News from Around the South Jersey Shore

Yes, Strathmere is STILL trying to secede from Upper Township.

More on the state's plan to take over part of Atlantic City :::shakes head:::

Will they do something about stuff like this? The Garden Pier, which is home to the Atlantic City Arts Center and Atlantic City History Museum, has been deemed unsafe. If I were a betting woman - which I'm not - I'd be on "no."

Really interesting piece on tear downs - the practice of tearing down an old shore house to build up something that I'd call "monstrous" in its place.

Tony Luke's finally opened in Wildwood Crest (yes, the sign said that it would be coming in summer 2010. Whoops).

Shesh, I'm not finding much nice stuff today: more flat screen TV burglaries from shore homes, this time in Ocean City.

Don't worry, folks. It's still Hoy's, no matter what the sign says.

And a dolphin died in Stone Harbor?! I give up.

News from around the South Jersey Shore

Newsweek published a big piece about why gambling's taken a hit in NJ.

I don't get why this is a secret beach. Strathmere or Higbee beach, maybe...

Careful out there.

Peter Max is back.

Wildwood, you are going in the WRONG DIRECTION. What are you thinking?!

Shore 2010

New Jersey Monthly's annual shore issue just went live, and should be available in stores soon. If you love the shore as much as I do, or you want to learn more about it, I urge you to get yourself a copy. It's my favorite issue of the year to work on. It's pretty, too, if that helps.

I wrote two pieces for this issue:
1. Stay in Style. It's a feature on cool places to stay down the shore, and I was part of a team that wrote this one. I covered many of the southern spots - The Chelsea (Atlantic City), Golden Inn (Avalon), Starlux (Wildwood), Caribbean (Wildwood), Sandpiper (Cape May) and the Beach Shack (Cape May).
2. A Swampy Phosphorescence. This is about that super cool and super secret new ride in Wildwood. An update as to what it is will go online on June 1.

**UPDATE** I wrote THREE pieces. Whoops. Check out some NJ-related summer reads here.

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?

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!

Your Shore Weekend

Before we get to my final "Your Shore Weekend" of the summer: I'm doing a little happy dance of glee this morning. Why? Because my article about West Wildwood is in today's New York Times. I pitched this article last August, but by then it was too late to get the article done for summer 2007. It's almost fitting that it made it in the last weekend of Summer 2008 -- a great cap to a wonderful shore season, journalism wise (and many other ways wise) for me.

And on with the show:

This is it, cats and kittens: the last official weekend of Summer 2008. So load up the car, pick your favorite backroad and head down the shore for one last gasp of summer (unless you're like me and vacation there in the fall).

To start, I'll be signing books at Sun Rose Words and Music (756 Asbury Ave., Ocean City) on Saturday from 11am to 1pm -- after which I will be seeing if I can scoop up any end-of-summer sales at the fab shops on the Avenue.

Foreigner's at the Trump Taj Mahal on Saturday night.

Smashmouth plays the House of Blues on Saturday.

The Hooters will be at the Borgata on Saturday.

Carlos Mencia's at the Borgata on Sunday night.

If you're in Sea Isle, check out the Heritage Surfing Competition happening on Saturday and Sunday. It'll be at the 40th street beach.

Ocean City's having a big Labor Day crafts festival on Saturday at the Tabernacle Grounds (6th & Asbury) on Saturday from 10am to 5pm.

There's also a 5 mile race in Ocean City -- this one's on Labor Day.

But the big race -- at least to someone like me who spent a lot of time in Avalon -- is the Tim Kerr 7 Mile run, which covers the seven mile island of Avalon and Stone Harbor. That's on Sunday, and there's also a 5k if you're not up to seven mile distances. I was very tempted -- my training schedule calls for six miles on Sunday -- but I will be home by then and probably not wanting to head back down the AC Expressway.

And that's it! Well, not quite it. We've still got a few days left. I made my way down the shore yesterday and will be here until that last book is signed on Saturday (and probably after a stop at Dixie Picnic for some upcakes). I'm not sure how I'll feel when it's over because, well, I'll be back soon -- maybe even next weekend. I had my contemplative moment, I think, and accepted that it's almost over. My brain's already geared up for fall, too, and the temperate weather we had this week has helped transition my mind to September.

So stay tuned -- Labor Day may be here, but the best is yet to come.

If you wanted to see that Hot Blogger calendar picture I mentioned yesterday, click here.

UPDATE: I'm not sure if the picture ran or not -- I can't get to the blog on this computer. Oh, well. Vote for me anyway!

News from Around the South Jersey Shore

Quick reminder before we get into the news: I'm having my picture taken at the carousel at Wonderland Pier in Ocean City tonight from about 7pm to 8:30pm. Come out and gawk if you'd like.

Also, one more: the voting for that blogger calendar thing is still going on. Vote for whoever you think should be in it (hint hint) by clicking here. I was also told that they'd be running a picture of me on their blog today, so click here to see it (it's not quite Jersey Shore material, which is why I'm not posting it here -- though you do get a nice shot of what running can do to someone's midsection). **UPDATE** The picture is running on Friday. Sorry for the confusion.

And onto the news:

Yikes: 42 people arrested for drugs and prostitution in Wildwood in August. And oh boy do they name names.

This is sad. R.I.P.

A "shockumentary"? Read more here.

So where did the medical waste the washed up in Avalon come from? Could it have been sabotage?

From the wacky files: work-release fugitive nabbed because he tried to escape via the beach and didn't buy a beach tag.

More from the wacky files: guy gets arrested for trying to skip out on a cab fare from Atlantic City to Ocean City.

The PR team at the Cape May County Zoo have been busy: they've had one article in the Cape May County Herald and one in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Old New York subway cars are finding new life near Cape May as bases for new reef systems.

Here's a report from the Stone Harbor 10k. And here's another one!

Cape May Diamonds! Never heard of them? Click here.

Amy Rosenberg of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes about how beach space gets pinched at high tide.

Cape May Point for the National Registrar? Cape May proper's already on the list.

Here's an article on how to master the surrey.

I knew this would happen eventually: Chloë Sevigny shows up at Atlantic City's Chelsea. Her brother is one of the two people who run nighlife there (can she do anything about how people are not allowed to hang out at the pool bar unless they're staying at the hotel? Thought that was a very stupid rule if the ultimate goal is to make money because -- really? -- it wasn't crowded).

And here's lots and lots of your pictures: cute kid in Cape May; early morning in Sea Isle; flip flops on the boardwalk; Atlantic City Air Show; sweet doggie in Strathmere; good times in Ocean City; couple in Sea Isle; walking in Cape May; beachy kids at Cape May Point; more fun in Cape May; good times in Sea Isle; cuteness in Stone Harbor; beach fun in Sea Isle; and family reunion in Cape May.

Stay tuned -- I have a piece in tomorrow's New York Times about a certain shore town. I'll post it here!

Your Shore Weekend

I don't know about you, but my shore weekend is going to involve a lot of sun, a lot of sand, a lot of food and a lot of sleep with a few naps possibly thrown in. Where am I going? Well, I won't tell you that (though I'll post about it next week).

But before we get into what's going on this weekend, Steve Lubetkin was kind enough to interview me about the Jersey Shore for his fabulous podcast series. Check it out here.

To kick things off, there's a new nightlife site up for Atlantic City (if you're looking for an impromptu office dance party, click on the site and turn up the music).

Chris Rock's at the Borgata on Friday night.

Bob Dylan's playing the Borgata on Saturday night.

And Herbie Hancock will also be at the Borgata on Saturday night. I wrote a paper about him in middle school and I remember absolutely nothing about it.

The Little Miss Ocean City pageant is on Friday.

The Little Miss Townsends Inlet contest is also on Friday night.

On Saturday in Ocean City, watch out for two dueling divas.

The big events this weekend in Avalon center around the Brendan Borek High Tides Memorial Fund (the same group to whom I donated the proceeds from last weekend's book signing). Friday is the Method Skate Jam at the Avalon Skate Park; Saturday night is a Reunion at the Windrift; and Sunday is the big surf competition. Full details here.

Ahoy! The Hobie Cat races come to Wildwood this weekend.

And, finally, this weekend, Cape May's having an antique car show.

Well, not quite finally. I wrote an article for today's Philadelphia Inquirer about how to buy used furniture. Featured in the article is Heather McCulley, who found her prized dining set down the shore. Turns out her husband is Matt McCulley, who's in charge of the Tri for Our Veterans event that happened in Sea Isle City this year. It also turns out that Matt was quite the troublemaker back in Avalon Campground. He's a shade older than I am, but we figured that we must have crossed paths in the campground pool since our familes had summer places there around the same time. He also worked as a bartender for the OD, and ran or rode his bike to and from the campground to the bar. I'm sure it was great training for you, Matt, for what you do now.

I've been inspired by the folks I interviewed for this story and started looking at used furniture on my own (plus, my budget dictates it). They'd be happy to know that I alleviated my neighbor's trash of a porch set last week -- nothing wrong with it, they just weren't taking it with them to their new place.

I was tempted to do something with this, too:



I wasn't going to take it per say, but maybe go all Office Space(the clip has naughty language) on it. Why? Read the full story here -- the picture is of the offending stereo.

Only three weekend left in the summer season, folks. So if you're a summer shore person, time's running out. Etan Horowitz, a reporter with the Orlando Sentinel, who's down the shore this week, said that the end of season feeling has hit, and I agree.

Yes, the shore is in its peak frenzy, but it's all going to be over soon -- at least until next summer. I have mixed feelings. I love the shore in the fall, so I'm looking forward to smaller crowds (and my personal vacation). But the end of summer is sort of the end of my book sprint. Of course I'll keep writing this blog and talking and writing about the shore -- in fact, I booked my first Summer 2009 event today. But I get this feeling that a time like this is never going to happen again. It was my first book, and it did better than I could have possibly imagined. I never in my wildest dreams hoped that it would get so much media attention, or that I'd have fans coming to my book signings. So thanks again to everyone who made this summer so very special...and enjoy these final three weeks. I know I will.

Speaking of that three month sprint (and so as not to leave on a sour note)...ever wonder what it's like to spend your summer promoting a book while trying to write full time, at the same time? Tiring...



...which is why you need a nice, warm, snuggly pillow :-)

Your Shore Weekend

I'm tempted to say that this will be a big shore weekend, but they're all going to be big shore weekends now through Labor Day (after which I might be taking my shore vacation -- I love Cape May in the fall). July and August are prime time, so there's lots to do. First, the concerts:

KC and the Sunshine Band is playing Bally's on Friday and Saturday.

Tony Bennett is playing Caesar's on Friday and Saturday as well.

Wanna laugh? Stephen Lynch will be at the House of Blues on Saturday.

Van Morrison is at the Borgata on Saturday.

And Mickey Rooney is playing the Atlantic City Hilton through tonight.

There's a magic show in Ocean City on Sunday. Can't make it? Then click here.

Athletic weekend in Sea Isle City: Saturday is a rugby tournament and Sunday is a Phillies Home Run Derby.

There's a five miler in Avalon on Saturday (I've hung up my running shoes until the fall -- just too hot out there for me).

If you're a fan of something old, there's a antique fair in Stone Harbor on Saturday.

Lots going on in Wildwood. The major events are New Jersey State BBQ championship and Angelsea Blues Festival.

Over at the Historic Cold Springs Village, there's a Civil War Encampment taking up residence over the weekend.

And, finally, Cape May is site of an antique auto show on Saturday.

I had a busy week at the shore and talking about the shore, so I'm sticking at home this weekend. Believe it or not, I have to get started on articles that will appear in magazines this winter. Such is the life of a magazine writer!

Your Shore Weekend

This isn't one you read about every day: FakeFest at The Deck at Trump Marina today through Sunday. It's a bunch of cover bands.

Steely Dan is playing the Borgata on Friday.

Chicago and The Doobie Brothers are also play the Borgata, but on Saturday. This combo holds a special place in my heart. The first time I ever drank too much was in the parking lot before their concert. Memories.......

Ringo Starr is playing Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort on Saturday.

This looks like a whole lot of yummy fun: the 22nd Annual Red, White & Blueberry Festival is on Sunday at the Hammonton High School Grounds. And it's free!

The Ocean City Pops 80th anniversary concert is on Sunday.

There's a free concert at Veterans Plaza in Avalon tonight.

Avalon is also hosting a triathlon on Sunday.

North Wildwood's holding their annual Italian-American festival this weekend.

The Cape May Designer show house is open. Check out this article I wrote about it for the Philadelphia Inquirer for all the details. It's amazing what the designers did to that house. If I had a spare $2 million, I'd buy it. Better get me a lottery ticket...

As for MY shore weekend, I'm headed to Margate for a meeting followed by my first trip to the beach this year. Yes, it's sad but true: I have not been on the beach all summer. So me, my beach chair, ipod, book and suntan lotion will be doing some sunning before I head out in Atlantic City tonight. Have a good weekend!

Your Shore Weekend

Morning everyone! I'm typing at you -- still -- from my hotel room at the new Waterfront Tower at Harrah's. Sweet stay. I must remember, though, that if I hear tapping outside my window it's not necessarily someone getting read to take a jump -- the building's still under construction!

I'm watching Regis & Kelly (I submitted my dog's picture for their take your dog to work day thing -- if I can't get on the show, well, at least my dog has a shot) and tying up some odds and ends before I head off to get my hair cut at the Elizabeth Arden Red Door salon. So here's what's going on this weekend at the South Jersey Shore:

On Saturday, I'll be signing copies of my book at Collingswood's Second Saturday at Robert Jay's Unforgettables. I know, I know, this isn't exactly at the shore, but, hey, it's about a shore book!

Tonight, Brett Michaels will be making an appearance at the Pool at Harrah's. I'll be there, not for Brett Michaels, but to see who is going to PAY to see Brett Michaels.

Also tonight is the True Colors concert at the Borgata.

Bill Ray Cyrus plays the Atlantic City Hilton on Saturday.

The Great American Volleyball - Atlantic City Open is on Saturday and Sunday, near the Trump Plaza Beach Bar.

Super bummed I can't make this: Jackie Collins is making an appearance at Caesars on Saturday.

James Taylor is at the Borgata on Saturday.

Ocean City's hosting the Miss New Jersey preliminary competition on Friday and Saturday.

There's also a 5K in Ocean City on Saturday.

There's a Skimmer Weekend Festival in Sea Isle City.

The Mummers will be strutting in Wildwood on Saturday.

If you've ever wanted a guide tour to all those gingerbread houses in Cape May, check this out -- you'll get a great tour.

And most important of all: the 85th annual National Marbles Tournament starts in Wildwood on Sunday. Yes, marbles. Yes, 85th anniversary. Read more hereA.

Your Shore Weekend

Buckle up, kids. It's going to be a steamy one. Even though temps will probably be cooler by the water, is the difference between 90 and 95 degrees really going to matter? I'll be all over the South Jersey Shore on Sunday and am already plotting what I'll wear to stay cool. Probably something white and loose fitting.

The main event (if you're into that sort of thing) is the Pavlik-Lockett fight at Boardwalk Hall on Saturday night. For those who like bodies flying only within the first five minutes at the top of the hour, there's a mini Law & Order: SVU marathon on USA Saturday night (hey, even Jersey Shore Jen needs a night off).

Engelbert Humperdinck is at Trump Plaza on Friday and Saturday. And, yes, that's a real name, just like Kalamazoo is a real place.

Clint Black plays the Tropicana on Saturday.

Jeffrey Ross is at the Borgata on Saturday.

Also at the Borgata, but on Sunday, is Robert Plant & Alison Krauss.

Historic Cold Springs Village is hosting a Celtic Festival on Saturday and Sunday.

Ocean City's Miss Artisan Pageant is on Saturday at Moorlyn Terrace and boardwalk. For Night in Venice fans -- these are the ladies tied to the week leading up to that event. But not literally. That would on the aforementioned mini Law & Order: SVU marathon.

Ocean City's also having a street fair on Saturday on Asbury Avenue.

Avalon is site of a big band dance on Saturday night -- 8pm at Community Hall. Yes, it's BYOB.

Big home tour in Stone Harbor on Saturday.

The New Jersey State Elks Convention is in Wildwood this weekend.

And, finally, if you like strawberries, check out the West Cape May strawberry festival on Saturday.

Your Shore Weekend

Reminder: I'll be on SoJo 104.9 from either 8:20 to 8:30am or 9:20 to 9:30am today. Tune in!

If Memorial Day weekend is the official start of the summer season, then this weekend is the soft opening. Why? Because a lot of people who rent out shore houses for the summer can get into their places tomorrow, so expect crowds at the usual 20 and 30 something hang outs like The Princeton in Avalon, The OD in Sea Isle and Keenan's in North Wildwood. I'll be in Cape May for my father's wedding but might be taking a trip up Ocean Drive to hang out with friends.

Here's what else is cooking:

Chris Rock does Atlantic City on Friday and Saturday nights at the Borgata.

Jim Breuer is doing the Boragata, too, but only on Saturday.

The American Heart Association HeartWalk is on Saturday in Ocean City.

The Wheaton Arts Cultural Center his holding their Paperweight Fest on Saturday from noon to 5pm.

For bargain shoppers: there's a community yard sale in Stone Harbor on Saturday.

Boy and Girl Scouts will be swarming Wildwood at the Spring Beach Jam.

The Nature Center of Cape May is holding a spring open house on Friday and Saturday.

You'll also want to check out today's Philadelphia Inquirer for a shore guide, which is tucked into the weekend section. I wrote three articles: "Kid-friendly activities for rainy or dull days," "Fun books to beguile lazy, sun-soaked days" and "Music, kids event at book fete." The last one isn't shore related, but still about a neat event.