OCEAN CITY, MD — (May 8, 2018): From Tuesday, May 15 to Sunday, May 20, Ocean City’s Coastal Highway and Philadelphia Avenue will be designated as a Special Event Zone for the four-day Cruisin’ Ocean City event (taking place May 17 – 20). Speeds will be reduced and fines will be increased in the Special Event Zone.
Governor Larry Hogan signed the Special Event Zone bill into law in April. 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.
Thousands of car enthusiasts are expected in Ocean City for the event 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.
A beacon of light in the dark, the Ferris Wheel is back lighting up the sky.
As of last weekend, the Jolly Roger Ferris Wheel on the Ocean City Pier is back and better than ever — seriously.
Jolly Roger reinvented the wheel this year, much to our advantage, by giving it a new, updated look and restoring its interior and exterior so the Giant Wheel in the sky can keep turning and light up Ocean City for another summer of fun.
Where’d the wheel go?
Back in October, I published a short article here titled “Where’s the Jolly Roger Ferris Wheel?” The story wasn’t meant to be clickbait-y — I wrote it because we’d been getting a ton of messages and comments asking that same question, so I called up Dean at Jolly Roger to answer it once and for all — but it seemed that many people scrolled across the headline and immediately assumed the worst. Oh no, the famous Ocean City Ferris Wheel is gone forever! But thankfully, no. It was just gone temporarily for some basic repairs and updates.
In September, the wheel was dismantled and sent to Big B Manufacturing in Pennsylvania, where the galvanization process began. Each piece of the ride was detached and coated with a protective layer of molten zinc to produce a corrosion-resistant, multilayered coating of zing-iron alloy and zinc metal, to keep the wheel protected from general wear and tear and beachfront abrasion.
After the six-month restoration process, the wheel is back on the Pier with new LED lights — a total of 35,650, twice as many as before — which use only 15% of the electricity that regular incandescent lighting would consume.
In April the Ferris Wheel was erected back on the Pier, quarter by quarter, and on Friday, May 4, a ribbon-cutting ceremony took place and the wheel was officially open for the season.
Photo from a sunset ride, taken last summer.
A treasure since the 80s
It is a shame to visit Ocean City in the winter months and not see the crown jewel of the Jolly Roger Pier turning in the sky, but such refurbishments are necessary to keep the ride safe, sturdy and beautiful year after year. The 108 ft. wheel has been a staple of Ocean City for over 30 years, and has seen more than 3.2 million riders since its initial opening in 1986.
Here’s a timeline courtesy of Jolly Roger that shows how the Giant Wheel fits into the history of the Pier overall.
The wheel was built in the mid-80s by Marple Rides in Uithoorn, Holland, then shipped from Rotterdam to Baltimore on Polish Ocean Lines. It arrived in ’86 along with rides 1001 Nights, Music Express and Enterprise, completing the Pier’s second renovation following the winter storm of 1979.
The Giant Wheel was complete with lights on the tops and bottoms of the gondolas and lights circling the wheel, and since its first fateful year on the Pier in ’86, the Ocean City skyline hasn’t been the same without it.
“Ferris wheel cars ascend to about 100 feet, and offer one of the grander – and more stable – views of Ocean City, the Boardwalk, the inlet, and nearby Assateague Island. For a stunning view, ride this Ferris wheel at sunset. And bring a camera.” –The Baltimore Sun, August 9, 1987
When speaking of property, the catchphrase is location, location, location. However, many people do not understand just how vitally important location is.
Individuals choose an area or county to live in based upon a number of varying criteria, but it all boils down to location of that county to the requirements or attractions for that person(s) or family.
The criteria can range from a specific school district to employment opportunities. Whatever county you reside in, you are a local to that area.
Worcester County pride
Being a local is about enjoying your community and taking pride in your neighborhood and your county. Here on the Eastern Shore, we are very fortunate in the many attractive features offered, such as close proximity to:
The attractions listed above also bring with them a multitude of enjoyable pastime activities, including:
Boating/sailing
Crabbing
Clamming
Water skiing
Surfing
Golfing
Bird watching
Observing wild life, including wild ponies
Biking
Hiking
Walking on the beach
Fishing
Driving on the beach
Divulging a few local secrets…
Being a local is also being aware of all the out-of-the-way places to locate good food. In Worcester County, there are several “off the beaten path” restaurants and take-out treats that are well-known to locals and should not be missed:
Emings for the best BBQ chicken and ribs. Emings is located on Route 113 Northbound, only ½ mile before the Delaware border. A lunch for two runs under $15! Mark your calendar for the last Friday of each month for Emings’ pig roast.
Emings BBQ.
Chesapeake Farms, located at the intersection of Route 50 and Logtown Road in Berlin, has the best (real cream) ice cream to be found.
Chesapeake Farms.
Grove Market restaurant offers a variety of dinner options. The building rests in a strand of trees on Bishopville Road. Reservations are required. No credit cards accepted, cash only.
For fresh crabs and seafood, Hemphills’ Dock is the place to go. Hemphills offers crabs at $35 a dozen. Call to make arrangements.
Hemphills’ Dock.
These local attributes are not only what attracts each and every one of us to our particular counties, but these attributes also add value to our properties. As much as we enjoy the coastal life, buyers looking to come to our area are even more attracted to that life.
Although factors like schools, churches, close proximity to shopping, etc. also have an impact on value, there are some advantages that are a common interest for the majority of the public. As an example, the closer your property is to the areas of higher interest to the general public (i.e. the ocean, or bay), the more location affects your property value. Of course, you cannot pick up your property and move it to another area, but you can extol the benefits that are available in your area.
Being a local means contributing to your neighborhood. Contributing can be any number of tasks or acts, ranging from volunteering your time, to simply maintaining the outside of your home and yard.
For other suggestions or thoughts on how you can add to the value of your real estate, please contact the REALTOR in your area.
It’s our first Photo Friday of the season, and our randomly-selected winner Colleen, who submitted the sunset photo above, has won a pair of tickets to Jolly Roger Amusements.
You could win, too — justsubmit your vacation photos here! We’ll compile them into a photoblog like this one every Friday and pick a winner (and even if you don’t win, you get to share your Ocean City pictures with the world!). Just remember, you must include your full name and email address in your submission in order to win.
Many of the photos that were submitted this week seemed to reflect the theme Family Beach Fun. They weren’t all taken this year, but they did embody a want to come back to the beach this summer for fun in the sun with kids and grown-ups alike. There’s nothing better than watching little ones explore the sand and the seawater for the first time, but us adults have as much fun just soaking up the sun.
“Océan city from Assateage.”“136th Street beach. Sept. 3rd 2017 My children playing on the beach at sunset.”“This picture was taken on the beach in front of the pyramid on 94th street nearing sunset the last week of summer. I grew up spending my summers in ocean city and now we are sharing the experience with our children.”“From Seacrets;11ish am;Bayside; Nobody is in the picture but Probably some fish in there!”“I took this looking from the beach over toward the rides at Jolly Roger last fall 2016. It fits into the theme of boardwalk, beach, recreation, sunsets and the sky lit up and this turned out so nice , I was very happy.”“Kids first time at the ocean and they had a blast @the boardwalk ocean City MD! Can’t wait to bring them again!”“Assateague beach, July 17th, 2017, in the picture my husband Jim and I having a blast on our first trip to Ocean City!! Horseshoe crab and lots of horses, absolutely amazing to see!”“Kite Festival”“The seagulls wanting our fries. At the inlet on a warm sunny July 5th day.”
Here are a few more cool submissions from April.
“My stalker!! You cannot see my blanket but he was right beside!!!”“I run a blog NJBloodymary.com. I frequently visit OC since I have a lot of family here. I was here visiting my sister and we went to iRope Walk. This is their Sunday Brunch Bacon and Egg Bloody Mary. It’s one of the best bloody marys in OC.”“Assateague Island August 2017”“Largest Flounder caught in Ocean City MD in 2017. Caught aboard the Angler Charter boat on 25-Nov-2017”“Robby & Lilly “hanging out” summer 2017 !”“Doug Brown”
The Art League of Ocean City, located in the Ocean City Center for the Arts on 94th street bayside, is one of Ocean City’s hidden jems. The art center’s five galleries display new exhibits of regional and local artists which rotate monthly, so whenever you stop in, you can expect to see something different and exciting.
Exhibits kick off with an opening reception from 5-7 p.m. on the first Friday of each month. The receptions, as with all of the Art League’s activities, are open to the public.
Everything’s in bloom this week outside and inside the Art League. You’ll notice there’s a definite fragrance in the air as soon as you step inside…
23 fragrance vials to go along with Howard’s paintings.
Debra Howard: Fragrance
Thaler Gallery — In the main gallery this month is an interactive exhibit that not only involves using your sense of sight, but your sense of smell, too. Debra Howard exhibits 23 fragrance-inspired paintings, each with a vial of fragrance to go along with it. Visitors can choose an essential oil vial, enhale the fragance and see if they can match the fragrance with the painting, or just take it one-by-one as they walk around the gallery. Coffee beans are available so guests can start fresh between fragances. For anyone who wishes to learn more about how our brains respond to fragrance, and about Howard’s art in general, she will be presenting a free Artist Talk at the Art League on May 5.
Debra Howard spent her childhood in Miami, Florida, where she first discovered her love affair with color, light, painting, and sailing. She studied at Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, and began her career in San Francisco where she opened her first illustration studio. After 17 years as a successful illustrator in various cities, she closed her studio to concentrate on fine art painting. Debra is an award winning plein-air artist with a passionate collector base.
“Come to Your Senses” Group Show
Galleria — “Come to Your Senses” is an all media group show inspired by the five senses. Judge: Angela Herbert-Hodges.
Screen painting by John Iampieri.
John Iampieri Screen Painting
Studio E — Anyone familiar with the neighborhoods of East Baltimore has seen the hand-painted screens that once filled nearly every window and door of the long blocks of brick and formstone rowhouses. Painted screens are an authentic Baltimore urban folk art, created, displayed, and beloved there since 1913.
Screen painter John Iampieri, formerly of Baltimore and now of Bishopville, is the artist in residence for the month of May. A member of the Baltimore Painted Screen Society, he is a roster member with MSAC and Young Audiences of Maryland, and a teacher in schools throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware.
The artist has invited the public to contribute to the screen paintings. The open painting sessions are scheduled for First Friday, May 4, from 5-7 p.m.; Wednesday, May 23, from 1 – 4 p.m.; Friday, May 25, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.; and Tuesday, May 29, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Anyone who wishes to participate or watch the work is welcome to walk in.
Environmental Visions
Spotlight gallery — “Environmental Visions” showcases the works of Salisbury University Environmental Studies students. Professor Charlie Ewers teaches two courses for the Environmental Studies Department at SU: ENVR 205 (Art, Nature, Culture) looks at environmental issues from the perspective of the humanities, and ENVR 460 (The Bay in Words and Pictures) is a photojournalism course on Chesapeake-related topics.
One of the term projects for ENVR 205 centers on nature photography—students must take at least one picture a day for 30 consecutive days, make prints of their best four images and write an essay describing the process. In ENVR 460, the class compiles an online magazine of photo-illustrated feature stories.
Featured in the spotlight gallery for the month of May will be a selection of images curated by Charlie Ewers, poster-size prints on foamcore board and a looping slide show.
Environmental Visions piece by Michaela Mitchell.
Artisan Showcase: Joy Galicinao
Jeweler and aromatherapist Joy Galicinao.
In the artisan showcase this month is the work of Joy Galicinao, an aromatherapist and jeweler who has been creating jewelry for over 25 years, working with semi-precious metals and stones. A certified aromatherapist, Galicinao began melding her two passions this past year and focuses on creating jewelry for the personal diffusion of essential oils. As an aromatherapist, she focuses on creating blends that target therapeutic, emotional and energetic needs, and as a jeweler, she focuses on creating unique jewelry for aromatic diffusion.
This article was updated on 5/3/18 to reflect current events and restaurant specials in Ocean City –ed.
Hey friends, once again it’s Cinco de Mayo in Ocean City! Our town is filled with places to drink a cerveza, enjoy a margarita, eat an enchilada, and celebrate the 5th of May with a fiesta. Check out these restaurants and activities if you’d like to participate in today’s Mexican holiday.
Start off with Bikes to the Beach Spring Rally with Hooper’s as a central gathering place. With this many bikers in town, how could you not find a place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Ocean City? Bikes to the Beach rally at Hooper’s – Margaritas at Sneaky Pete’s.
If bikes aren’t your thing, stop by Springfest for a day in the sun and join in the seasonal celebration, or head up to Berlin for a Jazz and Blues Bash. Then be sure to stop by one of these Mexican restaurants in Ocean City for food and drink specials on their favorite holiday of the year…
Have you checked out the new Mexican restaurant taking the place of Phillips in North Ocean City? Bayside is celebrating their recent opening and Cinco de Mayo with all kinds of specials from 4 tp 7 p.m. Feast and unwind with flavor packed authentic recipes using fresh ingredients. Relax with $4 classic margaritas, $4 sangria, $4 drafts, and $15 Corona Bucket. Festivities will include live music by RandyJamz and a free Nacho Bar.
Don’t let the tricky “Sorry, We’re Open” sign scare you away from Mother’s Cantina in the 28th Street Plaza on Coastal Highway. Mother’s Cantina is known for their amazing happy hour drink specials. From 4 to 7 p.m. turn to Mother’s for the best food and drinks in OC. $1.50 domestic drafts, $3.50 margaritas and $1.75 tacos. The 3-Pepper Queso Dip is so good you will want to lick your bowl clean! Try a multitude of any entrée on the menu. The Chimichanga Combo is delicious and includes a Chorizo sausage chimichanga, one taco, one enchilada, refried or black beans, and Mexican rice. You’ll find tattoo-clad bartenders quickly whipping up drinks behind the bar. Mother’s also has several Mexican dessert options like Fried Ice Cream, Fried Cheesecake, and Chocolate Chipotle Lava Cake to quench your need for sweets!
Are you a tequila lover? Tequila Mockingbird offers 100 different tequilas to choose from. The bar at Tequila Mockingbird is known to have the largest selection of tequila in Maryland. Sample the wide selection of Mexican import drinks and domestic beers: Corona, Dos Quis, Negra, Modelo, Tecate, and more. Some knock-out items on the menu are the homemade Guacamole dip with chips and the Quesadillas Slimini Chimi. Try the Slimini Chimi if you’re conscious about the upcoming bikini season! Slimini Chimi’s are healthy vegetables wrapped in a flour tortilla and baked in a large oven. Tequila Mockingbird’s on 130th Street in the Montego Bay Shopping Center has Cinco de Mayo specials going on…
Drink Specials: $5 House Margarita, 1/2 Price Carafes of Red and White Sangria, $2.50 Jose Cuervo Gold/Silver Shots, $3 Tecates.
Food Specials (All Night): Mexican Street Corn Soup $6 (Corn, Onions, Butter Topped with Bacon, Sliced Jalapenos and Cheese), Jalapeno/Mango Bacon Poppers 5 for $7, Pollock Ceviche $7.
Daytime Specials 12pm-4pm: $5.00 Nachos (Choice of Beef, Chicken, Beans, or Pork), $1.25 Crunchy Tacos (Choice of Beef, Chicken, Beans, or Pork).
If you’re looking for a locals favorite Mexican restaurant, look no further than Plaza Tapatia (located in Ocean Pines, Salisbury and in other places around Delmarva). Cinco de Mayo specials at the Plaza include $4 32 oz. drafts, $2.65 16 oz drafts, $7 Coronita buckets, $416 oz margaritas on the rocks, $6.99 32 oz margaritas on the rocks, $4 and $6 tequila shots and $7.75 burritos.
Cinco De Mayo is every Vatos favorite Fiesta Fiesta, Guido’s says, and nobody does it better then Guidos Burritos. Celebrate at the Cinco de Mayo Festival at Guido’s with mucho cervaza, mucho tacos and burritos, mucho tequila, mucho musica and mucho dancing on the bar. There will be food specials and drink specials all day including $5 margaritas, $3 Coronas and $3 tequila shots, and a DJ will be playing beats all night long.
No matter where you decide to go tonight, kick back, relax and celebrate Mexican heritage and pride with a margarita or two. Head to one of these five restaurants to settle your fajita fix. Happy Cinco De Mayo!
I’d never been to Fager’s Island before Monday night. I’d heard about it plenty from friends and co-workers — the food’s great, but the view of the sunset on the bay is spectacular, is what I’ve constantly heard everyone say — but for some reason it still took me this long to make my way down there.
I chose the first Monday Night Deck Party to make my grand entrance at Fager’s, and it was the best dining/nightlife decision I’ve made in a long time. April 30 was the Deck Party kick-off date. It was still chilly out on the deck and the dance floor was packed with mostly locals — the party-lovin’ tourists for the most part have not made their way down to the Shore just yet, it seems — but the pink-and-orange sky, the light-footed bartenders and the live band that jammed classic rock hits all night long promise a season of good times on Monday nights at Fager’s Island.
Plus, they’re not wrong about the sunset. Even when you’ve seen it Instagram’d about a million times, nothing compares to seeing a beautiful, clear Ocean City sunset in person.
Here are a few photos from the best Monday night I’ve had in awhile. Do yourself a favor and clock out a few hours early at least one Monday during the summer and embark on your own Fager’s adventure!
The night started out the way most really good nights start out, which is with really good food. The blackened scallops appetizer is to die for.l ordered the quesadilla as I was not feeling particularly adventurous, but my dining partner ordered a Fager’s original: The Islander, pictured here, made up of roasted turkey breast, deep smoked ham, Swiss cheese, romaine lettuce and Russian dressing on rye. It’s as delicious as it looks. We ate early, then waited around on the gazebo for golden hour (the best time of day to take photos when the lighting is just right) to hit. Here’s Fager’s, basking in that golden glow. (Pros of showing up to the party early in the hour and the season: you get the gazebo practically to yourself!)Looking over the water toward Fager’s two hotels, The Edge and The Lighthouse Club. The drink specials all night were $4.25 Corona Lights, $3.50 Natural Lights and $4.25 16 oz. Natty Bohs. I ordered the Natty Boh. My friend Megan ordered her signature drink, the vodka sprite.Inside, the party was just getting started, and even at 7:30 the dance floor was poppin’.Outside, the sun was beginning to set and the 1812 Overture would soon start to play, as it does every night.The sun goes down, and the last light of the day shines on the water.It’s calm and quiet outside, but inside Tranzfusion is playing the hits of the ’70s — Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd, the Moody Blues’ Nights in White Satin and the Doors’ Roadhouse Blues, to name just a few.Some songs allow for a hyped-up dance floor, while others are slower and couples can take the opportunity to slow dance. Because if you get the opportunity to slow dance to Pink Floyd, I mean, why not?
Here’s a Facebook live I took earlier in the night, before the sun went down. I captured the dancers for a few moments and then walked out to the deck.
And if you’ve never watched the sunset over the bay while hearing 1812 Overture… Here’s a video taken by Anne last summer. Just keep in mind that nothing compares to being there in person, enjoying all the sights, sounds and smells of Fager’s and the Ocean City bay in real time!
This home is a charming first floor nautical-style condo with two bedrooms and two bath. Enjoy bayside living in quiet community of North Ocean City.
You’ll be close to shopping, dining and beach access, and it’s ready to move into with sea-loving beach decor. The spacious balcony and grassy yard are perfect for grilling on warm beach nights. The balcony is accessed from both the living room and the master bedroom. Boat docking is available through the condo association.
Some recent improvements to this condo include new sliding doors in the living room and bedroom and wood flooring in the kitchen and dining room. This is the current owners’ private beach retreat, which has never been rented out to the public. There is one assigned parking space and an extra parking space in the visitor lot. The building has had major exterior improvements completed recently.
Courtesy of Berkshire Hathaway Homeservice & PenFed Realty. Contact Brenda Truelove for a free private showing while you are in town. See more info on this property here.
Canal view from the North Ocean City condo for sale.
Property details
Property/type: Condo/townhouse, other
Bedrooms: 2
County: 24 – Worcester
Bathrooms: 2 Full
Year built: 1975
Water: Electric Water Heater, Public Water Service
Construction: Frame, Stick Built, Brick
Sewer: Public Sewer
Square Feet: 1,026 sq. ft.
Subdivision: N/A
School information
Elementary: Ocean City
Middle: Stephen Decatur
High: Stephen Decatur
Detailed room information
Bedroom(s): First Floor Master Bedroom
Bath description: Full Bath
Interior features
Appliances: Dishwasher, Disposal, Microwave, Electric Range/Cooktop, Refrigerator, Washer/Dryer
Cooling: Ceiling Fan(s)
Heating: Electric Heating, Baseboard
Basement: No Basement
Doors/Windows: Storm Door
Fireplaces: Electric
Additional Interior Features: Window Treatment
Exterior/lot features
Parking: 1 Parking Spaces. No Covered Parking, Assigned Parking Space, Off Street
Exterior: Brick, Frame
Patio: Balcony, Rear Porch
Roof: Built Up
Pool: None
Pool Description: No Pool
Lot View: Canal
Zoning: R2
Additional Exterior/Lot Features: Navigable, Waterfront, Canal, Seawall/Bulkhead, Public Roads.
We’re one day a way from May (queue that old *NSYNC song…), and that means two things.
Almost every business in town has opened back up for the season, and we have more prizes to give away.
It’s photo sharing season again, too!
It’s really the best time of year, because more and more Ocean City lovers are coming to town for their summer vacations and weekend getaways, which means there are more cute, funny and sceneic Ocean City photos to be shared. We love seeing them, and sharing them with others who love Ocean City just as much as we do. That said, you can share #throwback photos with us, too. Whether they’re taken with a Polaroid thirty years ago or with an iPhone yesterday, we love them all.
You can share your pics with us at any time, but we’ll put the call out on social media every Monday just to remind you. We’ll arrange all of our favorites into a Photo Friday blog, and winners will be awarded prizes ranging from restaurant certificates to Jolly Roger tickets.
Just a few important things to remember when submitting photos: they need brief captions that detail what’s happening, and if there are people in the photos, please identify them by name. All photos must be at least 1200 px (either vertical, horizontal or square) to be considered, and the photographer’s email address also has to be included for us to be able to name a winner. You can read the complete rules by clicking on that “submit” link above.
Here are a few pictures from past Photo Fridays, in case you need any inspiration. Happy picture-taking!
Breakfast at the DoughrollerThis picture was taken October 24th around division st. Friends forever enjoying the beach in the fall.5:40 am Sunrise in front of Fountainhead Condo’s. We stay there each year for over 10 years now. This is the first year we were able to get up early to see the sunrise.Beach waves at 142nd on July 7.Assateague Island 7/8/2017 Full moon rising over the horses.
Hodge as a child with her late father, Aubrey Cordrey.
Dawn Hodge wears many hats. Most regulars of North Ocean City’s Original Greene Turtle would probably recognize her from there, at the restaurant she manages on 116th street, but cancer survivors, and the friends and family of cancer survivors in north Worcester county, probably know her from somewhere else: the local Relay For Life chapter, which she’s been a co-chair of since 2006.
Relay For Life had already been happening in Worcester County for about five years when Hodge started as her chapter’s accounting chair. She got involved as a way to honor and remember her dad, who died of liver and gallbladder cancer when she was 27.
“We just didn’t question it, we did exactly what he wanted, which was to do nothing,” she said. “So we didn’t push him to try and do anything, and he never left the hospital since he found out he had [cancer].”
Relay is the American Cancer Society’s signature event. North Worcester County’s chapter hosts one every year, as well as year-round fundraising events in Ocean City and the surrounding regions. Cancer survivors, their caregivers and anyone who has been affected by cancer can find a network of support through Relay for Life and its offshoot events, just as Hodge has since her father’s passing.
“I had no one to turn to, besides my family, but no one with any knowledge beyond what to do,” she said. “I really feel like if I had the Cancer Society to turn to and ask, call that 800 number even, we might have done something different. I don’t know if it would’ve made a difference or not, but you never know — he could have lived a longer life.”
Oceans of Hope at the next Relay
North Worcester County’s 2018 Relay For Life event will take place on May 11 at Frontier Town in Berlin, MD, just outside Ocean City. The Original Greene Turtle is a sponsor, of course, along with the likes of Frontier Town, Atlantic General Hospital, Peninsula Regional Medical Center and others. Hodge has gotten some of her employees involved on Team Greene Turtle, and even the restaurant’s owner Steve Pappas is involved.
The first-ever Relay For Life took place in 1985 in Tacoma Park, Washington, when colorectal surgeon Dr. Gordy Klatt ran around a track by himself for 24 hours and raised $27,000 in the process. Today, Relay For Life is the largest cancer fundraising event in the world and raises funds across the U.S. and beyond for cancer-related research, education, advocacy and patient services.
North Worcester County’s upcoming Relay will be held at Frontier Town’s campgrounds, where teams will start registering at 4 p.m., the opening ceremonies will start at 6 p.m. and activities including live music, bingo, a scavenger hunt and raffles will last until midnight. From 6 p.m. to midnight, “there’s something going on constantly,” Hodge said, and at some point between midnight and morning a big bonfire will be held.
Dawn Hodge has been involved with the north Worcester County Relay For Life chapter since 2002.
A track will be mapped out around the campground, where teams will walk laps all night long. Cancer survivors will take the first lap of the night, followed by caregivers like Hodge taking the second lap, teams on the third lap and sponsors on the fourth. Each team will have at least one person walking the track throughout the night because, according to Relay, “Cancer patients don’t stop because they’re tired, and for one night, neither do we.”
The theme of this year’s Relay is Oceans of Hope, and after a year of hard work spent planning, fundraising and throwing events, Hodge just hopes the event isn’t rained out as it has been the past two years.
“That morning we’ll all get together and go to Frontier Town, and we’ll decorate and put up signs, we usually decorate to our theme so we have lots of fun beach-y stuff that we’re going to decorate with,” Hodge said. “It’s just fun.”
Should there be inclement weather, the Relay will take place at Stephen Decatur Middle School. Rain or shine, local cancer survivors and their families know they have somewhere to turn to for resources and community support.
Ocean City, MD – (April 23, 2018): Marking the start of the season, the Town of Ocean City is celebrating its 28th annual production of Springfest from May 3 – 6, 2018. Visitors coming to Maryland’s Eastern Shore over Springfest weekend will find live music, food, arts, crafts and more — all just off of Ocean City’s iconic Boardwalk and free, beautiful beach. Springfest is one of the top arts and crafts festivals in the nation and features over 250 vendors selling arts and crafts.
The festival is fun for people of all ages and admission to the four-day event is free, including all entertainment, with the exception of the ticketed evening headline performances. The festival is located in the Inlet Lot at the south end of the Ocean City Boardwalk.
Two stages at the festival provide entertainment in the form of live music throughout the weekend with headline acts performing popular hits. Satisfaction, the International Rolling Stones show, will be playing the night of Thursday, May 3, reminding us that rock ‘n’ roll is here to stay. Tickets are $10 – 20 and will be available on the festival grounds at the Springfest ticket booth.
Trace Adkins and Bret Michaels will play to SOLD OUT crowds on Friday and Saturday. If you weren’t able to get tickets to Springfest’s headlining acts, tickets are still available for upcoming Sunfest performances by Forever Tina, The Cadillac Three and Daughtry.
There will be 30 food vendors serving delicious fare ranging from Eastern Shore favorites to ethnic cuisine and gourmet offerings.
Parking in the downtown area is limited. The Town of Ocean City will offer shuttle bus service to and from the West Ocean City Park and Ride on Route 50 beginning at 6 a.m.Thursday, May 3, and operating throughout the event, May 3 – 6. When the Ocean City Park and Ride service is not available, Shore Transit will provide service to and from both the Park and Ride and the South End Transit Station. For more information about the West Ocean City Park and Ride service, call the Ocean City Transportation Department at 410-723-1606.
Hours for the festival are Thursday – Saturday10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Sunday10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
For more information about Springfest 2018, call the Ocean City Recreation & Parks Department at 410-250-0125, toll-free at 1-800-626-2326.
I was going to say something snarky like, “The best place to jet ski in Ocean City is… the water!” but decided against it. There are plenty of people who come to Ocean City just for the watersports, and they’re serious about their jet skiing. With so many places to do it — we are a peninsula surrounded by water on both sides, after all — the various watersports categories for “Best Of” might just be the most important of them all.
Here, I’ll relay the people’s consensus as of April 25. You have until Memorial Day (May 28) to place your vote, and the Best Of for every category is still anyone’s game. Vote, and then tell your friends and family to vote, so we can recognize all the businesses that make Ocean City great.
Best Jet Skiing
The current first-place for Best Jet Skiing in Ocean City goes to Odyssea Watersports. That’s no surprise, as they won “Best Of” in 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014. Action Watersports is the usual suspect for runner-up, and they’re currently in second place this year, too.
If you disagree with either of these, and think that OC Bayside Rentals, Bayside Boat Rentals (seen in the cover image above), OC Baysports or another business entirely should take the crown, you’re going to want to vote for them ASAP!
Best Parasailing
Parasailing is about as much fun as jet skiing is, but about 100x more peaceful. Jet skiers rule the waters, while parasailors just enjoy the view and wave to the jet skiers down below. As far as the Best Parasailing in Ocean City is concerned, OC Parasailing is in the lead with OC Watersports close behind.
If you’ve ever been parasailing, you know what a magical experience it can be — pass that magic along and vote for the best parasailing in town.
Best Kayak/Rental Experience
There’s an entire unique ecosystem in Ocean City’s waters that you won’t get to see while cruisin’ on a jet ski or peering down from hundreds of feet up in the sky on a parasail. You can, however, get up close and personal with the water and all that lives in it, on a kayak. In fact, many kayak rental shops in Ocean City even offer guided eco-tours.
In the lead for Best Kayak Rental/Experience right now is 48th Street Watersports, followed by Coastal Kayak, and with “other” — those are the write-ins — a close third. Could the Best Kayaking go to an “other” this year? Only you can decide.
Best Surf Shop
We may not have a category for “Best Surfing,” as that’s pretty much dependent on the individual surfer, but we do have a category for Best Surf Shop. Where you get your boards and boarding gear matters. Even if you’re not a surfer, while on vacation in Ocean City, we’ll let you dress like one anyway. Malibu’s Surf Shop currently takes the lead, but K-Coast, Quiet Storm and and Ron Jon’s Surf Shop aren’t too far behind.
This article was originally published on 4/16/15 and was updated on 4/25/18 –ed.
Grab your binoculars, guide books, and checklists — Delmarva Birding Weekend returns for its 23rd year April 26-29 to celebrate the spring migration of thousands of birds. Delmarva Birding Weekend is organized by Worcester County Tourism and gives birdwatchers and bird lovers from across the region the chance to observe and identify waterfowl, shorebirds, warblers, raptors, and dozens of other bird species while participating in guided foot tours, boat trips, and kayak excursions around Assateague Island and other scenic locations across Delmarva.
photo by: destinationdelmarva.blogspot.com
Because of its position directly along the Atlantic Flyway, proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake, and coastal bays, and plethora of barrier islands, marsh and wetlands, cypress swamps, open fields and farmland, and primeval forests, the Delmarva Peninsula possesses a wide range of habitats and ecosystems that attract migrating birds from all over the Western Hemisphere — making it a literal paradise for birders. 182 total species were totaled at the 2017 Spring Birding Weekend.
Not only does Delmarva Birding Weekend give bird enthusiasts the chance to enjoy watching winged wonders in natural habitats, but it also provides a unique chance to raise awareness about the importance of birds and habitat conservation through low-impact ecotourism.
Here’s a look at some Delmarva Birding Weekend trips and other events from around the Ocean City area:
Thursday, April 26
-Bird watching at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge – beginning at 8 a.m. – Birders will convene near Dover, DE at one of the state’s hottest bird watching spots and sample each of the main habitat types looking for migrants and local breeders, including wading birds, shorebirds, rails, and colorful songbirds. The trip will involve some easy walking, and car caravans between major stops.
– Bird watching at DuPont Nature Center at Mispillion Harbor – 1:30 p.m. – Birders will search for migratory shorebirds, wading birds and waterfowl along Slaughter Beach, Delaware, and learn about the connection between horseshoe crabs and shorebirds at the DuPont Nature Center.
Friday, April 27
photo by: ayerscreekadventures.com
– Lewes & Delaware Bay boating excursion – 2 p.m. – Embark on a two-hour cruise of the waters near Cape Henlopen and the mouth of the Delaware Bay, visit the stone breakwaters in search of common and rare waterfowl and seabirds including gulls, cormorants, gannets, loons, and scoters.
-Tally Rally at Irish Eyes Restaurant & Pub – 4 p.m. – After a full day of field trips, meet at Irish Eyes Restaurant & Pub, just a short hike from Cape Water Taxi.
-Ayers and Trappe Creek Sunset Paddle – 6:30 p.m. – Paddle through the salt marshes of Ayers and Trappe Creeks near Berlin, Maryland, enjoy the show as dozens of species settle in for their nightly roost, then enjoy a post-paddle bonfire complete with conversation and s’mores.
Saturday, April 28
– Warblers on the Water Kayak/Canoe excursion – 8 a.m. – a three-hour trip that launches from Porter’s Crossing on the Pocomoke River a few miles north of Snow Hill, Maryland. Birders paddle deep into this forested wilderness of bald cypress, where Prothonotary Warblers Wood Ducks, Eagles, and beavers are regulars.
photo by: gogobot.com
– Prothonotary Pontoon boating excursion – 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. – A guided pontoon boat cruise on the Pocomoke River in Snow Hill, Maryland, where Prothonotary Warblers will be seen in the low branches of the bald cypress that border the river.
– Birds of Maryland’s Chincoteague Bay driving excursion – 8 a.m. – Guides will lead participants to Public Landing, Figgs Landing, Scott’s Landing and Truitt’s Landing, some of the most remote and best coastal birding spots in Maryland.
– Tally Rally at M.R. Ducks – 1 p.m. – After a full morning of field trips, meet at the World Famous M.R. Duck’s, just a short hike from the Ocean City Inlet.
– Shorebird Explorer – 2 p.m. – Leave the dock at Talbot Street in Ocean City, Maryland, and tour by boat for two hours around Skimmer Island and the north shore of Assateague Island.
-Night Birds of the Marsh driving excursion – 6:30 p.m. -Tour the 2,630-acre E.A. Vaughn Wildlife Management Area and Truitt’s Landing east of Snow Hill, Maryland. Seek out Clapper Rail, Sora, Marsh Wrens, Chuck-will’s-widows, and Eastern Screech Owls.
Sunday, April 29
– Warblermania! driving – 7 a.m. – Warblermania! will help you add warblers to your weekend tally! Meet your guide at Pocomoke River Canoe Company in Snow Hill, MD, and caravan to Nassawango Creek to search for Prothonotary, Worm-eating, and Prairie warblers, American Redstarts, Northern Parulas, and other birds of the bald cypress swamp.
– Ayers Creek Morning Paddle – 8 a.m. – Meet at Ayers Creek Adventures and paddle the beautiful forested headwaters of Ayers Creek, abundant with birds and wildlife, just minutes from Berlin, Maryland.
– The Nature of Smith Island boating excursion – 8 a.m. – Depart from Somers Cove Marine in Crisfield, Maryland, for a daylong birding cruise to historic Smith Island in the heart of the Chesapeake Bay – home to Maryland’s Official State Dessert, the Smith Island Cake!
– Warblers on the Water Kayak/Canoe excursion – 8 a.m. – a three-hour trip that launches from Porter’s Crossing on the Pocomoke River a few miles north of Snow Hill, Maryland. Birders paddle deep into this forested wilderness of bald cypress, where Prothonotary Warblers Wood Ducks, Eagles, and beavers are regulars.
Winning duck carvings from the 2013 Ward World Championships, photo by: wardmuseum.org
– Newport Farms Diversity Walk – 8 a.m. – Pines, oaks, fields, and marsh spread as far as the eye can see on this 2,000 acre farm outside of Berlin. Take a 3-hour stroll through this private and protected land for the chance to see nesting bald eagles, wood ducks, and wading birds.
Also, don’t forget that Delmarva Birding Weekend coincides with the 48th Annual Ward World Championship Carving Competition and Art Festival at the Ocean City Convention Center. This weekend-long event brings the world’s best bird carvers to the beach as they display their mastery and compete for over $60,000 in prize money.
For a full schedule of events for the 20th Annual Delmarva Birding Weekend, directions, and other information about the event, please visit: http://delmarvabirding.com/
Ready to take a virtual tour of one of the top hotels on the Ocean City Boardwalk?
That’s coming, but first, a little history lesson on Ocean City’s famous Commander Hotel is in order. Because in addition to their new, giant beach chair (more on that down below), the Commander has a rich and unique history that dates back to the 1930s, and lots of modern amenities today that make it special, too.
A brief origin story of the Commander
The original Commander opened on Ocean City’s 14th street on Memorial Day of 1930. Today the hotel is almost 88 years old, even if the current Commander building has been reconstructed and remodeled in the decades since its grand opening. 88 years ago, the Commander boasted Ocean City’s first elevator, in-room telephone service and a sweeping front porch overlooking the Boardwalk. The hotel was complete with a full dining room and 62 rooms, and a week’s stay including three meals a day cost just $95.
When visitors sought haven at the Commander during World War II, the windows would be covered at night by black-out curtains due to the danger of enemy shelling by off-shore submarines. After the war, a North Wing was added to the hotel. The dining room at this point could seat 400 people, and in the 1950s, visitors traveled from all over Maryland and beyond to attend a Commander Clambake complete with lobster, corn-on-the-cob and steamed clams.
The Commander’s famous Clambakes came to an end after the March Storm of ’62, but from 1979-93, the Commander Boardwalk Cabaret Dinner was one of the hottest shows in town.
In 1998, the new building was erected and today includes beachfront rooms and suites, an indoor and outdoor pool, a separate cabana with suites overlooking the pool and two on-site restaurant’s — Ocean City traditions Grotto Pizza and Fractured Prune.
Of course, you can read that history and more on the hotel’s upstairs timeline mural. “The Commander Hotel is truly a celebration of tradition,” it says.
A look inside
Now, a virtual tour of the Commander’s interior, before we head outside to the beach and Boardwalk.
Postcards depicting an older iteration of the hotel can be seen on a coffee table in the hotel lobby……Which, by the way, was just remodeled last year.The Commander has oceanfront rooms and suites like this one, recently renovated with beachy colors and comfy beds.And even though the beach is just down below, you’re also just steps away from the indoor pool.
Commander Fun Fact: They’ve got mermaids. College students dressed in mermaid attire (tails and all) inhabit the Commander’s pool on select summer days. “They swim around in the pool with the little girls and they do a game, and they’ve got a pirate to go with them,” said Marketing & Sales Director Carissa Scaniffe. “It’s really cute, the kids love it.” This and other summer activities for both kids and adults can be found here.
A look outside
Of course, you’ll want to save the indoor pool for a rainy day when there’s so much to do outside.
Like swim in the outdoor pool. (Pictured here in the off-season.)Or venture all around town in the new Commander shuttle. Cabana rooms overlook the pool, while rooms in the main building look provide a view of the beach and Boardwalk (which, while peaceful now, will be a lot more interesting with actual people down there!).Then there’s this guy, now the ultimate selfie spot in Ocean City, just outside the hotel on the Boardwalk. Take a seat, take a picture and people watch from this perch.The hotel will be painting their logo on the chair before summer rolls around, but other than that, it’s ready for you to come take a seat. See you this summer!
A windy spring walk on the Boards, just outside the Commander
Ocean City, Maryland — (April 23, 2018): In an effort to improve bicycle safety in Ocean City, the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) began distributing free bicycle lights to residents of the town. Because the effort was so successful and received overwhelmingly positive feedback, the Town of Ocean City is expanding the bicycle lights project.
Ocean City residents and visitors alike will be able to bring their bikes to any of the town’s five fire stations to have the free lights installed. This service is just one effort to make Ocean City a more bicycle friendly community and a safer community overall, said Ocean City Councilmember Tony DeLuca.
“We are excited to have received a generous grant from the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore,” DeLuca said. “The generosity of our community has resulted in the purchase of nearly 500 free bicycle lights for residents, visitors and our J-1 students. We strongly believe that having properly equipped bicycles will reduce the number of bicycle collisions that occur in Ocean City, making it safer for drivers and bicyclists.”
Funding for the bicycle lights program has come from the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, in addition to the Ocean City Hotel Motel Restaurant Association and the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Association.
“It’s important to keep everyone on our roadways safe,” DeLuca said. “Providing lights for free is not only a great service but it’s a service that is making our roadways safer in Ocean City.”
To further improve this safety initiative, bicycle lights will be available at the City Hall gazebo on Wednesdays from May 16 through June 27, from approximately 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. To receive a free bicycle light, you must bring your bicycle to one of the designated locations, which include the Public Safety Building and the five Ocean City Fire Department stations.
It’s only April in Ocean City, but everyone is hard at work getting downtown OC, especially the Boardwalk, ready for summer.
And it’s got to happen fast. Even though it’s been a pretty cold spring thus far, Route 50 is seeing more and more traffic with each passing weekend. Normally when you drive past a backup of cars waiting to pass over the Bay Bridge, your initial reaction is to shudder and thank the heavens that it’s not happening on the side of traffic you’re on. In late April when you drive past a backup of cars waiting to pass over the Bay Bridge, you smile to yourself and thank the heavens that summer clearly is just around the corner.
April 20 might have been the first Friday of the year that 95% of the Boardwalk shops were open and pedestrian traffic was pretty steady around the Inlet and the pier rides. That wasn’t the case on the quieter north end on the Boardwalk, as evidenced by this Facebook live…
…But that end will become more crowded in time.
Anyway, here are 10 photos of a bustling spring Boardwalk and downtown area, where shop owners are putting the finishing touches on their storefronts and even the utility boxes are getting a fresh set of paint.
First, stop and smell the flowers in Sunset Park.Before you reach the boards, you hit the utility boxes — and in this case, the artists of the Art League of Ocean City giving the boxes a colorful new design.Local artists like Gerilyn Gaskill, Debbi Dean-Colley and Kathy Bohs work hard on those beautiful boxes.They’re also hard at work over at Trimper’s, getting all the rides up and running for the season.The Boardwalk Dumser’s is now open for business, and the ferris wheel is back up, too.Some Boardwalk shops are getting a facelift.…And others are getting their signs fixed. (Don’t try this at home.)On the other end of the Boardwalk, the Commander Hotel just put out a giant beach chair. It’s ready for you to come take a seat!All in all, downtown is pretty much one big construction site right now, but it’s for good reason. Ocean City will be back and better than ever by the time you’re here for summer vacation.And these lifeguard stands will be back on the beach by then, too!
Are you a tequila lover? Tequila Mockingbird offers 100 different tequilas to choose from. The bar at Tequila Mockingbird is known to have the largest selection of tequila in Maryland. Sample the wide selection of Mexican import drinks and domestic beers: Corona, Dos Quis, Negra, Modelo, Tecate, and more. Some knock-out items on the menu are the homemade Guacamole dip with chips and the Quesadillas Slimini Chimi. Try the Slimini Chimi if you’re conscious about the upcoming bikini season! Slimini Chimi’s are healthy vegetables wrapped in a flour tortilla and baked in a large oven. Tequila Mockingbird’s on 130th Street in the Montego Bay Shopping Center has Cinco de Mayo specials going on…
