The Commander Hotel & Suites is one of three Ocean City hotels to receive a 2018 Beauty Spot Award from the Ocean City Beautification Committee.
“We’re thrilled that our hotel, and especially the work of our groundskeeper Robert Jones, have been recognized by the Ocean City Beautification Committee,” said Jill Douglas, General Manager of the Commander Hotel & Suites. “Robert has been with us for seven years, and his hard work and attention to detail consistently make the exteriors of our hotel look great.”
Each year, the Ocean City Beautification Committee searches for properties across Ocean City that are attractive, well maintained, and pleasing to the eye. To show appreciation for this effort in civic pride, the Beautification Committee and the Mayor and City Council selected the Commander to receive the award in the hotel category.
Judging is based on creative landscaping or containers, percentage of flowers and ground cover, percentage of trees, shrubs and grasses. The use of native plants also is encouraged. Even those who have little or no ground can imaginatively use containers, planters, window boxes, hanging baskets, etc., to improve the street-eye appeal of their property. Efforts to disguise unattractive areas such as dumpsters, service entrances, etc., would also be recognized as an endeavor to beautify the Town of Ocean City.
In addition to The Commander, awards were also presented to Beach Plaza/Ocean 13 on the Boardwalk at 13th Street, the Howard Johnson hotel on 12th Street, condos El Capitan, Sea Mist Apts., Braemar Towers and Orleans Court, and the Ropewalk restaurant on 82nd Street, in addition to five residential properties.
In the cover image, Commander Hotel groundskeeper Robert Jones stands next to the hotel’s 2018 Beauty Spot Award plaque.
Origins of the Plimhimmon, one of Ocean City’s original hotels
The Plimhimmon Hotel was built in 1894 and owned by Rosalie Tilghman Shreve. It was one of the first three hotels built in Ocean City, along with The Atlantic and The Seaside.
Mrs. Tilghman Shreve grew up on the Plimhimmon Plantation near Oxford, Md. Rosalie’s family, the Tilghmans, were slaveowners and Southern sympathizers. She met her husband Thomas Jefferson Shreve at age 17, when Shreve came to work for Rosalie’s father at the Maryland and Delaware Railroad. Shreve was a Civil War veteran; hailing from Leesburg, Va., he fought for the Confederacy and was captured and imprisoned at Fort Delaware, released after contracting tuberculosis. Shreve died just two years after they were married.
When the War ended, the Plimhimmon Plantation lost its slaves and Rosalie was left to milk the cows herself. With large debts to pay off and two sons to raise, Mrs. Tilghman Shreve purchased two large lots facing the Atlantic Ocean with plans to build a 48-bedroom house, complete with a reception hall, electricity, sanitary plumbing and oak and cherry furnishings.
The hotel as it originally appeared. Photo courtesy of the Maryland Historical Society.Beachgoers in front of the Plimhimmon, from the Maryland state archives.The Plimhimmon Dining Room circa 1900. Photo courtesy of Gerald Uhlan.The hotel’s interior circa 1939.The Plimhimmon Hotel circa 1922, colorized.
Only parts of the south wing avoided any damage, and part of that wing remains standing today. In 2012, when carpenters at the Plimhimmon — now the Plim Plaza Hotel — were replacing siding on the poolside of the hotel, they found burnt timbers and old-fashioned peg joinery.
Nov. 21, 1962. The only known photo of the blazing fire, taken by the Baltimore Sun. The debris of the original cupola are seen against the Colonial Hotel, left.The aftermath of the fire, taken in November of 1962. The hotel was undergoing renovations of the North wing when the blaze broke out.
Ocean City Fire Ruins Big Hotel
From The Washington Post
Ocean City, Md., Nov. 21 (AP) — The Plimhimmon Hotel, a sprawling tourist landmark dating back to the turn of the century, was nearly destroyed by fire early today.
A raging blaze destroyed the facade facing the boardwalk and gutted the inside of the four-story building and two large wings that faced away from the sea.
Only these wings of the huge frame building remained standing.
One town official estimated the damage at $750,000. The hotel was the largest and oldest on the boardwalk.
The fire reportedly started in the north wing of the hotel and threatened to spread to adjoining hotels, but a favorable shift in the wind prevented this.
Fourteen fire companies from Worcester and Wicomico counties and from Selbyville, Del., brought the blaze under control after about two hours.
Personnel at the Coast Guard tower near the inlet noticed sparks at 4 a.m.
Chief Phillips said carpenters and plumbers had been working at the hotel Tuesday. The owner, Willard I. Donoho of Mardela Springs, was building an addition to increase the number of rooms from 280 to 400.
The hotel was closed for the winter and unoccupied. Several firemen suffered minor cuts and smoke inhalation while fighting the blaze.
Rosalie Tilghman, a Civil War widow, built the “Plim” in 1890 to support her and her two sons.
By the turn of the century Baltimoreans regularly boarded a steamer at Pier Eight, crossed the Chesapeake Bay and took a train of the now defunct Chesapeake and Atlantic Railroad that twisted its way to the seashore. Passengers usually walked the sandy trails from the train station in Ocean City to the “Plim.” A horse cart carried the baggage.
A room at the Plimhimmon used to cost $2.50 a day and the hotel advertised a bath on every floor and bottled water.
The hotel’s rebirth
The hotel was rebuilt, a fifth floor was added and even its famous cupola was replaced by the summer of 1963. Its name was originally changed to the Plim Plaza to match the hotel’s new, modern look. Today, 124 years after the original lodging was built, the Plimhimmon-turned-Plim Plaza remains an Ocean City landmark on the boardwalk between 1st and 2nd streets, and continues to serve thousands of families every summer.
The rebuilt Plimhimmon Hotel in the summer of 1963. Photo courtesy of Gerald Uhlan.Photo of the Plim Plaza by John Margolies, 1985.Photo of the Plim Plaza’s cupola by John Margolies, 1985.The Plim Plaza hotel today.
Driving onto Assateague from the Maryland side on Route 611, the Assateague Island Visitor Center appears to the right of the road before you cross the Verrazzano Bridge. It’s worth a stop in before a camping trip or even just a day spent on the island, because even if your only plan is to lay on the beach all day, having just a basic knowledge of all the land and sea life that inhabit the state park will make your trip all the more fulfilling. Especially when you see one of the species you’ve just met in the Visitor Center out enjoying life in its natural habitat.
Aquariums, exhibits, maps of the park, informational brochures and a film about the island’s famous wild ponies can all be found in the Visitor Center, which all but functions as a local wildlife museum. There’s also a touch-tank, which recreates the region’s marine habitats and provides a kid-friendly ecological education tool. It’s a pretty cool concept for adults, too: Stick your hand in, pick up something slimy and learn something new! The photos below depict just a small sample of what you’ll find in the Assateague Island Visitor Center touch tank and out in the wild.
You are here. If you’re not great with directions, the map outside the building will show you where you are in relation to the rest of the Delmarva peninsula. The hands on the wall say it all. And for the little ones, stepping stools allow even the smallest of junior rangers to stick their hands in the tank. Channeled Whelk: Pick up this spiraled shell, flip it over and find a large marine snail inside. The whelk feeds on clams, oysters and mussels, and is preyed upon by crabs, urchins and sea stars. These gastropods have been in existence for over 30 million years. Another whelk — the knobbed whelk, similar in appearance and also found in this touch tank — is the state shell of both New Jersey and Georgia. Our hunch was that this is a very tiny baby mud snail. In the U.S., the New Zealand Mud Snail population is made up almost entirely of self-cloning parthenogenetic (asexually reproducing) females. Very slimy but kind of cute, in a weird way. Atlantic Ribbed Mussel:Locally, you can find these bivalves in the marshes and mud flats of the Chesapeake Bay. You can find out their age by counting the ribs on their shells; ribbed mussels are edible, but they’re tough and don’t taste as good as the blue mussel. Skate Egg Case: Egg cases like these surround and protect the eggs of oviparous (egg-laying) sharks, chimaeras and skates, as seen here. The cases themselves are sometimes called “mermaid’s purses.” There weren’t any horseshoe crabs in the tank on that particular day, but there was a model of the horseshoe crab’s underside…So here’s a throwback picture from the Chincoteague Visitor Center’s touch tank last year, where there was a horseshoe crab available to hold. On a typical day at the touch tank, visitors will find knobbed and channeled whelks, Atlantic ribbed mussels, mud snails, skate egg cases and horseshoe crabs, in addition to Northern quahog clams and channeled whelk egg cases. We were drawn away from the touch tank to another nearby tank filled with little transparent shore shrimp, or Common Grass Shrimp. Put a finger near the glass and move it around, then watch the shrimp follow. Growing only as long as 1.5 inches, the common grass shrimp have segmented bodies, a serrated “horn” above their eyes and little claws on their first two pairs of legs. There’s a lot of life in the Assateague Visitor Center, and each species is super interesting in its own way — but I have to say that a transparent animal you can literally see through to the other side is probably one of the coolest. And here’s a picture of a horse from last winter, just because you can’t write about Assateague without including a pony picture. This is Bodacious Bob, a 17-year-old Bay Pinto Stallion.
Additionally, Coastal Highway and Philadelphia will be a designated Special Event Zone starting Tuesday, Oct. 2 to Sunday, Oct. 7 for Endless Summer Cruisin’.
Governor Larry Hogan signed the Special Event Zone bill into law in April of 2018. The law allows the State Highway Administration, at the request of a local authority, to designate areas on Worcester County’s state highways as a special event zone, and reduce established speed limits in the zone.
It also allows a local authority, such as Town of Ocean City officials, to designate a city-owned road as a special event zone. Fines for violators will be increased in special event zones. For these upcoming events, the speed limit will be reduced to 30 mph.
Thousands of car enthusiasts are expected in Ocean City for the events and citizens should expect to see a large police presence. Officers from allied agencies will be assisting the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD), including the Maryland State Police, Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, Maryland Transportation Authority, and Maryland Natural Resources Police.
Officers will be strictly enforcing all traffic laws. Additionally, pedestrians are urged to Walk Smart!and always use crosswalks when crossing roadways. Wait for the signal to change and be sure that drivers see you while crossing.
Ocean City, Maryland is a beautiful place to visit, whether for a longer stay or just for the day. With such beauty, though, comes many visitors and thus, fewer available parking spaces. In an effort to make your Ocean City stay as fun and stress-free as possible, follow these tips for easier Ocean City parking.
1. Pay and Park More Conveniently with ParkMobile
Ocean City’s paid parking season runs from April 1 to October 31, and since Ocean City parking can get crowded in those months, Ocean City uses the ParkMobile parking app, an easy-to-use mobile application that you can download to your phone or visit on your computer to view real-time parking information on available spaces.
Though you can’t reserve parking ahead of time in Ocean City, with the app, you can pay for parking using your mobile device and even get reminders when your meter is getting low. You can use ParkMobile in Ocean City to pay for parking on municipal pay streets and in municipal pay lots as well as in metered parking spaces.
To use the app in Ocean City, all you have to do is download the app and enter the information on posted meters where you want to park. You can use ParkMobile to search for parking, pay for parking and even add more time if you’ve already paid but are running late to your meter.
ParkMobile also offers services all over the United States, so once you have the app after visiting Ocean City, you can use it in other areas and sometimes even reserve parking in advance.
2. Use the West Ocean City Park & Ride
The West Ocean City Park & Ride is a great option for visitors staying in West OC and those hoping to avoid traffic. You can find the West Ocean City Park & Ride west of the Rt. 50 drawbridge, where there are over 700 parking spaces for free and a shuttle bus that will take passengers from the parking location to Tanger Outlets in West OC or the South Division Street Transit Center for the cost of $3 per passenger per day. If you’re a frequent visitor to Ocean City, you can even grab coupon books with 20 shuttle ride tickets for $15 available at City Hall on 3rd St.
3. Prepare Ahead of Time
The best way to park painlessly in Ocean City and ensure you’re not driving around downtown aimlessly on an especially crowded summer day, is to know your parking plan before you leave the driveway or hotel parking lot.
If you’re a visitor looking for specific parking information for Ocean City — like how many spaces are in certain parking areas and where to find handicapped accessible parking — just visit the OceanCity.com parking page. There, you can get comprehensive information about Ocean City’s parking protocols, where to find the best parking and how much you can expect to pay.
New to Ocean City in 2018 are Pay-by-Plate parking meters throughout town and in the Inlet parking lot. Many visitors have expressed concern over not knowing how to use the new meters, but as you can see in the step-by-step video below, they’re actually super easy to use.
You will notice that parking in Ocean City is not terribly expensive, with parking available for $2 an hour, one hour free for handicapped parking, in municipal lots and paid street parking spaces and $3 an hour with the first 30 minutes free at the Inlet Parking Lot downtown.
Each fall, in the height of festival season, the best winemakers on the East Coast congregate in Ocean City, Md for an annual celebration of their craft. Wine on the Beach returns to town September 28 & 29 for the 24th annual installment of the event. Taking place at the Inlet Parking Lot near the pier and the beach, Wine on the Beach will feature a wide selection of wines by the region’s top wineries, as well as other staples you’d expect from an Ocean City festival.
In addition a well-rounded selection of wine offerings from Boordy Vineyards, Bordeleau, Far Eastern Shore Winery, Knob Hall Winery, Layton’s Chance Vineyard and Winery, Cove Point Winery, Linganore Winecellars. Solomon’s Island Winery, St. Michael’s Winery and more, there will also be vendors serving up an array of local fair food favorites and local Delmarva cuisine. Winefest will also have arts and craft displays, locally brewed craft beers, and popular local recording artists, including Bird Dog and The Road Kings, Kevin O’Brennan and Shoreline, and 3 Penny Opera, to provide music conductive to relaxation during the days of the festival.
While strolling from winery to winery with your complimentary Wine Fest tasting glass you will receive upon entering, you can mingle with your friends while sipping fine wine, marveling at locally made arts and crafts, and enjoying the live entertainment on the sand stage along the way. Bring your chair or blanket and enjoy the entertainment.
photo by octhebeach.com
The festival will be open Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., and General Admission tickets are $35 at the gate. The cost includes a commemorative wine glass and wine tasting samples. For those who don’t drink or are tasked with driving, General Admission includes a commemorative wine glass and unlimited soft drinks from the designated driver location. Tickets for children 13-20 are $15 and kids 12 and under can enter free, but no one under 21 years of age is admitted without a parent.
For advance tickets and additional information call the Wine Line at 410-280-3306 or visit the official Winefest website for a discount coupon.
This article was first published in 2014 and was updated for the 2018 season –ed.
Although H2O International’s official event was moved to New Jersey for the 2018 season, the Ocean City Police Department is still anticipating crowds of car enthusiasts beginning Monday, Sept. 24 – Sunday, Sept. 30. After years of disruptive behavior and disorderly conduct during the event, police plan to continue a proactive, no-tolerance enforcement strategy through the week.
“Our Intelligence Unit has been busy monitoring this event and current social media posts indicate that a number of car enthusiasts plan to come to Ocean City with the intention of being disrespectful to our town,” said Police Chief Ross Buzzuro. “Residents and visitors should expect a highly visible police presence and a proactive enforcement strategy.”
Allied agencies will be in Ocean City to assist including the Maryland State Police, Maryland Transportation Authority, Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, and Maryland Natural Resources Police.
All Ocean City roads will be designated as a Special Event Zone starting on Tuesday, Sept. 25 through Sunday, Sept. 30. Speed limit signs will be changed and reduced to 30 MPH on Coastal Highway and Philadelphia Avenue. Additionally, fines will be increased for all speeding violations in Ocean City during the designated dates.
Common traffic violations seen during motor events include speeding, reckless driving, negligent driving and spinning wheels. These violations carry fines up to $530 and up to six points assessed by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration to the violator’s driver’s license.
Spectators are advised to keep public sidewalks clear for pedestrian traffic. Open containers on public property, including public sidewalks, streets and alleyways, are strictly prohibited. Anyone violating this local ordinance is subject to a maximum fine of $500 and/or 90 days in jail.
Citizens and business owners are encouraged to be proactive in the event of disruptive behavior and call the Ocean City Police Department immediately at 410-723-6600.
Citizens should expect traffic delays throughout the weekend. Drivers are reminded to use caution, refrain from texting while driving and be aware of pedestrians. Pedestrians are reminded to Walk Smart, use crosswalks, and wait for the signal to change before crossing.
The new sign on Coastal Highway went up late this summer.
Major changes are now underway in a well-known building on Ocean City’s 55th Street, bayside. Some of these changes are in progress, some are slated for the near future and others are already depicting signs of what’s to come in the spot where OC Brewing Company once was — literally.
The street sign in front of OC Brewing’s old headquarters has been replaced and now boldly reads “Ironweed Ale Werks.” It features a stylized image of the native Maryland plant that’s also usually seen, in its natural form, on the side of the road.
Phillip Rhudy, a co-owner of the new Ironweed brewpub, said, “We wanted something that was representative of Maryland as well as organic and powerful.”
Also a part owner and operator of Independent Brewing Company in Bel Air, MD, Rhudy was brought in to Ironweed by his now-partner Bob Frankis, an operator of five Greene Turtles in Maryland and in Delaware.
With their combined knowledge of food operation and the craft brewing process, Rhudy and Frankis are working to add quality products and an optimal brewery experience to Delmarva’s growing craft beer community. Most breweries lack space, Rhudy said, but in their building on 55th Street, there’s almost too much square footage, and they’re excited for all the possibilities that the new business allows.
“We’ll throw our flair on the place, and we think people will embrace our vibe.”
Inside the taproom, small changes have already been made to the function and decor of the space. They’ll make more changes during the off-season, and any major changes they decide to make will happen further down the road. Right now, they’re busy focusing on what’s most important: The food and the beer.
The food menu will see the most changes as they transition to all local and homemade items.
“The food menu has been reduced to doing less, but doing it much better,” Rhudy said.
Already, 10 Ironweed brews are on tap, and a new one is added each week.
The tent didn’t exactly keep the rain out, but the Ironweed team was all smiles and samples at their station in front of the giant puddles.
On Sept. 8, the beer made its debut at Shore Craft Beer’s Brews on the Beach festival, where hundreds of people turned out to drink beer under the Hooper’s Crab House tent in spite of torrential downpour that hit town mid-festival. Under the tent, Ironweed’s table was in the center of all the action and received a steady flow of festival-goers who kept returning to try all four of the beers they were pouring.
Those beers, which can be found today in their taproom, included Galactic Jack, a citra and galaxy hop brew balanced with sweetness from golden promise grains; Sharksbreath, made with huell melon hops added during dry hop and whirlpool but no bittering additions, giving the session beer all flavor without the “bite”; Harlequin IPA, brewed with citra and simcoe hops and honey and vienna malt for a dark, sweet balance; and Sour Diesel, a raspberry sour with a dry wine-like complexity for a nice tart finish.
What’s more, all of Ironweed’s beers are gluten-free. Most beer manufacturers use some sort of clarification agent, Rhudy said, and when one clarification product he’d been following was determined to be gluten-free when used in a specific manner, the decision for his brewery to make all gluten-free beers was “an easy one.”
In addition to their availability on the festival circuit — Ironweed will also be in attendance at Shore Craft Beer’s OCtoberfest on Oct. 27 — the brewery is currently distributing in Worcester, Harford and Cecil counties.
“The Eastern Shore has great breweries producing amazing products and we wanted to add to the Shore Craft Beer trail,” Rhudy said.
If you followed me down the Pocomoke river in my last blog… you can see how a river might affect land prices as it widens and becomes navigable.
When the river began it was a drainage ditch bordering a soybean field, but it ended as a grand river in southwestern Worcester County (with magnificent homes gracing its shores) before flowing into the Pocomoke Sound.
Land values vary considerably from town to town
An acre of farmland near the start of the river is approximately $7,000 versus a lot at the other end of the river in Pocomoke for $55,000. View Listing
This is a prime example of how property value is affected by close proximity to any specific attraction or area.
Property values fluctuate greatly in just a matter of a mile or two. One end of the county may be much more valuable than the other end. In fact, in Ocean City, value can increase within a matter of feet. Oceanfront is considerably more expensive that ocean block, for example. While Ocean City is a drastic example, it shows how land/property costs and values vary.
Investment in land and building a home
For anyone interested in building a new home, the resale value of the home is a prime consideration. Keep in mind: Where the cost of land is low, chances are the resale will also be lower.
If you built a 1400 square foot, three bedroom house in Snow Hill and the exact same home in Berlin, the resale value of each home would be vastly different. This is true even if both houses were equally appointed (both had water and sewage connection, etc.).
For this example, let’s assume the home you built, in both locations, cost $100,000.
The home in Snow Hill would likely sell for around $200,000. View Listing
The equivalent home in the Berlin Area would likely be worth $395,000. View Listing
However, the cost of the lot would be greater in Berlin than in Snow Hill.
A residential lot in Snow Hill will run around $45,000. View ListingA build-able lot in Berlin is $75,000 and up. View Listings Therefore, the profit from the Snow Hill property would be approximately $55,000 vs. the profit from Berlin of $220,000.
Berlin would be the better investment, even though the requirement of initial funds would be much greater.
Please do your homework before investing, as property values can vary depending upon proximity to rivers, ocean, bay, schools, shopping centers, parks, playgrounds, major highways, etc.
A call to your local REALTOR may be a good first step. They will be happy to assist you in your quest for information on value of any property you may find interesting.
For decades, Laffing Sal was the star feature at Jester’s Fun House, one of Ocean City’s most memorable 20th century amusement attractions located on Wicomico Street off the boardwalk. Often misspelled as “Laughing Sal,” the large robotic rag doll, the first animatronic of its kind, would shake her head, wave her arms, jerk her torso, and continuously laugh while patrons would stop in wonder and often begin laughing along with her. Sal’s early conceptual design and production made her an influencer and forerunner in the amusement industry and set the pace for a rapid production of animated figures featured around the world in carnivals and amusement parks, including the Disney enterprises. At the height of her popularity, Sal was featured at venues all over the country, but today can be enjoyed at only a handful of remaining attractions.
Early Sal
Mr. Jester purchased Laffing Sal in the early 1940s for about $360 from the Philidelphia Toboggan Company based in Germantown, Pennsylvania for his attraction. When she arrived, she was placed in front of the attraction to greet guests, and in later years, was exhibited behind a chicken wire cage to prevent passersby from reaching for her, often resulting in vandalism. Buttons to make her work were wired to a nearby concession stand where the Jesters were able to control her every move at a moment’s notice.
A view of Jester’s Fun House at Worcester Street and the boardwalk where Sportland Arcade is located today, circa 1940.
Famous for her looks, and her intoxicating laugh
Standing over six feet tall, Sal had a simple internal make-up of papier-mâché and pressed card stock mounted on a steel frame comprised of numerous coils. Beneath her famous dress, interior construction was rudimentary consisting of pins, staples, nails, and nuts & bolts as all of her extremities were detachable for simpler shipping and storage. Visible to the public, the laughing lady donned a bright pink dress, handbag, large Mary Jane shoes, and a big floppy hat. It’s rumored that Sals were not originally produced with hats by the PTC and were to be supplied by the buyer, although original ads depicted the display complete with a hat.
Lovely Lady: A closeup of Laffing Sal circa 1950s.
Sal’s famous laugh track was originally transmitted by a 78 RPM record player concealed beneath her pedestal which measured 12” in diameter. It wasn’t until the record stopped that the lucky attraction operator that day would have to restart the record, a cycle that would typically last only a few minutes. The invention of tapes would eventually automate that task. Interestingly and according to legend, the voice talent that performed the famous Sal laugh was not that of a lady, but supposedly an intoxicated gentleman.
Bruno and Sal
Bruno as he appears in the Live-saving Station Museum.
Jester’s Fun House was originally built in the late 1920s by Mr. Thomas Conway of Atlantic City, NJ. Conway, who also owned several other small businesses, managed it for only four years before selling it to Lloyd Jester due to poor health. The attraction had a large façade with the words “Fun House” clearly displayed on both the façade and on the roofline. Along with images depicting clowns and ballyhoo, the interior featured effects such as air bags, floor obstacles, a tilt room, dancing skeletons, a stunt entitled “Bruno” which was a bulldog that suddenly sprang out at unsuspected patrons, a large gorilla, and even an octopus. Mr. Jester retired in 1970 from the fun house business and turned it over to his son, Lloyd Jester, Jr. The fun house was demolished after only two years of being operated by his son to make room for the nearby expanding arcade, known as Sportland. After the fun house’s closing, Sal was transported to a storage facility in Berlin where she was later vandalized resulting in her face being disfigured and her garment left knackered.
Laffing Sal and Bruno the Bulldog were two of the only stunts retained from the attraction. Sal was donated to the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum in the summer of 1980 by Mrs. Jester and was restored soon after. Now, she can be seen and heard on the second floor of the museum in the boardwalk exhibit. With only the push of a button, Sal will laugh as she did for generations on Ocean City’s boardwalk. Unfortunately, her movements have long been defunct.
It’s interesting to note that a lot of paranormal activity has been associated with the old Ocean City Sal. Works have reported hearing her laugh after closing without explanation. Sal was originally featured at venues all over the country and can still be enjoyed at over 30 venues today.
Laffing Sal Ad – October 10, 1942 issue of the Billboard
Your photos from last week are in! It was a busy few days in Ocean City, even when we thought we might get slammed with torrential downpour and storm surge from Hurricane Florence, which we seemed to have narrowly avoided. Many families were still able to enjoy their beach vacations, even if the cloud cover made it a little difficult to suntan. Still… Could’ve been worse.
Below are the photos you submitted from the calm before-and-after the rain, with a few pictures from Ocean City BikeFest mixed in. We’re done with our weekly Photo Friday contest for the season, but still like to do the occasional reader-submitted photoblog, so feel free to submit your photos and you might just see them on our site or our Facebook page. (Just be sure to fill out your name and email address if you want to win anything, and send photos that are horizontally-oriented and not super tiny).
Our winner this week is Chris from Baltimore, who took the photo of the crane at Stinky Beach and will receive a gift card to The Shrimp Boat. Congrats, Chris!
Washed up on 81st street sat morningBeach at Sunset on 99th Street! Wednesday, Sept. 12th. The calm and beautiful before the storm!An evening on the beachGrandma’s Gone Wild – Bike Week in OC. Oceans Mist, Ready for a night out on the town. 9/13/2018Nora’s first beach trip on 9/11/18 on 27th street ocmdJune,19th 2018. At stinky Beach enjoying the amazing weather. As we were leaving, a Crain came and sat in the water looking for dinner.Dolphin at play on the Water 62nd Street Ocean City Maryland September 6, 2018Bikes at Pickles.Neither my son nor myself had ever seen the ocean this rough and powerful! He was amazed and taking video of the waves crashing.Looking for ponies.
The hurricane we thought might ruin the weekend ended up being a washout; In fact, aside from a few clouds and scattered light showers, last week in Ocean City was really quite nice. Temperatures are slowly and steadily dropping to fall-friendly numbers (it still reaches the low 80s here, but at least it’s no longer 95!) and Sunfest starts on Thursday to officially usher in the autumn in OC.
Bikers rode up and down Coastal Highway all weekend, stopping by the indoor and tented events at the Convention Center, Seacrets and Hoopers, in spite of the negative forecast. And while the sun has chosen not to show up for its own festival in recent years, it’s looking like it might just make an appearance at Sunfest and Ocean City’s last big, blow-out weekend of the summer. We hope you’re there, too!
If you’re looking for details about Sunfest, including times, parking and entertainment, you’ll find those in the post below. And if you’re looking for whatever else is going on in Ocean City this week, then as always, you’ll find that, too.
Fall can’t officially begin in Ocean City without the traditional weekend-long celebration known as Sunfest, OC’s famous arts, crafts and music festival. Now entering its 44th year, the signature event is known for drawing crowds from across the country, and with live music, fantastic food, a unique array of arts and crafts and our fingers crossed for beautiful weather, Ocean City’s Sunfest will take over the Inlet Lot once again from Sept.
Last week’s news
The calm after the storm: Florence didn’t bring much to Ocean City aside from some stormy skies and all the shells that washed up on the beach. And maybe some rare migrating birds, too, as they tend to end up in places they don’t belong after a hurricane hits the East Coast.
We started the week out fearful that Florence would make a direct hit on our town, but by Friday afternoon, it’s fair to say it’s not been too bad a week at all, compared to what could have happened. Here are a few of our favorite pictures from this week.
Birders, keep your eyes wide open after Hurricane Florence hits: After a major storm, you’re more likely to see rare migrant birds where they wouldn’t normally be spotted. When birds and bugs get caught in high winds, they seek out calmer places, which often ends up being the eye of the storm (strong surface winds rotate around the exact center or the ‘eye’ of the hurricane, but the center itself is calm).
Bikers weather the rain: Events and concerts were moved indoors to the Convention Center after the weatherman predicted a weekend of doom and gloom, but tons of bikers still turned out for Ocean City’s annual BikeFest.
CLOSE Despite the threat of Hurricane Florence, hundreds of bikers and bike enthusiasts stayed committed to this year’s Ocean City BikeFest. While Delmarva Bike Week was canceled due to the bad weather forecasts in the area, Ocean City adjusted its portion of the four-day event so that it could stay open, rain or shine.
#ThisWeekinOC
Sunfest (Sept. 20 – 23): With over 30 food vendors, free live entertainment on two stages, and a huge selection of arts and craft vendors, there is something for everyone at Ocean City’s Sunfest. Enjoy four days filled with something for all the family, including over 250 vendors, live music, artistic demonstrations, gourmet food and beverages, family hayrides on the beach and kids activities. Remember, admission to Sunfest is FREE!
Sunfest Kite Festival (Sept. 20 – 23): Always a sight to see as you walk along the Boardwalk, come and marvel at the spectacular sight of hundreds of brightly colored kites being flown in the blue skies above the beach and Boardwalk. Master kite flyers from around the world will showcase their aerial displays of art. There will be kite-making workshops and kite battles, and more.
Sandcastle Home Tour (Sept. 20 – 21): The 14th annual self-guided home tour will feature 10 beautiful homes ranging from oceanfront to bayside, penthouse to family home, all in the Ocean City area. $30 per person. Proceeds benefit the Art League of Ocean City.
Brown Box Theatre Presents: “As You Like It” (Sept. 20): Brown Box Theatre presents As You Like It by William Shakespeare, performed under the stars at Sunset Park. As You Like It will transport audiences into the heart of one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies in a can’t-miss multi-state tour. This performance is FREE.
Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Show (Sept. 21 – 23): Peruse an inventory of fine jewelry, fashion jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, wire-wrapped jewelry, beads, pearls, loose gemstones, minerals, crystals and fossils. Admission is $5, age 16 and under are free.
Park Place Jewelers’ Treasure Hunt at the Beach (Sept. 22 – 23): Dig in the sand for real buried treasure on the beach in front of Park Place Jewelers. Prizes include gems, diamonds, silver jewelry, gift certificates and more. This chance to dig for treasure is limited to 100 people per day, so you must register in-person at Park Place. Must register in-person at either Park Place Jewelers location. There’s a $15 entry fee that goes toward the Believe in Tomorrow Children’s foundation.
OC Cruzers Car Display (Sept. 23): For the 16th year, the OC Cruzers Car Display will be on select Sundays on Somerset Plaza, a semi-pedestrian street that is closed to all traffic during special events.
We started the week out fearful that Florence would make a direct hit on our town, but by Friday afternoon, it’s fair to say it’s not been too bad a week at all, compared to what could have happened. Here are a few of our favorite pictures from this week.
Early morning on Tuesday, a glimpse of sun.
9/11 Memorial on the Boardwalk.The town was busy scooping the sand off the Boardwalk and back onto the beach.The decision was made to move the events for OC Bike Week from the Inlet to the Convention Center.The Inlet, looking stunning on Tuesday.Clouds over the Inlet Parking Lot and Life-Saving Station Museum.Sunshine and blue skies on Wednesday.A beach just asking to be walked on.A great day to look for sea shells.A selection of shells found near the Inlet.Lots of Horseshoe Crabs spotted along the beach tooBlue skies at the Inlet on WednesdayGood day for fishin’Ocean City Life-Saving Station MuseumTrimper’s Roller Coaster track, always looks good against a blue sky!Back to grey skies on FridayWaves a little rougher than earlier in the week.The Pier holding up against the waves.Under the Ocean City PierRiding in style.Bikers making a stop at the Inlet.Looking for ponies.Still looking…Found some!Stunning Assateague IslandEgrets on AssateagueNo matter what the weather, our beach just begs to be walked on.
Fall can’t officially begin in Ocean City without the traditional weekend-long celebration known as Sunfest, OC’s famous arts, crafts and music festival. Now entering its 44th year, the signature event is known for drawing crowds from across the country, and with live music, fantastic food, a unique array of arts and crafts and our fingers crossed for beautiful weather, Ocean City’s Sunfest will take over the Inlet Lot once again from Sept. 20 – 23. Admission to Sunfest is free.
With nearly 300 vendors and over 180 artists slated for the 2018 festival, there’s something for everyone over the four days of Sunfest, set upon the backdrop of Ocean City’s pristine beach and Boardwalk. Sunfest combines live music and artistic demonstrations with gourmet food and drink and even family hay rides on the beach. Some of the festival’s most unique assets this year include exhibits from T-Mobile and Duke’s Mayonnaise, an Ocean City Police Department K-9 demonstration and the chance to test ride fat tire bicycles on the beach.
This year, festival-goers will have the opportunity to create their own pieces of art with the OC Painting Experience. Kids can enjoy inflatable bounce houses on the beach, family hayrides and an abundance of other activities. After working up an appetite, guests can delight in traditional Eastern Shore fare in the food tent or relax to the sounds of free entertainment at the outside pavilion.
Kite Fest coincides with Sunfest, just a few blocks north.
Hours: On Thursday, September 20, Sunfest will begin with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:15 a.m. on the outdoor stage. Event hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.on Sunday.
Entertainment and ticketing:Sunfest features live music playing throughout the duration of the event. All entertainment is free with the exception of evening headline shows. Headliners start on Thursday night with a stage show by Forever Tina performing Tina Turner’s greatest hits. On Friday, the up and coming American southern country rock group The Cadillac Three hit the stage. On Saturday, the Comcast Entertainment Pavilion will be filled with a sold-out concert by Daughtry.
Tickets for h shows are on sale at the Ocean City Convention Center Box Office on 40th St. Box office hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Monday through Friday. Tickets will also be available on-site during Sunfest, or at www.ticketmaster.com, 800-551-7328.
Parking and transportation: Parking is restricted at the festival grounds, so it is advised visitors take advantage of the Town’s Park and Ride services. The West Ocean City Park and Ride on Route 50 just west of the bridge provides a convenient location for attendees with free parking and shuttle service to and from the South Transit Center on S. Division Street, just one block from Sunfest. Shuttle service is $3 to ride all day.
Special Event express shuttle service is also available at the Convention Center on 40th St., where you can park for free in the south lot and ride the express shuttle directly to Sunfest. Fare is $3 to ride all day, as is the normal Coastal Highway bus fare service. Additional park and ride locations are also located at the Public Safety Building on 65th Street, the municipal lot at 100th St. and Northside Park at 125th St. (walk to bus stop on Coastal Highway).
The $3 ride all day pass is valid for use on Coastal Highway, Park n Ride and Express Shuttle buses from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m. Exact fare is required. The Boardwalk tram also will be in service during the event with fare of $3 one way. For additional information regarding bus fares for Senior Citizens, Disabled Persons, Medicare Card Holders and children please call Ocean City Transportation at 410-723-1606 or visit the Public Works Transportation webpage at www.oceancitymd.gov.
Birders, keep your eyes wide open after Hurricane Florence hits: After a major storm, you’re more likely to see rare migrant birds where they wouldn’t normally be spotted.
When birds and bugs get caught in high winds, they seek out calmer places, which often ends up being the eye of the storm (strong surface winds rotate around the exact center or the ‘eye’ of the hurricane, but the center itself is calm). Winds die down, and birds disperse. Migratory birds also end up in unlikely areas when their food supplies have been eradicated by storms, and they’re forced to seek sustenance elsewhere.
If there’s anything good to come out of a major storm, it’s the “birding bonanza” that follows it, the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the rare birds that would scarcely appear in your region otherwise. The Alabama Wildbird Conservation Association has a few safety tips for those who plan on “chasing hurricane birds.”
Phil Davis of the Maryland/DC Records Committee dug up some records on the rare bird sightings reported in Maryland and DC after major hurricanes that, like Florence, moved inland to the Carolinas. Not all of the reports below were accepted due to improper or incomplete documentation; digital cameras weren’t as easy to come by in the years that many of these storms hit, and if the clouds were still pouring rain, it would have been difficult to capture a clear image of the species’.
“This information is provided primarily to pique your interest and prepare your thinking about where you may want to go (safely!) after the storm passes,” wrote Davis in an email to the MD Birding group.
Leach’s Storm-Petrel – Royal Oak, Talbot Co.
Sooty Tern – Baltimore City
Hugo – Sep 1989
Pterodroma, sp. – Bellevue, Talbot Co.
Red Phalarope – Sandy Point State Park, Anne Arundel Co.
Great Cormorant – Sycamore Landing, Montgomery Co.
American White Pelican – Blackwater NWR, Dorchester [back when they were rare in MD]
Fran – Sep 1996
Pterodroma
Parasitic Jaeger – Sparrows Pt., Baltimore
Roseate Tern – Potomac River, DC
Sooty Tern – Little Seneca Lake (Black Hills Regional Park), Montgomery Co.
Sooty Tern – Woodrow Wilson Bridge, PG Co.
Sooty Tern – Ocean City inlet, Worcester Co.
Sooty Tern – North Beach, Calvert Co.
Sooty Tern – Sandy Point State Park, Anne Arundel Co.
Sooty Tern – Sparrows Point, Baltimore
Pterodroma, sp. – Sandy Point State Park, Anne Arundel Co.
Pterodroma, sp. – Woodrow Wilson Bridge, PG Co.
Cory’s Shearwater – Woodrow Wilson Bridge, PG Co.
Procellariidae sp. – North Beach, Calvert Co.
Brown Pelican – Royal Oak, Talbot [back when they were rare in the Bay]
Long-tailed Jaeger – Lilypons, Frederick Co.
Roseate Tern – Woodrow Wilson Bridge, PG Co.
Roseate Tern – North Beach, Calvert Co.
Bridled Tern – Woodrow Wilson Bridge, PG Co.
Sooty Tern (5) – Sandy Point State Park, Anne Arundel Co.
Sooty Tern – Sherwood, Talbot Co.
Sooty Tern – Bellevue, Talbot Co.
Sooty Tern – North Beach, Calvert Co.
Anhinga – Town Hill, Allegany Co.
Black-capped Petrel – St. Michael’s, Talbot Co. [specimen]
Floyd – Sept 1999
Black skimmer
Bridled Tern (2) – Point Lookout State Park, St. Mary’s Co.
Bridled Tern – Point Lookout State Park, St. Mary’s Co.
Black Skimmer – Georgetown Reservoir, DC
Royal Tern – Gravelly Point, Potomac River, DC
Oceanodroma sp. – North Beach, Calvert Co.
Sooty/Bridled Tern sp. – Pax River NAS, St. Mary’s Co.
Sooty Tern – Ocean City inlet, Worcester Co.
Sooty Tern – Pax River NAS, St. Mary’s Co.
Isabel – Sep 2003
Long-tailed jaegers
Wilson’s Storm-Petrel (3) – Potomac River, DC
Band-rumped Storm-Petrel – Potomac River, DC
Oceanodroma sp. – Potomac River, Marshall Hall, Charles Co.
Red Phalarope – Rock Gap State Park, Allegany Co.
Long-tailed Jaeger – Tilghman Island, Talbot Co.
Roseate Tern – North Beach, Calvert Co.
Arctic Tern – North Beach, Calvert Co.
Bridled Tern – North Beach, Calvert Co.
Sooty Tern – Elm Beach, St. Mary’s Co.
Sooty Tern – Stevensville, Kent Co.
Sooty Tern – Tolchester, Kent Co.
OCEAN CITY, MD – (September 12, 2018): Ocean City emergency management officials are continuing to monitor Hurricane Florence, which is now showing a southern track and steering farther away from the Maryland coastline. While emergency management officials watch closely in the event of changes to the storm’s path, Ocean City continues to be open for business.
OC Bikefest events, including the ticketed concerts, have been moved to the Roland E. Powell Convention Center and will play as scheduled. Access to the event’s Rommel Harley-Davidson and other select vendors is free and open to the public.
Although Ocean City is not expected to experience tropical storm force wind or heavy rainfall, property owners should still secure loose, lightweight objects including patio furniture and garbage cans. It is also advised to secure water vessels and anchor objects that would be unsafe to bring inside (such as propane tanks).
Ocean City will begin to experience lingering effects of the weakening category three storm, including wind, rain and tidal flooding, as early as Thursday night, September 13, and into Saturday, September 15. With minor flooding in the downtown area predicted during high tide cycles, emergency management officials are reminding residents and visitors not to drive through flood waters. Also, for residents and property owners in flood-prone zones, remember to protect your property by moving valuables to higher levels and keep important documents in a waterproof container.
The Town of Ocean City’s Emergency Management personnel works closely with local and state representatives to provide citizens with timely, accurate and essential information before, during and after the storm. To begin preparing, citizens should build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan for potential relocation during a flooding event. For more information regarding preparedness, please visit: http://www.ready.gov.
