Main Avenue, Ocean Grove. “Lifestyles.” July 19, 2020. Paul Goldfinger photo.
THE CHORDS:
Archive for the ‘Ocean Grove lifestyles’ Category
Summer Downtown OG
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove lifestyles, tagged Summer downtown Ocean Grove on November 2, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Ocean Grove modern history—2015: Fred Ohleth, the water-seller and hot dogger.
Posted in Grovers Around Town gallery, Jersey Shore gallery, Ocean Grove lifestyles, Ocean Grove portraits, Ocean Grove Topics, Photography by Paul Goldfinger, tagged Ocean Grove lifestyle, Refreshments at the Great Auditorium Postcard show on October 15, 2026| 2 Comments »
Fred “Waterseller” Ohleth at the August 22, 2015 postcard and antique show. Auditorium Pavilion. Paul Goldfinger photo. Blogfinger.net
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @ Blogfinger.net
Fred Ohleth, a retired 6’4″ NYC police officer, lives in a tent each summer with his wife Linda. His family goes back in the Grove, so he keeps up the tradition. In the off- season Fred and Linda (no, not Fred and Ginger) have a condo in the Grove.
Fred is the Commander -in-Chief of a small band of water, hot dog and treats sellers who cover a number of events in town, but they are best known for their supply side activities in the shadows of the Great Auditorium on Saturday nights—-tonight it’s the Beach Boys (as if we don’t already have a few of those around.)
Fred and Linda travel to the wilds of Pennsylvania for those dogs. You must try one! These volunteers work hard and party hard when the show is over.
Stop by and say hello to Fred, Linda, Shirley, Barbara, Mike, Ted and all the others who make sure that no one is hungry or thirsty at the GA (right across the street from the bathrooms. ) And yes, you can take bottled water into the GA.
Link to our article from May 2013:
BF link re refreshments at the GA
Overture to Original London cast of Me and My Girl:
Ocean Grove lifestyles: Auditorium Pavilion. Autumn arrives.
Posted in Ocean Grove lifestyles, Photographic Gallery: Ocean Grove, Photography from Florida, Photography: Jersey Shore Gallery, tagged Auditorium Pavilion, in Ocean Gro on October 14, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Auditorium Pavilion. Paul Goldfinger photo. .Click to enlarge.
GREEN DAY: From their album American Idiot (2004)
Modern OG history–2021: Grovers return home to the Grove. Say goodbye to Hollywood.
Posted in Ocean Grove lifestyles, Photography Nights in Ocean Grove, tagged Nocturnal Ocean Grove on October 12, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Boardwalk where A. Park meets O. Grove. Summer. OG lifestyles. Paul Goldfinger photo. ©. Will our North End become Hollywood Part II ? Click once to enlarge.
BILLY JOEL “Say Goodbye to Hollywood.”
Modern OG musical history—2017. The Imperial Brass present a brilliant concert in the Great Auditorium with standout soloist performances.
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove Great Auditorium, Ocean Grove lifestyles, Ocean Grove magic moments, Ocean Grove Musical Event, tagged Imperial brass, MUSIC. Phil Smith and the Imperial Brass, Philip Smith trumpeter, Warren Vaché on Blogfinger on October 10, 2026| 1 Comment »
Facebook: Imperial Brass
By Paul Goldfinger, music editor @Blogfinger.net. Eileen Goldfinger video clips
July 6, 2017 in the Great Auditorium of Ocean Grove:
We enjoyed this concert by the Imperial Brass very much, as expected, but there were some “knock your socks off” special moments.
As many of you know, the famous trumpeter Phillip Smith has a summer place in Ocean Grove. His tone and technique are so good that it makes you want to jump up and cheer, which is what happened. Phil Smith played an intricate duet with Mitch Brodsky called “Deliverance.” In the second half he soloed on an amazingly complex piece called Scherzando.
Phil told the audience that he has missed playing in the Great Auditorium and how much he loves the salt air and the pleasures of being back in his little cottage on Pilgrim Pathway. Phil retired from his long-term position as principal trumpet with the NY Philharmonic and now he is on the faculty at the University of Georgia.
Other highlights included a lovely trombone solo of an African American spiritual “Swing Low” by Robert Tiedemann. (We have a brief video from that below.)
We have been attending musical performances in the GA for years, but my greatest wish, until now ungranted, was to hear authentic live jazz in that terrific venue. Tonight the Imperial Brass granted that wish in what I suspect was the first time a real jazz man played, without amplification, on our stage.
Warren Vaché is an acclaimed jazz cornetist from New Jersey who had two beautiful solos with the Brass, but the one that I savored was his rendition of Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile” Vaché delighted the crowd with a vocal chorus as well as a jazz solo. Hopefully we can get some more jazz players at the Grove.
If you like jazz, check with the Axelrod Theatre in Deal where they often feature first rate live jazz. Last year they had John Pizzarelli. Also, Shanghai Jazz in Madison is a fine restaurant that features jazz and has done so for years. It is worth the trip.
The Imperial Brass is such a fine ensemble, and they vary their content so that you never get bored. The instrumentation is thrilling for you brass fans–a diverse collection of horns— baritones, French, euphoniums, trumpets, and more that I couldn’t identify. But the end result is a magnificent sound where the components come together in a remarkable way.
They have a web site if you want to sign up for their mailings or buy their recordings:
The group astonished the crowd with their last number, a most unusual rendition of the “Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Phillip Sousa whose premier march is often played in the Great Auditorium, but it is always done “straight.” However tonight the Brass astonished us with a raucus, jazzy, 21st century version of this piece including the classic piccolo solo done tonight by a marvelous soprano cornet player. I wish Sousa could have been there. Below is a bit of that march:
But there was an actual composer present–Joseph Turrin, who got to have a standing O because some of his brass compositions were performed tonight including a marvelous tribute to New York City called “Landmarks.”
Here is a brief segment of Robert Tiedemann’s trombone solo: “Swing Low” Video by Eileen Goldfinger
And here are two selections from the Imperial Brass & Friends CD.
PHILIP SMITH (Trumpet) with a hymn that he loves (he introduced it and played it tonight.)
WARREN VACHE´ (Trumpet) “April in Paris.” ( I could not find a recording of “Smile”)
Summer memory in the Grove
Posted in Ocean Grove lifestyles, Ocean Grove Main Avenue news, Ocean Grove memories, Ocean Grove summer time, tagged Nocturnal Ocean Grove on October 4, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Auditorium Square Park, one summer night. Ocean Grove. c 2013. Paul Goldfinger photo. Click to enlarge
THE DANLEERS:
Modern OG history—2017: Is Ocean Grove at risk of becoming just another Jersey Shore town?
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove historical preservation, Ocean Grove history, Ocean Grove lifestyles, tagged historic preservation, Ocean Grove historic preservation, VICTORIAN OCEAN GROVE on October 3, 2026| 5 Comments »
Ocean Grove New Jersey. Many homeowners in OG have done remarkable restoration work on their homes. This finial and gingerbread work is on Mt. Hermon Way.
A major commitment is required if we want a Victorian town. The cherrypicker was needed to to do the artistic multicolored detailed paint work (see the top photo.) The painter did her work in short shorts, attracting many aficionados of Victorian colors. Blogfinger photos. 2002©
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
In a letter to Blogfinger on April 11, J. Cortese vented regarding what he sees as a deterioration in our town’s efforts to maintain historical preservation, and he sees the situation worsening over the last 10 years .
If you haven’t read his piece, here is a link:
I love you, you’re perfect, now change. J. Cortese says it like it is, and it is important.
Blogfinger’s writers and commenters agree with J., as do others in town, but is he correct to fear the eventual fatal decline of Ocean Grove as a very special historic place?
We agree that our election to the Federal and State Historic Registers would be endangered if the deterioration that J. describes continues, consider this:
When we moved to Ocean Grove in 1998, the town was still in a pretty raggedy condition. Most streets had historic houses that were in serious states of decline. But you could see signs of life—indications that homeowners coming into town wanted to help bring these properties back to life.
We saw tremendous progress after that. Homeowners were putting up large sums of money to resurrect those irreplaceable Victorian buildings. This effort showed results over the next 10 years where every street had multiple examples where beautiful and accurate historic work had been done.
Derelict houses, while still existing, were no longer the main theme of our town’s architecture. Instead, most of our streets were uniquely lovely.
This investment and commitment by homeowners is the main reason Ocean Grove looks so wonderful today as a Victorian-style community. And Blogfinger and its supporters are correct in criticizing Township officials, the CMA, and developers who are willing to exploit the town for financial reasons and to play fast and loose with zoning and land use regulations.
This network of exploiters produces results that yield less parking, less historic beauty, and more congestion. They are a force pushing us in a different direction. To add to the problem we have a Homeowners Association which has lost its way and a Historical Society which is barely visible in terms of preservation. The HPC is currently hiding in the shadows, and the Chamber of Commerce has no interest in the issue. If all that continues, the town will, as J. predicts, lose what makes it so special as an authentic historic community.
We have interviewed many newcomers, and they all say, “We fell in love with this town,” and for good reason.
I don’t have to tell you about the lifestyle of Ocean Grove now, an element that is apart from the architectual. It is the organic component which adds a thrilling dimension to living here. We have many children, young families, Wiffle ball games in the park, beautiful beaches, a vibrant porch culture, artistic events, etc. We are a walking and talking town with smart, friendly citizens, and much of that stems from historic preservation.
However, not everyone in town agrees with the vision of people like J. Cortese, Kevin Chambers, Jack Bredin, Ted Bell, Blogfinger, HPC and others. And if those forces, including citizens, elected officials, and organizations, which should be supportive, continue to turn away, the town will become something other than a Historic District.
As J. points out, many residents are just looking for a wonderful shore town to enjoy and to share with friends and family, and this one is very special and thus very popular. And our proximity to the new Asbury Park will contribute to the popularity of OG.
Judging from the newcomers that I have met, they all want our town to continue being a place to love, but there are those who are not interested in our 19th century Victorian theme. So, although some of them will concern themselves with historic preservation, we don’t currently know how many will actually care.
We believe that most Grovers would hate to see the historic vision decline further, and hopefully most of us will stay involved and help to hammer out an aggressive plan for Ocean Grove’s Victorian survival . But will the dream be too much for too many?
REV. GARY DAVIS from the album Harlem Street Singer
Embury Avenue Annual Music Bash fills the Grove with live music for 9 hours
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove events, Ocean Grove feature article, Ocean Grove lifestyles, Ocean Grove Musical Event, Photography by Paul Goldfinger, tagged Embury Avenue Music Bash 2015 on September 22, 2026| 3 Comments »
Embury Avenue beach block, Ocean Grove, Saturday, September 26, 2015
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @blogfinger
Crowd begins to show up for the big event. All photos and videos by Paul Goldfinger. ©
There are many unique aspects to life in Ocean Grove, but one of the most amazing is the Annual Embury Avenue Music Bash where bands show up all day long and make music in a tent erected on a Victorian front lawn. 7 groups appeared and performed on a strict schedule, and it all came about like clockwork.
There were 3 big bands and the rest were ensembles that specialized in dixieland, swing, jazz and pop—most often from the Sinatra era. Jimmy Nicoletti, a smooth relaxed baritone, sang some tunes reminiscent of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra, including some of the arrangements from that era. Jimmy performed with the Colts Neck Swing Band, a polished throwback to the 1940’s.. (see video on top) He told me that he wanted to “keep that music alive.”
Other performers included the Bill Henry Trio and Vanguard Jazz Ensemble (video below) ; The River City Trombone Quartet and CaNTique; The Dixie Six; The Nocturnes Big Band; Mark Cohn, Cid Citarelli and Friends; and John Nobile’s Summer Swing Orchestra.
The music was impressively performed by these groups, and the outdoor venue was marvelous, with the audience changing and evolving as the day went on. People sat on folding chairs and enjoyed food and drink. It was like Woodstock only with older music and people. Nobody took off their shirts, got soaked in the rain, dressed like hippies or smoked dope, but everyone had a great time. The only drugs at the event included beta blockers and Lipitor.
Chairs are set up all over the block.
I have been to these bashes before, and it always is incredible that such a musical event, free and open to all, could be happening in our town. This region obviously has a wonderful plethora of great musicians. It is so special. The organizers have to be congratulated for bringing such a unique musical extravaganza to the Grove.
Link to last year’s event, when it rained. 2014 bash
Keeping our powder dry and our canon warm..
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove Historical Society, Ocean Grove history, Ocean Grove lifestyles, tagged Founders Park canon on September 20, 2026| 2 Comments »
Founders Park. Ocean Grove. This is an authentic Civil War canon and it’s aimed at Asbury Park. Paul Goldfinger photo 2018
Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
You can get a smile out of Ted Bell when you point out the direction of our canon. The young lady, an intern from the Historical Society of OG, helps warm up a cold day and a cold canon.
Founders Park, the best park in Ocean Grove, is next to the “Wesley Retention/Detention Basin” and is just west of the corpse of the Warrington Hotel, and then a little more east we come to the site of the North End Redevelopment Plan (“NERP”) which will be located next to the Boardwalk and a short distance away from where the dirty storm water will flow into the Basin and then into the Ocean.
We wrote about the history of this Union canon; just do a search at the top of this page.
ART GARFUNKEL
Modern OG history: Why does OG need a “giant fall flea market?” Now it has a new name (2026) ” Fall Market.”
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove flea market, Ocean Grove lifestyles, tagged Ocean Grove flea market on September 8, 2026| 6 Comments »
OG flea market. 2017. This is the only way Led Zeppelin will get to OG. Paul Goldfinger photo.
September 2026:
Now we have a new name (” Fall Market”) for an old event (“Fall Flea Market”). Can someone explain why the name change and what is this “Fall Market” about?
Paul Goldfinger. Editor at Blogfinger.net. Updated September 2026
For many years, the Chester Lions Club ran a weekly flea market. It was held in an out-of-the-way dirt lot and its size was modest. It was a fund raiser by the Lions whose main interest was helping those with visual impairments. It was a treasure for the community and it caused no parking or traffic problems or crowding in the Borough.
In Ocean Grove we have a Chamber of Commercials that sponsored a “giant flea market” on September 09, 2023 which had over 300 vendors and lured thousands of visitors. The fees alone generated well $50,000. It has other such events in spring and fall.
A great deal of money was generated for vendors, the Chamber and the land owner—OGCMA. The Township also will be feeding at the trough with fees.
But how much money will we-the-people make for our town’s needs in exchange for putting up with the mob with its carbon dioxide, babbling conversations, Covid and other viruses, blocked breezes, $10.00 cold sandwiches, and an endless supply of crappy merchandise?
What does the Chamber do with the money it gets? Why does the Chamber need to make money? And why are we Grovers the hosts of their fund raising and tourist promotions? We are not a commercial town–we are primarily a residential town. What other Jersey Shore towns sponsor such ridiculous events.
In Rhinebeck NY, a town much smaller than Neptune, they keep the town wonderful while having events such as flea markets at the Duchess County Fairgrounds about a mile out of town.
Monmouth County has the East Freehold Showgrounds for such big events: “This is an 81-acre showground for horse shows, dog shows, and special events each year. East Freehold Showgrounds is also the home of the annual Monmouth County Fair. Upwards of 75,000 people enjoy the 5-day late July event. Check the Monmouth County Fair page for more information regarding the Fair.
Let’s free Ocean Grove from the tyranny of excessive tourism. Where are the Home Groaners on this topic? You can go to their web OGHOA.org but if you do, you will find essentially nothing., even though one of their main goals is to “improve the Grover quality of life:”
What do Giant Flea markets do for the community? The answer is nothing. We get crowding, tourists all over town, and parking distress.
The Town-wide Yard Sale and Art on the Porches are much better events for small town America—which we are.
But looking at this topic in a broader sense, we ask the question: “How is this event a benefit for our town?” There are thousands of citizens who make Ocean Grove their home, and other than creating a spectacle, these events are totally unnecessary—a detriment from the point of view of OG’s citizens and “community.”
Define “community” as those who actually live here.
The Flea Mess is one of many events held in the Grove that are popular because this is a beautiful town on the ocean, and if it weren’t for the care of our historic homes and the friendliness of our citizens, these events would be a lot less popular, or at least a lot more junkier.
The recent name changes are supposed to give the illusion that OG has somehow gained prestige and classiness.
Why can’t the Chamber and the CMA host their mega events elsewhere?
The answer is that they profit from our Victorian architecture and gardens, along with our porch culture which is so inviting to tourists. Who says that OG should be a commercial magnet when it is actually a small, residential shore town with a historic and a religious flavor?
Neptune Township should protect us from exploitation, but it doesn’t care–it is part of the “Historic District” band wagon and feeding frenzy coupled with an ancient “one hand washes the other” relationship with the CMA.
The presence of the OGCMA is another related topic because of their many summer-long religious events creating crowds that no other Jersey Shore town has to deal with.
They may own the land, but they don’t own the town.
Some have told Blogfinger that anyone who doesn’t like what goes on here should not have moved here, but that assumes that Chamber and CMA events are set in stone and must be continued into the future; but most towns evolve in ways that satisfy the needs of their tax paying citizens. Witness what has happened and still happens in Bradley Beach where they no longer have mega-events and where they are becoming much more cultured, affluent, sophisticated, attractive and prestigious.
They are currently undergoing a housing boom to attract younger and more middle-class/diverse residents. They will race past Asbury Park and Ocean Grove as desirable places to live for more new citizens.
The idea that OG is a historic place is belied by the presence of such happenings as giant flea markets. Where is the dedication to OG as a recipient of historic designations?
2026 update: Now the newly named “Fall Market” featuring “vintage,” “antique,” “flea market finds” and food trucks will occur on 9/12/26. What does this description tell us as to what to expect? These descriptors are deceptive gibberish.
When will the Grovarian townspeople put a stop to such mash-mash designed to attract throngs of tourists in the interest of making money? Why does the CMA and the Township put up with these “markets?” Which organization in town shows any interest in such issues? The “Home Groaners” have disappeared into the sunset while also acquiring a new and deceptive name.
Link regarding the 2026 Spring Market.
KAREN ELSON WITH VINCE GIORDANO AND THE NIGHTHAWKS. From Boardwalk Empire. “Who’s Sorry Now.”
Ocean Grove lifestyles: Labor Day block party—-iron and wine.
Posted in Ocean Grove lifestyles, Ocean Grove photographs, tagged Ocean Grove lifestyles on September 5, 2026|
Victor and Tiffany on Mt. Hermon Way. Sept. 2010. Paul Goldfinger photograph ©
BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB “Veinte Anos”
Will tonight be the night?
Posted in Ocean Grove lifestyles, Ocean Grove things we did last summer, Photograph by Paul Goldfinger, Photographic Gallery: Ocean Grove, tagged Days Ocean Grove on August 3, 2026|
Ocean Grove. Days ice cream. July, 2012. Paul Goldfinger photo. Click once. to enlarge.
“There’s a warm wind blowing
The stars are out,
and I’d really love to see you tonight”
ENGLAND DAN SEALS and JOHN FORD COLEY
Modern OG history—2023 Exploring antisemitism in OG.
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove in the news, Ocean Grove issues, Ocean Grove lifestyles, tagged Anti-Semitism in Ocean Grove, Ocean Grove United on August 3, 2026| 9 Comments »
Ocean Grove United demonstrating in the Grove. Mary Walton photograph. 2012
Editorial by Paul Goldfinger, MD, Editor Blogfinger.net. Repost from 2023 in the Grove.
There has been no sign of “hate” in Ocean Grove (except for an occasional sign that says, “Hate has no home here.”)
Interestingly, it is impossible to find an accepted definition for the terms “hate speech” or “hate crime.” Miriam-Webster says that”hate speech” is defined as “speech expressing hatred of a particular group of people.” Even the Anti-Defamation League does not attempt to define these terms. They basically oppose discrimination of all types.
So this broad definition allows for the term to be used for all sorts of groups, so no particular group owns the complaint of “hate speech.” I don’t know how the Neptune Police define “hate crime,” but they did use the term in 2019. Their web site doesn’t clarify the term.
November, 2018: During 2018 Mischief Night, some individuals “vandalized cars with swastikas and racial slurs in Ocean Grove.” (APP 11/7/18) The Neptune Police Department said that they were not viewing the incident as a bias crime or anything “politically motivated.”
Deputy Mayor Carol Rizzo (a Grover) said , “The community should view this as simply ‘something that happened during Mischief Night. I don’t think we should give it anymore credence than that. ‘”
The descriptions of the event in the news did not include any antisemitic language, and swastikas are not necessarily antisemitic symbols. Some kids, like punk rockers, may draw a swastika without thinking of Jews. The “N word” was also found, according to the APP.
A representative, Joshua Cohen, of the NJ Regional Office of ADL said, “The swastika has become a ubiquitous symbol in graffiti, but it does not always carry “’antsemitic intent.’”
He also said, “A random swastika appearing in a neutral location is an entirely different proposition than compared to one on a synagogue.”
“Incidents involving the image found with no accompanying antisemitic imagery or writing on, say, a dumpster at a 7-Eleven or an overpass on the Garden State Parkway, fall into a category that the ADL has stopped including in its annual audit of anti-Jewish hate crimes. There is no indication that such cases specifically target Jews.”
Cohen concluded by saying, “Regardless of the specific intent, it would be a mistake to minimize the swastika. It shocks the conscience, and we all know what it is. It’s a hate symbol.”
The NTPD was going to investigate the possibility of a “hate crime,” but they have so far come up with nothing.
OGU joined forces with the OGHOA to fan the flames of controversy when other such incidents did not occur before or since that night.
But, the OGU/HOA combined complainers consortium (CCC) have invited the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), an international organization that fights antisemitism world-wide, to come here in January 2019 to “speak on this issue.”
Is this what the members of the Home Groaners want their organization to get involved with? And why is the HOA having any sort of joint activity with the highly partisan group ironically called Ocean Grove United.
It is almost laughable for the OGU and its ally the Home Groaners to jump on this bandwagon. Jews have been subject to all sorts of murder and mayhem since the times of the Romans, so the Jewish people have largely developed a thick skin over minor incidents such as what the OGU and HOA are jumping up and down over in Ocean Grove.
The ADL says, “Anti-Semitism is the belief or behavior hostile toward Jews just because they are Jewish.”
Is that what’s going on in the Grove? Doesn’t the ADL have some terrorism, synagogue shootings, or murders of civilians to spend their time with?
The truth is that anti-Semitism does not “have a home” in the Grove, and many Jewish people live here without such concerns.
Most popular sentiment in the Grove is to assume the Halloween vandalism to be the work of ignorant out-of-towners, probably kids looking for trouble. Most think that the incident should have been dropped as an indicator of bias in this town, and as a news story, it lasted about 24 hours, with no noise coming out of the Grove.
OGU, a group that seems to be in a deep sleep most of the time, reappears, like Brigadoon, whenever they find an excuse to complain about bias in the Grove. They say that the ADL meeting in January 2019 is “in response to the concerns of Ocean Grove residents.”
Perhaps they should tell us how many OG residents would like to see the big guns (ADL) brought into the Grove to satisfy those “concerns?”
In our recent piece about the “hate has no home here” signs, we had a flurry of opinions in the Comments, but hardly any concern about the Mischief Night event.
In America we live in a free society, one which is not perfect and where hate is sometimes expressed and where such hate needs to be opposed, but Ocean Grove is not such a place.
Addendum: This Blogfinger article below says a lot about Ocean Grove United:
OGU slams the Camp Meeting Association 2016
NICOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: “The Flight of the Bumblebee”