Leaving Ocean Grove to explore A. Park 2014. This route heads north through the beloved indoor-outdoor Casino to the AP boards. To the left is the ocean. Will the planned OG North End be as welcoming as it is in this photograph–open air, views all around, open to all? Meet and greet in all directions. Or will it become Asbury Park South? Click to enlarge. Note the White Whale (pink in this photo) burned down on April 13, 2019. This is an alternate route after midnight connecting AP and OG without any locks . A. Park owns the Casino building. Paul Goldfinger photograph. 2014.
As for girls in their summer clothes, since 2014 when this image was obtained, the bottoms have gotten higher and the tops more revealing. ..It’s’ all good and now rated PG–at least in A. Park; maybe PG- 13 in the Grove.
Angie, Ken and Sally in Firemen’s Park. Sally is the dog. Blogfinger.net photo. 0/29/20.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.net
Angie and Ken rent a house on Main Avenue every September, which is a good idea because it is the best time of the year at the Shore. They are from Philadelphia, and being in Ocean Grove is a treat, but now it has a special allure given the COVID situation.
They say that the Grove is a unique place and they enjoy daily walks to Firemen’s Park with their black dog Sally. The three of them play Frisbee, but the focus is on Sally who diligently works at her flying craft.
Every transplant from NYC or Philly that we talk to love also to walk to Asbury Park, primarily for the food, but part of that allure is the music. All summer there was free live music in Sunset Park near Bradley’s statue, and the programs changed weekly. And now there is live music at St. John’s Island on Sundays through October.
Asbury and OG offer contrasting life-styles and gifts, but this just adds to the appeal of Ocean Grove where real estate has continued to increase in value, and that is not just related to the virus.
Some new buyers are coming here just because they are within a short round trip to A. Park and back, and real estate ads reflect that marketing feature.
OG is still a better buy than A. Park, but the challenge for OG is to maintain its historic charm while Asbury is fulfilling its dream of being “hipster city.” The North End Development, as currently planned, will be a commercial urban entree into A. Park while diminishing the look, spirit, and neighborhood appeal of small town Ocean Grove.
Clearly, the idea that OG and A. Park are sister cities, going back to the 19th century, has now come true as A. Park has become a destination for visitors including Grovers who can easily get over there by foot or by bike, unlike the out-of-town interlopers who park for free in our neighborhoods and then vanish into the Wesley Lake mist while crossing the bridge.
Destination Asbury Park, through OG on Delaware Avenue near Wesley Lake. Blogfinger photo on Saturday, 9/27/20. Click once to enlarge.
Paul Goldfinger photo . Click to enlarge. May, 2018. 4th Avenue and Drummond, in Asbury Park. The house is set back from the usual line of houses; note the lovely spring garden. It could be the setting for a scene in Spamalot. Maybe Sir Lancelot’s home. Blogfinger.net
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor@Blogfinger.net
Think about a shore town that likes nonconformity. You would probably not find this house in Ocean Grove, for example.- The HPC would have a seizure.
But we were driving around A. Park on the West Side, on an avenue less traveled (4th) and we nearly rode past this lovely house, very British, set back.
So, we asked Richard Burton’s ghost and Julie Andrews to provide the soundtrack.
We’ve had whales and dolphins this summer in Ocean Grove, but a mermaid? We were over in Firemen’s Park this evening at about 7 pm when we spotted an iridescent vision strolling or maybe swimming diagonally across the park. We got closer and discovered a mermaid.
These delightful and mysterious creatures, which have been reported in ancient mariner legends, are rarely seen in New Jersey, but here she is. There is even a Disney movie about them—The Little Mermaid.
Dominique Ciccarelli may be the first Grover who is a mermaid. She spent her summer here, but mostly she is from Jersey City. She was just returning from the 3rd Annual Promenade (ie parade) of Mermaids in Asbury Park.
Dominique had a great time. She said that the competition was tough, and even some mermen joined the parade. We are happy to report that Dominique has some graceful moves, even on dry land. And that dress—it would attract even the ancient mariner —-a muse for a rhyme.
It’s wonderful that the Asburians could come up with a beauty parade other than the Zombie Walk.
We didn’t make the event today, but Ocean Grove’s gorgeous entry Dominique must have done swimmingly well. If she enters next year, perhaps she will remind us to get an action shot for her.
We thank Dominique for sharing her amazing outfit with the Blogfinger readers and for our annual “Girls in Their Summer Clothes” 2017 series.
Watch for her riding the waves after 12 noon at the OG beach tomorrow (Sunday). After the morning service, it would be a nice diversion.
How does she swim in that dress? She’ll have to use the breast stroke.
Cookman Avenue was cordoned off to permit restaurants to serve outdoors. It was Labor Day, so we put on long pants and went there, walking over the bridge from the Grove. All the eateries seemed busy. The atmosphere was festive–fitting the holiday.
It was our first time out to dinner since before March, so it was quite special. It was a mood elevator and was therapeutic.
Hardly any patrons seated for dinner along the Avenue were wearing masks, although most were wearing them who were walking around on the avenue.
Bonney Read is a fine restaurant, and although there was some indoor seating, spaced wide (see above,) most of the patrons were outside and distancing. We were sitting outside on the Bangs Avenue side where hardly any seats were taken, so we felt quite safe.
The food, as expected, was excellent, but it is expensive. I had 6 oysters for $20.00 and a fish platter with a 10 oz. swordfish steak that was superb. It was $32.00. I also had a gin and tonic made with gin distilled in A. Park. Eileen had a white wine, peel and eat shrimp with spices and a Cesar salad.
The bill was $120.00 and we left a generous tip. But the occasion was so special, that we didn’t fret too much about the cost. And the atmosphere, the show on Cookman, the beautiful evening, the fine service, the delicious cuisine, and the psychotherapy made it all worthwhile.
BENNY GOODMAN: “Rose Room” from the soundtrack of The War.
Sunset Avenue (at Main St.) Farmers Market . Saturday mornings. Blogfinger photo.8/3/19 This is what we bought today 1//3/19 Blogfinger photo.
Closeup of jumbo perfection. Blogfinger photo. Sunset Farmers Market. 8/3/19 Diameter is nearly 6 inches.
By Eileen and Paul Goldfinger hunting for the perfect Jersey tomato–this is the place.
The Sunset Avenue Farmers market got off to a late start this season, but now they are back with fine produce, tomatoes, corn, peppers pickles, Italian bread, melons, sunflowers and other items.
The Jersey tomatoes here are large and tasty. They should hold up into September.
This Saturday market has parking and is fun. Lots of conversations. Just ask the baker about his breads and cheeses.
