Roque-Tudesqui House. Santa Fe, New Mexico. 1785. By Eileen Goldfinger, Blogfinger staff. 2016.
NEWSIES CAST. Movie soundtrack. “Santa Fe.”
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Warning thunder and then bang. Rushing back from all directions. Paul Goldfinger, Ocean Grove, NJ. 8/7/26 Click once to enlarge.
Paul Goldfinger. Mt. Hermon Way. 4:40 pm 8/7/26. OG
Rufus and Martha Wainwright at Carnegie Hall:
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5/29/22 From a promotion photographed in A. Park by Stephen Goldfinger. Blogfinger staff. ©
Here is a 2018 quote published in Blogfinger: Paul Goldfinger MD Editor
“In May 2018, the Asbury Park Press interviewed Jack Green about the North End Redevelopment:
The paper quoted him: “I think it’s exciting to finally have something move forward,” said Jack R. Green, a real estate broker who lives in Ocean Grove.
He said, “The new development will help Ocean Grove compete with tourism in Asbury Park.”
I don’t recall ever hearing the Master Plan or other voice of reason in the Grove suggest that OG should “compete” with A. Park. Such an idea would be faint praise for supporting the ill-begotten project at the North End.
The future of this region will be best if we cheer Asbury Park on while striving to keep Ocean Grove the quaint, small town, diverse historic community which it has been.
Editor’s note April 2026. Travel and Leisure Magazine just named Asbury Park as the second best place to live in New Jersey. They have received similar praise from other sources in the past.
Clearly Asbury Park has evolved quickly, and we will never catch it, but so what?
We need to mature in ways that suit Ocean Grove. The two towns are not comparable
Asbury Park has been pronounced a rising star by the media and it will continue to sweep higher and higher.
Compete with Asbury? Forget it!. Their prior awards have been mostly nonsense.
But the Grove cannot even begin to achieve its potential unless imaginative citizens get interested.
July 2026 Travel and Leisure named the Albatross Hotel of OG as the best hotel in America?. Really? Here is a link about the Albatross.
“Starry Starry Night” is from the movie Loving Vincent.
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Main Avenue. August 4, 2020. Photo by Sean Mack. Ocean Grove.
Paul Goldfinger, Editor. Blogfinger.net 2020
Diagonal parking has its problems, but usually cars parked that way suffer from over extended rear ends, like a flute player I once took to the prom. But here we have a new sort of parking problem in the Grove. It’s sort of a man bites dog story.
We assume that this was an accident, but how could it happen? Is this one of those “games people play” while trying to park in the Grove?
What will the CMA parking planners do about this eventuality? And what will the Better Parking and Polling Alliance do with this?
Thanks to citizen reporter Sean Mack who actually sent us some breaking news—a welcome event on Blogfinger.
DUCHESS: For Blogfinger who is exhausted by more parking talk.
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Ocean Grove beachfront. The dredge has arrived. January 13, 2014. Photo by Bob Bowné. © Special to Blogfinger. Click once to enlarge
MINDY GLEDHILL “Winter Moon”
Posted in Hurricane Sandy in Ocean Grove, Hurricane Sandy recovery, Photography by Bob Bowne | Tagged Bob Bowne Ocean Grove photographer, SAnd replenishment Ocean Grove beach | 5 Comments »
By Michael Goldfinger Blogfinger staff.
Feel free to comment on this image: What is it about? You can imagine a narrative and share it. Good photography offers the opportunity for interpretation.
THE MELODIANS: From the movie “Jack Goes Boating.”
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Asbury Park Sunday market. “Today’s Offerings.” Paul Goldfinger photo. Click once 2022.
TIN PENNY:
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New OG pier opens. : 4/15/23 Paul Goldfinger photograph. Blogfinger.net. Click once to enlarge. Historic image.
By Paul Goldfinger, MD, Editor Blogfinger.net.
1891. 500 foot pier is built at Embury Avenue at cost of $4,060. It was built to supply support for sewage pipe. Stokes’ idea.
Another pier was built at boardwalk north end, but it came down in a subsequent storm.
North End pier destruction:
1922 Embury Pier damage in a storm; rebuilt. Also 1929 and 1938 and others.
1962. Ash Wednesday storm. Jersey Shore hit hard.
Nov, 1992: a devastating nor’easter hits the Grove and destroys the pier. Don’t miss the link below.
Paul Goldfinger photograph; sunrise. 2002. OG pier
2004. Paul Goldfinger photo
2011 Hurricane Irene:
Hurricane Irene 2011. Nasty storm. Destructive
October 29, 2012 . Sandy hits and damages pier and boardwalk in Ocean Grove, NJ.
Bob Bowné. Sandy. Shortly after, the Fishing Club and the distal pier vanishes. 10/29/2012. Award winning photograph for Bob.
Walking on the pier the next day. 10/30/2012. Police asked them to come off. Paul Goldfinger photo.
2012. Day after Sandy hit . Paul Goldfinger.
The pier is repaired out to 250 feet. The original length was 500 feet.
11/1/13. Paul Goldfinger photo. Pier remains after Sandy.
7//9/14. Paul Goldfinger photo. Post-Sandy
5/16/14 FEMA refuses to pay for pier:
Blogfinger post:
“Just when the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association (OGCMA) thought that everything was going right, the local FEMA project office notified the CMA that the fishing pier was ruled ineligible for FEMA public assistance because it is entirely recreational (unlike the boardwalk) and it falls under the rules for nonprofit entities. This notification was received on May 16, 2014.” It came after the CMA thought that FEMA would pay for the pier. This was a huge disappointment .
2015 Bob Bowné. Ocean Grove pier after Sandy.
.
2021: An excerpt from a Blogfinger discussion about the pier:
August 2021 update: I may have missed something, but if you actually read Michael Badger’s welcoming statement on page 1 of the 2021 Summer Program Guide, he says, “Architects are drawing up the plans for restoring the pier so that the OGCMA can begin the process of getting permits.”
About a year ago a design for a new pier was publicized. It was in the shape of a cross. We don’t know if that is still gospel, but such a design could be practical in offering more space for fishermen. We had a discussion on BF about pier design.
But we must go back to the post Sandy era (2014). when FEMA refused to pay to fix the pier. You will recall the “public vs private” debates as FEMA tried to figure out what to do. And back in 2007 there were debates about discrimination on the part of the CMA.
And when it comes to the pier, the 800 pound gorilla in the room which has not been discussed publicly is whether OG will ever again permit a private fishing club at the end of the pier.
Our impression is that such a segregated design will never happen again, because the pier is a public thoroughfare. Add to the mix the previous agreement to lease the end for the Fishing Club extends to 2024.
As Uncle Milty would say, “What the hey.”
2/27/22 ( ? 8/22) DEP awards Waterfront Development permit. No local (Neptune) construction permit is required.
7/30/22. DEDICATION. of new Camp Meeting Association Pier plan. Project engineer Peter Avakian speaks at the public meeting and brags about the planned construction:
Link to dedication. 7/30/22
Blogfinger: “I have some of Avakian’s quotes below, and the most impressive words of the evening were his when he promised that “no future storm could knock down the new pier and that the pier will be bigger, better, taller and longer.”
“The piles will be impressive--up to 60 feet long and driven 20 feet into the sand. The pile caps will be made of cast iron, and there will be “extensions” at the end of the pier which would provide a “pavilion area” where someone could get out of the sun and there will be a place. (? the cross) where lifeguards can survey the ocean and beach areas for safety.”
4/15/2023: Pier is open to the public.
Stays open for the summer of 2023. No problems
Pier opens. 4/15/23. Paul Goldfinger photo.
July 1 2023. NJ.com photo
October 2023. Pier is temporarily closed due to “pilings issues.” Then it is open again , but closed Dec 12, 2023 due to “pilings failure.”
December 24, 2023: Entire pier is closed.
12/24/23. Paul Goldfinger photo. Pier is closed.
NJ.com. “The pier opened in April 2023 but fully closed eight months. (12/12/23) later after three of the 88 newly-installed pilings were broken by waves”
“Loose pilings” are mentioned, and Neptune Township begins to pay attention to “safety worries.”
2/8/24. “Outside engineering firm” hired.
And they say that part of the pier (the old section) is safe–consider reopening.:
April 2024: NJ.com. “In April 2024, the first 243 feet of the pier reopened to the public while an engineering firm continued to evaluate the extension.”
5/22/24. Paul Goldfinger photo Click to enlarge…
5/8/24. Engineers say that the “cross” is a “north-south bump-out”. Fence is completed.
12/24/24. Pier closed. Press confusion about the pier: Click on link below
Press confusion at end of 2024
Oct 6, 2025: New section of OG Pier to close until further notice : Camp Meeting Association announcement:
“After many months of detailed investigation and analysis, we are in receipt of our engineer’s report on the structural sufficiency of the pier addition. Regrettably, we have been advised by our engineers that the pier extension may not be structurally sound enough to be used safely. Accordingly, the end of the pier will continue to be closed for the foreseeable future while we pursue remedial options. Thank you for your patience.”
This is how it looks in 2025:
OG pier, distal end as seen in 2025. Paul Goldfinger photo. Click once to enlarge. Blogfinger.net End of pier to close. (See below).
January 2026:
OG pier January 2026. Paul Goldfnger photo. Click to enlarge
LOS LOBOS: “Sabor a Mi”.
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Dudley Moore from the movie “Arthur.” 1981. Internet photo. 2023
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.net. Re-post. 2023
I always liked the theme from the movie (1981) Arthur. It is heard during the opening montage and aerial shots of New York City at night. Arthur stars Dudley Moore and Liza Minnelli among a gaggle of other stars. It won Best Picture at the Golden Globes.
The song , which won an Oscar for Best Original Song, actually is known by 3 names: “Between the Moon and New York City,” “The Best That You Can Do, ” and “Arthur’s Theme.”
The film was ready to be released, but it needed music for the opening shots of New York City. Carole Bayer Sanger was working on the movie score with Burt Bacharach. Christopher Cross, a pop singer who was to sing the song, got involved and help write part of the piece, and Peter Allen got a credit for the title which Sanger pulled out of an old song file. So, at the Oscars, all 4 received statues from Bette Midler.
Dudley Moore died of a neurologic disorder when he was in his 60’s. Christopher Cross won 5 Grammy’s for his first album. He continues to perform at the age of 71.
CHRISTOPHER CROSS “Arthur’s Theme.”
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Despite the heat, the light was lovely at end-of-day 5/2/18. “America the Beautiful.” Paul Goldfinger photo © Click to enlarge
MARTHA AND THE VANDELLAS
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I believe this is one of the first views of the beach from the new pier because everyone was photographing the pier. Paul Goldfinger. 4/15/23 about 1 pm. Looking north. A foggy, but generally happy day in Grover town. Click once to enlarge.
LOUIE RAMIREZ: From the original soundtrack of the wonderful movie. CHEF
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Ronald Naldi, tenor, in front of his Ocean Grove tent, a short walk to the Great Auditorium. Paul Goldfinger photo, Blogfinger.net. ©
Q: Where in the world can you meet a world famous opera singer, wearing a lavender sport jacket, emerging from his tent home, about to leave for his recital—one block away?
A. Ocean Grove, New Jersey, USA. Only in America.
I was on my way by bike to Ronald Naldi’s Sunday afternoon recital, when I spotted the man himself, getting his wardrobe organized on his porch, having just emerged from his tent, i.e. his summer home in Ocean Grove.
I made a U turn and stopped in front of his abode. Ron, a lyric tenor, artist-in-residence each summer in the Grove, was almost ready. For those of you who don’t know of him, he is a major star with the Metropolitan Opera in NYC.
I reminded him of who I was, but he was well aware of our Ocean Grove blog. Actually I knew that from a prior telephone interview, but I wasn’t sure he would recognize me. He cheerfully and enthusiastically agreed when I asked to photograph him in front of his tent. His concert would start in about 15 minutes, so we didn’t chat much, but he did give me the Blogfinger quote of the year:
He said, “I love Blogfinger.…it is the best blog in the world.”
Holy mackerel! “Thank you,” I blurted out, “I promise a good review for your concert.” Goodness—-what a lame thing to say.
He laughed. I jumped on my bike pedaling off towards the Youth Temple—visions of sugar plum fairies dancing in my head.
The next time I saw him was when he strode on stage for what Shelley Brown of OG calls “The best concert of the year in Ocean Grove.”
Needless to say, the recital was superb.
—Paul Goldfinger, Editor @blogfinger
RONALD NALDI from his album of Neapolitan Songs. “Rondine al Nido”
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Emily in her hammock. Ocean Grove’s Firemen’s Park. 7/9/16. Paul Goldfinger photo. © Click to see Emily better.
Saturday, July 9, 2016. Ocean Grove, NJ.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.net
It was an unusual sight this afternoon. Someone had set up a hammock in Firemen’s Park. You could tell that a person was in the hammock, but nothing was moving. So, out came the iPhone as I walked in that direction. As I passed by, I could see a bit of skin, but nothing else. So I walked around and doubled back. Then a head popped up. It was Emily Eldson from Georgia making herself at home.
Emily is from a town near Atlanta. She is a 21 year old student at Birmingham Southern University, a private liberal arts school in Alabama. with 1,346 students. BSU is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and was founded in 1856. Emily is a religion major who was awarded a summer internship by the OG Camp Meeting Association. She is interested in a career working with a Youth Ministry program. This summer she is involved with activities for teenagers.
Emily’s dad drove up with her and then he hopped a plane back home, She has a car and has already taken a trip to NYC; this is the first time Emily has visited New Jersey. The OGCMA is providing her with a place to stay in town. She will be here until mid-August and so far she is having a wonderful time, including getting some snoozes in her hammock.
But you can’t blame Emily, after all, in the Southland, they have “sleepy time”
Kermit Ruffins of New Orleans knows all about it:
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