Blogfinger

Singing hymns, 9 am. Bishop Janes Tabernacle. Ocean Grove, NJ, USA Paul Goldfinger Blogfinger.net

“Wish Me Luck”. Elsie Carlisle.   Music from WWII.

Tent Village. Sept 1, 2026

A little dreary.   Just one person visible at 9 am, September 1, 2026.  Paul Goldfinger photo.

KRISTIN CHENOWITH.  From Promises, Promises

“Knowing When To Leave.”

Today the crew from Old Forge is busy ripping the siding off in an effort to expose the original siding which looks like original wood.

Notice the incredible turret on top.  Turrets were common in Victorian times, but this “onion shape” is unusual in OG.

In addition to the siding noise, construction is ongoing in the back to create an addition

If the Historical Society wants to offer some information about this particular house, we would welcome it.  The applies to the Historical Preservation Commission or any Grover with knowledge about Victorian homes.

Old Forge is a New Jersey company about 50 years old in a wide variety of construction projects.

Rooftop accessories like turrets are Victorian.  Our home nearby has two finials on the roof and a second story porch, lacking in most Victorians.

Please send any comment to Blogfinger@Verizon.net   Paul Goldfinger Editor Blogfinger.net

Here is a link to our post about the construction of a new Victorian at the foot of Ocean Pathway:

New OG Victorian

TONY BENNETT and k.d.lang

OG block party. 08/30/26. Paul Goldfinger photo

Ethel Merman:

HMS Chutzpah. Parking  in late afternoon while ignoring our laws  and while another stifling crowded tourist event (Giant Craft Show. 5/15/24)  was fizzling out on the Pathway.   People were driving around town with their eyes bulging and fire spewing  out of their ears while seeking parking.    Paul Goldfinger photo. Blogfinger.net.

The most fascinating sight at today’s emetic-provoking “craft” show.  Does she own that yellow Benz?  Her hat says “New York.”  The Bronx is up and the Battery is down.  Is she going to buy a house today in the Grove for a million bucks?  I hope so. Paul Goldfinger photo. 6/15/24

The “Giant Craft Show” was a big success if you go by the swarms, the hordes, the invasion of tourists anxious to buy earrings for $2.00.  The Chamber of Commercials was sponsoring this giant event.

This is not the first time I have pontificated about giant Craft Shows.   Here is a short link:

https://wp.me/pqmj2-M7s

Before entering the actual sale, I met three Grovers who came to the park on their bikes.   Imagine a wonderful  Ocean Grove where bikes are the most common transportation all summer on our streets.

Ladies who lunch? Going shopping for stuff?  Enjoying their town?    Auditorium park OG. Paul Goldfinger photo .6/15/24

Today parking was horrible. Worse than ever. Illegal parking was rampant.

I spent 15 minutes wandering around the sale, camera ready. But these congested events are a poor backdrop for photography. So I watch the people and the harsh contrasty light. There is nothing beautiful or titillating  about such an event—-except for the girls in their summer clothes, and it’s hard to nail a great shot with a 300 pound grammy standing next to the subject you are lining up for the centerfold of Blogfinger.net.

Is anyone going to buy stained glass?  Probably not her.  Blogfinger.net

Of all people, I met Michael Badger today (former CMA President;)  not among the restless natives, but in Auditorium Park.  He was smiling, relaxed and willing to chat with a reporter, me, without a press release in his hand.

He was so relaxed and free of care that when I asked him where the craft sale was, he didn’t know. Outstanding!   During our brief exchange of pleasantries a woman walked up to him and said, “We miss you.”

Not only did I fail to meet anybody I knew at the sale, but I only saw a few people smiling.   Making one’s way through that throng is evidently a serious endeavor.  Who needs it?

Today, as I walked to the show and then back, it dawned on me that Ocean Grove must have  a limit when it cannot accept any more of these oxygen-sucking mob-inducing weekend summer events.   Is this it?

Sure every shore town has tourists and some parking issues, but not like us. We have forces at play here that other towns do not, such as the money grabbing Chamber of Commercials, Neptune Township which wants our tax dollars and lets all employees go home early every summer Friday,  and of course the Camp Meeting Association which will use every available moment to fill the Grove up with religious programming which can be too numerous to count and religious tourists which other towns do not have.

Neptune Township needs to accept greater responsibility  for the happiness of  Ocean Grove residents. It needs to figure out when enough is enough and to then intervene.  For example end all the “giant” events because they do no good for the folks who are residents in this little town.

And, if they can pay attention, Neptune is in charge of the North End Re-development Project, so cancel it and get us back on the right track.

And then there is the name change where the Giant Fall Craft Show in now (2026) “The Ocean Grove Fall Market.”   This name change is supposed to give the impression that the Grove is becoming more sophisticated and thus the place to go if you are a gentrified Jersey Shore denizen.   But it will still be the same including those $2.00 earrings and $10.00 sausage, pepper and onion sandwiches which are usually served cold.

Do you suppose that the new group:

who used to be the Home Groaners Ass.  would now consider giving up their collections of mens underwear and organizing block parties and get involved with our demographic issues, controversies and  concerns for our town including church vs state matters,  July 4 parade with  no authentic military tributes or a genuine Sousa marching band and finally a true definition of what their organization is about.

PHIL OCHS:   “Changes”

Days Ice Cream. Ocean Grove. Paul Goldfinger photograph

FROM GODSPELL:

Neptune High Marching Band. It  seems that the flute section has emerged from the shadows, so watch out.   Paul Goldfinger photos. 5/30/22.  Video by Jean Bredin.

Neptune High ROTC. They’ve got class. Blogfinger photos by Paul Goldfinger.

We have the most fun photographing the viewers. All on Main Avenue, OG

Watch the parade from your front porch.

Are they New Yorkers or what?

What could be better? 4 year old Kyle on the town with Dad at the parade.

Tammy is a nurse from outatown. She’s here for fun with friends. Will she find it in the Grove? Of course she will !

Speaking of flutes, in my day our high school band flute section had all girls and one boy. Anthony didn’t mind at all.

They sat in front in concert band, at the feet of the conductor.  They had to avoid titillation in how gracefully they held their instruments.

I could never figure out the flute section because no one could hear them as we marched across the field during football season.

But those sweet flautists were eye candy that you would be afraid to touch for fear they would break.  So I asked one of them, Janice, a lovely sophomore, to go to the Junior Prom. She was so delicate, like that flute music she played.

When she sat down in the car, her crinolines went “boing” heading  north. She had little to say that night, but she was beautiful.  After that I went for older women.

Guys, if you are in the NHS band, try to date a flute player, but be careful–don’t be mislead  by those delicate instruments or those red shirts.   As it says on his shirt:   “Fear the Flutes.”

BARRY WHITE:

Paul Goldfinger still from the opening dance scene of Dirty Dancing. This was filmed in black and white unlike the rest of the film.

THE RONETTES:   Fom the motion picture soundtrack:   Dirty Dancing.

Sunflowers: Delicious Orchards. Colts Neck, NJ. Paul Goldfinger © Photograph with an Apple iPhone 6. 2022.

Romance among the sunflowers:  It’s Bob Dylan:

8/30/26. Paul Goldfinger photos. . Blogfinger.net.  Click once to enlarge all photos.

JOHN MAYER

This Wegwoman wears her summer clothes today. She looks beautiful.    Saturday, 8/27/22. Paul Goldfinger photo.

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor, Blogfinger.net

Aderike is an African name. I saw her by the “Ready-to-Cook Entrées.”

I admired her wonderful  “girls in their summer clothes”  outfit, and she explained that the  pleated skirt was made for her by a friend.

And the white top is part of her bathing suit.

Aderike is from Neptune. (The town, not the planet.)

NANCY WILSON: