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:
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”
OG needs to be redefined to establish what kind of town and quality of life We-The-People want. The various groups in town would have to work together with Neptune, and the Master Plan should be rewritten and enforced. At this time I see apathy and worsening.
But there are many new people lmoving here, so maybe there will be some activism arising.
The Grove is a complete mess. This is what happens when things aren’t handled properly and you have no real plan for dealing with this many people.
Free parking leads to people racing around trying to find a spot. it’s all day every day but the weekends are extra special. There’s no system to keep anything in check here.
Music blaring from 80% of the cars, no regard for residents, trash all over the beach because there’s too many people here. They dump their trash wherever they please including leaving it in parking spots., dunes, the median on Broadway or the beach itself. Why are we paying taxes for this??!!