Blogfinger

Blogfinger Photo Department finds a delightful diversion at the OG flea market in 2023.  This what our flea markets should look like, but what will we get this May 31 on the Pathway?   Paul Goldfinger photo.

This is an OG Flea Market. What’s wrong with this?  Paul Goldfinger photo

OG Flea Market in 2014. Blogfinger photo by Michael Goldfinger. Blogfinger staff.   Mayhem, but it’s ours. Why change? We need an answer. And you must click once on this image.  You will be impressed.

By Paul Goldfinger, MD, Editor Blogfinger.net. 5/4/25

In case you haven’t noticed, the May 31, 2025 Flea Market  will apparently  be morphed into something else.  See their flier above.   The OG Area Chamber of Commercials is now promoting a “Spring Market.”

What do you suppose that is all about?   Here is what the Chamber says  about this event:  “Formerly Ocean Grove Spring Flea Market.”

“Saturday, May 31, 2025

“The Spring Market welcomes vendors offering vintage, antique, handmade, and new items. All items must be family-friendly. The event takes place on the lawn in front of The Great Auditorium on Ocean Pathway. Food vendors are also welcome to participate.”

What the Heck Avenue is going on?  Are the organizers of this event  about to re-design  one of America’s most diverting activities—the classic down-home glorious  flea market or is this just a pretentious name change?

Is the Chamber of Commercials just going to  bring in the same kinds of goods  as in the past: sponges, mops, collectibles, home goods, eyeglass cleaner, pet supplies, garden spinners, clothes, cheap jewelry,  and a myriad of other down-to-Earth objects that we must have at flea market prices?    And will the usual marvelous assortment of characters who love this event show up?  They must!  We need them to add spice to the sales, and I love to photograph them.

Or will they actually offer a radical  change  in a few weeks—a true  re-make of an old favorite?

Is this name change supposed to  fool the public into believing that Ocean Grove has  somehow changed to become a new sort of flea venue  unlike our  boisterous flea markets of old?    Are they serious as they describe what items will be on sale this May 31 at the Spring Market?    “Family-Friendly?” Does that mean that  bikinis and underwear will be banned?

Is this some sort of hoax to make the public think that  Ocean Grove has become  a veritable Spring Lake or Avon-By-The- Hyphens?   Maybe the idea is to have activities here to match the current prices of our houses.

Will the massive crowds come anyhow,  to find antiques, handmade goods, “vintage,”    (vintage what?)  and maybe lacrosse sticks?    Will they be playing Brahms or still with the Doo Wops?   Will young girls be spinning hula hoops while wearing short shorts, or will they be wearing and selling clothes from Tommy Bahama?

Maybe the people of Ocean Grove don’t want this change—did anyone ask us?  And who are the “they” who are imposing this on we-the-people?   Not everyone in the OG “Area” Chamber are from OG.  Where are the Home Groaners when some mad men come to town trying to  change our life styles and re-define our citizens?

Do “they”  think they can transform Ocean Grove overnight into a newfound Martha’s Vineyard by the  Sea?  Will they ask their music makers to play Sondheim at Carnegie Hall?

It should be fun to see how the Chamber will be explaining what’s going on to the public and to the citizens of Ocean Grove.

“A Weekend in the Country” by Stephen Sondheim from A Little Night Music :

“Look, ma’am
An invitation—
Here, ma’am
Delivered by hand
And, ma’am, I notice the stationery’s
Engraved and very grand”