Tent Village in Ocean Grove. July, 2018. Paul Goldfinger photo. © Blogfinger.net. Click to enlarge.
BETTE MIDLER:
Posts Tagged ‘Ocean Grove tent village’
Lifestyles in the Grove: Exploring Tent Village.
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove summer time, Ocean Grove tent colony, Ocean Grove tent village, tagged Ocean Grove tent village on May 19, 2026| Leave a Comment »
The gentle end of summer…. Tent Village, 2017.
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove feature article, Ocean Grove tent village, Photograph by Paul Goldfinger, Photographic Gallery: Ocean Grove, Photography: Faces at the Shore, tagged Ocean Grove tent village on September 14, 2025| 2 Comments »
Friends let friends enjoy the Grove when they’re away. August 28, 2017. Paul Goldfinger photo. Blogfinger.net ©
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor. Blogfinger.net. Ocean Grove, N.J. USA.
As I passed this young woman, she was watering the flowers along the edge of Tent Village in Ocean Grove, NJ, taking her time while her two small children played nearby. She and her family are here, occupying her best friend’s tent, during one of the loveliest times in the Grove—the end of August. They are from Pennsylvania, and they seemed so happy to be here.
Sometimes we have to look around through the eyes of visitors, especially those who get to stay here for awhile.
The temperate weather now is so pleasant: the light is soft, the breezes gentle, and there is no humidity. As we have pointed out, there is something ethereal about the Tent Village when it is occupied by soft spoken people, children, flowers, and, oftentimes, by the sweet sounds of the Hope-Jones organ or the voices lifted high coming from inside the Great Auditorium with glorious choral harmonies sometimes accompanied by symphonic ensembles.
But the effect is sustained mostly by the voices of those who are chatting on porches, kids on skateboards, or parents relaxing within the protective safe-zone of the Village.
Abraham visits our backyard pond. He loves to see the fish. Paul Goldfinger portrait. 8/30/17. ©
When I went home and stood in my own garden near Heroes Park, a tiny boy, 3 years old, approached me and said hello. His name was Abraham, and as he stood there with me, his mom caught up. I invited them in to see our pond fish.
Abraham and his family are from Yonkers, NY, and he has been visiting the Grove for the last 3 years, while his parents have been coming for the last 7. His Mom is originally from Sweden, and aside from Abraham’s enthusiasm and a three year old’s natural cuteness, he is bilingual. He pointed to a flying insect and said, “Dragonfly.” He was correct, and his mom took it all in stride. Abraham and I conversed in Swedish/English for awhile , and then he went home to sleep.
So, a couple more visitors caught up in OG’s gentle end of summer.
THE BAND PERRY: “Gentle on My Mind” this version won a 2015 Grammy nomination. It also won Grammies in 1968 for the composer and for Glen Campbell.
“Ever smilin’ ever gentle on my mind
Gentle on my mind
You’re gentle on my mind.”
The Frisbee Kid at twilight, amongst the tents…
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove tent village, Photograph by Paul Goldfinger, Photographic Gallery: Ocean Grove, Photography Nights in Ocean Grove, tagged Ocean Grove tent village, The Frisbee Kid, Twilight Time in Ocean Grove on March 7, 2024|
Ocean Grove tent village. Twilight. Click on photo to appreciate this image as night approaches. August, 2019. Paul Goldfinger
Composer Pietro Mascagni: “Cavalleria Rusticana , Intermezzo” from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Performed by the Slovak Radio New Philharmonic Orchestra.
What if you had “move-in day” for Tent Village, and no one showed up? May 30, 2020 remembered.
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove tent village, tagged Ocean Grove tent village on May 14, 2022| 2 Comments »
Tent Village on Move-in Day. Ocean Grove. Saturday, May 30, 2020. Paul Goldfinger photo. ©. Only a few people were there. One family was sitting together on a porch. Fear of COVID. Ocean Grove, NJ.
JUDY KUHN. from Just in Time. Judy Kuhn Sings Julie Styne
Ocean Grove tent village, 2018 edition
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, tagged Ocean Grove tent village on October 19, 2021| 1 Comment »
Tent Village. Ocean Grove, NJ. Around town with Jean Bredin. July, 2018.
The most photographed place in OG is the tent village. It never moves; it’s a bit like ground hog day, yet, from a photographic point of view, the Blogfinger photography staff (mostly Jean and I) continue to find inspiration in the lively lifestyles over there near the Great Auditorium.
There is a reason why so many potential tenters sometimes wait years to rent a tent—and you can’t get one from Airbnb. Above photo is by Jean with a lovely nocturnal rendition of Tent Village.
JOHN COLTRANE “It’s Easy to Remember.”
Night vision at Tent Village. #4
Posted in Ocean Grove tent village, Photography Jersey Shore, Photography Nights in Ocean Grove, Photography: Black and White gallery, tagged Ocean Grove tent village on July 27, 2021| 1 Comment »
Mysteries abound in Tent Village. Ocean Grove. September 2, 2018. Paul Goldfinger © click to enlarge
BEN WEBSTER (tenor sax) AND OSCAR PETERSON (brilliant jazz pianist): “In The Wee Small Hours of the Morning.”
Tent Village, 2017. #5
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove tent colony, Ocean Grove tent village, Photography at The Jersey Shore, Photography: Jersey Shore Gallery, Photography: Ocean Grove Gallery, tagged Ocean Grove tent village on June 19, 2021| 1 Comment »
Tent Village, Ocean Grove. July 29, 2017. By Paul Goldfinger, Blogfinger.net ©
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.net
It must be great fun to be a kid living in a tent during an Ocean Grove summer. Instead of bicycles to zoom around the sidewalks of the Village, there are now skateboards and scooters.
I saw a teenager coasting down Mt. Hermon Way on a skateboard, in her gravity defying short shorts, maintaining her decorum all the while speaking on a cell phone. It is certain—-someday she will have a tattoo, and her parents will approve. This is the new look of femininity.
But the Village girl, on her scooter, shows no sign of becoming anything but a proper young lady.
JUDY GARLAND from The Wizard of Oz.
“Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow.
Why then, oh, why can’t I?
“If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow.
Why, oh, why can’t I?”
Story-telling in Tent Village: around town with Jean.
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove tent village, tagged Around town with Jean in Ocean Grove, Ocean Grove tent village on September 11, 2020| 1 Comment »
Kymme gets ready to vacate. Photo by Jean Bredin. © 9/10/20.
Jean Bredin, Blogfinger staff:
Whenever I take a walk, it seems a story is in my path. Being curious about the tents and the end of the season, I wanted to see how things were: I was greeted by Kymme VanCleef, a 62 year tent resident.
She will be leaving in a week. She shared generational stories and how her three grandchildren enjoy visiting. She wishes she could take her flowering climbing vine home with her.
“Grow For Me.” From the original motion picture soundtrack of A Little Shop of Horrors.
A Kingsley Place: Tent Village
Posted in Ocean Grove tent village, Photographic Gallery: Ocean Grove, Photography Jersey Shore, photography Tent Village Ocean Grove, tagged Ocean Grove tent village on August 8, 2020|
Ocean Grove by Paul Goldfinger ©. October, 2018. Click to enlarge
MEN’S CHOIR from Sex and the City movie soundtrack.
Tent Village report: Bob and Bonnie Harley.
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove tent village, photography Tent Village Ocean Grove, tagged Around town with Jean in Ocean Grove, Ocean Grove tent village on July 20, 2020| 1 Comment »
Tent Village, Ocean Grove. Jean Bredin photograph. July 18, 2020. © Blogfinger.net.
By Jean Bredin. Blogfinger.net reporter/photographer.
Bob and Bonnie Harley have been tenters all their lives. Bob’s father and mother, Jack and Helen Harley, were the occupants to this tent over 60 years ago.
I asked them how has it been in Tent Village this year?
“Very quiet, ” Bonnie replied. Maybe 85-90% occupied, but mostly weekenders. They reminisced about many things. There is much history to be found among the tenters.
Bob said he learned to swim in the Ocean Grove Pool at the North End.
Ocean Grove Choir Festival in the Great Auditorium. Paul Goldfinger photo. Blogfinger.net ©
Jean noted: “Jack Harley was the maestro of the Teaneck Bergen Chorus many years ago. My father was a member. Jack encouraged his singers to join the Ocean Grove Choir Festival, which my father did.”
“The next year I came down to sing. The rest is history. I am a year round resident of Ocean Grove.”
Here’s an arrangement that Jack probably would appreciate. It’s Max Raabe with the Das Palast Orchester performing in Carnegie Hall: “Singing in the Rain.”
CMA will open Tent Village without worrying much about coronavirus.
Posted in Ocean Grove tent village, tagged Ocean Grove tent village on May 13, 2020| 13 Comments »
Jack Green Construction Company opens tents for 2020 season. NJ.com photo 5/12/20.
Paul Goldfinger photo. Summer 2019. Tourists visit Tent Village at night.
May 12, 2020
Paul Goldfinger, MD, Editor@Blogfinger.net
President Michael Badger and Henry Will, CMA trustee who spends the summer in a tent, were interviewed today for an article in NJ.com about the opening of the 114 tent enclave despite the risks of the coronavirus. The author of the piece is Avalon Zoppo.
Will acknowledged that life in the tent colony was dense and close, but Badger was certain that spending 4 months in a tent there would pose no risk.
Yet Badger said, “Space is tight.”
This tightly packed Tent Village is a classic “congregate setting” which the CDC frowns upon as unsafe.
Will said that some life style adjustments might be needed to reduce the risks.
“We’ll have to modify some things,” Will said, “But I think we’ll still have community.”
“Badger said he’s confident dwellers will be safe vacationing at the shore for four months.”
He said that the canvas was better than a mask indoors and that his renters would follow all precautions outdoors as set forth by the state and the CDC.
The article quoted Badger as being reassured that if 6 foot distances were not possible then his renters would wear masks.
He said that he will also instruct people how close they should place their towel to others at the beach and how close to walk on the boardwalk.
But no one was interviewed who might have differing opinions about viral transmission in this “tight knit” environment.
As usual for the media, the reporter resorted to stereotypes and lack of careful research when describing the Grove. He said, “Ocean Grove is a largely religious community of about 4,200 year round residents founded by a group of Methodists…” He doesn’t have a clue as to how people live who rent in Tentland.
And he did not ask a single probing question about the viral dangers amongst the tents or about the risks to everyone in town due to huge unrestrained tourist events coming up, many sponsored by the CMA.
Is it possible that the reporter is unaware of the terrible pandemic currently enveloping the state of New Jersey?
This decision to go ahead with putting hundreds of people into a space that is as close as a refugee camp seems to be astonishingly irresponsible.
Badger said that 250 people will live there for the 4 month $7,000 summer rental. He didn’t mention all the visitors and tourists which are part of that active compressed social scene.
Even if Badger gets lucky and has no viral casualties, his reasoning is naive and dangerous. He is gambling with the lives of everyone who stays in or visits the Tent Village and secondarily with the lives of the many summer residents in the Grove proper.
And, by the way, this sentence was in the article: “Two workers tested positive for COVID-19 and were quarantined, pushing the opening back two weeks.”
ELLIS MARSALIS:
Here is a link to our recent post about health risks in Tent Village:
Is Tent Village a health hazard for itself and/or for the rest of town? A letter to the Editor:
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove nocturnal photography, tagged Ocean Grove tent village on May 11, 2020| 4 Comments »
The most photographed place in OG: Tent Village. Paul Goldfinger photo 2019 ©
May 11, 2020.
To the Editor:
I took a stroll through Tent Village this weekend and noticed that the tents are starting to be erected, oddly in the back locations away from sight. The CMA will be renting the tents this season, and this will eventually become a front page story that will reveal the CMA’s indifference.
Tight social gatherings create greater risk for the spread of COVID, and Tent Village is a very tight gathering.
So, it’s reasonable to conclude that opening Tent Village will increase the risk of infection and death.
Isak Grove
Ocean Grove, New Jersey
AMY VACHAL: