10 Things that ARE My Jersey

Yesterday, I had my say about a new MTV "reality" show whose premise seems to be "make fun of New Jersey.

Does that culture exist? I've heard of it, but never seen it. It's not the Jersey Shore I know.

So here is my list of 10 things that ARE my Jersey, working north to south. I've stuck to the Jersey Shore, but feel free to add shore and non-shore items in the comments.

1. History House in Sandy Hook
2. Tater Tots at Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park
3. Beach bonfires in Long Branch
4. Long Beach Blvd. in LBI (and all the names it's called on the island)
5. Atlantic City Marathon -- 51st running on Sunday. Good luck, guys!
6. Pizza with birch beer at Mack & Manco in Ocean City
7. Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor
8. International Kite Festival in Wildwood
9. Rocking chairs at Congress Hall in Cape May
10. Sunset at Sunset Beach

So what's your Jersey?

September Shore

Since I wrote about getting away down the shore in September, it seems that every other shore-related email I get says "Hey! It's great down here in September!"

Well, duh. Because it is. The crowds are still there but smaller. With kids on school, even those families with shore homes don't come down as often. The weather is usually warm, sometimes with lower humidity (though my Cape May trip last year involved a heat wave -- BOO).

Best part? The prices. They drop. They're not as low as during the proper off season, but if you're looking to get away for less when it still feels like summer, September is it.

A lot of rentals open up for just weekends, too -- in season, most are strictly Saturday to Saturday (and can you blame them since demand is high?) Example: this bay-front rental in Beach Haven West, right outside of LBI, drops its prices in September by 25% and books long weekends, which they won't do in season. They'll drop prices even lower in October.

So if you're looking for a fall getaway, now's the time to take a peek.

Speaking of LBI, I wrote about the Red Lion diner, where I stopped on Sunday on my drive home, for NJmonthly.com. I can't tell you how happy I was to find a good meal in a good diner on Sunday. Really lifted my mood.

Jeez...

What a summer! This hasn't exactly been the Summer 'o Jen. I've had surgery that took longer to recover from than expected, learned that my boyfriend is moving because of a job transfer, and last night had a massive allergy attack due to a friend's cat.

But I woke up early this morning and drove to Beach Haven to do an interview for a new-to-me magazine, my eyes still puffy and red from the allergy attack the night before. I'd been invited to stay and hang out on the beach, but my face was such in bad shape and I'd slept so poorly, that I knew I'd be no good beach company.

So I turned right around and headed home. I don't use the Atlantic City Expressway to get to LBI. I drive Route 70 to Route 72 right into town. It's one of the reasons why I think people split LBI from Atlantic City south. If you live in the Philadelphia area, you get there a different way (a way that reminds of me going to Girl Scout Camp because my camp is out that way). It's one loooong skinny island.

I like the drive through, which is mostly through the woods. I stopped at the Red Lion Diner on the way back and had a damn good sandwich (But no pickle. Is that normal?) Over that BLT, I looked back on the summer. I feel like I've missed most of it. Maybe it's because I was down there so much working this spring, or because surgery kept me home. I've had a lot of work to do around this area, too (like this piece I did for the New York Times about the Michael Vick signing). My brother got married in June, and my sister is getting married in November, so there's lots to do around home base. As each day of August slips by, I wonder where the summer's gone and if I'll get any good time on the beach (ON the beach, not near it or around it or running on it).

I've realized something else, too: I always hit this funk in deep August. Maybe it's the heat and humidity. Maybe it's every other editor being out of office while I'm slaving away (or trying to -- they can't assign if they're on vacation). That's probably why I look forward to September when the weather dips and everyone seems to be back in working form to meet back up with me.

I hope to spend some time in Cape May in September. I don't think I'll do a vacation this year since I'm saving my pennies to visit Bill in his new home. I love the shore in the fall -- it's my favorite season -- but I want one day, just one day, to sit in a beach chair in the sun and splash around in the water. It seems like such a simple thing...I guess I'll have to make that happen!

P.S. I start training for the Philadelphia Half Marathon next Monday. If you're training, too, let me know!

Stretching

On Friday night, I was hunkered down at the bar of Daddy-O in LBI, interviewing patrons about why they go there. Regular readers of this column know that LBI is generally north for me since the blog has traditionally focused on the South Jersey Shore. That's about to change.

This year, I was asked by several magazines and newspapers to write articles about the entire Jersey coast. Of course, I obliged. I'd explored much of the northern part of Jersey's Coast last spring, summer and fall, and I made trips back to check things out this winter. As much as I don't like some smarmier towns at the shore (you can fill in the blank there), I grew to love towns like Sandy Hook, Asbury Park, Ocean Grove and, yes, LBI. It wasn't a prejudice against northern beaches that kept me away. My book was about the Southern part of the shore, and I write for Philadelphia markets, so that's where my focus stayed.

I'm not abandoning that southern bent, but I'm going to stretch, especially in weeks to come. I'll be up on northern shores this weekend, and roaming around the area for the same reason I was interviewing people in a bar in LBI on Friday night: work. It might not be as fun as it sounds talking to quasi drunks in a bar, but it's a living, and I'll take it. Stretching's good for you, right?

Oh, and my Daddy-O tip: Make sure both headlights are working properly when exiting the bar. I made it about three blocks before an officer pulled me over. I had this happen in Avalon, too. Shore cops are vigilant, and anything wrong with your car can be a red flag. He let me go without a ticket (as did the officer in Avalon -- I wasn't drinking, which they have to be looking for, and I have a clean driving record), but make sure you learn from my lesson and make sure your car's in tip top shape before heading down -- or up -- the shore.

News from Around the South Jersey Shore

Funniest. Shore. Video. Ever: The Wildwood Pretzel. Who needs a groundhog?

Ann Delaney's got her own version of the groundhog in Avalon.

Want a shore house for cheap? Here's information about foreclosures. Their site also shows "price reduced" homes -- probably an easier way to look than to drive around looking for signs.

Atlantic City's casinos have shed 2,700 jobs in the last year.

After being shut down for underage drinking, Keenan's is open again.

Rob Wilson's put up some new LBI photos.

A downtown in WEST Cape May?

Want more Golden Nugget? Here's a very cool three-part series via Funchase.com that mixes video shot in November with vintage reels. They also give you an idea of how difficult it would have been to revive the ride (in case it hasn't been made clear -- the Moreys didn't do this to the ride. When they bought Hunt's pier, the ride was already on it, closed):







I'm headed to Florida tomorrow -- I'm now on the board of directors for the University of Tampa Alumni Association, and we have a big meeting on Friday (it also helps that it'll be in the 70s and I scored a room on the beach for the next few days -- but it's a work trip, I swear!) So enjoy the leftover snow, people!

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...Chris Grabenstein

Who better to interview for the "Down the Shore with Series..." than Chris Grabenstein? His John Ceepak Mystery Series takes place in Sea Haven, which is a mash up of a few Jersey Shore towns. This one-time ad agenecy writer has written three seaside mysteries so far, with #4 coming at you this summer. What better becah reading could you ask for?

1. What do you consider "your" shore town? Why?
My shore town is definitely Beach Haven on LBI. We go down there with friends every summer to do, uh, research. Much of the research involves Corona Beer and Hint Of Lime Doritos. We stay on the same block off the beach every year. Our friends go when their whole family is in residence and we get to become adopted members for the week. I have learned how to boogie board and snarf down oysters.

2. Most people go down the shore to eat. Any favorite places you like to go?
One of the people in our extended family is a gourmet chef, so we usually eat one place fancy every summer. My favorite spot is Skipper Dipper's ice cream. I think we go over there every night. I love standing in line, watching all the kids scooping and squirting ice cream. "Next group!" I always go for the chocolate dipped soft serve cone so I can watch it drip all over my hand and make a mess. I also love the Chowda at the Chowda Pot. Who would've thought hot soup would be so refreshing in August? Oh, and Pinky's Shrimp. Love getting a pound or two of cooked shrimp, some cocktail sauce, and lemon wedges and taking it back to the house. Goes well with those Coronas I mentioned earlier.

3. Tell us a little bit about the series.
The John Ceepak mysteries include the Anthony Award winning Tilt a Whirl, Mad Mouse, and Whack a Mole. Book #4, Hell Hole, will be published next August.

John Ceepak is a former MP just back from Iraq who lives his life by a strict moral code: he will not lie, cheat, or steal nor tolerate those who do. He is teamed up with a 20-something part-time summer cop named Danny Boyle who, basically, took the job because, as he puts it "chicks dig the cop cap." What makes the series so powerful is the growth in the two characters across the books. I think that's why they've been on several Best Mysteries Of The Year lists. At first, the only thing that the two guys have in common is a love for the Boss. Bruce Springsteen. Here's what Booklist says: "Grabenstein has done his homework. His portrait of summer on the Jersey shore, replete with tacky boardwalk arcades, kitschy souvenir and T-shirt shops, manic city folk who bring their attytood on vacation, and hordes of young people awash in hormones, is virtually note-perfect."

4. How did Beach Haven and Seaside Heights become Sea Haven?
Well, I wanted the family-beach scene from Beach Haven but I also wanted my fictional town to have a tacky boardwalk. So, I put the two together. I once filmed a Dr Pepper commercial on the Boardwalk in Seaside and, after three days of shooting there, the images were indelibly etched in my imagination. I also added in a little of Cape May and Spring Lake and Wildwood. In fact, my Sea Haven is the whole Jersey Shore crowded onto one eighteen mile long barrier island.

5. What's this about you and the Cheetah Girls? Did you have anything to do with their concert in Wildwood this summer? ;-)
Well, this is funny. My brother called to say he saw the Cheetah Girls posing with a copy of Whack a Mole, Ceepak mystery #3, in one of the celebrity magazines. Not People, one of the others. Anyway, it showed the girls relaxing at home. And there was Whack a Mole sitting on the coffee table. It has a purple cover. One of the Cheetahs is wearing purple pajamas. Coincidence or a photographer's art direction? The photo is on my web site!

6. How long have you been writing?
I have been writing since fifth grade. I have been getting paid for writing for about 25 years, having spent a great many years writing commercials for ad agencies up and down Madison Avenue.

7. Why did you pick the Jersey Shore as the setting for your novels?
I thought it would make a great setting and allow me to have all sorts of people drifting in and out, bringing their troubles and passions with them. I didn't want to do a mystery series where the friends and neighbors of the sleuths kept getting bumped off -- although, sometimes, that happens in Sea Haven, too!

8. We're big dog lovers here at Down the Shore With Jen. Who is that handsome pup you your site? And does he like the beach, too?
That's Fred! Fred was a rescue from up in the Bronx. He was saved from the gas chamber by famed animal trainer Bill Berloni who put him into the Broadway cast of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. When the show closed, Fred was available for adoption and we were the lucky ones to take him home. He and I go running together -- about four or five miles. He also takes me for long, contemplative walks where I can dream up what happens next in my mysteries. We've never taken him to the beach. I'll bet he'd love it. But, he'd want to lick every face on every beach blanket.

Read more at www.chrisgrabenstein.com