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 ‘Photo news from Ocean Grove’ Category
No ugly ducklings in the OG July 4 Parade—just lovely swans. Re-post from Blogfinger 2016
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 May 5, 2026| Leave a Comment »
A musical riddle on Blogfinger:
Posted in Blogfinger Music Department, Faces in the Grove, Photo news from Ocean Grove, Photograph by Paul Goldfinger, Photographic Gallery: Ocean Grove, Photography: Ocean Grove portraits, tagged Ronald Naldi in Ocean Grove, Ronald Naldi Metropolitan opera on April 11, 2026| 1 Comment »
Ronald Naldi, tenor, in front of his Ocean Grove tent, a short walk to the Great Auditorium. Paul Goldfinger photo, Blogfinger.net. ©
Q: Where in the world can you meet a world famous opera singer, wearing a lavender sport jacket, emerging from his tent home, about to leave for his recital—one block away?
A. Ocean Grove, New Jersey, USA. Only in America.
I was on my way by bike to Ronald Naldi’s Sunday afternoon recital, when I spotted the man himself, getting his wardrobe organized on his porch, having just emerged from his tent, i.e. his summer home in Ocean Grove.
I made a U turn and stopped in front of his abode. Ron, a lyric tenor, artist-in-residence each summer in the Grove, was almost ready. For those of you who don’t know of him, he is a major star with the Metropolitan Opera in NYC.
I reminded him of who I was, but he was well aware of our Ocean Grove blog. Actually I knew that from a prior telephone interview, but I wasn’t sure he would recognize me. He cheerfully and enthusiastically agreed when I asked to photograph him in front of his tent. His concert would start in about 15 minutes, so we didn’t chat much, but he did give me the Blogfinger quote of the year:
He said, “I love Blogfinger.…it is the best blog in the world.”
Holy mackerel! “Thank you,” I blurted out, “I promise a good review for your concert.” Goodness—-what a lame thing to say.
He laughed. I jumped on my bike pedaling off towards the Youth Temple—visions of sugar plum fairies dancing in my head.
The next time I saw him was when he strode on stage for what Shelley Brown of OG calls “The best concert of the year in Ocean Grove.”
Needless to say, the recital was superb.
—Paul Goldfinger, Editor @blogfinger
RONALD NALDI from his album of Neapolitan Songs. “Rondine al Nido”
Modern OG history—2020. Girls in their summer clothes: Flea market edition.
Posted in Ocean Grove events, Ocean Grove lifestyle, Photo news from Ocean Grove, Photograph by Paul Goldfinger, Photographic Gallery: New Jersey, Photographic Gallery: Ocean Grove, Photography: Faces at the Shore, Photography: girls in summer clothes, tagged Ocean Grove fall flea market on February 20, 2026|
Ocean Grove Fall Flea Market. Sept. 10, 2016. All photos by Paul Goldfinger. Blogfinger.net ©. Click once to enlarge the fleas.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor@Blogfinger.net. All photos by Paul Goldfinger
September 10. 2016. Re-post. Ocean Pathway, Ocean Grove, New Jersey.
The ad said “rain or shine,” but today at the OG Giant Fall Flea Market, there was a bit too much shine. It was hot—nearly 90 degrees, but nevertheless, a large crowd showed up, and there were sea breezes.
The Boardwalk Pavilion was crowded as a group had assembled to enjoy the simple pleasures of the shade along with cool air from the ocean.
I like the ambience of flea and farmers markets, while Eileen is more of a shopper. I, on the other hand, could visit every one of the 385 vendors here today and I would find absolutely nothing that I would want. But the photo ops—that’s another story.
If you are a photographer you can sympathize with me.
At noon, with the light changing at every step and with my automatic meter being unreliable, I had to figure out exposures from moment to moment, and it was annoying to manually keep changing the settings.
Noon is the worst time of day to get good photos due to the harsh high-contrast light. I much prefer to shoot in the shade whenever possible. And then there are the flea market throngs, with a giant person stepping in the way just as a Jennifer Lawrence look-alike enters my field of vision.
Some people ask me why I photograph women. The answer is quite obvious—what is more beautiful? Even women enjoy looking at pictures of women, especially those unique types whose dress and manner are so graceful, interesting, and enticing.
And especially at the famous flea market on Ocean Pathway in the Grove, by-the-sea, where a photographer cannot deny girls in their summer clothes.
Flea Market Gallery: First turn on the music. Then click on one then follow the large arrows. To return to this page, click on the small X on the left.
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- 9/10/16 Blogfinger.net photo ©
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- 9/10/16 Blogfinger.net photo ©
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- Sale at Centennial Cottage. 9/10/16 Blogfinger.net ©
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- Walking art. 9/10/16 Blogfinger.net ©
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- Keeping cool being cool 9/10/16 Blogfinger.net ©
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- Tour de France takes a break. 9/10/16 Blogfingner.net ©
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- Load the truck. He says, “How much is the bowling ball case?” 9/10/16 ©
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- Busy in the shady area. 9/10/16 Blogfinger.net ©
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- Shade at the Boardwalk Pavilion. Blogfinger.net©
WILLIE NELSON AND LEON RUSSELL From the album One For the Road
Modern OG history: 32nd Annual New Jersey Law Enforcement Memorial Service in Ocean Grove’s Great Auditorium. May 24, 2016. Re-post 11/30/25
Posted in NJ Law Enforcement Memorial Service, Ocean Grove Great Auditorium, Photo news from Ocean Grove, tagged New Jersey Law Enforcement 2016Service on November 30, 2024| 1 Comment »
All photos at the NJ Law Enforcement Memorial Service. View from inside the GA as the officers were filing in. 5/24/16. Photos by Paul Goldfinger, Blogfinger. net Click once to enlarge any of these images.
Police color guards assemble on Ocean Pathway in front of the GA.
At the Youth Temple before the service.
Members of the West Windsor-Plainsboro High School choir before their performance.
Eric J. Houghtaling. NJ Assemblyman, 11th District. Carol Rizzo (r) Neptune Township Committee.
Editor’s note: The annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service is to honor all N.J. police officers killed in the line of duty. This year, three officers who died last year were added to the list of nearly 500 names. On stage were representatives of 22 major law enforcement agencies and associations. Blogfinger video below.
JOHN DENVER:
Modern OG history—-2016: You gotta be kidding! No one in Ocean Grove cares about the North End fiasco?
Posted in Blogfinger editorial, Blogfinger feature article, Ocean Grove controversies, Ocean Grove lifestyles, Ocean Grove North End Redevelopment Plan, Ocean Grove opinions, Photo news from Ocean Grove, Photograph by Paul Goldfinger, tagged Jack Bredin researcher and activist for Ocean Grove, Save Ocean Grove on September 29, 2024| 2 Comments »
Nagle’s in Ocean Grove, NJ. 2015. By Jean Bredin, Blogfinger staff. © Do you want to keep our town or lose it??
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
For several years Jack Bredin has been following the goings on at the Township Committee meetings regarding the North End Redevelopment Plan. He would get up at the meetings and challenge the situation, but, except for being annoying, he was disregarded. But evidently, his concerns were noted, and on 3 or 4 occasions he was approached by Committeemen who said, “Jack, you’re the only one who cares about this thing.”
Jack was also approached by members of the OG Homeowner’s Ass. who told him that he didn’t know what he was talking about.
But Jack does know due to his vast experiences with Land Use Law fighting developers along the Palisades who wanted to put high rises up overlooking the Hudson River, destroying the views of those who had been there for ages.
Jack Bredin speaks up for Ocean Grove at a past HOA meeting. Paul Goldfinger photo. ©
Now Blogfinger has joined forces with Jack, Kevin and others who are outraged over the abuses of Neptune Township Committeemen and expert advisors.
We have an opportunity now for our citizens to show the new Committee that Jack isn’t the only one “who cares.”
We would like all of our readers to share the Blogfinger articles about the North End and the Park View Inn and other matters that you might agree with. At the bottom of each post on BF is a button that says “Email’ Just send hundreds or thousands of emails to each Committeeman and please put your real names..
You can also send your personal views to them in the form of letters and emails.
Go to Neptunetownship.org and click on “contact us” to find the email addresses of the 4 known Committeemen. We will soon learn the identities of the other two.
JACK TEAGARDEN “Stars Fell on Alabama.”
Modern OG history—2015. Portrait of a pastor…
Posted in Blogfinger photo news, Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove portraits, Photo news from Ocean Grove, Photograph by Paul Goldfinger, Photographic Gallery: Ocean Grove, tagged Rev. Dr. Tony Campolo in Ocean Grove on March 4, 2024|
Rev. Dr. Tony Campolo about to step onto the stage of the Great Auditorium. He called the GA “A spiritual, renewal place” and he said that “having love is most important….” Photo by Paul Goldfinger, Blogfinger.net . 8/16/15. Ocean Grove, NJ, USA
JOHN DENVER:
Police Cadets at the Great Auditorium
Posted in Photo news from Ocean Grove, Photograph by Paul Goldfinger, tagged I Love a Cop from Fiorello, Police cadets at the Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove on April 7, 2022|
At the Police Memorial in the Great Auditorium. May, 2015. Paul Goldfinger photograph ©. Click to enlarge.
FIORELLO Broadway cast
Remembering a summery Thanksgiving day in the Grove—2015.
Posted in Ocean Grove events, Ocean Grove feature article, Photo news from Ocean Grove, Photograph by Paul Goldfinger, Photographic Gallery: Ocean Grove, tagged Ocean Grove Thansgiving on November 26, 2019|
Dave Shotwell emerges from the Atlantic after a Thanksgiving dip. Ocean Grove, 2015. Blogfinger photo. © Click to enlarge and look for goosebumps.
Chico and the man, Grover Moe Demby, enjoy some Thanksgiving games. © Blogfinger photo ©
Quite a few folks in Ocean Grove were out today for a sunny nearly 70 degree Thanksgiving day in the Grove. This morning there were a few people downtown on Main Avenue, walking around or having a coffee at the OG Bakery.
Two workers were operating heavy machinery at the 50 Main Avenue building site. That was an insensitive and disrespectful thing to do, especially when people were already downtown early on Thanksgiving, trying to enjoy small town America in the historic seaside village of Ocean Grove, a community with a unique personality and style that doesn’t normally include construction work on Thanksgiving morning. Fortunately the workers didn’t stay very long.
Downtown the OG Bakery was serving coffee and…..outside their tables were still set up. Some people were on their feet watching the workers. The flower shop was open.
At the beachfront, folks were playing with their dogs by the water’s edge, and Dave Shotwell, a Grover, was taking a swim in the 50 degree frigid water. He didn’t spend much time in the surf, but he emerged refreshed, and he wasn’t even shivering. Evidently he has done this ritual in the past. The boardwalkers were active, and we met some who were from out of town.
In Firemen’s Park, a spirited game of Wiffle ball was going on. (see below.)
ELLA FITZGERALD with a big band:
Another mode of transportation in the Grove
Posted in Photo news from Ocean Grove, Photography Girls in their summer clothes, tagged Founders' Park, Photo: Scooter kid on August 26, 2018|
Cruising along the western edge of Founders’ Park. Summer, 2018. Paul Goldfinger photo. ©
TONY BENNETT AND BILL EVANS: “Waltz for Debby.”
Major Sandy exhibit to open on October 29, 2017. Blogfinger photographs to be shown.
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Monmouth County News, Photo news from Ocean Grove, Photograph by Paul Goldfinger, Photography at The Jersey Shore, Photography Superstorm Sandy, tagged Monmouth County Historical Association, Sandy Monmouth County exhibit on September 13, 2017|
The Monmouth County Historical Association presents a major exhibition to mark the 5th anniversary of the Storm in 2017. Those involved in the exhibit spent much of the year collecting photographs and artifacts and conducting oral history interviews in order to allow all interested parties from our average Monmouth county citizen, to scientists, to the Country Freeholeders, to recall the storm in their own words. The exhibit will run through 2018.
Click the text below to read:
Six contributing photographers listed at the bottom of the announcement include Paul Goldfinger of Blogfinger.net
Paul Goldfinger ©. Ocean Grove boardwalk. November 7, noon. 2012. Volunteers at work.
TOOTS THIELEMANS: “Manha de Carnaval.” (Theme from Black Orpheus)
Is the North End destined to become a used car lot?
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Photo news from Ocean Grove, Photograph by Prosper Belizia, tagged car sales in OG on June 4, 2017| 1 Comment »
Ocean Grove North End. 6/4/16. Photo by Prosper Bellizia, Blogfinger staff. ©
6/4/17 OG North End. By Prosper Bellizia. ©
6/4/17 Blogfinger photo.
One of our roving reporters, Prosper Bellizia was at the North End today, Sunday, June 4, when he observed some used cars for sale.
He said, “Paul, these two cars are on exhibit for sale by a used car sales company Team Princeton at the North End parking lot on Sunday June 4 at 10:45 am. This could be the start of something big!”
Do you think the Zoning board would award a use variance for this? Anything’s possible when it comes to special favors from the big shots in Neptune Township.
But is it historic to sell cars in our historic town? Well, it could be argued that there is a precedent when a 19th century buggy man sold a horse and carriage in the same neighborhood. Maybe the HPC would allow it? The historical society wouldn’t object, and the Committee could declare it a zone in need of some businesses.
Maybe Steve Vita could put a showroom in the White Whale. Have a lobster roll and take a test drive on the Ocean Pathway.
And guys, if you get the right car, you too could have the Boswell Sisters sing this song to you in the morning , but don’t forget the wedding ring.
A walk on the wild side—a new path allows a way to bypass the boardwalk construction at the North End
Posted in Ocean Grove boardwalk, Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association Activity, Ocean Grove controversies, Photo news from Ocean Grove, Photograph by Paul Goldfinger, Photographic Gallery: Ocean Grove, Photography at The Jersey Shore, tagged Bypass surgery in Ocean Grove on January 21, 2016|
Ocean Grove. January 21, 2016. Blogfinger.net photo ©
LEON REDBONE “Steal Away Blues.”