Jersey tomatoes are peak now and delicious. This is from Matt’s market Belmar. 8/20/26. They will be around into October.
Yellow white Jersey corn. Delicious Orchards. Colt’s Neck. Spectacular selections especially baked goods and a huge variety of produce. Also homemade soups and chocolates, candies, teas and coffees. Their field of sunflowers is in full bloom
Don”t forget the Asbury Fresh Farmers and Makers Market; Press Plaza right over the Jersey Avenue bridge from OG. Sunday 9-2.
Antonio’s Market on Sunset Avenue in Asbury. The best Italian delicacies including sandwiches on wonderful bread. They also have fresh octopus–great in Capri salads. For salads use olive oil from Italy. Closed Wednesdays.
“Hey Peach” bakery in Bradley. Spectacular selection. Try sour dough breads, croissants, and cream filled desserts. Coffee is first rate.
Vic’s in Bradley is still tops in pizza.
Uva’s is our favorite Italian restaurant. Bradley Beach.
ice cream try the Cookman Creamery in A. Park
Odyssey Coffee in OG has some special food items.
Online: Check “Goldbelly” to order authentic NYC deli foods such as pastrami from Zabar’s.
The Historical Society in the Grove used to award honors to the best restorations of original OG houses. The Beersheba Awards were stopped some years ago. The most public recognition now comes for those homes which participate in the historic house tours.
But now, as we have been observing the restoration going on at the old funeral home at Main and Delaware, it looks like that intersection may become the most beautiful and authentic and magnificent in town—if we were to judge according to intersection addresses.
For one thing it is the first eye-catching location that visitors see as they drive into the historic town of Ocean Grove, New Jersey. Our location definition of course does not include the part of town with the best reproductions: Ocean Pathway.
The “fun house” looks like it will be restored into a magnificent single family Victorian home, but we have no documentation now. Opposite the old ghost house is the relatively new and beautiful reproduction at Main and Delaware south (see above) and you all know that home, done by Albert and Jeffrey, complete with functioning gaslights.
The other striking house at that intersection is the wonderful Alday mansion which has been meticulously brought back by Steve and Victor and has more colors than Crayola. We wrote about that history recently on Blogfnger.net.
And of course the other property at the intersection is the Firemen’s Park, also known by us at Blogfinger as “Heroes Park.”
With regards to the Park, last week the Township got our attention when, for the first time we have seen a crew performing some much needed pruning on the trees, and they did a fabulous job. Too bad they didn’t remodel the center of the park: Creche-land, dead bell land, and dangerous iron spikes and shrub-land reminiscent of a concentration camp.
In fact, the park could use a consultation by a landscape architect. Too bad they couldn’t hire the artist who designed Central Park.
So let’s watch that latest reconstruction together. Don’t forget that judging architecture in town pertains only to the exteriors. And where is the Historical Society when this and other projects get underway? Thank goodness for the HPC and the legal team who challenged the North End mish-mash.
Katrina. When the levees broke, that is when most of the deaths occur. Paul Goldfinger photo still. Click to enlarge. You get the feeling in this image that people saw that they might die, and what they saw told the truth. And survivors told their stories in interviews
It is a horrible story, and everyone should see this documentary.
I also recommend the HBO series called Tremé. And Treme´ contains a remarkable sound track filled with New Orleans music and brilliant acting performances.
This documentary on Netflix is in 3 parts. And the most damning is the 3rd, directed and told by Spike Lee.
From Season 2 of Tremé here is “Sisters” with John Boutte and other cast members:
She: She was moving fast, photographing everyone near her with her phone. I wanted that shot of her. As I approached to snap her in action, she suddenly turned to me, extending her arm to draw me to her for a selfie. But not before I got my shot first (above)
Me: “You’re cute. I had to take your picture.” As she turns away I say, “No one ever takes my picture.”
She : Looking back she says, “They should take your picture…you’re cute too.”
SPRINGER AND CAGLE from the Acoustic Project. “Do you Want To Dance?”
Mt. Hermon Way. July 2023. Paul Goldfinger photo. Blogfinger.net
Matthew Morrison: “Neverland.” Original Broadway cast.
“We can sail away tonight on a sea of pure moonlight We can navigate the stars to bring us back home In a place so far away We’ll be young, that’s how we’ll stay Every wish is our command When we find ourselves in Never, Neverland.”
This tent villager has spent summers in OG since the 1950’s. Here she was relaxing. Her tent has a front row seat opposite the doors of the Great Auditorium, open for the concert. 8/23/26. Dusk.Paul Goldfinger photo.
