Ocean City Police Warn Residents and Business Owners of Counterfeit Currency

OceanCity.com
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Ocean City Police Warn Residents and Business Owners of Counterfeit Currency

The Ocean City Police Department is warning residents, business owners and employees to be on the lookout for counterfeit currency being circulated in Ocean City. In the past week, there have been two reports of counterfeit currency, including several counterfeit $100.00 bills.  These bills either are marked as “play money” or have Chinese writing on both sides.    

Ocean City police are encouraging citizens to closely examine currency by looking carefully at the money being exchanged. When receiving a $100 bill for a very small purchase, examine the currency. Often times, suspects will pass the counterfeit bill to exchange it for real currency, not necessarily to purchase big-ticket items. Also, business owners are reminded that counterfeit detection pens very often generate false results. Counterfeiters can use bleached genuine currency or coat counterfeit notes to prevent the proper chemical reactions.

In addition, the Federal Reserve Board offers these tips to detect suspicious or counterfeit currency:

  • Feel the paper. Genuine U.S. currency has a unique feel. The note should feel slightly rough to the touch. If the currency feels different than what you are used to, examine it closer.
  • Tilt the note back and forth to observe the color-shifting ink in the right-hand corner of denominations $10 or higher. Most bills will shift from copper to green.
  • Check the watermark and security thread by holding the currency up to a light. A watermark should be visible from both sides and will match the portrait or denomination. A security thread should also be visible from both sides and match the denomination. When held to UV light, the security thread will glow a unique color.

For more information about U.S. currency and how to detect a counterfeit note, visit www.uscurrency.gov.

Counterfeit bill with Chinese writing
Counterfeit bill marked with “Play Money”

Only in Ocean City: Fisher’s is the First Name in Ocean City Popcorn

Jill Denton
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Only in Ocean City: Fisher’s is the First Name in Ocean City Popcorn
Fishers Popcorn
A sunny day at Fisher’s Popcorn.

Okay, technically it’s a surname, but once you taste Fisher’s, you’ll know why it’s the only name in local popcorn.

The Fisher family has been cooking in kettles, perfecting their recipes right here in Ocean City since 1937, when Everett Fisher decided to open shop right on the boardwalk. While the third generation is now in charge and the business has grown to take up a few storefronts, it’s still undeniably, intoxicatingly enticing to anyone nearby. Who can resist fresh popcorn? And Fisher’s offers a few unique flavors, the kind of finds you’ll tell your hometown friends about once your OC vacation is over. While Old Bay-flavored things might be old news, you can count on Old Bay-dusted caramel popcorn to lift a few brows back home. Not as adventurous? Traditional butter is always available, too.

I make sure to stop by Fisher’s every time I’m walking the boards. It’s hard to avoid the toasty scent and flood of workers dropping bags and tubs of popcorn into outstretched, suntanned hands. Clear glass bins display the colorful, glazy bits of awesome, so it’s easy to see the quality buds you’re waiting so patiently to inhale.

Fortunately, everyone behind the counter is on board and ready to offer suggestions and answer questions. Mine included asking about what oils are used for popping (coconut oil primarily, but they do air-pop their caramel flavors) and what flavors are the most popular (caramel with and without peanuts).

Every single flavor is handmade with intention, with crisp, pure flavors to keep you going back to the bucket until your own demise slowly sets in. It’s hard to pick just one from the menu overhead.

Side note, Fisher’s differentiates between white cheddar and yellow cheddar. This may not seem like a big deal, but if you want that tell-tale symptom of cheese popcorn addiction a.k.a. neon orange fingers, you can make that call. And you will, because yellow cheddar has been my favorite from this shop since I was knee-high. Then again, the caramel apple and kettle flavors are up there, too. Oh, but the cheddar-caramel mix… They’re all dangerous, but in the best way.

A look at the menu at Fisher’s 200 South Boardwalk location.

In addition to classic summer Boardwalk snacks, Fisher’s also offers winter survival stashes and gifts for order in the off-season. Decorative tins and tubs in varying sizes are offered all year. While their mail-order business picks up in late fall for the winter holidays, popcorn is made daily and available for all holidays. A taste of the shore is a welcome gift for anyone, and would be welcome on your Thanksgiving appetizer table. The owners recommend airtight storage, which will keep your popcorn crisp for a long while. Fisher’s ships anywhere in the US and to military locations.

[promos][promo name=”Fisher’s Popcorn” business=”200 South Boardwalk, Ocean City, MD” img=”https://www.oceancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Fishers-2-1.jpg” link=”https://www.oceancity.com/restaurants-and-bars/fishers-popcorn/” cta_text=”Read More” small_img=”true” top_border=”1″] Fisher’s Popcorn has been making delicious caramel popcorn at the beaches of MD and DE since 1937. [/promo][/promos]

If you’re visiting in person, here are their hours:

Jan-May and Oct-Dec, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am- 4 pm

April-Memorial Day and all Oct, Monday-Friday 10 am- 3 pm

Memorial Day – September, daily 9 am – 11 pm (may close earlier on rainy nights)

 

I hope I see you in line later on this year. I’ll be the one with the orange stains under my nails.

This Week in Ocean City: Memorial Day Weekend 2019

Kristin
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This Week in Ocean City: Memorial Day Weekend 2019

It’s official: the start of the season is just about underway here in Ocean City, Maryland. Memorial Day Weekend is just around the corner.

If you’re lucky enough to get the day off work, hopefully you’re also lucky enough to get to spend a long weekend full of sunshine and barbecues in OC. There’s a ton going on around town this week, so whether you like to plan your vacation down to a T or just relax on the beach with absolutely nothing on the itinerary, you won’t be disappointed. The forecast is warm, clear and sunny with 100% chance of fun during this year’s summer kickoff weekend. We’ll see you on the sand!

Last Week’s News

Try something new when you’re in town this summer. We compiled a list of all the activities, restaurants and accommodations in Ocean City that are totally new for summer 2019. 

New This Summer in Ocean City: Hotels, Restaurants, Things to Do

Maintain your favorite Ocean City traditions — riding the Ferris wheel, Boardwalk fries, family bike rides — and make some new ones this summer, too!

This summer, the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum will offer free admission to active-duty military personnel and their families, marking the tenth summer of the Blue Star Museums program. 

Life Saving Station Museum offers free admission to military personnel and their families this summer

The Ocean City Life Saving Station Museum will be participating in the tenth summer of Blue Star Museums, a program which provides free admission to our nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families this summer.

So far, the weather forecast for this coming weekend is looking good — so let’s go to the beach!

Maryland weather: Memorial Day weekend forecast looking warm and dry at the beach

The summer solstice is still a month away, but beach season begins in earnest this weekend. And early forecasts call for pleasant weather on the Maryland and Delaware coasts. Over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, dry weather and high temperatures in the 70s and lower 80s are expected from Ocean City to Rehoboth Beach.

#ThisWeekinOC

The Enslaved at Rackliffe House Exhibition (May 21 – Oct. 31): An exhibition entitled The Enslaved at Rackliffe House and Worcester County, MD: A Local Story, opens to the public at Rackliffe House near Assateague Island National Seashore on May 21 st .
The exhibition covers such topics as The Middle Passage, Growth of the Slave Economy, Resistance to Slavery in Worcester County, Methodism and African-American Life, and the US Colored Troops. It includes images as well as two cases of artifacts (one of which displays pieces discovered during an archaeological dig on the Rackliffe property).

The Big Get-Together (May 22): The Art League needs your support. Join them for The Big Get-Together where there will be food tastings by local restaurants, beer and wine tastings, and live music by Claire Esham, all in the beautiful Art League building. Featuring the “99 Bottles of Wine on the Wall” Off-the-Wall Benefit Auction.

The Broadway Jukebox Revolution (May 23): The Broadway Jukebox returns due to popular demand! With a new list of 30 new songs to choose from, each performance is unique based on the selection of that night’s audience. Upon arrival, each audience member votes for their top choices from five new categories: “Classics,” “Contemporary Musicals,” “Animation,” “Diva,” and “Written by Rockers.” Brown Box then curates that night’s show on the spot in this interactive, family-friendly evening, where we perform what YOU consider the best of Broadway.

Spring Family Movie Night in the Park (May 24): Come join us for a FREE night of family fun! Ocean City Recreation & Parks will show a family appropriate movie at Northside Park on the giant projection screen. (The movie will begin shortly after sunset.)

For Memorial Day Weekend Services, Parades and Live Entertainment:

Abundance of Memorial Day activities planned in and around Ocean City

Kick off the season in Ocean City over Memorial Day Weekend — lots of people do, because for many, Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of the summer.

Life Saving Station Museum offers free admission to military personnel and their families this summer

Kristin
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Life Saving Station Museum offers free admission to military personnel and their families this summer

The Ocean City Life Saving Station Museum will be participating in the tenth summer of Blue Star Museums, a program which provides free admission to our nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families this summer. The 2019 program will begin earlier than in past years, launching on Saturday, May 18, 2019, Armed Forces Day, and ending on Monday, September 2, 2019, Labor Day. Blue Star Museums is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in collaboration with Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums nationwide.

“The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to celebrate the tenth summer of collaborating with Blue Star Families, Department of Defense, and especially the more than 2,000 museums across our nation that make this program possible, “ said Mary Anne Carter, acting chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts.

This year’s participating organizations include fine art, science, history, and children’s museums, as well as zoos, aquariums, gardens, and more. “We’ve seen the tremendous impact the Blue Star Museums program brings to our military families, and we’re thrilled to be celebrating a decade of support,” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, chief executive officer of Blue Star Families. “Not only are museums fun to explore but are also great for making memories and strengthening military families as a whole.”

The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military—Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard as well as members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and up to five family members. Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum. The Ocean City Life Saving Station Museum is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

New This Summer in Ocean City: Hotels, Restaurants, Things to Do

Kristin
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New This Summer in Ocean City: Hotels, Restaurants, Things to Do

Maintain your favorite Ocean City traditions — riding the Ferris wheel, Boardwalk fries, family bike rides — and make some new ones this summer, too! A new summer means a new story in Ocean City, with a fresh lineup of activities, accommodations and restaurants to keep your annual vacation from being anything but boring. 

New things to do

Thanks to the OC Bay Hopper and the Liquid Limo, getting around Ocean City by water has never been easier. Family fun abounds with new niche businesses like Selfie Fantasy — an Instagram-friendly selfie-taking experience featuring a variety of backdrops and props to make your selfie stand out — and the Woodward WreckTangle, an outdoor Ninja Warrior-style obstacle course for all ages and skill levels.

For rainy day fun, the Flagship Premium Cinemas in the White Marlin Mall will open its doors this month; sit back and relax as you watch the latest blockbuster from the comfort of their reclining seats. 

Additionally, Tanger Outlets is under new ownership and has been rebranded the Ocean City Outlets, where a Forever 21 and Michael Kors outlet will be opening soon. 

OC Bay Hopper

All aboard the Bay Hopper! The new water taxi offers a variety of options, including transportation around Ocean City, rental services and expeditions like crabbing on Assateague and watching seasonal fireworks from the water.

North Ocean City Water Taxi ‘OC Bay Hopper’ Hits the Water this May

The OC Bay Hopper is an Uber of the ocean, designed to shuttle passengers along Ocean City’s back bays from the northernmost reaches of Ocean City all the way down to the Inlet and Assateague Island.

Woodward WreckTangle

Are you up to the challenge? The Woodward WreckTangle is an obstacle course that’s fit for both children and adults, regardless of their current Ninja abilities. 

Woodward WreckTangle Obstacle Course Coming to Ocean City this April

Ocean City, Maryland, (February 26, 2019) The Town of Ocean City announced today a new partnership with POWDR Adventure Lifestyle Co. and Woodward, a playground for progressive athletic experiences. Beginning in late April and continuing through October, the Woodward WreckTangle — a proprietary ninja obstacle challenge course for kids and adults, named for its rectangular shape — will be available for use in Ocean City.

The Liquid Limo

Whether you’re hosting a bachelorette party this summer or just looking to have a peaceful day on the bay with your family, the Liquid Limo is another great option for cruising around Ocean City’s waterways.

Wherever you’re going, the Liquid Limo will get you there in style

Imagine riding along Ocean City’s back bays while the sun’s going down, a cold drink in your hand and all of your closest friends by your side. They’re snapping pictures, taking turns picking which song to play next, pulling snacks and sodas out of the cooler and passing them around.

Selfie Fantasy

Even if you’re not a regular selfie-taker, you probably know someone who is, whose Instagram fantasies can come to life at Selfie Fantasy. 60-90 minutes of picture taking costs $20 for adults, with discounted rates for children. 

Selfie Fantasy’s interactive, Instagram-worthy experience to open in May

The exterior walls of 14 Worcester Street won’t be deep sea-blue and decorated with spine-chilling underwater monsters for much longer.

New places to eat

One of the best parts of an annual summer vacation in Ocean City is that there will always be a variety of great new restaurants to try. Even the pickiest of eaters can find something new to please their palette every year, besides just caramel corn and ice cream cones. This season in Ocean City has seen the openings and upcoming-openings of eateries including Mexican cafe Casita Linda (located inside the Monte Carlo hotel), a fourth location for the Taphouse Tavern (replacing Kirby’s Red Onion Grill in North Ocean City), Irish beach bar The Lucky Anchor (replacing the Alibi Room downtown), Papi Joe’s Cafe (opening soon on Somerset St.) and a second Ocean City location for Shotti’s Point on Atlantic Ave.

Casita Linda

Casita Linda, located across from City Hall inside the Monte Carlo hotel, is a family-owned-and-operated cafe that serves breakfast, baked goods, lunch and coffee. 

Inside Casita Linda, Ocean City’s New Mexican Bakery and Café

Casita Linda, a bakery and cafe serving traditional Mexican baked goods, breakfast foods, coffee and espresso, opened to a steady stream of customers on Thursday, April 25. Located on N. Baltimore Avenue in the Monte Carlo Hotel, the new cafe is now open daily from 6 a.m.

The Lucky Anchor

Making its debut on St. Patrick’s Day weekend of 2019, The Lucky Anchor is a beachy bar and restaurant “with an Irish twist.”

The Lucky Anchor brings beach flair with an Irish twist to downtown Ocean City

Starting this March, a new downtown bar and grill is adding its unique, beach-friendly flair with an Irish twist to the lineup of bars and restaurants that are on, and just off of, the Ocean City Boardwalk. The Lucky Anchor is the latest addition in town, taking over the building that previously housed The Alibi Room from 2016-18 on the corner of Baltimore and Wicomico St.

Marisol’s Market and Cafe

Marisol’s Market will be hard to miss this summer. Now with Ocean City locations in Sunset Island, the Gateway Hotel and eventually the under-construction Cambria Hotel, along with a location on Chincoteague Island, Marisol’s grab-and-go food and drink selection won’t be hard to come by. 

Marisol’s Market & Cafe opens a second location in the Gateway Hotel

The Gateway Hotel and Suites on 1st Street and Baltimore Ave. is known for its prime location across from the beach, along with amenities like an outdoor pool and a free continental breakfast. Now, as of spring 2019, the Gateway is also known for hosting the second Ocean City location of an up-and-coming, family-run business.


New places to stay

Ocean City’s two newest hotels are both modern, artistically designed and perfect for every vacationer, from the family to the young couple to the business traveler. The Aloft Hotel is ‘different by design’: It boasts a bar with an area for live entertainment, indoor and outdoor pools, and plenty of space for guests to hang out, mingle and socialize. Meanwhile, the Hampton Inn & Suites in West Ocean City is an intimate and personal hotel that makes guests feel right at home, but still includes all the amenities of a large chain from spacious rooms and WiFi to free hot breakfast and a pool.
In addition to the Aloft and the Hampton Inn, top-rated hotels that are entering their second year of operation in Ocean City include the Hyatt Place on 16th Street and the Boardwalk and the bayside Residence Inn at the foot of the Route 90 bridge. 

Aloft Hotel

Take a look inside the Aloft, Ocean City’s newest, ‘different by design’ hotel

The gym isn’t called the gym — it’s Re:charge. The breakfast bar is Re:fuel. The indoor pool is called the Splash. And the lobby, the center of all the action at the Aloft hotel, home of both the check-in desk and the W XYZ Bar, is referred to only as Re:mix.


Hampton Inn & Suites

Peek inside West Ocean City’s new Hampton Inn & Suites

West Ocean City’s business boom continues with the brand new Hampton Inn & Suites, which will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 14. The Hampton Inn takes the place of the old Wheels of Yesterday Museum, sandwiched between a Dumser’s and Comfort Suites and with the White Marlin Mall a hop, skip and a jump across Ocean Gateway.

Our First Photo Friday of the Season! Cruisin’ OC, Assateague Ponies and More

Kristin
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Our First Photo Friday of the Season! Cruisin’ OC, Assateague Ponies and More

It’s our first Photo Friday of the season! Our randomly-selected winner Kimberly, who submitted the Assateague pony photo below, has won a pair of tickets to Jolly Roger Amusements.

You could win, too — just submit your vacation photos here! We’ll compile them into a photoblog like this one every other Friday and pick a winner. (Even if you don’t win, you get to share your Ocean City pictures with the world!) Just remember, you must include your full name and email address in your submission in order to win. 

Our next Photo Friday theme is Memorial Day Weekend. Submit your photos by May 30 and we’ll publish them to our site on May 31, and pick a winner to receive two Jolly Roger tickets, good for the entire 2019 season. 

Photo Fridays are our way of celebrating you and the good times you have in Ocean City, and getting to give away fun, OC-related prizes is a major bonus. We’re excited to finally kick off the season with our first Photo Friday of the year, and we can’t wait to see all the incredible memories you make here this summer! 

Cruisin OC sunset on the bay.
It was in this moment sitting on the beach at Ocean City that I realized all my dreams had come true. Holding my youngest son, watching my oldest and my husband play in the water in the early morning hours. It was this huge epiphany. I could stop looking forward all the time, dreaming bigger, wanting more, because I already had it ALL. Everything I had ever dreamed of. Then I snapped this picture to remember the moment forever. Ocean city is a yearly destination for our family full of traditions and memories.
One solitary wanderer keeping another solitary soul company through the sunrise.
Cousins Cruisin’ in OCMD
Nora’s second bday

Governor, Mayor to Recreate Ceremonial Summer Kickoff in Ocean City

Kristin
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Governor, Mayor to Recreate Ceremonial Summer Kickoff in Ocean City

With Memorial Day Weekend fast approaching, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and Mayor Rick Meehan have plans to bring back their now-annual ceremonial summer kickoff event.

The event first took place more than seven decades ago: in 1946, Maryland Gov. Harry O’Connor joined Ocean City Mayor Daniel Trimper Jr. to officially start the summer season in Ocean City by placing an umbrella in the sand. Now, almost 75 years later, Hogan and Meehan will reestablish the ceremonious event by placing the first umbrella of the season on Ocean City’s beach at Somerset Street on Friday, May 24 at 11 a.m.

During the event, Hogan and Meehan will provide brief remarks about the significance of the event and what this historic tradition means for Ocean City and the town’s visitors. Meehan will also speak about upcoming events and other highlights that vacationers can enjoy this year, starting this Memorial Day weekend.

Maryland Governor Harry O’Connor and Ocean City Mayor Daniel Trimper, Jr. ceremoniously kick off the summer in this colorized photo from 1946.

Public meeting on Ocean City Inlet projects scheduled for May 30

Kristin
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Public meeting on Ocean City Inlet projects scheduled for May 30

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in coordination with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Worcester County, will host a public meeting to discuss two concurrent efforts: a project to address sediment accumulation in the Ocean City Inlet, as well as a study on the scour hole near Homer Gudelsky Park.

The meeting will take place May 30 at the Worcester County Library – Berlin Branch from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

The Ocean City Inlet navigation channel is regularly used by commercial fishermen, recreational boaters, the U.S. Coast Guard and others. The Corps removes material from the inlet through dredging two or more times per year in an attempt to maintain the channel’s authorized depth of 10 feet; however, it continues to fill in with material, creating concerns for navigation.

The Corps signed a project partnership agreement Feb. 14, 2019, with Maryland DNR and Worcester County for the “Ocean City Harbor and Inlet” navigation improvement project, which is 90 percent federally funded. The Corps will evaluate sediment transport in the inlet and recommend options to manage the shoaling to include structural solutions like jetties or channel modifications like deepening the channel in the inlet.

As part of the “Scour Hole: Beneficial Use of Dredged Material” study, which is 100 percent federally funded, the Corps and crews from the Corps’ Engineer Research and Development Center began work in 2017 to gather field data to better understand the approximately 50-foot-deep scour hole just northwest of Homer Gudelsky Park. Work included collecting sediment samples, deploying instrument suites, and mapping the region to obtain information about the movement of sediment in and around the scour hole. The scour hole is causing shoreline instability, foundation issues and compromising the rip rap along the shoreline.

Both efforts are being conducted through the Corps’ Continuing Authorities Program, which allows the Corps to partner with state and local partners for smaller water resources issues without the need for Congressional authorization.

From 6:30 – 7 p.m., there will be an open house in which participants can view posters, provide feedback and speak with project personnel. From 7 – 8 p.m., there will be a formal presentation to provide an overview of the projects, as well as open the floor for questions. The meeting will wrap up at 8:30 p.m., allowing attendees to again view materials and speak with Corps and state employees about specific concerns following the presentation.

Fourth of July 2019 – Parking and Getting Around in Ocean City

OceanCity.com
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Fourth of July 2019 – Parking and Getting Around in Ocean City

The Fourth of July is one of the most popular holidays to celebrate in Ocean City, so it’s also one that requires ample planning ahead in regard to traffic, parking and finding the perfect spot to watch the fireworks.

Inlet parking rates on July 4

In previous years, the Town of Ocean City has charged a flat rate for Inlet parking on the Fourth of July. In 2019, a $5 per hour rate will take effect on the Fourth of July. Payment will be accepted as usual in the pay-by-plate kiosks located throughout the Inlet Lot. 

Parking downtown

Parking rates remain $2 per hour as usual on downtown streets, though available parking spaces will be limited. Private lots offer additional parking – rates vary. 

Getting around

Since parking downtown is extremely limited on the Fourth of July, we always recommend that visitors take the bus! Bus service is $3 to ride all day. The West Ocean City Park & Ride on Route 50 is just west of the Route 50 Bridge and offers free parking and $3 ride-all-day shuttle service to downtown. 

Additionally, boaters should note that on the evening of July 4, the span of the Route 50 Bridge is typically closed to marine traffic at the usually scheduled 10:25 p.m. and 10:55 p.m. opening times. The Route 50 Bridge reopens for boaters at 11:25 p.m. on the evening of July 4.

Fourth of July 2019 events

Every year, Ocean City provides the best Fourth of July celebration on the Eastern Shore, with two fireworks shows scheduled on either side of town.

Downtown fireworks start at 9:30, preceded by a concert on the beach at 8 p.m. Bring your beach blanket and chair and watch the show from your spot in the sand. Similarly, live music in Northside Park starts at 8 p.m. and fireworks start at 9:30. 

Marisol’s Market & Cafe opens a second location in the Gateway Hotel

Kristin
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Marisol’s Market & Cafe opens a second location in the Gateway Hotel
Sign for Marisol’s outside the Gateway Hotel.

The Gateway Hotel and Suites on 1st Street and Baltimore Ave. is known for its prime location across from the beach, along with amenities like an outdoor pool and a free continental breakfast. Now, as of spring 2019, the Gateway is also known for hosting the second Ocean City location of an up-and-coming, family-run business.

Marisol’s Market & Cafe is a grab-and-go snack shop and general store that’s taking the Eastern Shore by storm this summer. While its second location just opened inside the Gateway, it was only last year that Kathleen Kropp opened the original Marisol’s on Sunset Island, the 37-acre bayside community off 67th Street.

“I personally live in Sunset Island all year round — there was a Dunkin Donuts that opened up on the outside of Sunset Island and I said, the only thing that could compete with a Dunkin Donuts would be a Starbucks, right?” Kropp said. “So I got in touch with Starbucks and they enabled me to do this.”

The Marisol’s in the Gateway Hotel will have the same hours as the hotel and serve Starbucks coffee, Boar’s Head deli sandwiches, ice cream, acai bowls, beer, wine and sundries that visitors might forget when packing for vacation. The cafe is accessible from the hotel’s patio and its lobby inside. 

In addition to its Sunset Island and Gateway Hotel locations, there’s also a brand new Marisol’s in the Marina Bay Hotel on Chincoteague Island and one coming soon to the Cambria Hotel, currently under construction and slated to open in Ocean City in 2020.

Peeking into Marisol’s from the Gateway Hotel lobby.

“Marisol” in Spanish, translated literally, means “sea and sun.” The business was christened Marisol’s by Kropp’s daughter, Kimberly Freund, who helps Kropp run the family business with her daughter, Hannah Freund.

“I think Marisol’s is a great concept that works for any community or hotel because people always forget something that they might need,” Kropp said. “If you’re in a hurry, we have the grab-and-go, and it’s just so nice.”

In addition to Marisol’s Market & Cafe, Kropp and her daughter Kimberly own Sanibel’s Oceanside 32, a restaurant serving contemporary American cuisine, which also opened its doors this spring. Sanibel’s Oceanside 32 is located in the La Quinta Hotel on 32nd Street, and a second location will open in Sunset Island on May 24.

[promos][promo name=”Gateway Hotel & Suites” business=”11 Baltimore Avenue, Ocean City, MD” img=”https://www.oceancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/1606_gateway10.jpg” link=”https://www.oceancity.com/hotels-and-motels/gateway-hotel-and-suites-ocean-city/” cta_text=”Book Now” small_img=”true” top_border=”1″]The Gateway Hotel & Suites (formerly the Sleep Inn & Suites) is located in the heart of Downtown Ocean City, just a block from the beautiful beach and famous Boardwalk. Each room has TV, refrigerator, coffee maker, hair dryer, and iron and ironing board.[/promo][/promos]

This Week in Ocean City: Cruisin’ Into Summer

Kristin
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This Week in Ocean City: Cruisin’ Into Summer

Memorial Day Weekend is pretty big in Ocean City, but the weekend preceding it is not to be overlooked: Thousands of classic cars and hot rods arrive in town on Thursday, May 16 to celebrate the warm weather and an early start to the summer season. It’s Cruisin’ Ocean City weekend!

New in 2019 is the Cruisin’ Car Corral, to be held inside the Convention Center. Catherine Bach, otherwise known as Daisy Duke from Dukes of Hazzard, will make appearances throughout the weekend to celebrate Cruisin’ and the 40th anniversary of the Dukes of Hazzard, and as usual, Boardwalk parades will kick off Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings when the cars cruise south from 26th Street all the way to the Inlet.

If you’re driving through town this weekend, use extra caution — starting on May 14, Coastal Highway is designated a Special Event Zone, which means reduced speed limits and increased fines for violators. 

Besides perusing all the hot rods and attending the Cruisers’ early-morning Boardwalk parades, there are other special events happening in town, including a Joe Diffie concert and International Museum Day at the Life-Saving Station Museum. Geek out at all the cool cars, and then geek out for Ocean City history when the museum offers free admission on May 18. 

Memorial Day Weekend will be here before you know it, but until then, we’ll be celebrating the season a little early in our cruisers.

Last week’s news

Punkin Chunkin’ in Ocean City? It’s more likely than you think. Delaware’s famed pumpkin hurling contest could be  moved to OC, if the logistics can be worked out. 

Famed ‘Punkin Chunkin’ contest may be heading to Ocean City | WTOP

Punkin Chunkin is a decades-old tradition in southern Delaware, started by some guys who had too many leftover pumpkins after Halloween and decided it’d be fun to see who could launch one the farthest. A small field in Lewes eventually gave way to bigger fields in Sussex County until an accident in 2016 put the event on pause.

The Hampton Inn & Suites in West Ocean City is officially open for its first season ever. The grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on Tuesday, May 14!

Peak inside West Ocean City’s new Hampton Inn & Suites

West Ocean City’s business boom continues with the brand new Hampton Inn & Suites, which will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 14. The Hampton Inn takes the place of the old Wheels of Yesterday Museum, sandwiched between a Dumser’s and Comfort Suites and with the White Marlin Mall a hop, skip and a jump across Ocean Gateway.

This Week in OC

Cruisin’ Ocean City (May 16 – 19): Cruisin’ OC features over 3,400 hot rods, customs, classics, street machines, muscle cars and more. Live entertainment, celebrity guests, special attractions, boardwalk parades, manufacturers vendor midway and more. Admission. Don’t miss the FREE Boardwalk Parades on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday mornings from 8 to 10 a.m.

Lots of car shows and vendors will be taking place at the Convention Center Parking Lot and the Inlet Parking Lot, plus several more car shows will be taking place at various business locations in and around Ocean City.

Joe Diffie with Special Guest Jackson Dean (May 16): Joe Diffie will be performing at the Ocean City Performing Arts Center on May 16th. The doors open at 7:30 and the show starts at 8 p.m. Diffie has had hits including “Home,” “Pick-up Man,” “Third Rock from the Sun” and “John Deere Green.”  

Spring Cruisers in Berlin (May 18): Classic cars and cruisers line the streets of Main Street Berlin.

International Museum Day (May 18): The Ocean City Life-Saving Museum will open its doors for FREE on May 18th, as part of International Museum Day.

Enjoy all this gem of a museum has to offer including the Boardwalk of Yesterday, the Aquarium Room, and the story of the Life-Saving Museum. Well worth a visit!

Maryland Coastal Bays Seeks Volunteers for Annual Terrapin Turtle Count

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Maryland Coastal Bays Seeks Volunteers for Annual Terrapin Turtle Count

Maryland Coastal Bays Program (MCBP) is looking for volunteers to participate in the Annual Diamondback Terrapin count from May 28 through June 1.

The diamondback terrapin is Maryland’s state reptile and the mascot for the University of Maryland, but its current population status in the Coastal Bays is poorly understood.  In an effort to better understand its status, both organizations coordinate annual counts.

Trained volunteers will conduct these surveys throughout the week of May 28 through June 1. Those who are interested in becoming a trained volunteer to conduct surveys should attend training classes, which will be held at the MCBP office on Monday, May 13 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Sunday, May 19 at 2 p.m. and Wednesday, May 22 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. RSVP to Katherine Phillips at kphillips@mdcoastalbays.org if you would like to attend. The class will take place at the Maryland Coastal Bays Program office,  located at 8219 Stephen Decatur Highway Berlin, Maryland.

The surveys will take place in the Coastal Bays, including brackish-water creeks, throughout the designated week. Counts take place both on water and on land. From motorboats to kayaks and SUPs, all are encouraged to participate.

Terrapins are the only turtle occupying brackish water, but other turtles, such as snapping turtles, may venture into more brackish water, so it’s important that volunteers are trained to identify the correct species.

Locations of surveys will depend on the number of crews that are available and may take place in all of Maryland’s Coastal Bays. Those whp are interested in participating in the survey should contact Katherine Phillips at kphillips@mdcoastalbays.org or by calling 410-213-2297 ext. 109.

MCBP is a 501 (c) (3) consensus non-profit dedicated to working with the public to protect the bays behind Ocean City and Assateague Island.

Peek inside West Ocean City’s new Hampton Inn & Suites

Kristin
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Peek inside West Ocean City’s new Hampton Inn & Suites

West Ocean City’s business boom continues with the brand new Hampton Inn & Suites, which will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 14.

The Hampton Inn takes the place of the old Wheels of Yesterday Museum, sandwiched between a Dumser’s and Comfort Suites and with the White Marlin Mall a hop, skip and a jump across Ocean Gateway.

The hotel falls under the growing portfolio of PiNNacle Hospitality Group, which also includes two hotels on Chincoteague Island in Virginia, the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson in North Ocean City and the currently under construction Cambria Hotel on 309 N. 1st St., slated to open in April 2020.

“You’re close enough to the beach to go to the beach if you want to, but you’re also centrally located,” said Renee Seiden, Regional Director of Sales for PiNNacle Hospitality Group. “There’s shopping across the street with the Ocean City Outlets, the new movie theater that’s coming, you’re close to Assateague and close to the fishing center. You’re also close to the golf courses and the casino is fairly close by, and you’re close to Berlin.”

The 83-room hotel is decorated with vintage photography prints and accented with bright pops of color in its common areas and guest rooms. It features amenities including an indoor pool, fitness room and business center but is still relatively small in size, which Seiden considers a major asset.

“It’s a super cute little hotel and it’s very personal,” she said. “It’s not like going to a big hotel where you just check in and check out. Here, people will recognize you and remember you, and they’ll know your preferences.”

Immediately upon entering, guests are greeted by the hotel’s friendly staff and the writing on the walls. Welcome to the crab state!
Creative touches throughout the space make it unique. Even the room numbers are accompanied by art.
Rooms are spacious and modern in design.
And the views are a little different than what you’d expect in Ocean City. How often do you look out an upper-story window and see woods?
The Hampton Inn accommodates all kinds of guests, from families to business travelers.
The indoor pool won’t be empty for long.
Outside, tables, chairs, cushioned benches and lounges provide a space for guests to eat their breakfast outside, or relax and think about what they’re going to order at Dumser’s next door.

[promos][promo name=”Hampton Inn & Suites” business=”12708 Ocean Gateway, Ocean City, MD” img=”https://www.oceancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/3899_Hampton-Inn-WOC.jpg” link=”https://www.oceancity.com/hotels-and-motels/hampton-inn-suites-ocean-city-west/” cta_text=”Book Now” small_img=”true” top_border=”1″] Welcome to our new Hampton Inn & Suites Ocean City West, located just across from the Tanger Outlets and minutes from the Ocean City Beach and Boardwalk. Discover fun and thrills for all ages at one of the many amusement parks along the pier or explore the natural beauty at Assateague Island National Seashore.[/promo][/promos]

Ocean City Named #7 Best Place to Buy a Beach House in the U.S.

Kristin
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Ocean City Named #7 Best Place to Buy a Beach House in the U.S.

According to Vacasa, a Portland, OR-based vacation rental company, Ocean City, Maryland is the #7 best place to buy a beach house in 2019. 

The Top 10 report is based on local markets’ aggregate cap rates, or the ratio of a property’s net operating income over its cost. Vacasa said they determined net operating income by calculating gross rental income for each market, then subtracting each market’s average operating costs and dividing those figures by the historical costs of buying a vacation rental. 

Ocean City’s cap rate was determined to be 5.4%; the median home price is reported as $285,900 (Zillow reports a median sale price of $262,700), and the median annual gross rental income $30,769. 

Vacasa additionally cited some of Ocean City’s most famous amenities including the beach, boardwalk and arcades, saying:

Swimming, sunning, and socializing near the Atlantic have put Ocean City on “best beaches in America” lists for years. In addition to hitting the sand, travelers can enjoy an expansive, three-mile beachfront boardwalk that’s home to local shops, restaurants, amusement parks, and arcades—all accessible by foot or bike. Those who are seeking a bit more action will find it. Surfing, fishing, kayaking, and canoeing are all available in Ocean City. Vacation home buyers in this market should keep one thing in mind: water. While Ocean City has a diverse inventory of vacation homes, being near the ocean or the bay is key in driving bookings. Can’t swing it? A pool or boardwalk access will help increase your stays.

Ocean Shores, WA ranked #1 on the list, followed by Myrtle Beach, SC and Florida’s Panama City Beach and Santa Rosa Beach. 

If you’re in the market for a new beach house, you may want to consider Ocean City! 

Ocean City Vacation Rentals – Rent a house or condo

Ocean City Vacation Rentals and Condos Vacation Rentals Navigation Renting a house or condo in Ocean City Bayside condos with balconies overlooking the most beautiful sunsets. Fully-furnished beach houses just steps away from the sand. Single rooms and two-story apartments, downtown quarters and uptown havens.

Mother’s Day Specials in Ocean City

Kristin
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Mother’s Day Specials in Ocean City

If you’re looking to do something super-special for your mother this upcoming Mother’s Day (that’s Sunday, May 12 — write it down!), and a weekend trip to Ocean City is feasible for your family, do it! After all, what better way to celebrate mom than by taking her to her favorite place in the world?

Before we get into the specials and deals that are being offered around Ocean City this Mother’s Day weekend, here’s a handy list of free, fun things to do with mom to show her you care. 

  1. Catch the sunrise on the beach. That’s the most perfect way to start the day, after making her breakfast in bed, of course. 
  2. Then go for a walk on the Boardwalk and buy her a bucket of caramel corn. (I would suggest Thrasher’s, but somehow Fisher’s popcorn seems more like a Mother’s Day treat than fries do. To each their own.)
  3. If you’d rather sleep in and catch the sunset, take an evening stroll at Northside Park, and stop and smell the flowers while you’re there. 
  4. If you’re coming to town early and looking for something to do on Friday, take an Art Stroll in Berlin, Md., and listen to live music at their Reggae Play Day downtown.
  5. Then on Friday night, catch a free, family-friendly movie in Northside Park after you enjoy specials at restaurants all over Ocean City on the last day of Spring Restaurant Week. 

The more free activities you take advantage of, the more you’ll be able to spend on lodging and food. Here are some of the best specials in Ocean City to help you celebrate Mother’s Day By the Beach. 

Where to Eat on Mother’s Day:

At Longboard Cafe, moms get a free mimosa, Bloody Mary or glass of wine.

Mad Fish Bar & Grill will be giving moms their first mimosa on the house, with $2 refills. 

The Skye Bar will open at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, serving their full menu all day along with a $20 whole lobster special for moms. 

Horizons Oceanfront Restaurant in the Clarion offers a Deluxe Breakfast Buffet and their Famous All-You-Can-Eat Holiday Buffet on Mother’s Day.

Harpoon Hanna’s will have a Mother’s Day Brunch from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and their dinner menu starting at 1 p.m.

The Globe in Berlin will have a Mother’s Day Brunch from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Reservations are strongly suggested.

Where to Stay on Mother’s Day Weekend:

Spend the weekend at Dunes Manor! On Saturday, paint a pair of beachy wine glasses with T.C. Studios. On Sunday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., enjoy a Mother’s Day Brunch and activities to do together as a family. 

Coffee With Cops: Meet the Ocean City Police Department on Wednesday, May 15

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Coffee With Cops: Meet the Ocean City Police Department on Wednesday, May 15

Residents and visitors are invited to enjoy a cup of coffee with Ocean City Police Department officers at Denny’s, located at 6104 Coastal Highway.

“Coffee with Cops” will take place Wednesday, May 15, 2019, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Attendees will have an opportunity to chat with OCPD leadership and patrol officers as they enjoy a cup of coffee. This community policing event is a partnership designed to bring together police officers and the communities they serve.

“The Coffee with Cops events continue to serve as a great way for us to meet more community members and build relationships,” commented Police Chief Ross Buzzuro. “We sincerely thank Denny’s for their partnership and we are looking forward to a great turnout.”

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