We will get serious in April-May, but consider now if you will participate and if you have any ideas for us. Contact Eileen or Paul at Blogfinger@verizon.net. This is the most down-home, town-wide event in the Grove. We-the-people need to help create a secular OG life-style that satisfies and complements the rest: history, families, architecture, arts, beach-fun in the sun, boardwalk. and just a few mega-events. We need more down-home happenings like this one. Ain’t cha glad?
Paul Goldfinger photograph. . Flatiron Building. NYC. Tri-X collection. c.1990.
By Paul Goldfinger, Photography editor @Blogfinger. Posted on Blogfinger 2022.
Like Ocean Grove, the Flatiron Building is on the US National Register of Historic Places. It was built in 1902 and has a steel triangular frame which sits at 5th Avenue, Broadway, and East 22nd St. That part of NYC is called the “Flatiron District.”
This building has been a favorite subject of photographers. The name “Flatiron” refers to the shape of an antique metal clothes iron.
From a photographic point of view of buildings, sometimes you get strange angles, as there is with my photo above which gives the illusion of Flatiron tilting.
Professional architecture photographers use large format cameras with special equipment to get the correct perspective.
But many early photos of the Flatiron show the same off-perspective, but those photographers just accept the result and don’t comment about it.
Below is Edward Steichen’s famous 1904 night photograph of the Flatiron. He got the angles just right; probably with a large format camera where you stick your head under a black cloth.
Edward Steichen 1904
From Uptown Lowdown, a Jazz Salute to the Big Apple (live) with Warren Vaché (trumpet), Ken Peplowski (clarinet) and other famous players we have “Rose of Washington Square” and “Broadway Rose” : Warren is from New Jersey and he has played in the Great Auditorium at a rare performance where jazz was featured.
Thank you to Grover Frank S for his very special comment below.
Paul Eichlin in the Casino . He has a cigarette dangling from his lips as if he made his bones in some speakeasy on Bourbon Street. Paul Goldfinger photo July, 2016.
We (Blogfinger.net) wrote about Paul last year when Bob Bowné photographed him on Ocean Avenue in the Grove with his 1961 Thunderbird (see link below).
But Paul is really famous because he plays an electric organ in the Casino, featuring old merry-go-round style music. It is such a delicious throwback to another era, and Paul just goes on and on, rarely missing a beat. He nods happily when someone tosses some dough into his plastic pail. He seems to be there all the time, as if that is all he does. Stop by and say hello to a fellow Grover.
Dr. Blabfinger. Image borrowed from Dr. Seuss. We received professional courtesy from the good doctor.
In my usual role as Blogfinger, I often find myself thinking about small topics that I find interesting. So when I have such moments, I have the urge to reveal myself in words, although photos might also be a way to express such moments. Our new feature is called Dr. Blabfinger, featuring small talk.
Eileen and I have been stuck at home, as have many of you, due to the “Blizzard of 26 in OG”
Today we drove to Wegmans, and here is some of what we found: We call this Blabfinger moment. “Sole Food.”
Eileen’s design for this iPhone image. 2/2/26. Blabfiinger moment. #1
Let’s consider what we bought today at Wegmans, Ocean.”
a. Large Grey Sole, wild caught filet. We like mild white fish like cod. Some say that farmed fish are riskier than wild caught because of toxins in the meat. Eileen will probably sauté this portion , finishing it with a lemon/garlic sauce in olive oil. We will feature olive oil at another “blab moment .” This sole costs $17.00 per pound
b. Flower bouquet. Eileen discovered these lovely small bouquets . This one has orange roses among a number of other varieties. She likes the colors, and she loves the way the colors mature as the bouquet lasts for 2 weeks on our dining room table. And they only cost $13.00
c. We love raw radishes usually sliced into one of her salads. But I like to eat them whole after washing them and sprinkled with salt. Fish and veggies are key choices as we follow the new/old food pyramid.
d. I got a kick out of the blue cheese label: It says “Point Reyes Original Blue Cheese”——-“Women Owned.” Click photo once to read the label. Are they serious? What is the point of saying that this business is “Women Owned?” Somebody please explain to us at Blogfinger@verizon.net or click on “comments” below.
Mt. Hermon Way near Delaware 2/2/26. Blogfinger aerial photo.
Sunny day at Heroe’s Park. Ocean Grove. Paul Goldfinger photo, 40 degrees today 2/2/26
Many Grovers are complaining about the snow conditions remaining since the big storm of January 26, 2026. I don’t know why the media did not refer to is as a blizzard. Today we had a heat wave.
However because of the extreme cold into the single digits persisting, there have been troubles finding spaces that could be shoveled due to hard ices. S0 the challenge now is to find parking spaces. The Township has been sending equipment to pick up mountains of snow and dump them into big trucks But they have been slow arriving in the Grove. Today such equipment appeared in the north end of OG .
So many cars remain unmoved, and although you don’t have to stay put on one side, very few are moving back to the abandoned sides of the street. I wonder how the streets in Shark River Hills look today.
Many folks are trapped at home, fearful of driving away even though the roads are OK. Some can get out of their current parking spaces now, but the trick is to get back and park.
I saw a guy yesterday spend about 20 minutes just to clear his icy windshield. Today I went out for the first time. Bagel Talk was busy. So we were brave and headed to the Weg Man’s Ocean store. The parking was fine there, and inside, the customers were fewer than usual.
And our musical artist–It’s Paul Anka who once appeared in the Great Auditorium:
Nagel’s Apothecary Cafe. Main Avenue in Ocean Grove. July, 2014. Paul Goldfinger photo. Blogfinger.net
Nagle’s is scheduled to reopen in April 2026. The new owner is a restaurateur . We expect that Nagle’s will return embellished with fond memories and plans for a glorious eatery. And let there be live music! We do need that in the Grove.
