Paul Goldfinger photo. July 4 parade, 2016, in Ocean Grove. Wesley Lake swan boats. Main Avenue. Blogfinger.net
BRIAN WILSON: From Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin. It’s about a “cunning cottage.”
Archive for the ‘Ocean Grove downtown Main Avenue’ Category
No ugly ducklings in the OG July 4 Parade—just lovely swans.
Posted in Ocean Grove downtown Main Avenue, Ocean Grove July 4, Ocean Grove lifestyles, Photo news from Ocean Grove, Photograph by Paul Goldfinger, Photographs July 4 parade in Ocean Grover, tagged July 4 parade Ocean Grove 2016 on December 20, 2025|
Modern OG history–2019. Chamber hits a musical home-run with sidewalk “Cabaret” downtown.
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove downtown Main Avenue, Ocean Grove lifestyles, Ocean Grove Musical Event, Ocean Grove neighborhood event, tagged Ocean Grove music downtown on October 30, 2025|
Suzie Neustadter entertained the Cabaret audience downtown. 9//28/19 Paul Goldfinger photos and videos. Click image to enlarge the scene.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor@Blogfinger.net
For a long while, it seemed that the Chamber of Commerce only had eyes for the blues when it brought the same musical groups downtown for their various festivals.
But this time, seemingly out of the blue, came a wonderful musical program at Main and Pilgrim Pathway, with no street closures, only music of the sort that we have not heard before here: Broadway, Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, jazz, Gershwin, Amy Winehouse, Beatles, and others, and it was so refreshing and professional.
An Ocean Grover, Lou Parisi, brought the program that included well known jazz pianist Art Topolow and a variety of terrific Jersey singers and musicians. We’ll try to get their names.
And this is the sort of programming that we at Blogfinger have been craving: something joyful and personal that could connect with a small crowd of locals and without the parking glut and tourist mob scene that we usually see in the Grove.
I often criticize the Chamber of Commercials, but there was nothing commercial about this 3 hour program which was relaxing and great fun. Even the traffic going by seemed to add a sense of spontaneity to the music, and that is a desirable quality.
I tried to find out from a Chamber member as to what bright light ignited this wonderful surprise, but all he could say was, “We wanted a change.”
I’d like to think that this program reflects a new awareness of our community of residents and its needs.
Modern OG history–2016: Lunch at Nagle’s—-a Democrat perhaps?
Posted in Ocean Grove downtown Main Avenue, Ocean Grove Gallery, Ocean Grove portraits, Photograph by Paul Goldfinger, tagged Governor Christy visits Ocean Grove on October 9, 2023| 4 Comments »
While a press mob was besieging Nagle’s, and Gov. Christie was inside, this diner was not distracted. Paul Goldfinger photo. © 6/10/16 Ocean Grove, NJ.
DAVID HYDE PIERCE from Hello Dolly:
More Main Avenue progress–Blogfinger keeps its fingers on the pulse of downtown.
Posted in Ocean Grove downtown Main Avenue, tagged Downtown Ocean Grove in summer on July 24, 2019|
OG Bake Shoppe. 7/22/19 Blogfinger photo. 55 Main Avenue. They have snacks and a coffee bar with very good coffee. Paul Goldfinger photograph. Blogfinger.net
We have some more information about new businesses downtown along that stretch of Main Avenue near the brick pizza building.
In the old pizza shop on the corner, a burger place will open in at least two months. at #60 Main Avenue next to Sunrise Coastal Properties. The owner had a business in Atlantic City. His new OG shop is not a franchise.
A real estate office will open soon at #60 Main Ave, next to the corner burger location. It is Carol Dunleavy’s Sunrise Coastal Properties. Her business is relocating from another office in town. The decor will be beautiful, with original art on the walls, and the opening will be sometime after August 1.
The bagel shop is at #60 Main Ave and is on the verge of opening, pending some permits, just east of Sunrise Coastal Properties. We await details on the menu and on the authenticity of the bagels.
If you have any information, please share by email: Blogfinger@verizon.net
HARRY McCLINTOCK from the movie O Brother Where Art Thou?
Girls in their summer clothes: pink on Main.
Posted in Ocean Grove downtown Main Avenue, Ocean Grove July 4 Parade, Ocean Grove lifestyles, tagged Shoreline dancers on April 5, 2018|
Shoreline dancers. 2015 July 4 parade in Ocean Grove, NJ Paul Goldfinger photo. Blogfinger.net© Click to Seymour.
There were women volunteers at our hospital, and we called them “pink ladies” because of their smocks. But this variety of pink ladies are having a great time dancing in the Ocean Grove Independence Day Parade.
Next month Main Avenue will be invaded by another month-long pinkification campaign promoting “wellness” for women. But these Main Avenue dancers are a home-grown reminder for girls and women to stay healthy. Watch for them this July 4.
SAMUEL WRIGHT “Kiss the Girl.” A Disney song:
And, while we are discussing kissing, here is JESSICA MOLASKEY with “A Kiss to Build a Dream On:”
The word on the street: Three adjacent Main Avenue businesses to close; all are in the same building—60 Main Avenue.
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove downtown Main Avenue, Ocean Grove issues, Ocean Grove Main Avenue news, tagged # 60 Main AVenue Ocean Grove on December 4, 2017| 5 Comments »
Main Avenue. Starting from far left: Pet Boutique, April Cornell, DJ’s Market, and DJ’s Delights (a restaurant.) Blogfinger photo. Dec 4, 2017
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
A few weeks ago we heard that the Pet Boutique on Main Avenue would close, but that is all the facts which were then available. But now, some reliable sources have provided more information about three adjacent stores which will close.
The common thread for all these stores has to do with the landlord who owns #60 Main Avenue, the location of all three businesses: Pet Boutique, April Cornell, and DJ’s Market (groceries.)
Evidently the rents are being raised “significantly.” In addition, some months ago, there was flooding in the building damaging the ceilings of these shops, resulting in temporary interior framing being installed to prevent collapse. And the owner is evidently expecting the tenants to help pay for repairs.
The owner of #60 Main is Sackman Enterprises, aka Linus Holding Co. This is an established real estate company based in NYC and surrounding states including 6 properties in Asbury Park
One year ago we wrote about the owner’s plans for this building. The links are below:
58-60 Main Avenue plans 2016 BF post
In the case of the Pet Boutique,”there are some other elements including the desire of the shop owner to retire. That store will close on Dec. 31 and it will be missed by the pet owners in town.
DJ,s will close its grocery store, but the adjacent DJ,s restaurant on the corner (pizza, sandwiches, etc.) will stay open.
April Cornell, probably the most famous and unique shop in town, is reluctantly planning to leave the Grove and move to larger quarters in Spring Lake. Evidently they were unable to find a suitable replacement location in town.
The manager of April Cornell asked that we make it clear that the business is not closing—-just changing its location, and that won’t happen until April, 2018.
The new white building at #50-54 Main Avenue may not have any store vacancies. We do know that a high-end pizza business will open there next year, but right now there is a perfume store and a Christmas shop. And the Comfort Zone has temporary quarters in that building pending renovation of their space eastward down the block.
The Emporium’s Beach shop is currently closed pending renovations.
There is a for sale sign outside “Favorite Things,” but they are open for business.
We have reported in the past on the theme of the Main Avenue shops: Are they to be for tourists or for residents? Some businesses serve both constituencies. We have already lost a doctor, a pharmacy, a barber shop, a dry cleaners/tailors, a fine grocery store, a news stand, a flower shop, a toy store, a newspaper printing shop, a butcher shop, a popular restaurant (Moonstruck), and a video store.
We have had increased parking and tourist congestion downtown as well as in other parts of the Grove, and that speaks to the fundamental question of what kind of town will we have here? What is the town’s future and what will happen to its historic theme?
Who will win: residents who make this their home or the commercial interests?
Here is a link discussing the business community on Main Avenue:
BERNADETTE PETERS AND MANDY PATINKIN from Sunday in the Park with George by Stephen Sondheim:
“Stop worrying if your vision
Is new
Let others make that decision-
They usually do
You keep moving on…”
Where have all the flowers gone?
Posted in Around the Grove with Jean Bredin, Ocean Grove downtown Main Avenue, Ocean Grove news, tagged Ocean Grove flower shop on March 31, 2016| 2 Comments »
Ocean Grove Flower Shop on Main Avenue will not be in bloom this spring, Jean Bredin photo, Blogfinger staff. March 30, 2016. ©
By Jean Bredin (Around the Grove with Jean)
A favorite Rite of Passage in Ocean Grove has always been the profusion of colorful plants lined up welcoming Spring. You would forget about the cold, the snow, the grayness, the bleakness. The corner resembled the Paris flower markets. It was a destination. A place where you could be inspired.
Sadly, we will just have to imagine what it once was, and wonder if we will ever see it again.
JOAN BAEZ
Snow in March? Bob Bowné at the Purple Zebra, and it is a lovely day today in OG.
Posted in Jersey Shore gallery, Ocean Grove downtown Main Avenue, Ocean Grove lifestyle, Photograph by Paul Goldfinger, tagged Blue Zebra in Ocean GRove on March 4, 2016| 1 Comment »
“Well…obviously we had snow here today in The Grove….and I can assure you that as of mid-afternoon, that no deliveries have been made form The Purple Zebra Boutique at 76 Main Avenue.” By Bob Bowné ©
DONALD O’CONNOR and CAROLE RICHARDS. This song is from the movie version of Call Me Madam. The composer is Irving Berlin.