I took their picture suddenly–as they reacted to my greeting. All photos by Paul Goldfinger. Saturday, June 20, 2020. Ocean Grove. Blogfinger.net©   Click to enlarge. (Don’t you wish that real life were like that?)

By Paul Goldfinger, MD.  Editor @Blogfinger.net

Of course, there is the usual beach and boardwalk crowd expected as June comes busting out all over, and it was crowded today at the oceanfront in Ocean Grove, NJ.

But it is on the historic streets of the Grove where you can feel the warmth and excitement of the imminent arrival of summer.

Cyclists take a break at Firemen’s Park, Delaware Avenue. Blogfinger.net.

This morning there were many bikers exploring our narrow boulevards.   A couple came by our porch on Delaware Avenue, and he said to her, “I love biking around these streets.”

That’s because it feels alive, welcoming, and nostalgic–small town America.

One of the many imaginative small gardens that you can walk by in OG. Smell the roses.

Later, at 4 pm, we walked to Days, had ice cream in Auditorium Square Park, and then walked north on a few of our streets including the Tent Village, a park, some gardens, but people…happy.

A couple, new to OG decided to make this town their hometown. ©

We saw folks, many young, couples, families, friends, visitors, neighbors, laughing, relaxing, kibitzing, eating, and just feeling great.

In the summer, my favorite times around town are twilight and evening.  My neighbors light candles and eat dinner on their porch every night when they are here—second homers.

A tent porch, in action. ©

Tent village is a little slow, so far, in coming alive. But it is one of the most alive places in town once it gets going.

People will talk to you from their porches, or as you walk by other strollers.

It’s this feeling that draws so many to our town regardless of the underlying political and social issues which we share with other American towns these days, and even  uniquely in ours, but you can usually ignore all that if you want to, and driving into the Grove still makes you feel transformed.

THE BLUE VIPERS OF BROOKLYN