN.com.

Down the Shore with...Steve Chernoski

Back in October, I wrote about how Steve Chernoski interviewed me for a documentary he was filming about where is the middle of New Jersey. Good news, folks: the movie's done. Check out the website here. If you're from New Jersey and ever at a loss about something to talk to about with other New Jersey people, bring up this topic. I guarantee that it'll get people gabbing.

Chernoski also has interesting ties of the shore which, of course, makes him perfect for the "Down the Shore with..." series.

1. What do you consider 'your' shore town and why?
Well, I own a home in Somers Point, so even though it’s a “Bay” town, I’d say that one. It’s got some great restaurants and taverns and a “shore town feel” because of Ocean City vacationers wanting to have a great dinner with some drinks at night. Ocean City has too many kiddies running around and Margate isn’t what it used to be. Longport is my favorite beach.

2. Most people go down the shore to eat eat eat. What's your favorite shore spot?
Too many! I love Buschs for seafood in Sea Isle. Nothing beats wing night at the Windrift in Avalon. My favorite pizza is All Natural Pizza in Ocean City. In Somers Point, the Anchorage and Charlie’s are staples of locals. The best kept secret at the south shore and possibly ranking as some of the best Italian food that I’ve ever had is on Route 9 in Seaville at Mama Mia’s, not far from Ocean City or Sea Isle.

3. Where did the idea of this documentary come from?
Well, I grew up near Trenton in Mercer County and people in Mercer talk about this “identity complex” all the time. We’re right in the middle of the NYC and Philly media markets. After college, I lived in Margate/Somers Point for a total of six years and now I’m in Hoboken. It is like three different states!

4. What's the most surprising thing you found?
That in North Jersey, when you buy a house, you traditionally hold the closing settlement meeting in a lawyer’s office. In South Jersey, you have closing
done in the offices of a title company...and from what we’ve heard, this may or may not be the result of New Jersey being split into East & West Jersey in Colonial Times.

5. So where do you think the middle of NJ is?
You’ll have to see the film...but there is a town that claims to be “The State’s Center.” I have a feeling people who think they live in Central NJ may need to redefine their opinion after seeing where it is.

6. What's the next step for the film?
Well, we are showing a shortened version at Stockton College this April and from there we are entering in many regional film festivals.

7. When can our readers hope to see it?
Well, we’ll post the festival dates on our blog nsjersey.blogspot.com and if a company or investor likes it and buys it, then hopefully it will go to DVD. Right now, my co-producer is predicting late summer – early fall of 2008 for the festivals.

8. What's your next project?
I am writing a script for a documentary, which involves me working with some out-of-shape, aging former HS and college soccer stars to fly them out to Italy to compete in a calchetto (mini-soccer) tournament in the mountains of Emilia-Romanga where my maternal grandparents are from. If it moves forward, it will be a story of “getting your groove back,” soccer (of course) and rich cultural interactions, not to mention the spectacular scenery we’d be filming. Working on a grant to finance it is the next step.

Read more at nsjersey.blogspot.com

Down the Shore with...Michelle Jeffers

Michelle Jeffers is one of those great connections I've made because of this blog. I took a mild swipe at the Sea Isle City Polar Bear Plunge, and Jeffers, a real estate agent in Sea Isle City, commented that I should check it out. Turns out she's a blogger, too, and runs the show at Sea Isle City Real Estate News. She's a life-long shore gal, too, and has lots of advice to offer about real estate, whether you're looking to rent a shore home, rent out a shore home, or even buy one.

1. What do you consider 'your' shore town and why?
Sea Isle, without a doubt. There's something magical about the town from the moment you reach the top of the bridge on JFK Boulevard and see the sunlight sparkling on the ocean. Beauty aside, the people who live, work, and visit Sea Isle make it special.

2. How did you end up in Sea Isle City?
My fiancé and I moved to south jersey to attend college. We're from Ocean County originally, and decided that we'd still like to live at the shore. We found a great place in Ocean City, and I started working at Sofroney Real Estate in Sea Isle. Now we live right offshore, and I get to experience that beautiful view on the bridge every day whether it's to go to the office or enjoy Sea Isle events.

3. What's it like living down the shore all year round?
That's a great question! Often times I'll hear from people that they'd love to live at the shore all year. My response is always, "Why not? You can!" Many people assume shore residents spend all fall and winter locked in our houses with nothing to do, nowhere to go. That's not true! There are a lot of activities all year, and while many shops and restaurants are closed or have limited hours, there's still plenty of things to enjoy.

The beach is beautiful whether it's covered in a sea of beach blankets in July or a blanket of snow in January. And really, that's the biggest draw for so many shore residents. I can't think of a more peaceful setting than next to the ocean. It's really an ideal situation.

4. What's your favorite Sea Isle City event?
The Polar Bear Plunge. This February over 1500 people paid money to jump in the freezing cold ocean while about 10,000 people watched. There's a costume contest and a throne made of ice for the Plunge Queen. The majority of the money raised goes to fund the free summer events like dance parties, movie nights, and concerts. The promenade is packed with more people than you'd ever see during the summer, it's awesome and a ton of fun.

5. How long have you been in real estate?
I joined Sofroney Real Estate in 2003, but prior to that I worked as a legal assistant to an attorney who handled Real Estate transactions and related cases.

6. What are some of the joys -- and headaches -- about dealing with so many rental properties?
Our rental inventory is huge! The hardest part is keeping property availability up to date. Property owners in Sea Isle have the option to list with as many real estate offices as they want, which allows us to have such a large rental selection, but it can sometimes lead to problems.

When a realtor books a rental, we contact the property owner and the other offices that list that property, but it does sometimes happen that a realtor won't be notified of a rental. It's always very disappointing to have to tell a family the home they fell in love with isn't available. We all try to avoid that, but it does sometimes happen, and it's difficult.

My work is helping people to make lasting memories, and there's no greater reward than that. It sounds a little cheesy, but it's an awesome feeling when a family finds a vacation home they love. The family is so excited when they finally find the perfect home it's infectious! That's the greatest joy, knowing that ten, twenty, fifty years from now one of my renters will look back and remember all the fun they had vacationing in Sea Isle.

7. Any tips on staying sane on Saturday changeover days? ;-)
Breath deep, enjoy the salt air, and just relax. The traffic won't last forever. Take the motto "Smile, You're in Sea Isle" to heart.

If you're renting with our office, use our express service! Knowing how hard it is to find parking near our office at 42nd Street and Landis Avenue we offer an express check-in and check-out service. We'll meet renters at their car and hand-deliver the keys so they don't have to find parking.

8. What would you say to someone who wants to buy a shore house but isn't sure what will happen to the prices?
People who are thinking of buying have a great opportunity. The home prices are drastically reduced, the mortgage rates are low, and inventory is high. It's impossible to say that prices are as low as they're going to go, that we've reached the bottom of the market, because you can't tell the bottom until after the fact, when the market's already on it's way back up. What I do know is that the prices will go up again, and we're starting to see more activity now. The outlook for 2008 is very strong because of those three factors: low prices, low mortgage rates, high inventory.

This isn't the market for "flippers" you're just not going to buy a property, do nothing but hold onto it for a few months, sell it quickly and make more money than what you paid for the home. Someone who buys now should be buying for the long term, looking to buy a place that they'll use or rent out for years to come. If you can do that, and you want to buy a shore home, then it's really a great time to get into the market.

9. What's one piece of advice you would give to someone about being a good renter?
Communication is key, as it is with any relationship. If a renter checks in and the home isn't properly cleaned, let us know right away. If an amenity or appliance is missing or not working, let us know right away. If you happen to accidentally break something, let us know right away.

I want to make sure you're happy; in a home that's in great condition with lots of amenities you can use and enjoy. I want to make sure that you receive all of your damage deposit back at the end of your stay. If I don't know of any problems or issues, I can't help you. Don't feel like it's a burden, that's my job, and I want to correct anything that you're unhappy about the moment you think that it might be an issue.

10. And what's your favorite time of year in Sea Isle City?
September is the best-kept secret in Sea Isle! The weather is nice, the water is warm and the town is less crowded. The shops and restaurants are still open, and every one is happy to be soaking up the last few weeks before the weather changes.

On September 13-14 there's Fall Family Festival. There's a large food court with local restaurants set up on JFK Boulevard between Landis Avenue and the promenade. On Saturday vendors set up on the promenade and sell all kinds of items, from handmade jewelry and artwork to purses and clothing to household and decorative items. There's also a dance contest! On Sunday the promenade is full of antique cars, with owners who are more than willing to tell you the history of the car. There's also a sand sculpting contest, along with a demonstration from an amazing sand sculptor, and free trolley rides pointing out some of the historical places of Sea Isle.

On the 19th and 20th the Irish Festival is held at La Costa, and on the 27th there's The Baby Boomer's Rock and Roll Revival with Jerry Blavat.

As if that wasn't enough, the rental prices are drastically reduced. A renter could find the same home for a week in September for less than half the price or even a third of the price of a week in July or August! Some properties even rent weekends beginning in September, if you can only find a few days to get away rather than a full week.

Down the Shore with...Elizabeth McGlinn

When I got an email from the ladies at Atlantic Creations, I was intrigued. What a great idea! They create shore-themed gift baskets for any number of occassions, all of which you can check out on their website.

I emailed Rev. Elizabeth McGlinn, a partner in Atlantic City, to see what was up. She's a life-long shore gal, and, without further adou, this week's "Down the Shore with..." interviewee.

1. What do you consider 'your' shore town and why?
I actually have three towns that I have to consider as “my” shore towns. From the age of 11 until two years after college, I lived in Cape May for a total of eight years. Then, as a young adult and new mom I lived in Wildwood Crest for seven years. Currently, I have been a resident of Brigantine for the past 27 years. And I have loved living in each! On another note, as a wedding officiate who does beach ceremonies all along the Jersey Coast, I can actually say each town that I “celebrate love in” is my shore town for that day!

2. Some people go down the shore just to eat. What are your favorite spots?
With all the new dining venues at The Pier, The Quarter, and all the casinos, (and I have had great meals in each one!) I could not pick a “favorite.” You can pick a theme or cuisine and truly find a great restaurant, (casino and non-casino) in Atlantic City to accommodate your desires! I have to say that I am spoiled when it comes to having sampled so many fine fares, one of the benefits of networking groups, local associations and being involved with so many great women’s groups!

3. As someone who lives there, how different is Brigantine from Atlantic City?
Brigantine’s motto, on their signage as you drive in, is “An island you’ll love for life”, and I have to say I believe that. Having lived in Cape May and Wildwood, witnessing the huge influx of summer tourists there as well as in all the other shore communities I visit or work in, to me, a most wonderful aspect of Brigantine is that it is a shore town, without the typical “resort” features. With very few commercial businesses, as well as the fact that no one drives through Brigantine to get to another town, there is not the huge influx of seasonal tourism or traffic, only the increase of summer vacationing homeowners and their families. As a shore town, with a true small community feeling year round, we sit quietly along the ocean, with uncrowded beaches that rival the best.

4. Tell me about Atlantic Creations.
Atlantic Creations LLC is a Woman’s Certified, hospitality and specialty gift basket business featuring our custom-made, “Taste of the Jersey Shore” hospitality gift. Working together as professional bridal consultants and event planners my partner, Mari Dattolo and I listened to the needs of brides, couples and corporate clients who were looking for a unique hospitality gift for their guests. We designed our “Taste of the Jersey Shore” gift to fulfill those needs, and other markets are joining in to utilize this great gift.

This ideal piece combines the favorite tastes from the Jersey Shore, including seashore lemonade, salt water faffy, peanut brittle, caramel popcorn, and candy coated, chocolate dipped pretzels. We have even included a postcard from the area and a bottle opener for convenience, and it’s all beautifully hand wrapped in our reusable, custom gift box. This concept combines the best of a beautiful gift basket with the compactness of a powerfully delicious gift. The beverages and snacks for two make them ideal as a welcome amenity in a hotel room or bed and breakfast. Destination and area brides enjoy surprising their out of town guests with a gift in their rooms, just as hotels like having them on hand for their VIP Service and overnight packages. They work well to appease a disgruntled guest, to show appreciation for a job well done or to say thank you for a new idea presented. They also make the perfect closing gift for a new home at the shore, and as an alternative to wine for your next dinner party host or hostess gift!

We’ve brought the ease of online ordering together with unique, quality selections and value pricing, to one location where you know who is behind the screen, and what we represent in customer service. We truly believe a giving heart knows joy, and our goal is to not only enhance the experience of a guest, client or recipient, but to also enhance our customer’s joy of giving!

5. How long have you been in business?
Atlantic Creations, LLC was newly formed in November of 2007, becoming a Certified Women’s Business in January. We are currently awaiting our trademark for our signature gift 'A Taste of the Jersey Shore.” As Mari and I have over 60 years of combined experience in the hospitality, wedding, event planning and customer service fields, we have been “in the business” for many years!

6. Any new things in 2008 that we should know about?
We are excited to be growing and look forward to fulfilling the needs of our many markets with business depending upon referral business more than ever, companies competing for repeat business, couples looking for a meaningful way to welcome and thank their out-of-town guests,and when, in our hurried, stress-filled lives, feeling appreciated means more today than ever, providing a hospitality or thank you gift is the perfect way to accomplish fulfilling those needs and goals.

Down the Shore with...Laura Kiniry

We have another travel guide writer on the blog today for this week's "Down the Shore with..." Cat fight? Nah. Laura Kiniry is author of Moon New Jersey, which covers the entire state. I was a little nervous talking to Kiniry -- what if I missed something? Lucky for me (and you, assuming that you're on the edge of your seat, waiting to read my book), it looks like I got them all (phew).

Kiniry is currently working on a revision of Moon New Jersey. She might have relocated to San Francisco, but she's a South Jersey girl through and through, and, like me, has a lot of memories from the Ocean City boardwalk.

1. What do you consider 'your' shore town and why?
Without question, Ocean City is my shore town. I've been going there since I was a baby. When I was almost three my family rented a top floor apartment on St. Charles Place with my Aunt, Uncle, and their six kids. We spent six weeks with them, and I actually remember bits and pieces. I remember the ocean splashing up between boardwalk planks during high tide, and I remember standing on the front porch with my brother and my Nana —- my dad's mom —- and tossing a plastic beach ball into the street. My dad also grew up going to Ocean City, and whenever I'm in New Jersey, the two of us drive down and walk the boards. During my adolescence, my mom's family starting vacationing there as well (they were originally an LBI family), so I have a lot of Ocean City memories.

2. What's your favorite place to eat in Ocean City?
Mack and Manco's at 9th and Boardwalk. I like that location best because it's open all year. Their pizza's incredible: just the right blend of sauce and cheese, and a nice thin crust. You can't find pizza like that in San Francisco.

3. Any other favorite foodie spots?
I love boardwalk food in general, especially Kohrs Bros. soft serve vanilla cones, Johnson's Carmel Popcorn, and pierogies at the Boardwalk Promenade. As for in-town eateries, my friend Becky and I used to frequent Luigi's during high school. I haven't been there in years, but I remember some spectacular Italian dishes. I've always liked The Chatterbox because it's an OC institution and open year-round, 24/7 throughout summer. It's a good place to head for burgers and sandwiches. Just outside of the city in Beesley's Point is The Tuckahoe Inn, perfect for special occasions. I ate Thanksgiving dinner there this past year with my family. And for delicious breakfast pancakes, I recommend Oves at 5th and Boardwalk.

4. How did you get from Deptford to San Fran?
I grew up in Deptford —- my parents still live in the same home they brought me to from the hospital when I was born —- and stayed until I was 21. When I was 20, I visited Southern California with a friend who was thinking about moving there for college, and I really liked what I saw. My cousin Monica lived in San Francisco at the time, and she said, "If you like Southern California you're going to love Northern California." When she invited me out to stay with her I decided to give it a go, since I'm sort of a wanderer and have always loved traveling. I've been here on and off ever since. It's hard being so far from my family (most of my relatives -— parents, brothers, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins —- are in the NJ tri-state region), but I've found I appreciate both them and New Jersey so much more being away. I really make the most of my New Jersey visits. And about 10 years ago I began collecting New Jersey books -- stories about shore history, the Jersey Devil, Jersey diners -— on trips back East, and reading them when I returned to San Francisco. It's like I was doing preliminary research for what was to come.

5. How did you get involved with the Moon book?
I actually came across a call for authors on Craigslist. It was back in 2003, and I didn't have a lot of professional writing experience. But I did have passion. I believe that's what got me a book deal in the end. Originally, due to my lack of experience, I was turned down for the position. But I knew I was the person to write this book, so —- after a crying a bit —- I pursued it. Relentlessly. It took a year acquiring writing samples, interning with local travel publications, completing a photography class (I photographed most pictures in Moon New Jersey 1st Ed.), checking in every once in a while with the editors, and ultimately rewriting my book proposal, before Avalon offered me a contract. Once the book was completed, I think they were pleasantly surprised.

6. What are you looking to do with this revision?
Surprisingly (to me), a lot has changed in New Jersey in only a couple years. In addition to updating Moon New Jersey to reflect these changes, I plan on adding new photos and new call-outs (short blocks of text highlighting interesting facts, figures, and places). I'd also like to include some noteworthy places I bypassed in the first edition due to time and space constraints, tighten the text, and focus more on outdoor activities and history. New Jersey has such interesting history —- especially pop culture history —- which I think a lot of readers would be interested in learning about. Also, any must-visit eateries, hotels, and attractions that have come about in the past couple years, will of course be included in Moon NJ's second edition.

7. Tell us some historical tid bits that we might not know about the South Jersey Shore.
In the 1950s Wildwood earned the nickname, "Little Vegas." An already established as a vacation resort, it was morphing into a notable music hotspot, with Bobby Rydell singing about his "Wildwood Days," Chubby Checker performing his first twist, Bill Haley and the Comets publicly debuting Rock Around the Clock," and Dick Clark hosting American Bandstand from the boardwalk's Starlight Ballroom, destroyed by fire in 1981.

By the 1970s the gingerbread Victorians Cape May is famous for had lost much of their charm. The city's outdated architecture was bypassed for more modern towns like Beach Haven and Ocean City. If it weren't for the Cape May Cottagers Association (now the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts), Cape May as we know it today might never had existed. The group went on to preserve many of the city's Victorian structures, revitalizing Cape May by hosting special events like walking tours, home tours, and trolley tours, catering to the Victorian theme.

The Wildwoods have a similar opportunity with their Doo Wop architecture, which was listed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's "11 Most Endangered" list for 2006. A local organization, the Doo-Wop Preservation League, has been working non-stop to see that the Wildwoods' contribution to American history is recognized. With its angular roofs, flashy neon signs, and exotic themes, it's some of the most unique architecture out there. Preserving it could really solidify the Wildwoods' future as a one-of-a-kind resort.

And just a bit of nostalgia, does anyone remember the mummy who used to scare passer-bys from above the Playland marquee on the Ocean City boardwalk? It's probably been more than 20 years now. A crowd use to gather in front of Playland to watch him (I think there was a Dracula, too) perform his act. It was all part of a scary dark ride that began at the front of Playland, somewhere near the skeeball games. I loved that guy!

8. You mentioned in an email that you keep track of South Jersey news. How do you do that/where do you go for that information?
My parents are a big help. They read the Courier Post each morning and my Mom cuts out articles she thinks might be helpful and puts them in a scrapbook. My parent's have some good friends who live in the Pinelands, and they've been helpful as well. My dad's Mr. Personality. He chats up librarians, park rangers, etc. And I can't forget my friends. They've been wonderful when it comes to restaurants opening, neighborhoods changing, etc. I also subscribe to New Jersey Monthly, read several NJ blogs, and check NJ.com occasionally. Wow, I hope my parents don't ask for pay after reading this!

9. When will the revised Moon book be published?
Spring 2009.

Down the Shore with...Zoey Castelino

Zoey Castelino is no shoobie. This journalist and blogger grew up in Sea Isle City, and even though she's since moved to Toronto, she still holds a great love for the South Jersey shore.

Zoey's been a big promoter for this blog and book -- in fact, she gave me my first review based on the fact that I'd written a book about her hometown. So of course she's perfect for a blog trip down the shore.



1. What do you consider 'your' shore town and why?
My 'shore town' would have to be my hometown - Sea Isle City. I was born and raised there and spent 20 years of my life in that city. Interestingly enough, when it came time for family vacations, rather than go to a beach town, we went north to Canada. Which explains why I fell in love with Montreal and ended up moving there in 1995 for college. I guess my dad figured since we lived on the beach, why bother going to a beach for two weeks. Although we did do a few trips to Florida when I was teenager

2. How do you think Sea Isle -- and the rest of the South Jersey Shore -- has changed?
Surprisingly, Sea Isle hasn’t changed all that much. The Spinnaker is still the tallest building and the water tower still says, “Smile! You’re in Sea Isle City!” (Although it used to say Welcome to Sea Isle City) but for the most part, Sea Isle has kept its charm and its class. There are however, more and more people ‘discovering’ the town now. A lot of college kids rent places and more and more folks are coming from the mainland and the north.

3. How did you get to Toronto?
After I was finished college, I decided I wanted to live somewhere else. I moved to Ottawa (Canada’s capital city) for six months during the summer of ‘97 then after a road trip with a friend one weekend, thought that Toronto might be a fun city to live in. So in October of 97 I moved there. After six months was up, I moved back to Montreal where I became a columnist and freelancer. But in 2002 I thought maybe Toronto would be a fun place to live again, so I moved back – and I’ve been here ever since. I do miss the Jersey shore a lot and I think only once you move away do you really know what you left behind.

4. A lot of writers read this site -- tell us how you became one.
I started when I was a kid. I always loved to write. In college I had a weekly column as well as articles published in the campus paper. I also started to do more research for what I wrote and explored the idea of writing professionally. After my moves to Ottawa and Toronto, I put together a portfolio and crossed my fingers. However, even as a columnist, I knew I wouldn’t be able to live on that alone. (Sorry kids, Sex and the City is pure fiction!) So I started freelancing and that’s where the fun is. I get to write about a lot of different subjects, as well even work on the corporate side now and then and do freelance writing for companies too!

5. When did you start your blog?
I started blogging before people even called it a blog – at least that’s what it felt like. Some time in 2000 I began posting what I called “updates” where every so often I would give a one paragraph recap of what was new with my site or what I had been doing. Not much detail and just a little insight. Then those paragraphs got longer… and longer. And soon it was a diary. I decided to merge it all together and make a blog part of my site. Slowly I’ve been trying to bring over all my original posts (they were hosted on another server) so reader can really see how far things have come.

6. What do you like most about blogging? Least?
Blogging lets me reach people all over the world. People I wouldn’t normally be in contact with. It goes beyond my writing and what I do professionally. It acts a bridge for my work and my personal life. It opens a door and a window into the life of a Toronto writer and all of what goes on in my world. As it stands now, 4,000 people a week come to see what I’m doing. I only wish I could make it interesting all the time!

The biggest problem is making sure what I write is fresh and interesting. Some days it can be as boring as “I bought a new pair of leather pants” and other days, I can talk about what’s on my mind or what I’m up to. But one thing I always try to make sure that I do is providing my opinions and what I’m thinking – not just a news recap of what you can find somewhere else. After all, if people can read the news on some other site, then why come to mine?

Blogging is a form of social media and an excellent way to reach people. Most blogs offer some type of theme; they are either informative where they offer opinionated recaps of something relative to the field of interest, or they are diaries. I feel that I can do both, as I’ve said, my blog is the life of a writer living in Toronto.

7. You've been awesome in saying nice things about my book. Why are you so excited?
Because for years I’ve had to listen to people crap all over New Jersey when I try to tell them how nice a place it really is. A lot of the northern cities I find, ruin the south for many people because of the crime, the industry or even the Sopranos.

Your book will open people’s eyes to the fact that there is life south of the Amboys and that the shore is a beautiful place filled with friendly people. I knew already that I will probably get very homesick and probably very emotional reading your book as I have no doubt it will bring back wonderful childhood memories. It’s about time that someone shows the world how nice my home state really is.

8. A lot of people don't understand why the South Jersey shore gets so many Canadian visitors. Care to enlighten us?
Canadians love the beach, as most people do. But Maine is cold so Canadians (at least those living in Toronto and Montreal and Ottawa) want to go somewhere warm. For those who can’t make it to Florida, New Jersey is the next – and first – logical stop along the way. Jersey has everything. It has beaches, great food, leaglized gambling, a very warm summer and no sales tax on clothing! Not to metion you're close to Philly, DC and New York. Most things are affordable and it’s not too far a drive from Quebec and Ontario.

9. And as someone who grew up in Sea Isle, where is the best place to eat?
For seafood, Busch’s Seafood (in Townsend Inlet, Landis and 88th) remains a favorite for me. Also, Marie’s Lobster House on Park Road (near JFK and Landis) where everything is fresh. Sadly, the best pizza in town was at a place called the Charcoal House. Unfortunately the land was sold years ago and the neighborhood hangout was torn down to make way for a summer rental. But fear not, you can still get a good slice when you’re in town.

Read more at zoeybella.blogspot.com

Down the Shore with...Tracey Deschaine

If you've poked around the blog, you know that I love love LOVE Upcakes, the tastey flip on a cupcake that's sold at Dixie Picnic in Ocean City. I love them so much that I'm even having an Upcake get together in a few days -- you see, you can order boxes of Upcakes, but I didn't trust myself with a dozen to myself, so I figured I'd bring a taste of Ocean City to my family and friends (and spread around the calories).

So of course I had to get Tracey Deschaine of Dixie Picnic for the Down the Shore with... series. Here's how she gets it done.

1. What do you consider 'your' shore town and why?
My shore town is without a doubt Ocean City. I grew up in North Jersey and never really visited the shore much because my parents weren't big ocean lovers. My husband took me to Ocean City when we were dating in our early twenties. Since then, I can re-live every important point in my life with Ocean City memories. We spent many summers here, owned our first home in Somers Point, and now I'm a business owner in the town. I still get sentimental every time I cross the bridge.

2. Why open a restaurant in Ocean City?
I chose Ocean City to open Dixie Picnic for several reasons. First, I love the town, as I said before. Ocean City has lost a lot of fine restaurants over the last decade and, as a visitor, I myself felt a void that maybe Dixie Picnic could fill. I also was lucky enough to find a great location. I have always had plans to open other Dixie Picnic locations in the Delaware Valley when we are ready, and the friends we've made in Ocean City have already been asking for us to build a Dixie Picnic near them. Our email list has over 600 members ranging all over the east coast, and we've shipped Upcakes all over the United States. I really think that the magic of Ocean City has rubbed off on Dixie Picnic.

3. When did you open?
Dixie Picnic opened its doors September 29, 2006. Bad timing, I know. Its not like I wanted to miss the summer season, but we totally renovated the building prior to opening, and a combination of contractor issues, and the work itself moved the opening back to September.

4. Explain the Dixie Picnic concept.
The Dixie Picnic Concept was conceived by a combination of happy childhood memories and recognition of something missing in the casual dining market. When my brothers and I were little, my Southern Mom, Bette, would take us to visit our Grandmother, Bucky, and our great Aunts, her sisters. Aunt Anne, Aunt Sadie, Aunt Myrtle, Aunt Bertha would spoil us rotten, and it seems that every time we would visit there would inevitably be a picnic involved. Many of the recipes we use at Dixie Picnic are right out of the family cookbooks. People take one bite of our food and they can immediately taste the difference. People have forgotten what freshly prepared non commercial food tastes like. I always tell them...there is no secret to our food. We start with better raw ingredients, prepare them fresh in our kitchen by hand. Yes...we cost a little more. But in the long run, that is what makes us worth visiting. We couldn't make our food any cheaper and have it taste the same. But the Dixie Picnic concept wouldn't be complete without taking the time to partake of our food in the company of family and friends. The best memories of our childhood Dixie Picnics wouldn't be complete without our great eccentric relatives.

5. Where did the Upcakes come from? Obviously, you know I love them.
My Great Aunt Bertha used to ice her cupcakes the same way we ice our Upcakes today. My mother, Bette, was a tempermental redhead child. It would drive Bertha crazy when she would eat the icing off the cupcakes and throw the rest of the cake away. So one day, so the family story goes, she decided to foil Bette's cake wasting by icing the cupcake on the top AND the sides. The rest is history. We named it the Upcake, and truly expanded the flavors beyond Bertha's vanilla and chocolate. One thing that has been really fun is having our customers send us suggestions for new Upcake flavors.

6. What do people need to know about shipping Upcakes?
This fall we started shipping Upcakes in our specially designed shipping boxes. The results have been fantastic! We've shipped to California, Florida, Maine, Washington State, and all sorts of places in between. The most important thing to remember is to follow the shipping rules. Nothing is more important to us than having your Upcakes arrive fresh. Therefore, we limit shipping transit time to two days. That means that any destination that would take longer than 2 days by UPS ground must be shipped by air. Yes, that does mean that shipping may get expensive, but when you compare a dozen Upcakes to a fairly nominal floral arrangement, we think that there are lots of folks who would really love a dozen Upcakes as much as a bouquet of flowers. We leave it up to the customer. Final Shipping Date for Valentine's Day is February 11, 2008. Final Ordering Date is February 10, 2008, because we'll be baking all day on the 11th. Order anytime now, and just write in the comments to deliver for Valentines day. Ordering early helps us to plan and get supplies. This coming winter, we hope to be featuring our Upcakes on QVC. Boy oh boy, we're going to need a lot more icers!

7. Do you have any winter hours? And when do you open for the year?
Last winter Dixie Picnic was open all year round. We loved our local customers, and we wish we could have made the decision to stay open in the winter. But having a years worth of numbers to guide us, we knew we had to close in order to keep the business healthy. In November and December we had a holiday kiosk at the King of Prussia Mall selling Upcakes and our Dixie Picnic retail line of items. This spring we will most likely be opening in May, although a date has not been finalized yet. I always tell folks to check the website...I try to keep it updated and when I change the hours that is the first thing I do. This summer we are hoping to have a visit by a very well known food show.....shhhh......nothing final yet, but its pretty exciting even at these early stages!

Read more (and order more) at www.dixiepicnic.com.

Down the Shore with...Mary Beth Temple

Mary Beth Temple is a woman of many talents. This freelance writer has written about everything from Lighthouses to knitting -- literally. She's author of Touring New Jersey's Lighthouses and The Secret Language of Knitters.

Mary Beth also spent a lot of time at the South Jersey Shore and *hopefully* will be signing copies of her book along with me at Cape May's Harbor Fest!


1. What do you consider 'your' shore town and why?
Definitely Cape May. Childhood vacations were spent in Atlantic City (pre-casinos), Long Beach Island, or Sea Isle City, but Cape May was the town I gravitated to as an adult planning my own summer stays. I love the architecture and the history, and the air of relaxation. When I go down the shore I want to relax and enjoy the ocean, not run around to rides and clubs - or listen to other people run around to rides and clubs. Cape May is quiet, which is just what I want.

2. A lot of people go to the shore just to eat -- what's your favorite foodie memory?
My very oldest memory of beach food was a restaurant in Atlantic City that sadly is no more. I can't even remember what it was called, but it was on one of the smaller piers, and served breakfast in a hot frying pan brought right to the table. When I was small I thought this was the coolest thing in the whole world, and the fact that you could get pork roll for breakfast made it even cooler. Now I spend my time on the search for the perfect crab cake. Even if I don't find it, I have a hell of a good time looking!

3. Where did the lighthouse book idea come from?
My sister Patricia Wylupek is both a talented photographer and a lighthouse junkie, so we decided to do Touring New Jersey's Lighthouses together with her photos and my words. The New Jersey Lighthouse Society hosts an annual weekend event in which all eleven standing lighthouses are open to the public at the same time, and visitors are encouraged to try to see all eleven over the course of the two days. We thought it would be great fun to have a book that not only had great photos, but included a bit of the history of each of the lights on the tour.

4. Which one is your favorite?
Is it cheesy to say that I love them all? Not only how they look but the fact that each one offers a glimpse into the social history of the times they were in service. Architecturally I love the Twin Lights of Navesink, located in Highlands, NJ. My first memory of climbing up the spiral lighthouse steps was "Old Barney" - Barnegat Lighthouse. And of course I love the the beauty of the Cape May lighthouse and visit it every summer.

5. What's one thing about NJ's lighthouses that people might not realize?
I think it is easy to forget what a formidable adversary Mother Nature can be - the lighthouses remind us that we enjoy the sea at her discretion.

My biggest surprise was the story of Tucker's Island, which I learned about while visiting the Tuckerton Seaport to see their lighthouse replica. The fact that there was a whole island that went from a small homestead in the 18th century to a popular resort in the 19th century, only to be swept completely away in the 1920s - well, I had never heard the story before and I found it fascinating. There are even photographs on display at the Seaport of the original lighthouse crumbling into the sea.

6. How did you get from lighthouses to knitting?
My sister may be addicted to lighthouses - I am addicted to knitting and crocheting. I am never without a project or ten going on, so what better topic to write about than the one I love? The Secret Language of Knitters is a humorous knitting dictionary about the terms and acronyms we knitters use in groups and online.

7. Any good knitting shops we should know about?
When going on vacation, I tend to spend more time packing my needlework projects than my clothes, but I can't resist dropping by Fiber Arts Studio in Cape May to see what's new.

8. What's next?
The next two books are The Log Homeowner's Handbook (spring '09, Storey Publishing) in which I tackle one of the other subjects that interests me - contemporary log home construction. Then back to needlework with Hooked for Life: Adventures of a Crochet Zealot, due out from Andrews McMeel, also in the spring of 2009. I will have a very busy rest of this year - can't wait until August to go down the shore!

Read more at www.alpacaaddict.blogspot.com and www.marybethtemple.com.

Down the Shore with...Daphne Oz

Show of hands: How many people gained the dreaded freshman 15? I did, and I didn't lose them until after I'd gotten my master's degree.

Daphne Oz, a student at Princeton, came up with a plan to ward off that beer-and-pizza weight gain, and wrote all about it in The Dorm Room Diet: The 8-Step Program for Creating a Healthy Lifestyle Plan That Really Works. Aside from writing about the South Jersey shore, I also contribute articles to Men's Health,Oxygen and a slew of other fitness magazines, so I see a lot of these kinds of books. My conclusion: this one is sound, whether you live in a dorm or not.

Oz, like me, spent a lot of time on the Seven Mile Island as a kid, and shares my love of Green Cuisine restaurant in Stone Harbor which of cousre makes her perfect for a "Down the Shore with..." interview.

1. What do you consider 'your' shore town and why?
My shore town would definitely be Stone Harbor, since I grew up going down there during the summers to my grandparent's home on the beach. Although they sold that house when I was about 10, I've never forgotten how much I loved the place.

2. I grew up spending my summers in Avalon and Stone Harbor, too -- what do
you think has changed the most?
I think what's best is that, even though I only go down a few weekends a year, Stone Harbor always brings me back to my childhood precisely because so little has changed. It's still the perfect North East beach community.

3. A lot of people go down the shore just to eat -- what's your favorite
spot?
That's an easy question: I've driven the 3 hours from my home to Stone Harbor just to have a California Sandwhich--avocado, mushrooms, sprouts, sweet peppers, and dressing on a whole wheat pita--at the Green Cuisine. Oh, and vanilla fudge from the Fudge Shoppe on special occasions.

4. What gave you the idea for the The Dorm Room Diet?
When I got to college, I realized what a unique environment it was. I wanted to get the full college experience without packing on weight, so I developed the tips and tricks that became the Dorm Room Diet largely so that I could live the best, healthiest college life possible. They worked so well for me that I had to write a book and share my advice with the students and young adults around me who were struggling with trying to find this balance.

5. Have you gotten a lot of your friends at Princeton to try it?
The beauty of the Dorm Room Diet is that there are no strict rule or regimes. To "go on" the DRD is simply to appreciate the DRD motto of "substitution where you can, moderation where you can't," which means you can eat anything you want, so long as you make conscious decisions to eat healthily where possible (trade that store-bought brownie in for an apple) and eat in moderation when you feel like indulging (definitely have a slice of your friend's wedding cake, or your favorite homemade goodie, but don't go back for seconds). There's nothing wrong with enjoying small portions of all the foods you love, just make sure that you don't overindulge yourself too often. This is definitely a guiding principle many people at Princeton have found useful.

6. You're already a published author -- what do you plan to do after you graduate?
After I graduate I would love to enter news broadcasting. And continue writing, hopefully!

7. I found it very difficult to eat healthy while down the shore. Any tips that I can take with me for summer 2008?
My tips for summer 2008 are first and foremost to enjoy yourself! Have fun making incredible memories with family and friends, and don't let "off limits" foods bog you down with anxiety and paranoia. Instead, follow the DRD principle outlined above and make sure that every time you can make a healthy substitution, you're doing your health a huge favor. But don't miss out on those special treats that may actually help you by fueling your resolve to eat healthily the rest of the time.

Read more at www.dormroomdiet.com.