Heck Avenue block party. Paul Goldfinger Ocean Grove photo. Blogfinger.net
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor Blogfinger.net. 8/29/24. Re-post.
I love what NJ.com writer Peter Genovese said about Seaside Heights. (#25): “OK, so maybe Seaside Heights is on here mostly because of its boardwalk. For liveliness, licentiousness, looniness, libido and all-around low-rent charm, no boardwalk comes close to Seaside.”
My Rutherford High friends and I loved to go to Seaside for all those L’s, but far and away, at age 16, “libido” wins the prize. We couldn’t get near the missing link (liquor) because we were all too young to get into the bars, and that ruined our chance to see some live bands.
But we did live there, however it was only for one summer when my band “The Paul Gary Quartet” played fox trots and jitter-bugs at a Lavallette bar and restaurant.
We lived in an apartment in Seaside above a garage, but mamma mia, what a summer that was, especially after work. That Seaside boardwalk did stay awake, just for us.
But this list which is supposed to be about the “best” and most livable shore towns is, albeit amusing, quite a mish-mash. He didn’t even mention “life-styles.” And we really shouldn’t be #5 without mentioning some of our strong points. (See my comment in the “comments” section below.)
5. Ocean Grove.
By Peter Genovese of NJ.com:
“There is no Jersey town quite like Ocean Grove, the “Jewel of the Jersey Shore.” Oceanfront setting, charming main street (Main Avenue), cute shops, ample restaurants, maybe the state’s most splendid structure (the Great Auditorium).
“And did we mention 100 or so tents residents call home in the summer (rules: no barbecues, no dogs, and definitely no loud music). Ocean Grove, part of Neptune Township, is a dry town, but you can have beer or wine on your tent porch, as long as it’s in a cup (no cans or glasses allowed). They don’t make towns like this anymore.”
Visit: The splendid Great Auditorium; Day’s Ice Cream.
BOB MARLEY
This is a strange NJ.com piece that purports to judge shore towns on livability. Yet the reasoning here that justifies why OG is #5 is nothing about what makes Ocean Grove such a desirable place to live.
There is no mention of our demographics, history and historic architecture, our award on the National and State Registers of historic places, the amazing musical programming, our religious framework that still is powerful stretching back 150 years, our location next to Asbury Park, our HPC and other organizations, our neighborhoods, our taxes, our parking problems, our clashing factions, and more….none of those aspects are mentioned.
I have to assume that this writer is just having fun conjuring up some more media nonsense.
But having said that, we have lived here for 23 years, so for us it has been a desirable place to live, but let’s be thoughtful and honest as we consider the Grove’s worthiness as a place to call home. It does have quite a few flaws and a citizenry which is often apathetic.