Worcester County Recreation and Parks (WCRP) is hosting its inaugural event, Glamour Day, at the Worcester County Recreation Center in Snow Hill on Saturday, April 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Participants will spend time getting pampered as hair stylists, makeup artists and manicurists from the Delaware Learning Institute of Cosmetology provide beauty services.
This event is open to students in grades pre-K through sixth. Families should register online at www.worcesterrecandparks.org to reserve desired appointment times. Participants will have their photos taken, and props will be included. Photos will be emailed to the address provided during registration.
A parent or guardian is required to stay with each child. Drinks and snacks will be provided.
For more information, contact Trudy Porch or Kelly Buchanan at 410-632-2144. To view other upcoming events, visit WCRP at www.worcesterrecandparks.org.
The facade of the almost-30-year-old bar and grill on Philadelphia Avenue downtown is currently in the process of getting a facelift. New food and drink specials will make their debut on May 15, and around the same time, their serving staff will be increased to accommodate seasonal crowds.
It may seem like a lot, but other than that there isn’t too much to do. At least, no more than usual. Brittney Acita, who took over the restaurant with her husband Justin Acita almost five years ago, says she’s typically ready for the oncoming summer by January.
[promos][promo name=”Pickles Pub” business=”8th Street and Philadelphia Ave., Ocean City, MD” img=”https://www.oceancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/1827_pickles14.jpg” link=”https://www.oceancity.com/restaurants-and-bars/pickles-pub/” cta_text=”Read More” small_img=”true” top_border=”1″] Pickles Pub has been a favorite with locals for almost 30 years. Open year-round downtown on 8th Street, they serve lunch, dinner and their full menu until 1 a.m. They have six pool tables and show sports on their giant high definition screens, plus an extensive beer list with a constantly rotating selection of beers from local and regional breweries. [/promo][/promos]
“It’s actually funny because everyone says, ‘oh, winter’s like your downtime,’ but winter’s essentially my busiest time,” she said. “I have all the entertainment done by February 1st for the entire 2019… Our bartenders stay year-round, our kitchen stays year-round, we just add more servers in the summer.”
Pickles made a name for itself as a locals bar, partly because it’s open seven days a week all year round, partly because there’s live entertainment every weekend no matter what the season, and partly — probably — because Brittney and Justin are so in tune with their guests and their staff.
The couple was already well-acquainted with the restaurant industry before they came to own the pub in 2016. Justin had been a manager at Embers before he managed Pickles, and Brittney has been in the service industry since she was 13.
When they met 12 years ago, Pickles was one of the first places that they went on a date. First they went to the Dungeon (RIP) for free beer and tacos, Brittney recalled, and then they came to “The Pickle.”
“It is a big part of our past. All of my early 20s were spent here,” she said. “We’ve watched it grow with us.”
The Acita family (at least, 4/5 of it now).
It’s now 12 years, three businesses and three kids later, and the Acitas are running Pickles “like a well-oiled machine.” They’ve been able to take a small step back this year, Brittney said, and work more from their home office — which is especially helpful since their third child was just born in February — but they still spend plenty of time in the restaurant and their liquor store next door.
On busy nights, Justin gets on the line in the kitchen, and Brittney hops behind the bar or runs food out. They’ve got it down to a science, she said, and what makes it so easy is that they have a great team. Much of their staff has been working there for years, and the team is so tightly-knit that they even spend some holidays together. And the two owners balance each other out well.
“I work with [Justin] seven days a week of my life and I raise children with him seven days a week of my life,” Brittney said. “And I still miss him when I’m not with him.”
There are new games in the game room, all the entertainment for the summer has been scheduled, and the city is laying out new sidewalks outside. The construction coincided nicely with the Acitas’ plan to revamp their outdoor patio/smoking area, which will be done by the summertime.
A new drink menu was released in late March, and a new food menu will debut on April 1, long enough before summer that the staff can get to know it inside and out before the real crowds arrive. Reubens, chicken and waffles and corned beef sliders are just some of the new food options that will appear on the menu, alongside a pickle pizza, which consists of a butter base topped with mozzarella cheese and pickle spears.
It may sound a little strange, but Brittney assures that the pickle pizza is very good. It’s never too difficult for them to find inspiration for palatable, pickle-themed fare.
“Any time there’s something ‘pickles’ online, Justin and I are tagged in it at least 500 times,” she said.
Pickle shots are one item that will always remain on the menu — at Pickles and at many other bars and shops throughout Ocean City. It was only last July that Brittney dreamed up a bottled version of the pub’s famous Pickle Shot, and now it’s available in 95 locations throughout Maryland, with Delaware just catching up, too.
The Original Pickle Shot is so successful, Brittney said, because it’s so unlike anything else on the market. The vodka- and brine-based liquor is a decent proof, but “you can do more than one or two or three shots and still be able to function,” she said. “Not drive, but you can still function.”
More than 100,000 pickle shots are sold each year — and that’s just in the bar, not even counting all the bottled Original Pickle Shots that have been purchased since the bottle’s July 2018 debut — because it’s different in a good way. The pickle shot is commonly described as unique, flavorful and full of personality, just like the pub that sells it.
Pickles will celebrate its 30th anniversary in May, proving that a locals-owned locals bar has major staying power in Ocean City.
The 29th Annual Cruisin’ Ocean City returns to town May 16-17-18-19. This nationally recognized event attracts more than 3,000 customs, hot rods, street machines, classics and more from over 20 states plus Canada. The 29th Annual Cruisin’ will have more than 10,000 event participants taking part in various car shows at the Convention Center on 40th Street, the downtown Inlet parking lot and various citywide locations.
What’s new
A new event for the 2019 season is the Cruisin Car Corral, to be held Thursday and Friday inside the Convention Center. To put your car in the corral, call 410-798-6304. Space is limited.
New for the 2018 season was an additional location at the US 13 Dragway, in Delmar DE, just a quick drive from OC, MD. Like last year, events will take place Friday and Saturday during Cruisin’ weekend. More details coming soon.
Special guests
Scheduled to appear at this year’s Cruisin is Catherine Bach, best known for her role as Daisy Duke from the Dukes of Hazzard. Catherine will be at the Ocean City Convention Center Friday 11-4 and the Beachside Inlet on Saturday 11-4. Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Dukes of Hazzard with Catherine Bach! Also scheduled to appear, from the hit show Counting Cars, meet Ryan Evans! Ryan will be at the Beachside Inlet on Friday 11-4 and inside the Convention Center Saturday 11-4.
Taking the stage of the Ocean City Performing Arts Center during Cruisin Ocean City is Grammy Award Winner and Country Music Legend Joe Diffieon Thursday May 16, 2019.
With 12 #1 hits including “Home,” “Pick-up Man,” “Third Rock from the Sun” and “John Deere Green” this is a show you won’t want to miss! Opening for Joe Diffie will be none other than Maryland Native and viral sensation Jackson Dean! Winner of the Maryland Music Award for Best Songwriter and Best New Breakout Artist Jackson recently gained recognition for his rendition of the National Anthem. All seats are reserved and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster, 1-800-551-SEAT on online by clicking here.
Top auto vendors
Some of the country’s top national names will be showcasing their products in manufacturers midway at the Inlet Parking Lot including Advance Auto Parts, Advantage Lifts, AMSOIL, Barrett-Jackson, COMP Performance, Covercraft Car Covers, CVF Racing, Detroit Speed, Flaming River, GEICO, Grundy Insurance, Krietz Auto, Miller Welding, Mothers Polish, QA1, Ridetech, Ron Francis Wiring, Summit Racing, Sundance Vacations, TREMEC and Wissel & Walsh. At the OC Convention Center there will be Treasured Motor Services, Pioneer Pole Builders and a variety of vendors both inside and outside selling automotive merchandise along with arts & crafts, jewelry, t-shirts and many other specialty items. There will also be a Swap Meet Thursday, Friday and Saturday inside the Convention Center. Additional vendors will be at the US 13 Dragway location.
Special events
Additional Cruisin Ocean City highlights are the special Boardwalk Parades that will take place Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings. Parades will begin at 8am from 26th street and cruise south to the Inlet.
On Sunday the Grand Finale Awards will take place at the Beachside Inlet. Before Cruisin comes to an end there will be more than 500 trophies, plaques and awards presented plus over 3,000 giveaways.
There is so much to see and do at this year’s event so make sure to mark your calendars for May 16-17-18-19, 2019 and cruise on down to Ocean City Maryland for the 29th Annual Cruisin Ocean City.
Cruise on down to Ocean City, MD for one of the largest car shows on the east coast! Enjoy four days of hot rods, trick trucks, custom and classic cars.
The Ocean City Fire Department’s volunteer division has launched a new website and debuted a new recruitment video.
Along with increasing the recruitment of general membership in the division, the website and video were developed to increase interest in the division’s various programs including the Cadet Program, the Ride Along Program and the Live-In Program.
“It has been years since we updated our website and it was time for a fresh, more engaging look,” said the Department’s Retention and Recruitment Coordinator Christine Bennett. “Not only is the site more user-friendly, but it focuses on recruitment by making information more understandable and easier to find.”
Designed by firefighter Brooks Layton of Chief Technologies, the website’s new home page now features news stories with links to additional photos, as well as links to the department’s social media pages.
Additionally, the site features an updated calendar of events, new information pages for membership, an easy-to-use contact form and new information on the department’s various programs.
Featured alongside the new website is a four-and-a-half minute recruitment video. The video was filmed and produced internally by Firefighter Cesar Campos, an active firefighter and owner of Campos Media. Campos has been a volunteer member for four years and used his knowledge and expertise to highlight the very unique components of Ocean City’s Volunteer Fire Company.
“Not only is this video a great way to recruit for new members, but it is a great promotional tool to highlight all of the wonderful things we do on the volunteer side of the Ocean City Fire Department,” Bennett said. “Several officers and members contributed to this effort and I am really proud of the outcome.”
Find out which team will bring home millions in prize money this year at the White Marlin Open
Put your dancing shoes on (or go barefoot) for the weekly Beach Dance Party
Bring the whole family to the Easter Fun Fair and Arts and Crafts Show (Free for those three and under and military/fire/police, only a few dollars for all others)
Look for the colorful lights that illuminate the beach at night
Jayne Bunting Kendall owns The Angler with her sister Julie Bunting Smith, and together they represent the fourth generation of Buntings to operate the 81-year-old restaurant and marina. Jayne thinks it may just be the oldest family-operated business in Ocean City.
It’s a competitive industry in a seaside vacation town, and hundreds (if not thousands) of restaurants have come and gone over the years. The Angler’s food, Eastern Shore seafood being the specialty, is high-quality, and their bayside views are unmatched. Still, it’s not totally outlandish for one to wonder… What’s their secret to staying in business so long?
“I can’t speak for all 81 years,” Jayne said. “But our family has always worked very well together.”
Her great-grandfather, Charles Rollins Bunting, purchased the property in the 1930s, back when the plot of land was only marsh grass without even a dock. In fact, the Buntings were the first family in Ocean City to be issued a dock building permit. Rollins Bunting owned all the property from where The Angler currently stands, south; he gave his five sons each a parcel of land, putting them in competition with one another as the sons opened up their own restaurants and marinas.
An old shot of The Angler’s marina.
One son, William Bunting, erected a small building adjoining his father’s dock, where he sold fishing bait and sodas and rented out small boats. His wife Louise started selling homemade pies, and then breakfast to the fishermen before they headed out for the day.
“There wasn’t Wawa or Royal Farms and all those places to stop then,” Jayne said. “So they came to this destination where she had coffee for them, and she started making things for them to have to take on the boat.”
The breakfast tradition at The Angler continues to this day, though most guests enjoy it on the restaurant’s deck instead of a fishing boat, facing picturesque views over the bay and the Route 50 bridge.
Business picked up, but Captain Bunting and his boat, The Angler, were called to serve in the Coast Guard in World War II. Upon returning home, Bunting found that storms had washed the dock away, and in 1945, a new dock and addition were built.
A tradition of constant updating and refurbishing the business has also continued since The Angler’s early years. After Hurricane Sandy bombarded the East Coast in 2012, The Angler underwent a “total rehab,” much like the necessary reconstruction it endured back in 1945.
“We had planned the renovation, and then Sandy helped with the demolition of it,” Jayne said.
Inside The Angler, circa 1950s.
But a quick jump back to the past: Eventually, William Bunting’s son William Porter took over the family business with his wife, Martha. William captained the sport fishing boat during the day, and Martha cooked at the restaurant by night. Their daughters, Julie and Jayne, joined the operation, and eventually came to own and run the business themselves.
“We work very well together. We both have our places in what we do,” Jayne said.
“With my mother and father, he did the morning shift, she did the evening shift, my grandmother cooked, my grandfather did the marina aspect of it, so everybody’s always kind of fallen into their own expertise and then just worked well together.”
The family legacy continues well into 2019. This summer, Jayne’s son Porter will come home from college and work in the restaurant, while Julie’s children Meegan Jayne, R.J. and Maura are also heavily involved.
“They just have a passion for it,” Jayne said. “Not everyone is suited for this business, but the kids, a couple of them really, really like it.”
The Angler has evolved with the times, but its unmatched views have always remained the same. This photo was taken by Tony Russo in the summer of 2016.
It’s the passion that the family has for what they do, along with their ability to work well as a team and thrive in their individual roles at the restaurant and marina, that makes The Angler the success story that it is. They’ve made many lifetime friendships and patrons over the years, and the two sisters always try to be around in the restaurant because someone is always looking to stop by and say hello.
Employees come back year after year, too. A server that had worked at The Angler in her 20s recently came back at age 83, 60-some years later.
Jayne usually works in the kitchen, but every now and then she takes the time to step outside on the deck to take in the beauty of the location and decompress.
“There’s so many fond memories here for us,” she said. “I was a hostess here when I was a little girl and I came to work with my parents — it was much smaller, we didn’t seat as many people and it was a smaller venue then, but it’s really evolved and we’ve evolved with it.”
Now, in 2019, new awnings and furniture have been set up and the upcoming season’s musical entertainment has been booked. The Angler has been constantly upgrading and evolving throughout its eight-decade history, but the views have remained just as pristine and are best enjoyed with a hearty Eastern Shore breakfast, lunch or dinner.
How close can I beach? is the question on everyone’s mind when they’re searching for their dream home in Ocean City. It’s not an uncommon question — in fact, it’s the name of a relatively new show on HGTV, and the latest episode that premiered on March 17 centered around a family searching for a home by the beach in Ocean City, Maryland.
In the season two episode “Breezy Boardwalk Dreams,” former Annapolis residents Colin and Samantha Long search for a house in Ocean City to reside in full-time.
They’re tired of dealing with traffic, the episode’s synopsis says. Having grown up in the area, they want to give their children the same experiences they had growing up, living just steps away from Ocean City’s iconic boardwalk and beach.
The premise of the show is, according to HGTV, “Buyers with dreams of living near the sand and surf learn that sometimes the ideal house may not be right on the beach. They’ll tour different homes that offer the beach lifestyle at varying distances to the shore and witness firsthand the clear differences in space, amenities and views these homes offer. After carefully considering their options, they’ll decide how close to the beach their dream house will be.”
Search Ocean City Real Estate: Ocean City Real Estate: Live, work and play at the beach Many people have come to Ocean City for generations and the passion for this Atlantic Coast resort is remarkable. Many of you wish you could live here.
Similar to HGTV’s popular show House Hunters, a real estate agent shows buyers three potential homes, all within the same price range and meeting various requirements of the buyers from size to location. At the end of the show, the buyers reveal which of the three homes they ultimately chose.
The Longs were searching for a two-bedroom residence under $350,000. Their real estate agent, Chelsea Tull of Coldwell Banker’s Ocean City office, showed the couple a house in Ocean Pines, an oceanfront condo on 70th Street, and an ocean block house on 142nd Street.
In addition to the houses and condo that were shown to buyers, the episode featured shots of the Ocean City beach and boardwalk, as well as scenic bayside views and local businesses including Mad Fish Bar & Grill (where Tull and the Longs are seated out on the back patio in the cover image above).
This isn’t the first time Ocean City has appeared on an HGTV program. In a 2018 episode of “Beachfront Bargain Hunt,” an Easton family searches for a beachside vacation home, while a 2017 episode of the same show depicts a family from Phoenix, Maryland searching for an oceanfront home under $325,000.
The 21-minute episode of How Close Can I Beach? premiered on TV on March 17, and is now available to watch online.
When is the best time to book your weekly vacation rental for this summer? Contrary to our ordinary thought process, the time for reserving your summer rental is later rather than sooner.
Booking prior to January will limit your choices as much as booking too late will. This is due to the practice of holding weeks for repeat tenants, who have first-choice each year. The procedure of holding properties for repeat tenants makes many weeks appear to be booked, although many of these “reservations” are simply tentative “holds.”
In reality, every January, many weeks are released and made available when repeat tenants do not commit to the time held for them. Therefore, a week you thought was rented when you checked back in November may suddenly become available in January.
Take advantage of the slow time!
Historically, March 15 – April 15 is a slow time in booking vacation properties. That time slot is known among local agents as the “tax slump.” The slower time of year provides opportunities for agents to spend more time with each prospective renter without the pressure of calls waiting on hold.
Renters may want to take advantage of the slow time to ask questions about the properties. Don’t be afraid to ask the agent if they have seen the unit, and what their opinion may be.
Ocean City Vacation Rentals and Condos Vacation Rentals Navigation Renting a house or condo in Ocean City If you’re looking for a condo, it’s a renter’s market – OceanCity.com Historically, Ocean city condo rentals have been profitable and therefore have been considered sound financial investments.
Prices are not always set in stone
You might find a condo or townhouse that seems perfect for your family vacation, but the price is a little too high. Don’t accept a less desirable unit without making an offer on your “ideal location” first. After the first of March, some owners will agree to accept more reasonable offers. Agents are required to present your offer to the owner unless the owner has directed them to the contrary. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Later is better
The closer it is to the summer season, the greater the possibility that owners will reduce their prices. It is rare that a rate will not be reduced if you rent last minute (a week or less before check-in). In an effort to avoid “down time” or zero occupancy for a specific week, owners are more flexible.
Adversely, the closer to summer that a tenant waits to reserve, the fewer the options that will be available.
Therefore, if you want a four-bedroom, oceanfront townhouse, you shouldn’t wait as long. Townhouses are fewer in number and much harder to locate. That being said, if you only need a one- or two-bedroom condo, you could wait until last minute and (more than likely) obtain a better price for the week of your choice. Buzzfeed indicates 3-7 weeks prior to arrival is ideal.
Inspect the interior
View the rental property first
We highly recommend that tenants inspect the properties slated for their family vacation first, if at all possible. Even units in the same building may be vastly different in the ways they’re decorated or furnished. If you are unable to personally view the units, real estate companies have websites that provides photos of the interior of the weekly vacation rentals available: www.ezsummer.com
In some instances, you may want to speak directly with an agent before you book directly. That way, it’s possible to avoid misunderstandings or disappointments. Further, when you speak with an agent, you can place an offer rather than simply accepting the prices as stated on the site.
After booking your summer vacation, you may wish to also reserve a linen package for your stay. A number of tenants fly in and are unable to bring linens. There are several local companies that will deliver (and pick up) linens to rental properties. Just ask your Realtor for a list of service companies.
Most of the same linen companies also have cribs, high chairs, boogie boards and umbrellas that are available to rent for the week.
Regardless of your idea of the perfect weekly vacation property, there is ample availability for this summer, allowing you to take your time on plans to make this summer the best family vacation ever.
OCEAN CITY, MD – (March 12, 2019): The Ocean City Police Department is reminding citizens to expect traffic delays this St. Patrick’s Day weekend, as the Delmarva Irish-American Club host their Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival. The tradition, which has become the second largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in Maryland, will take place on Saturday, March 16, 2019. The parade begins at 12 p.m. at 57th Street and marches south on Coastal Highway to the 45th Street Shopping Center.
Ocean City, Maryland 2019 – Ocean City will be glowing in green as the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival, sponsored by the Delmarva Irish-American Club, marches down Coastal Highway on Saturday, March 16, beginning at noon. The procession begins at 57th Street and marches south to the 45th Street Shopping Center, where the viewing and judging stands will be.
In order to offer an ample amount of space for the parade’s participating floats, bands and motorized units, southbound traffic with be reduced to one lane from 63rd Street to 43rd Street. Northbound traffic will remain open, however, no left turns or U-turns will be allowed along the parade route from the northbound lane including 62nd Street.
Residents and visitors will see traffic delays on southbound Coastal Highway as early as 9 a.m. and should expect congestion until after 2 p.m. To avoid traffic delays, viewers and visitors are urged to arrive before 10:30 a.m. Ocean City Police are recommending motorists entering the Town of Ocean City use Maryland Route 50, as traffic is not expected to be as heavy in the south end of town.
In addition, heavy pedestrian traffic is also expected along the parade route and in surrounding areas. Pedestrians are encouraged to use crosswalks and cross with caution.
The natural environment is Ocean City’s greatest asset, and protecting the region’s ocean, beach and bay is critical in preserving its beauty. With an estimated 12 million metric tons of plastic pollution flooding into the ocean each year, it’s imperative that we end the flow of plastic to the land and sea, says the Ocean City Green Team, a committee formed through the Town of Ocean City dedicated to protecting the region’s resources and promoting sustainable living.
Because recycling alone won’t prevent plastic pollution, the Ocean City Green Team is taking on the issue at its source.
The work to reduce plastic pollution was kicked off in 2018 by the Surfrider Foundation Ocean City Chapter’s “Strawless Summer” initiative. This overwhelmingly successful campaign focused on reducing plastic straw consumption by pledging to not use plastic straws. To date, 70 restaurants and 500 individuals have signed the pledge.
Taking source reduction one step further, the Ocean City Green Team, with Maryland Coastal Bays Program leading the way, launched their “Protect Our Sand & Sea” campaign this year. This elective and eco-friendly program promotes greener choices for business owners. Ocean City businesses can voluntarily commit to use fewer plastic products and be recognized by the Green Team based on their level of source reduction.
An osprey flies with a plastic bag hanging off its wing. (The bag did eventually come off, said Sandi Smith of Maryland Coastal Bays.)
The new campaign was first introduced at the Ocean City Hotel Motel Restaurant Association’s annual spring trade expo on March 3 and 4.
Efforts have been made in cities and counties across Maryland to reduce the use of plastic, from charging extra for paper and plastic bags to banning plastic bags and expanded polystyrene, commonly known as styrofoam. No such efforts have been made in Ocean City, although Mayor Rick Meehan asked the Green Team to take a proactive, community-based approach to reducing the local distribution of plastics.
The resulting campaign, created by the Town of Ocean City’s Green Team, Maryland Coastal Bays Program, and the Surfrider Foundation Ocean City chapter, is free, optional, and eco-friendly, giving businesses the opportunity to switch to greener products without forcing them to ban plastic products altogether.
The campaign asks that businesses commit to a pledge to use fewer plastic products. The pledges include:
1 – Summer Flounder: Straws are upon request only and Strawless Summer pledge is signed.
2 – Horseshoe Crab: No plastic straws. Alternatives such as paper are offered.
3 – Diamondback Terrapin: No plastic bags or styrofoam are used for takeout.
4 – Black Skimmer: No plastic or styrofoam cups.
5 – Harbor Seal: No plastic tableware.
In addition to the Protect our Sand & Sea campaign, the Ocean City Green Team and its partners, Maryland Coastal Bays and the Ocean City Surf Club, have made great strides in recent years to reduce litter on the beach and throughout the town. Through Adopt Your Beach and Adopt Your Street programs, volunteers commit to picking up trash several times a year and tally up the results.
The most common form of trash they tallied is cigarette butts.
The Town of Ocean City and the Maryland Coastal Bays Program (MCBP) were awarded Worcester County Health Department grant funding for pilot programs to reduce secondhand smoking exposure and improperly discarded cigarette butts. The town is using this funding to provide more receptacles that encourage these practices. MCBP plans on using this funding to provide area businesses with free butt receptacles if they commit to promoting smoking only near these receptacles, making it easier to dispose of butts in the proper receptacles.
For more information on these programs, contact MCBP Development and Marketing Coordinator Sandi Smith at sandis@mdcoastalbays.org.
Worcester County Economic Development (WCED) is accepting applications for the 2019 STEM summer enrichment programs. These programs provide exceptional opportunities for Worcester County students ages 12-24 to explore local career paths. Applications are available online and are due no later than March 31.
“This program provides an opportunity for our students to learn from local professionals and businesses in STEM career fields and see the job duties in real time, while allowing employers to catch a glimpse of the future workforce and their potential,” WCED Deputy Director Kathryn Gordon said.
From July 22-26, Reach for the Stars STEM Camp for middle schoolers and the Worcester STEM Leadership Cohort for high schoolers will be hosted at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s Engineering and Aviation Science department. Transportation will be provided from locations throughout Worcester County.
“Local students, from middle school campers to college interns, will build their resumes and professional network and connect what they are learning in the classroom to their future options in the job market,” STEM Program Manager Fawn Mete said.
The Reach for the Stars STEM Camp, a week-long engineering summer camp offering instruction in engineering, robotics, computer science, and aviation, has expanded, providing opportunities for experienced campers to delve into advanced topics. Level 1 is for first-time campers currently enrolled in grades 6-8. Level II is for those in grades 7-8 who participated in a past camp. There is no cost to participate. Space is limited, and the camp seeks to provide opportunities to students from backgrounds that are traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields.
The Worcester STEM Leadership Cohort is for students currently enrolled in grades 9-11. Considered a “pre-internship” program, participants will engage in professional development sessions on a variety of career readiness topics, including resume writing, interview skills, workplace communication, college applications, conflict resolution, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Students will receive mentorship from several STEM workforce partners and earn a $200 stipend.
The STEP UP Internship Program provides high school seniors, college students, and graduate students with hands-on work experience in local STEM-related career fields. The 2019 interns will be given opportunities to work in healthcare settings, tech companies, engineering firms, environmental science agencies, and digital media production companies. Students’ skills and interests will be matched with the needs of the employers, so they are able to apply their classroom studies to real life tasks. Interns work 100 hours total from June 1 to July 26 and earn $11/hour.
The application process for each program is competitive. For more information, contact Fawn Mete at fawn@sinepuxentgroup.org.
The exterior walls of 14 Worcester Street won’t be deep sea-blue and decorated with spine-chilling underwater monsters for much longer. After three seasons of operation in Ocean City, the OC Screams haunted house has moved out, and a much brighter, cheerier attraction is taking its place: the immersive, Instagram-worthy, front camera-friendly, Selfie Fantasy.
Though the inside of the building now looks like an empty warehouse and the outside will need several coats of fresh paint, Selfie Fantasy’s owners — husband and wife duo Stacey and Mark Warner and their partner, Jason Tillman — hope to open their doors by Memorial Day weekend, after a soft opening the first weekend in May.
A Selfie Fantasy test shot, though the actual selfie sections are not yet complete.
“It’s going to be an opportunity for guests to come in and take selfies, take pictures with their friends, just have fun,” Stacey said.
She described the attraction as “an Instagrammer’s dream come true.”
The concept is simple: Different selfie sections, similar to photo booths but larger and open-concept, line the walls of the first floor. The sections, of varying themes and sizes, form a U-shape that will direct the flow of traffic as guests stop in each spot to take silly photos with their family and friends.
There’s no limit to how much time guests can spend exploring Selfie Fantasy as long as they’re courteous to others and keep the flow of traffic moving along, but guests will likely spend at least an hour inside, Mark said.
After they weave through the first floor, guests will eventually make their way upstairs, where they’ll be greeted by the attraction’s finale: a 20,000-ball ballpit, the final photo-op before they exit from the second floor.
The idea will definitely appeal to a specific (i.e. teenage) demographic, Stacey said, but there will be stations for the younger audience, too. Each section will be decorated differently — some with giant high heel props, or sharks, or thrones for a king and queen — but the only theme tying anything together, Stacey said, is “silly.”
“It’s going to be really colorful and playful down here, but upstairs it’s going to be a little darker, a little urban, edgier but still family-friendly,” she said. “Since we want to appeal to a lot of different people, we’re kind of a hodgepodge of different opportunities for people to have fun.”
Jason Tillman, Mark Warner, and Stacey Warner on their way to NYC’s Candytopia last February.
A variety of themed selfie-friendly pop-up shops, from Candytopia in Atlanta to the Color Factory in New York City, have been gaining popularity and making headlines in recent years; they inspired Selfie Fantasy’s co-owner Jason Tillman, who first came to Stacey and Mark with the idea last summer.
No one wants to experience Fear of Missing Out on vacation, after all. That may be why Austin, Texas’ FOMO Factory has done so well. Like Selfie Fantasy, The FOMO Factory uses immersive art, or three-dimensional, site-specific installations, to engage customers and provide the ultimate selfie experience.
However, unlike Selfie Fantasy, The FOMO Factory was a temporary pop-up that opened in September 2018 and closed the following January, its next pop-up location TBA.
Ocean City’s seasonality makes the destination perfect for a pop-up museum, providing Selfie Fantasy with about 120 days in-season to make their mark on the town. But, as long as their first season goes well, they’ll re-open next summer. They might even open for select weekends during the off-season, utilizing their upstairs party/event space as needed.
First, before any guests can pour in with Instagram open and VSCO filters at the ready, the art inside and outside the attraction must be completed. The outside can’t be painted until temperatures reach a consistent 50-degree mark; then it’ll get a fresh coat of paint and a mural on the street-facing wall that will serve as an outdoor selfie spot, providing guests a profile pic-friendly backdrop even before they go inside and get their tickets.
Inside, local artists, including T.C. Studios owners Jaime and Alexandra Jacobs, have been commissioned to paint fun, colorful backdrops and even an Ocean City-themed mural on the wall.
In addition to offering their artistic talents, local leaders and business owners have lent the Warners plenty of help in getting their new business, the first of its kind in Ocean City, off the ground.
“Everyone we’ve been in contact with down here has been great, it’s just so many nice people,” Stacey said.
She named the people at City Hall, Ocean City Development Corporation’s Board of Directors and Executive Director Glenn Irwin, and Larry Layton of Layton’s Family Restaurant, among many others, as local leaders who have been instrumental in Selfie Fantasy’s development.
“What I’m learning is, it’s kind of a slower pace down here — people just seem to be a little more relaxed,” she said. “These people have been here for years and they all are experts. They want us to succeed, they really do.”
Artists who are interested in working with Selfie Fantasy can contact the team at selfiefantasy@gmail.com.
Of course it isn’t the 17th quite yet, but in Ocean City we like to celebrate the holiday all month long. If you’re coming to town for St. Patrick’s Day weekend, you’re in luck: As always, restaurants (Irish pubs and otherwise) all over town are having specials and celebrating with traditional Irish entrees like corned beef and cabbage and iconic Irish drinks like black and tans and Irish mules.
Check out the specials below, before or after you partake in Ocean City’s staple St. Paddy’s Day festival and parade, and all the other fun events around town from the Boardwalk 5k to the St. Patrick’s Scramble.
St. Patrick’s Day is a big holiday in Ocean City. One might even say it’s the first major celebration of the year, second only to New Year’s, if that. There’s always a slew of local businesses that open their doors for the season on March 16, and those that are open year-round celebrate by breaking out the Guinness and the shamrock decor.
Last month’s big news
Starting in late April, the landscape of Ocean City’s downtown will be just a little different, particularly on 3rd Street where the “Woodward WreckTangle” obstacle course is to be installed. The course will consist of 10 ninja obstacle challenges for kids and adults, and will be available for use from April to October.
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 …
This Month in Ocean City
First Friday Opening Reception at the Art League of Ocean City (March 1): First Friday Opening Receptions are held the first Friday of each month at the Ocean City Center for the Arts on 94th Street. Meet the artists, enjoy hors d’oeuvres and refreshments, and see the new exhibits featuring a variety of local artists. From 5pm to 7pm and open to the public. Free Admission.
The Chieftains at the Ocean City Performing Arts Center (March 5): Six-time Grammy Award winners, The Chieftains are highly recognized for reinventing traditional Irish music on a contemporary and International scale. The Chieftains have the ability to transcend musical boundaries to blend tradition with modern music that has notably hailed them as one of the most renowned and revered musical groups to this day.
Ocean City Film Festival (March 8 – 10): OCFF’s second year will feature over 100 films from a variety of filmmakers whether they are locals or from the other side of the planet. (And if any extra-terrestrials care to submit, those are allowed too.) From March 8th-10th an attendee can expect a unique and diverse cinematic experience only to be found at the annual Ocean City Film Festival.
Delmarva Wool and Fiber Expo (March 8 – 10): This is a unique shopping experience with custom finished products and the materials available to create the same product. All vendors have products that are “fiber” related-wool (sheep, alpaca, angora, etc.), needles, carders, and all sorts of finished products. Please join us for the most unusual shopping experience of the season.
Home, Condo and Outdoor Show (March 8 – 10): Visit Delmarva’s largest Home Show, where there will be an array of new products and services as well as the basic necessities for the home or condo. Exhibitors will showcase ideas on decorating, remodeling, accessorizing, renovating, all under one roof.
2nd Friday Art Stroll in Berlin (March 8): Take a stroll through downtown Berlin and check out the town’s featured artists in their local shops and restaurants. Each month is unique, but you’ll always find great art!
OC Festival Handbell Concert (March 16): Come hear over 450 handbell ringers perform en mass under the direction of guest conductor Michael Helman. Registration required to participate in the event. Guest Conductor is Jason Krug and Genesis Guest Conductor is Kyler Brengle.
St. Patrick’s Day Boardwalk 5k (March 16): Sign up to run this 5K along the boardwalk, which starts at 9am, or just show up to show support. then join in the post-race celebration at Shenanigan’s Irish Pub on 4th Street.
St. Patrick’s Scramble (March 16): Teams will play 6 holes from each Gold, White and Blue Tees. Teams choose the holes they play from each of the tees. 30% of the team’s average handicap will be used. Players may find that their ball lands in a clover. If so this player’s team is truly lucky because their ball will be deemed holed! Lunch will be served immediately following play. The menu includes many Irish American favorites. Gross and net prizes will be awarded to the winning teams. The field is limited to the first 30 teams.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival (March 16): The Annual St Patrick’s Day Parade is looked forward to all year! Everyone can wear green at Ocean City’s famous parade. Marching units, floats, and local celebrities. Festivities begin at 11am at the 45th Street Shopping Center with food, drink and merriment. Parade begins at noon and travels Coastal Hwy. from 60th Street to 44th Street, where the fun will continue with food and drink.
Brown Box Theatre Presents “Don’t Feed the Bear” (March 22 – 24): “Don’t Feed the Bear” is a play about one character’s journey to find connection – connection with art, life, and the people that are in front of them.
Reach the Beach Nationals: All-Star College (March 23): This All Star and College national championship is always the most coveted Reach the Beach event of the year, located in the Ocean City Convention Center!
Ocean City Job Fair (March 30): Want to spend the summer living and working in Ocean City? Then this is the event for you. Visit the Annual Ocean City Job Fair at the Convention Center where loads of local business owners can answer all your questions about working in the resort for the summer.
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.
While the space is currently undergoing renovations that won’t be complete for several months, the new bar’s owners, brothers Shaun and Colin O’Donnell, hope to open their doors for a soft opening the weekend before St. Patrick’s Day.
“But if that doesn’t work out, it’ll be St. Patty’s weekend,” Shaun said. “We plan on being open every weekend after that while adding additional days as we get closer to May. The only exception might be if we need a few days for more renovation.”
Shaun describes the Lucky Anchor as “a beach bar you can get a good cocktail at.” The bar itself will be resurfaced and restructured in the business’ renovation process, to allow for better sight lines and a more accessible service area to benefit both bartenders and patrons; drinks served behind the new bar will include beachy cocktails, frozen drinks, and eight beers on tap, including Guinness, when the bar first opens.
The O’Donnells hail from Pennsylvania, but they’re far from strangers to Ocean City. In fact, a handful of items on their food menu were first developed at Sharky’s Paninis and Ice Cream, which they operated for three seasons just a block down the street from their newest culinary venture.
The Lucky Anchor’s menu options will include sandwiches and subs, steamed shrimp and crabby nachos among other more traditional appetizers, and specialty burgers. The restaurant’s grilled cheese menu includes former Sharky’s staples Crabby Carol, Cheesy Pig, Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese, and Ultimate Grilled Cheese.
During their time at Sharky’s, Shaun said, they learned the flow of Ocean City’s spring and summer seasons and how to prepare for the onslaught of people that comes with the summertime.
“Having indoor seating available in The Lucky Anchor will make a huge difference, along with the location being more part of the special event times,” Shaun said.
The owners hope to have the bar and grill operating for 10 months of the year, and to feature live entertainment during the on- and off-seasons. The immediate entertainment schedule will include bands, DJs, and acoustic acts, while trivia nights and possibly even comedy shows will be incorporated in the future.
The comedy shows, which would showcase well-known touring comedians, might first serve as off-season form of entertainment, “because it may disrupt people getting to know us the first year.”
“Our goal is to provide entertainment that Ocean City just doesn’t have right now,” Shaun said. “My 15-plus [years] experience in the comedy business should lend to what we’re trying to do. If people are willing to come out, we’ll bring the shows.”
In addition to the beachy drinks, the unique food options, and the potential for a wide spectrum of entertainment, the Lucky Anchor will also pay homage to the O’Donnell’s Irish roots. It isn’t meant to be an authentic Irish pub, Shaun said, but the Irish flavor is there regardless.
“When you see the logo, you see it’s an Irish bar,” Shaun said. “We’re saying it’s a beach bar with Irish flair, that sort of covers what we’re trying to do.”
The Lucky Anchor will be open for St. Patrick’s Day weekend starting Friday, March 15. The Jameson whiskey will be flowing, and DJ Batman will emcee their party that follows the Ocean City St. Patrick’s Day parade on Saturday.
In-season, the Lucky Anchor will be open from 11 a.m. – 2 a.m. seven days a week.
St. Patrick’s Day is a big holiday in Ocean City. One might even say it’s the first major celebration of the year, second only to New Year’s, if that. There’s always a slew of local businesses that open their doors for the season on March 16, and those that are open year-round celebrate by breaking out the Guinness and the shamrock decor.
Here are some of our favorite specials and shindigs happening in and around Ocean City this St. Patrick’s Day. We’ll be updating this page with more information as we get it, so check back soon for even more fun St. Patrick’s Day stuff.
Start your holiday crawl at Harpoon Hanna’s on Fenwick Island, where they’ll be serving a traditional Irish meal of corned beef, cabbage and potatoes for $9.99 in the bar area and featuring live entertainment all weekend.
Schedule of St. Patrick’s Day weekend events at Shenanigan’s.
As per usual, Shenangian’s is going all out for St. Patrick’s Day weekend. See their schedule of celebrations below, or click the photo to the right to enlarge.
Thursday: Emerald Society Fundraiser featuring James Gallagher & Off the Boat plus Tig Tignor and Camden County Emerald Society Pipes & Drums. Doors open at 5 p.m.
Friday: St. Patrick’s Day pregame party with James Gallagher & Off the Boat. Doors open at 11 a.m.
Saturday: Doors open at 9 a.m., Boardwalk 5k run starts at 9 a.m. Music by Patrick McAllorum from 10-2, James Gallagher & Off the Boat at 2, plus appearances from the Chesapeake Caledonia Pipe Band and the Ocean City Pipe Band.
Sunday: St. Patrick’s Day! Music by James Gallagher & Off the Boat and appearances from the Ocean City Pipe & Drum Band.Doors at 9, music at 2.
Schedule of St. Patrick’s Day weekend events at Pickles Pub.
Pickles invites you to put a little pickle in your paddy at their holiday weekend celebration. The weekend at Pickles includes live music Thursday through Sunday, plus special drinks including Irish Car Bombs and the Frosty Irishman, and traditional Irish entrees on the menu including Reuben, corned beef, and shepherd’s pie. Click the photo to the left to enlarge.
The Greene Turtle’s St. Patrick’s Day specials run from Friday, March 15 to Sunday the 17th. They include $5.50 Guinness drafts, $5.50 black and tans, $5.50 Jameson, $5.50 Irish coffee, $11 corned beef and cabbage, $10 Reuben and $10 fish and chips.
Saturday: Join Seacrets after the Ocean City St. Patrick’s Day Parade for their Irie-ish Music Fest St. Patrick’s Party, featuring live bands from 12 – 10 p.m. and three DJs.
Sunday: Hopefully you’ll still be ready to party for the Real St. Patrick’s Day Local’s After Party, featuring drink specials all day, corned beef and cabbage, live entertainment, happy hour from 4 – 7 p.m. and $5 off entrees from 5 – 10 p.m.
Craft beer lovers should head over to the Crooked Hammock in Lewes, De. to enjoy their special St. Paddy’s Day celebration. It includes two beer releases (Breakfast Stout and Irish Red), $5 St. Patrick’s Day-inspired flights, and an Irish food menu and more drink specials. Additionally on Saturday the 16th, there will be kid-friendly activities like face painting and a magician, and at night, live music from Eastern Electric from 8 – 11 p.m.
