When the Commander Hotel underwent its massive renovation in 2016, there was a lot of time to reflect on all the changes the hotel had seen. Strictly speaking it wasn’t anything like the original hotel, which opened nearly 90 years ago, but the feel and attitude remain the same. This essence was what they hoped to continue through the renovation as they launched the iconic Ocean City Hotel toward the beginning of its second century.
In the redesign process they tries to honor the Commander’s past in ways both obvious and subtle. One of the former, a wall designed to act as a timeline, is called “Portholes in Time.” The mural made from old photos greets guests as they make their way to and from the beach. It stands outside of Grotto’s Pizza, which occupies the space that formerly was Skipjack’s. An iconic brand in its own right, Grotto’s contributed one of its retro signs from the 1960s to enhance the nostalgic ambience.
A tour of the new Commander
The lobby has been completely refreshed and has a clean, beachy feel right from the moment you enter. Bell staff is at the ready to assist you with finding your room and getting settled.
More than just salt water
Even though the Commander Hotel is only yards from the Atlantic Ocean, the designers understood that sometimes you just need an afternoon lounging by pool. The raised-deck pool provides both a sense of privacy as well as a view of the Ocean City Strip. Available changing rooms and a service bar do make it kind of tempting to spend the day there.
That view though
Since the hotel itself has something of a panoramic shape, the views from practically every room and public space are astounding. Below is the sun deck, onto which several rooms open, but all guests are welcome to sit and rock and watch the ocean and the boardwalk from an elevated view.
Also, there’s nothing wrong with sleeping in
The Commander has almost too many different room types to count, each with a particular view and most laid out in a particular style. All have balcony access and a view of the ocean. Some are efficiencies and others just have sitting areas, but all of them have coffee makers and some mornings you just want to loaf around with a cup of coffee and stare out at the sea. I guess most mornings we all would like to do that.
Your family has probably created their own traditions without even realizing it, but if you’re an OC newbie, it’s never too late–in the year, in life, or in general–to start making those special Ocean City memories.
Once in a while I like to peruse our Ocean City forum, sometimes going back through years and years of old threads to find something interesting or something that’ll spark an idea for a story that would be relevant today.
Of course, we’ve been in the so-called off-season for one or two months now (depending on how you define “off”). There’s less happening here, and sadly that means there’s also less to write about. But sometimes, when I’m deep into forum threads of yesteryear, I find stories by Ocean City lovers that have already been written.
To keep that “Ocean City” part of your heart warm during these cold winter months, here are some OC-centered traditions, old and new, unique or relatively common, that were shared by forum users back in 2014. These are just a few of theirs. What are yours?
(Nothing says ‘nostalgia’ quite like a vintage OC, MD postcard.)
Off to the (horse) races
When I was in my early teens, my dad used to take me over to Rosecroft Raceway (later named Delmarva Downs and now Ocean Downs). I started buying a race program early in the morning and studied the races. I used to have a blast having my dad bet on races for me. I think the most I ever won was $30, which was a big night for a 14 year old in the mid/late 80s. For the last two years, my family has started going back to the track. My 11 and 14 year old sons have had fun betting on the horses with me. Lately, that has been our tradition. –Britt4duke
Obligatory donut stop
…Now it’s just the wife and I and our youngest (he’s 10), so many of our “traditions” have slowly fallen by the by the wayside. One thing we’ve been able to salvage, though, is our tradition of making our last stop in town for Layton’s donuts! Generally we have about half of ’em eaten before we hit the MD/PA line, and finish the rest of ’em up after we unload the luggage. –DeanM
Decades of camping out
I nearly forgot about our longest tradition. Camping at Assateague. Something I did with my family all the way back to 1970. I was so glad when my wife put her foot down in 1999 and said no more family trips to the racetrack. We’ve been camping there as a family since 1999 and have built up so many great memories. –flaggerjohn
A night spent shopping
One somewhat odd tradition that my family and I used to have when I was growing up was taking an evening and hitting the malls uptown. This started in the summer of 1989 when I was eight and we stayed at a condo called Discovery off 94th St. We would go to the Ocean Plaza Mall and Gold Coast Mall. Each mall had good bookstores, baseball card shops and a Dollar Store. Sometimes my father and I would go to baseball card shows at the Ocean Plaza Mall.
When we started staying in West OC in 1993, we still took a night to go uptown to the malls for an evening. This tradition lasted for all of my week long family trips, the last being in 2001. The Ocean Plaza Mall closed soon after.
However, in the summer of 2007, my folks and I stopped by the Gold Coast Mall one night after having dinner at the Fenwick Crab House. It was in the high 90s at 9 p.m., and was actually too hot for the Boardwalk. —Kds53098
Takeout, rides and a trip to the museum
When we were just coming as visitors – at least one night was takeout from Phillips and another from English’s (now closed). The boardwalk at least a couple of times – Dad would go play bingo and Mom and I did the rides. Several nights we did dinner out – and always tried at least one new restaurant each visit. At least one time we would also stop at the Lifesaving Station Museum at the Inlet to check out the new exhibits. Dad moved back to OC for good in ’82 and I’m still in the area, but I lost both my parents last year – so now I’m getting ready to start someone else’s Ocean City memories & traditions as I get the condo ready to rent – I hope! –ML
Be sure to share your own unique (–or relatively-common-but-special-nonetheless) traditions with us!
Maybe you’re still looking for something to do this week, but the odds are you’ve got your eyes on the prize, which in this case is the weekend. Sure there are happy hours to be enjoyed this week. Also, there are movies you might want to catch. If we’re honest, though, many of you are like me, sitting in your office and trying to make certain Facebook is regularly updated with your plans for the coming weekend.
And the weekend is all about the turkey.
So whether you’re cooking at home or being cooked for, traveling or battening down the hatches for potential arriving guests or packing to be one of those guests, here are some of the possibilities for Thursday and beyond.
Let’s cut to the chase…
Thanksgiving Day
In case you missed this last week, here are some of our favorite places that are open for Thanksgiving. There are plenty…
Whether you’re planning a destination Thanksgiving, are in visiting family or are locals who enjoy celebrating at a local restaurant, there are plenty of options for Thanksgiving in Ocean City and the surrounding area to kick off the holiday season.
There’s something vaguely cynical about the term “Black Friday,” so I’m going with Thanksgiving Weekend. Friday is a major shopping day. Spending the early hours of you-know-what out in front of the Walmart is quickly falling out of fashion, and this year, the potential for frostbite is outweighed only by the notion of standing in line for hours. The theme of this year’s holiday season, and with any luck the foreseeable future, is “Less stuff, better stuff.”
There are opportunities to put that into practice all over the region.
Berlin Arts Night
Berlin, Maryland has been doing the “un-Black Friday” since before it was cool.
It’s been two years since Budget Travel named Berlin the Coolest Small Town in America, but that doesn’t mean the town has lost its charm. In fact, Berlin now is cooler than ever (and I’m speaking to you as an expert on all things cool).
Treat yourself to a walk on the beach
Get our, stretch your legs and grab a little air. Maybe take some photos to make people who are not walking off their meal on the beach a little jealous.
What follows is a photoblog by reader Kandi Stuller. She was in town for Thanksgiving and was kind enough to share some of the photos she took by the beach. Many of these are stunning. Every so often we publish a collection of photos from different reader’s submissions but this is the first time we’ve run so many of just one photographer.
Winterfest continues…
And of course, Winterfest continues nightly through the new year. Take the time to treat yourself again or for the first time.
Kyle Cribben this this is going on this weekend in OC.
As we gear up for what could be a long, snowy winter, it is nice to think about summer vacation. This year, we’ve collected some of our favorite gift certificates and suggestions that will help the people on your list get through the winter as they plan all the cool things they’re going to do at the beach once the weather breaks.
1. Plan a day on the bay
Picture it. It’s a miserable day, sleeting, gray and cold. But the Person on your list can look at their calendar, see when they’re Ocean City Vacation begins and know that it will include a jet ski excursion with Odyssea Watersports. It might not take all the bite out of the bite out of winter, but it certainly will dull it.
In Ocean City, there are watersport rental companies, and then there’s Odyssea Watersports. Family owned and operated for over 17 years and the winners of oceancity.coms “Best of” Jetski rentals three years and counting, offering jet ski, stand up paddle board, and pontoon boat rentals.
2. Have an exceptional meal at an iconic restaurant
The Captain’s Table is one of the staple restaurants in town. It’s one of those places you should visit as part of an authentic Ocean City experience. While it’s a good idea to book in advance during the summer, it also is a great place to just pop over to during the winter. Tables are easy to get and the food is still prepared by a staff that is invested in ensuring your good time.
If you’re looking for the in best fine dining , from the land or the sea, why not put your faith in the folks who have been cranking out local and tourist favorites for over 50 years?
3. Plan an afternoon in Berlin
Increasingly people make a day trip to Berlin part of their Ocean City Vacation. The Globe is kind of the cultural hub, with live music and movies as well as an awesome menu and bar. A gift certificate for The Globe gives the people on your list a day trip to look forward to. Or better, an excuse to visit over the winter.
Save $10 when you buy this $25 gift certificate to the Globe Theater in Downtown Berlin. The Globe Theater in historic Downtown Berlin, MD, is located just 5 miles from Ocean City, MD and offers fantastic food & drink in the dining room and at the Coppertop Bar, live music, local art and a wide …
4. Practice the height of gift-giving
Whenever we talk to someone who has parasailed for the first time, they always regret they waited as long as they did to try it out With a gift certificate to Paradise Watersports you can encourage the people on your list to step out of their comfort zones and into the air above Ocean City.
Ocean City’s beaches are free, clean, and offer stunning glimpses of natural beauty, and fit bodies in bathing suits. But sometimes, the best views come from hundreds of feet above or while whizzing across the wake along the shoreline.
5. Beer and the countryside. Daytrip!
This region increasingly has become known as a craft beer destination. Give the craft beer geek on your list the opportunity to tool around the Delmarva countryside, exploring the different little towns and finally stopping off at 3rd Wave, one of the finest breweries in the region.
In the world of surfing, the term ‘3rd wave’ is synonymous with being best in a set of waves. In the world of craft beer, 3rd Wave is becoming synonymous with serving some of the best pints around.
6. Give them a little something to mull
As we mentioned, summer isn’t really complete without a trip to Berlin and after enjoying a meal at The Globe, there’s nothing like being able to pop over the the Maryland Wine Bar to sample some of the best wines the state has to offer and maybe even take a bottle or two home.
Save $3 when you buy this $10 gift certificate to Maryland Wine Bar on Main Street in Downtown Berlin. The Maryland Wine Bar is an intimate tasting room/winebar for Maryland wines & beer located in the heart of Historic Berlin, Maryland. There is an extensive choice of wines, along with local craft beer on tap.
7. Give a dealer’s choice
The Shrimp Boat now ships the best local seafood anywhere. If you’re planning on having something special from the sea this holiday season, you could do a lot worse.
Save $10 when you buy this $25 gift certificate to Shrimp Boat on Rt 611 in West Ocean City. Celebrating 28 years as the local’s favorite seafood market in Ocean City, The Shrimp Boat continues to offer fresh shrimp, blue crabs, and a wide array of other seasonal favorites straight from the boat.
8. A bad day fishing is better than a good day at work!
Bayside boat rentals provides visitors the opportunity to get out on the water with very lettle expense and even less boat maintenance. Take the family for a cruise or throw an unbaited line into the ocean and take a nap. Just the thought of a sunny day is what most people need come the deep winter.
The family owned and operated Bayside Boat Rentals has been responsible for creating wild watersport memories since 1999. Whether you want to spend an afternoon jumping waves on a jetski, lounging with your friends on a pontoon boat, or rocketing around the bay on one of OCMD’s only jet boats, Bayside Boat Rentals has brand new equipment and a certified staff waiting to help you set sail on a wet and wild ride.
9. Give the gift of an exclusive Ocean City experience
There’s nothing like a kayak adventure in the backwaters and bays of Assateague Island. Getting a guided tour is a great way to get back to nature.
Everyone knows Assateague is home to beautiful beaches and the famous wild ponies, but the National Seashore and State Park offer many more picturesque natural attractions that inhabit their less explored regions. Less explored unless of course you’ve taken advantage of SuperFun Eco Tour’s kayak, paddleboard, and bike rentals that give you access to every inch of the island and all the natural treasures.
10. Give the gift of a brand new skill
Island Watersports rents all sorts of boats but also gives wakeboarding lessons. Planing a day during your Ocean City Vacation to learn how to wakeboard and then actually learning it is as permanent a gift as a person can get. Add to that the great memories an adventure like this provides and you have yourself a knockout holiday present.
Island Watersports offer personalized water sports services, from rentals and gear to complete instruction. They are a locally owned business and started their business to offer their customers the best service along with the best equipment for their rentals. They have Pontoon Boats, Center Console Fishing Boats, and Jet Boats, as well as Banana Boats and Wakeboard lessons.
In case you’ve missed it, we go live on Facebook nearly every day. Sometimes we talk to people on the beach, sometimes we just let people from out of town enjoy the view. We’d love to hear your opinions and maybe take some requests about things you would like to see on upcoming Facebook live broadcasts. Feel free to email, comment or, even better, tag us in your own Facebook live broadcast so we can stay in touch.
What did you do on your summer vacation?
We get throwback photos all year. Remember to post yours to our Facebook page and help share your summer with the rest of the community.
Ah, the beach selfie!
We get a lot of beach selfies on our Facebook page, but we hardly get enough. All throughout the season whenever people make it to Ocean City, and even in the winter, a beach selfie has become a kind of iconic representation of having your feet in the sand. It is even moreso when you’re among the only people there!
Halloween comes to Berlin
Halloween is a huge holiday in Berlin with many if not most of the downtown businesses remaining open and most of the community either trick-or-treating or handing out candy. What makes it such a special event is that it mostly is natural. Berlin is a really walkable town so it attracts young revelers. Plus, there are lots of great bars downtown for older revelers.
Get married on the beach
There’s something particularly special and even a little daring about tempting the weather gods with a beach wedding. Generally people are rewarded for their faith with a glorious day (or at least a spectacular story).
Beachfront panorama
These cameras that let you look around in the photo make the browsing experience so much more fun.
Beach Safety Navigation
The ocean can be a very safe place if you take the time to understand beach and water safety. Many misconceptions about the ocean exist and contribute to one of the biggest factors behind people getting into trouble. That factor is fear. If you understand how currents work and take proper precautions before jumping in, it’s easy to safely enjoy the ocean. When you don’t have a proper understanding of beach safety and water safety, fear and panic can take over and jeopardize your safety.
Rip currents and longshore currents aren’t an uncommon fear, but being afraid of the currents won’t help you practice effective water safety if you accidentally find yourself caught in one. One of the biggest misconceptions with these currents is that they pull you underwater, but this simply isn’t true. More often than not, fear, panic and unpreparedness are responsible for swimmers being pulled under by strong currents. In an emergency situation, understanding the currents and knowing how to swim out of them is your best bet for staying safe.
Beach Patrol
Tasked with keeping our beaches and ocean safe, the Ocean City Beach Patrol is one of the most integral entities in Ocean City. The Beach Patrol is comprised of young men and women who vigorously train under the tutelage of veteran leaders to ensure swimmers and beach goers stay safe at all times. The OCBP is broken up into 17 individual crews, each of which operates as a team to man the 5 or 6 lifeguard stands on its assigned beach, with the crew chief stand located in the center. Read more…
Rip currents are powerful, channeled currents of water flowing away from shore. They typically extend from the shoreline, through the surf zone, and past the line of breaking waves. Rip currents can occur at any beach with breaking waves, whether it’s by the Atlantic Ocean or the Great Lakes.
Why do they form?
As waves travel from deep to shallow water, they will break near the shoreline. When waves break strongly in some locations and weakly in others, this can cause circulation cells which are seen as rip currents: narrow, fast-moving belts of water traveling offshore.
When do they form?
Rip currents can be found on many surf beaches every day. Under most tide and sea conditions the speeds are relatively slow. However, under certain wave, tide and beach profile conditions, the speeds can quickly increase to become dangerous to anyone entering the surf. The strength and speed of a rip current will likely increase as wave height and wave period increase. They are most likely to be dangerous during high surf conditions as the wave height and wave period increase.
Where do they form?
Rip currents most typically form at low spots or breaks in sandbars, and also near structures such as groins, jetties and piers. Rip currents can be very narrow or extend in widths to hundreds of yards. The seaward pull of rip currents varies: sometimes the rip current ends just beyond the line of breaking waves, but sometimes rip currents continue to push hundreds of yards offshore.
Why are rip currents dangerous?
Rip currents are the leading surf hazard for all beach goers, and they’re particularly dangerous for weak or non-swimmers. Rip current speeds are typically 1-2 feet per second. However, speeds as high as 8 feet per second have been measured–faster than an Olympic swimmer can sprint! Thus, rip currents can sweep even the strongest swimmer out to sea.
How to identify rip currents
Look for any of these clues:
a channel of churning, choppy water
an area having a notable difference in water color
a line of foam, seaweed or debris moving steadily seaward
a break in the incoming wave pattern
How to avoid rip currents (or survive if you get caught in one)
Never swim alone.
Be cautious at all times, especially when swimming at unguarded beaches. When in doubt, don’t go out!
Whenever possible, swim at a lifeguard protected beach.
Obey all instructions and orders from lifeguards.
If caught in a rip current, remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly.
Don’t fight the current. Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline. When out of the current, swim towards shore.
If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim towards shore.
If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself: face the shore, wave your arms and yell for help.
If you see someone in trouble, get help from a lifeguard. If a lifeguard is not available, have someone call 911. Throw the rip current victim something that floats and yell instructions on how to escape. Remember, many people drown while trying to save someone else from a rip current.
Rip current myth – Contary to popular belief, rip currents do not pull people under the water–-they pull people away from shore. Drowning deaths occur when people pulled offshore are unable to keep themselves afloat and swim to shore. This may be due to any combination of fear, panic, exhaustion or lack of swimming skills.
Longshore current – A current located in the surf zone, moving generally parallel to the shoreline, generated by waves breaking at an angle with the shoreline, also called the alongshore current. Water will drift with the direction of the wind. The best thing to understand with this current is that you will drift up or down the beach with the current, and you want to be aware of that fact. As you drift to a certain point, exit the water and walk back up the beach to your entry point. You always want to turn around once in a while and pay attention to your location in reference to where you entered the water. Strong winds can make the longshore current very strong and fast. Pick out a street number or landmark. Tip: Do not pick out the lifeguard chairs or umbrellas as there are hundreds up and down the beach.
Another thing you should always be aware of is water depth. Many people are under the impression that there is deep water underneath waves breaking along the beach, but in reality, waves break as they travel into shallow(er) water. This means that when you’re playing in the ocean, there is not a lot of water under you. Why is this important? Just like we don’t want to dive into a shallow swimming pool, we don’t want to go head first into the sand. Simply understanding this before stepping into the water is a huge preventative measure.
Most of these may sound like common sense, but understanding and reinforcing them ensures safety in the ocean. Don’t be scared of the ocean, but instead understand it and know your limits, so you can enjoy it.
What follows is a photoblog by reader Kandi Stuller. She was in town for Thanksgiving and was kind enough to share some of the photos she took by the beach. Many of these are stunning. Every so often we publish a collection of photos from different reader’s submissions but this is the first time we’ve run so many of just one photographer. There were a couple of reasons for this. First off, Kandi identified herself, Second, and equally as important, she added some descriptions. I did add some detail to her captions to fill out the page but the work you see is mostly hers. Remember, if you would like to submit a photo (or a bunch) you can do so here.
— Tony Russo
Things To See/Beach – Find a penny, pick it up … Seagulls peck at the incoming water. Photo by Kandi Stuller.South Beach, 7th Street and Boardwalk during Thanksgiving Weekend, way back when sunrise was at 6:30 a.m. instead of 7. Photo by Kandi Stuller.
Inlet – Thanksgiving Weekend, 11/27, a gull passes over the beach on the way to the boards to look for something tasty.Inlet – Thanksgiving Weekend, 11/27 A receding tide in the shadow of the inlet marker with the pier in the background. Photo by Kandi Stuller.A lonely gull in the late morning on the Inlet beach, Thanksgiving weekend, 2016. Photo by Kandi Stuller.The sun comes up on a Thanksgiving morning. If winter has an upside at the beach it is that you don’t have to get up early to be up by the crack of dawn. Photo by Kandi Stuller.The horses of Assateague Island are out and about all year long, although their hair is a bit thicker and they don’t take as many dips in the ocean as the winter comes on. Photo by Kandi Stuller.
Sunset photos are so difficult to choose from, which is why we’re glad that Kandi sent along a bunch. They’re always welcome here. Photo by Kandi Stuller.Different angles, from minute to minute give you different colors. More blues and pinks depending upon where you are and when you are there. Photo by Kandi Stuller.
Historically, Ocean City has always been a vacation destination for food enthusiasts–if your idea of a good meal is limited to crabs, pizza and bar peanuts. Thankfully, the Ocean City restaurant scene has been expanding greatly in the last decade, and the town’s Restaurant Week has gotten bigger along with it.
Since 2007, Restaurant Week has been a bi-annual event that celebrates the growing array of food options in town that today includes upscale dining and multicultural cuisine like taquerias, sushi and kebabs. The crabs and pizza are still delicious, of course, and make up a sizable portion of the participating restaurants–did you know you can get both of those smothered in Old Bay?! But now if you happen to be craving tacos n’ tequila or a fancy seafood platter, there’s a place for that, too.
Ocean City’s 2017 fall Restaurant Week will take place November 5 – 19.
An entire week (well, two) dedicated to eating good food usually isn’t a hard sell, but just in case you’re still on the fence, here’s four reasons why Restaurant Week is so awesome.
Summer has been winding down for months and as we approach November, Joe White still is keeping busy serving crowds at the Shrimp Boat. Traditionally there have been peaks and valleys in Ocean City, with insanely busy summers followed by deadish falls and winter doldrums, but that hasn’t been White’s experience in recent years.
You’ll expand your palette
There’s always a wide variety of restaurants that participate in Restaurant Week and in the kinds of foods they offer. Participants range from Touch of Italy (serving Italian fare, of course), to The Crab Bag and other seafood joints (mmm, crabs), to Happy Jack’s Pancake House (pancakes for lunch, anyone?). This year, 18 restaurants are involved in total, which means you could eat dinner somewhere different every night for two weeks if you wanted to and still have restaurants left to hit. And remember, despite what the event’s name might tell you, Restaurant Week is actually two weeks long. Come for the entire two weeks or just take a few days off and spend a long weekend enjoying all the delicious grub that Ocean City has to offer.
The full list of participating restaurants is available here.
You can satisfy your sweet tooth
While you might have come with only the main course in mind, be sure to save room for dessert. Sometimes, you’ll even be treated to a seasonal dish; for example, Horizons Oceanfront Restaurant has offered a Pumpkin Lust cake from Desserts by Rita in the past, in addition to pumpkin soup made with sage and apples, an autumn salad with candied pecans and roasted sweet potatoes. Many restaurants offer deals that include a multi-course meal, so for what you’d normally pay for one dish, you can get an appetizer and dessert along with it.
Usually I go on my Happy Hour Adventures on a whim. I don’t scout these places out but rather pop in with my camera and ask if I can hang out and take some photos. The Longboard Cafe was the first place I made a conscious decision to visit.
You’re eating fine cuisine on the cheap
No matter what your budget is or what your tastes are, you’ll be able to find something satisfying during Restaurant Week. Participating restaurants offer $10-$40 meal options. So with $10 you could get, for example, a gourmet breakfast or specialty burger, for $20 a two-course lunch or dinner, for $30 a three-course meal and for $40, four courses that emphasize upscale dining.
Different restaurants have different specials, so what you get also depends on where you go. Horizons, for example, has offered a 20% wine discount during the entirety of Restaurant Week, while for $28.95 Touch of Italy has served a multi-course meal that included an appetizer, a pasta dish, a meat dish and a dessert.
It’s an excuse to come back to Ocean City!
Not that you really need an excuse–I think we’ve established by now that the off-season is never completely “off” in Ocean City. The town is beautiful in the autumn, and on the second-to-last day of Restaurant Week, the holiday season begins early with the Light Up Downtown Festival and a Turkey Trot Golf Open at OC’s award-winning Eagle’s Landing golf course. Winterfest of Lights will begin during the second half of Restaurant Week, too, so you can check out the beautiful light displays after eating a delicious, discounted hot meal.
(If you need another reason to partake in Restaurant Week, here’s a bonus: this year, you can win a gift card just by eating at two participating RW restaurants and sending in your receipts. More information here.)
Happy Halloween! Earlier this week, I wrote a story on dark ride enthusiast Brandon Seidl, who knows pretty much everything about Trimper’s Haunted House. Seidl also has a vast collection of photos related to everything OCHH. In the spirit of Halloween and celebrating the spookiness (and occasionally gloriously cheesiness) of the holiday, here are a few behind-the-scenes photos that Seidl has taken or acquired over the years. More can be found on his website and Facebook.
(If you’d rather not have the illusion spoiled, don’t read on! Some photos are of the ride with the lights on.)
Up close and personal with Count Wolf Von Vinderstein (he may look old, but he was added to the lobby in 1995).After Wolfstein, the Attic Rat–who’s barely changed in appearance or location for over 50 years–is the official greeter of OCHH.Ever look closely when driving through the mine shaft? These miners have been down there awhile.Anyone who’s been in the Haunted House knows this damsel in distress. The Sawmill stunt has gone through a few paint jobs over the decades, but it’s original to the 1964 haunted house.Another tragic female character of the original haunted house, this poor woman resides in the Torture Chamber. The photo on the right is from the catalog she was purchased from and shows how she would have looked in the ’60s. (She’s been tied up for over 50 years but at least someone was nice enough to modernize her hairstyle.) Another OC local ends up on the cutting board.The Knit Wit, up close (not pictured are her hands, knitting with a spider tangled in the yarn)Anddd her back is turned again.The man in the electric chair once greeted you as you exited the Upside Down Room.It’s not every day that you see the Upside Down room right side-up.(There’s not really a train coming at you.)The upstairs bat.A few years after the Haunted House opened in 1964. It wasn’t until 1989 that the second floor was added.Seeing the ride’s interior with the lights on might ruin the illusion, but sometimes it just illuminates how truly creepy some of the old stunts are. Happy holidays!
Front Row (l – r) Anna Jonske, ‘Mike’ England, Maureen Kirkland, Nancy Howard; Center Row (l – r) Linda Welsh, Linda McCready, Karen DeFonzo, Jackie Denhardt, Denise Pugh, Rosie Bird; Back Row (l – r) Joyce Fensterer, ‘Mike’ Kroener, Sylvie Doyle, Margie Geisler, Anne Giannelli
Loving Hands celebrates 12 years of service to the community. These ladies from Maryland and Delaware meet weekly at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church to knit and crochet items for those less fortunate. During the 12 years the ladies have made baby clothes and items for Worcester County GOLD and items for seniors, veterans and others in need distributed through Atlantic General Hospital and Coastal Hospice.
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.
Here’s what you’ll find when you take a look around the galleries this November.
“Reimagined” Theme Group Show
Thaler Gallery—One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. This month the Art League brings that phrase to life with a “reimagined” group show in the Thaler Gallery, inspired by an effort to clean our beaches and use art as a way to solve problems creatively and improve the world around us. All artwork on display will have been created in part or totally with reclaimed, recycled and/or repurposed materials.
The exhibit will include a moveable but permanent art installation comprised of trash gathered from Assateague and Ocean City’s beaches, created collaboratively by The Art League of Ocean City, Alex Otterstein and other local artists. The goal of the exhibit, which will be officially unveiled at the Art League’s First Friday opening reception, is to raise public awareness about beach trash via a visually impactful art installation.
Kathy Gibson, “A Caregiving Journey”
Galleria—In the Galleria will be work of artist Kathy Gibson’s from “A Caregiving Journey: Through the Eyes of Huntington’s.” Gibson’s journey as a painter began over a decade ago as she sought to shed light on her role as caregiver, as her father, brother and sister all suffered from Huntington’s Disease. She says in her statement on “A Caregiving Journey,”
As my sister’s sole caregiver, I cared for her from the moment she moved into our home with my husband and I in 1997, until her death in 2014. I did everything possible to give voice to her story but when she was gone, my story was the one that was left, my legacy.I have been channeling my story into the only voice I know – painting. Since my sister’s death, I have been creating a visual dialogue of our journey together, tapping into those deep, intense moments when we stood together trying to battle this monster – Huntington’s Disease. My series of paintings pays tribute to my family’s journey and to all of those who have suffered through Huntington’s Disease.
While Gibson’s paintings will not be for sale, prints of her artwork will be available for purchase at the Art League. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these prints will be donated to The Huntington’s Society of America in support of caregiving programs.
“Family: Who Cares, Who Gives” by Kathy Gibson
Barbara Siskind
Spotlight Gallery—In the Spotlight Gallery will be photography by Barbara Siskind, a lifelong Maryland resident with a primary residence in Columbia, MD and a vacation home in Ocean City. In 2011, Siskind retired from a 35-year career in pediatrics and has since had more time to devote to family, travel and photography. Siskind’s artist statement is as follows:
Having enjoyed film photography for over 50 years, I reluctantly switched to digital photography in 2008. This has allowed me unimaginable freedom to grow artistically, spiritually and professionally. I find joy in trying to capture a unique scene: a painterly and peaceful moment, an energetic split second, a sharp detail or a semi -abstraction of the seemingly ordinary. The words of Wendell Berry’s poem, “The Peace of Wild Things”, embody the feelings I experience when pursuing my nature oriented works. It is my desire to create photographic images which are engaging and are capable of generating emotional experiences for the viewer.
Eva Fox, Rina Thaler, Chelsea Thaler, “From Realism to Abstraction”
Studio E— “From Realism to Abstraction” reflects the generational differences in artistic approach, from a family with three generations of artists. Eva loves to paint people and thinks of her paintings as storytelling. Rina’s work ranges from traditional watercolors and acrylics to more complex collage and mixed media painting. Chelsea works from an abstract perspective, often incorporating elements of pop art into her work.
Eva
Eva Fox has been painting for over 80 years. She received her early training at the Educational Alliance on the Lower East Side of New York in the 1930’s and 40’s, developing a love for painting figure which still intrigue her at the age of 89. Her love of art was passed down to her son Richard and daughter Rina who are both working artists.
By Eva Fox
Rina
Rina has always been fascinated by color. Her mother Eva taught oil painting to the neighborhood kids and she was an eager pupil, but never considered it as a career. It wasn’t until she was an adult that she started studying watercolors. Her work has evolved over the years to incorporate mixed media, collage and acrylics. She paints in a vibrant expressive yet somewhat representational manner. Her favorite subjects are landscapes, abstracts and florals.
Rina is the Executive Director of the Art League of Ocean City and serves on the Ocean City Arts Advisory Board. She is also a partner artist at Gallery One on Rt 26 in Ocean View Delaware, a cooperative art gallery.
By Rina Thaler
Chelsea
Chelsea Thaler graduated with a degree in theater from American University in Washington DC. She is an actor, director, artist and yoga teacher currently based out of Washington DC.
By Chelsea Thaler
Debbi Dean-Colley
Artisan Showcase—In the Artisan Showcase this November is the work of Debbi Dean-Colley, a Mom, artist and instructor who creates art (and messes) in her Berlin home. She knows the power of creativity, and that the gift of being able to make art brings people back to the center of their innate creativity and helps them live more authentically in the world. She loves learning for learning’s sake and sharing what she knows with others.
Dean-Colley attended Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and loves painting surfaces while building up texture in her work in unconventional ways. Her art medium at the time was pottery, wheel throwing, jewelry making and metal work. This was the start of her creative movement, which has since evolved into the mixed media world. Largely self-taught, she loves experimenting and working with different mediums. She was employed as an Art Educator Assistant at a Montessori school located in Stuart, Florida and she continues to teach mixed media classes as an educator at the Art League of Ocean City, Zenna Wellness Studio and Urban Nectar in Berlin. The majority of her classes are considered art therapy, with a continuation of series at the Art League of Ocean City titled “Seek the Soul” workshops. In her workshops, she strives to create experiences and art that encourage connection, validate emotion and nourish the sou
The Jolly Roger ferris wheel is a staple of the Ocean City boardwalk. When you look down toward the Inlet from the northern end of the beach or boardwalk, you expect to see it there as much as you expect to see the two poles of the Slingshot or the Looping Star roller coaster that’s normally right next to it.
But sometimes, in the off season, instead of seeing this…
(AKA the usual rides and a clear blue sky)
You see this.
Only the Slingshot and the coaster–with a cloudy autumn sky to boot.
As you might have guessed, the 116 foot Giant Ferris Wheel is down for maintenance.
“It needed some refurbishment and some general maintenance, probably needs a coat of paint and new lights but it’ll be back in the same spot with the same great views,” said Dean Langrall, Jolly Roger’s Director of Sales. “Certainly we’ll have it back up by the time the weather’s good in the spring.”
There might be a big, empty spot on the pier now, but you can bet that the ferris wheel will be back up by the time Jolly Roger opens for the 2018 season on Easter weekend (which, thankfully, is early this year, at the tail end of March and the start of April).
Jolly Roger will be open on weekends from Easter until Springfest, after which they will return to their seasonal hours. Then you can ride the freshly-painted ferris wheel as many times as your heart desires.
The Trimper’s Haunted House at the south end of the Boardwalk is as iconic as the teeth-barring bat that adorns the ride’s second story.
For over five decades, kids and adults alike have fallen in love with the Ocean City Haunted House (OCHH)’s neon-painted walls, kitschy stunts and decapitated Count Wolf Von Vinderstein who guards the ride’s entry. Brandon Seidl was one of those kids who looked forward to riding through the Haunted House every summer. But his love for the ride developed into a lifelong passion.
(Unfortunately, Seidl and his wife did not marry on the Haunted House roof.)
Seidl’s passion inspired a book, “Trimper’s Rides,” where he wrote the section on OCHH. It also inspired OCHH.net, a virtual encyclopedia for all things related to the Haunted House (the site celebrated its 10-year anniversary last month), and when the widely-accepted history of the Haunted House stated that the ride was built in 1962, Seidl’s research proved it to have been built in ’64. As a kid, he built a walk-through model of the haunted house in his backyard. When he got married, his wedding cake depicted–you guessed it–the Haunted House, and photos of his wedding party were taken inside the ride. (More on that here.)
Today, Seidl says that taking care of his family has taken priority “in contrast to a time when all I had to worry about was when the HH was going to break down next.” However, he still keeps up with the ride’s progress, which he documents on Facebook, and keeps in touch with the friends he’s made at the park.
“I’m excited to take my children on the ride some day and can only hope they’re as amazed as I was,” he said.
The following is a Q&A with Seidl about his passion for OCHH, the ride’s designer Bill Tracy and other Trimper’s rides throughout the years.
What initially sparked your passion for the Haunted House?
As a Marylander, I spent ample time in Ocean City vacationing during the summer with my family when I was young. As with most families, certain things became traditions, and it was no different for us. I was always drawn to iconic things that made places visually unique, like the giant “Tony” statue on top of the entrance of “Tony’s Pizza,” the giant green dome on top of Plim Plaza, the Giant Bull in front of what was then Captain Bob’s, and of course, the giant bat on the facade of Trimper’s Haunted House.
I was fortunate enough to first ride Trimper’s Haunted House when I was about four, and I have very faint memories of the ride as a one-story attraction before it was expanded to two stories in the winter of ’88-89. It wasn’t until elementary school when I realized that Trimper’s Haunted House, and the entire amusement park, was beginning to grow more and more special to me with every year that passed. By middle school I very much looked forward to spending my free time exploring around the park, and in particular Trimper’s Haunted House.
At first, the mere grandeur of the ride and the feeling it gave me struck the biggest nerve, but it wasn’t until later in middle school when I started making friends with some Trimper family members and employees of the park that I became interested in the operation of the ride from a technical standpoint. I started growing curious about how the cars worked, how they were worked on, the motors that made the effects inside operate. From there, I also grew curious about select other rides in the park in terms of how they were set up, taken down and maintained, but since Trimper’s Haunted House was a permanent feature of the OC boardwalk, it drew me in the most.
In all, I’d say my interest in the ride initially was a pretty even split between the actual ride experience (what was inside, the effects, the illusions) and how the ride operated. Today, my interest remains but is a nice combination of the two and I think my website, which I started in September 2007, reflects that.
When did you start documenting OCHH?
By late middle school, I found myself beginning to document the ride in its entirety, not really sure at the time what I was going to do with the information. But it was important to me. I took pictures with disposable cameras I would buy on the boardwalk. I used my dad’s video camera to take video in and around the ride, and I took notes about what I learned. A few folks I met at the time, Clifford Hudson (the HH manager until 1999) Scott Hudson (current manager, son of Clifford) and Chris Trimper (grandson of the late Granville Trimper and current manager of Marty’s Playland) were instrumental in teaching me about the ride and putting up with my childish annoyances. I’m still very close with Scott and Chris to this day, along with select other Trimper family members and Trimper employees. Little did I know at the time that I’d be able to start friendships with people who today I’ve known well over 20 years. It’s a really great family full of really awesome, hardworking people that work together to make the operation possible each and every summer.
This scale model in Seidl’s OCHH collection was created by a dollhouse designer in Gettysburg, PA. He also has original ride drawings in his office, handmade props from the ’60s, letters by Tracy and more (see the picture at the bottom).
When you were younger, you had an entire model of the Haunted House in your backyard. How’d that come about?
In middle school I took my passion to the next level and my grandfather, dad and I built a miniature Trimper’s Amusement Park in my parents’ backyard (thanks mom and dad!) complete with a walk-thru version of the Haunted House and multiple carnival games. Kids from around the neighborhood would come play the games, walk through the Haunted House and get a class of lemonade. When I was in 7th grade, Chris Trimper recorded the Haunted House interior sound for me, and a longtime Trimper employee named Dan Lewis recorded the HH lobby music for me. So it very much felt like you were at Trimper’s when you were in my backyard. It was a ton of fun and I learned a lot from my dad and grandfather. My own mini amusement park, which I called “Zoomer Amusements” at the time, was in the backyard from 1996-2002. I didn’t use it much in high school and tore it all down one Saturday afternoon. I was happy to give my parents their patio back, and I’m sure they were just as thrilled!
When I graduated high school in 2002, I went to live in OC and worked at Trimper’s for most of the summer. Along with the HH, I operated rides like the Tilt-a-Whirl, the Avalanche and the Sling Shot. But working that up-close and personal with the HH that summer really allowed me to satisfy many of my curiosities about the ride and how it operated. To be honest, most days were downright tiring, between the ride breaking down, etc. But it was fun, and I enjoyed every minute of it.
The mini Haunted House, in Seidl’s old backyard.
You’re also really interested in dark ride designer Bill Tracy, who created the Haunted House in 1964. When did that start?
I didn’t really know who Bill Tracy was until high school. I always heard that “Tracy built the ride,” but I didn’t have a clue who he was or the extent of his role. By college I had become more aware of Bill Tracy and his work, not only in Ocean City at Trimper’s, but at other select locations around the country, too. I remember finding it interesting to look at photos of other dark rides he had built and comparing them to his Trimper designs. It wasn’t until 2008 when I co-founded The Bill Tracy Project that my curiosity about Tracy, echoed by my website partner Wayne Bahur of Pittsburgh, PA, took a huge turn. We began uncovering many details about Tracy’s personal and professional life, and were floored to learn that he and his companies were responsible for over 80 known projects around the world, the two rides at Trimper’s (the Haunted House and the Pirates Cove fun house) being only a small fraction.
It turns out that Tracy was a pretty interesting character who at the time was a true innovator in the industry. After we learned about how he lived his life and conducted his business, it became clear that a lot of his feelings were translated into his work, whether it be the design of a ride front, a stunt or an illusion inside the ride. Bill Tracy wasn’t just a businessman, he was an artist. And, as with any artist, his expression was, and still is, evident in a lot of his dark ride and fun house work.
Today, we’ve pretty much taken a break with the Bill Tracy Project because we feel we’ve exhausted a lot of the avenues. There just comes a time when you have to put your hands up and be thankful for what you’ve learned. But for all that we’ve published on our project’s website, I know there’s still a ton to learn out there. Fans will send a rare photo every now and then and it’s fun to meet other people who know who the illusive Bill Tracy is and respect his contributions to the amusement industry.
Is there anything specific about the Haunted House that you’d want OCHH riders of today to know?
Trimper’s Haunted House is one of only eight surviving Bill Tracy attractions left in the world. As the ride enters in to its 54th year it’s important not to lose sight of what’s involved with maintaining a ride of this magnitude and keeping it relevant not only for fans who enjoy the papier-mâché and blacklight stunts of yesteryear, but the more modern, scary stunts of today. The care of such a titanic ride with so many moving parts paired with the ongoing maintenance of the rest of the park is what I find interesting today in my older age.
‘Til death do us part: this coffin carriage is one of many pieces of OCHH memorabilia in Seidl’s personal collection.
*Trimper’s Haunted House is open on select weekends off-season. For exact hours of operation, contact Trimper’s Rides at 410-289-8617.
When thinking of real estate, everyone is familiar with primary houses. A primary house is the one property you call home, whether it is a townhouse, condo, apartment, single house, boat or RV. However, there are other types of homes that primary homeowners have invested in, such as secondary homes or vacation homes. This is especially true of couples over 50 with an eye towards eventual retirement.
This writer owns one such property in Rincon, Puerto Rico. Rincon was a beautiful, quiet, peaceful and lush paradise that I looked forward to every winter. That was before Hurricane Maria hit with full force, stripping leaves away, bringing down trees, utility poles, homes and historical buildings alike. Imagine an island in the middle of the Caribbean without power, water, food or sewage!
It has been five weeks tomorrow since a ferocious Maria slammed Puerto Rico straight on, as a category 4 hurricane. In those five weeks, the improvement has been astonishing. While the military does bring a 500 gallon tanker truck with water once a week to Aguadilla, overall, their efforts aren’t as notable as the work accomplished by the citizens themselves. At least that is true in Rincon. However, the supplies are slowly being distributed, so perhaps that is due to the efforts of the military in the San Juan area.
Picking up the pieces
The damage from Maria was daunting, to say the least, however the resilience of the people was far more impressive than the storm. For those unfamiliar with the area, Rincon is a small fishing village on the North Western Coast of Puerto Rico. While those who live in larger cities may not have experienced the same reaction to the storm that we observed, we can’t help but think the situations must have been somewhat similar. When the storm hit, the power grid was destroyed. Food in everyone’s freezers began to thaw, so the people just started cooking on grills in their yards. Handmade signs went up declaring “free food” to welcome anyone who was hungry and encourage them to come and eat. Free Food signs became a part of the new scenery for our area.
Ocean City resident recounts his Hurricane Maria experience on the Island of Dominica
Although favorite restaurants and bars were closed down, the local liquor store owner posted a “free internet” sign and started to share his internet service. Internet service is very scarce, so even though his internet didn’t work well, it was still a (shaky) link to the outside world. The store owner then began serving drinks, thereby taking up the slack for the local gathering places that were still closed down. Food was being cooked on a grill next door. Children were running around, grownups hugging and visiting with their neighbors and friends, right in the parking lot of Bonnet Liquors!
The local gas station on Route 115 has a natural spring running behind the store front, the owner was offering water for those in need. People were on hand to help their neighbors, to bring food and water to those that lost their vehicle or means of transportation. Everyone shares whatever they have.
Coffee could be found at the bakery once their generator was up and running, providing the ability to open their store, After their reopening, there were people waiting in line every morning, chatting and laughing. It was the new (social) morning ritual. You would think they were standing in the line by their own choice rather than due to a storm ravaged town!
Light through the storm clouds
Further, although the local grocer doesn’t have fresh meats, fruits or vegetables in his refrigerated cases, he is still open to the public. He makes fresh oatmeal every day in his deli and whatever else he is able to prepare to help sustain his neighbors and friends. On his shelves there are whatever can goods, or food products he is able to obtain through shipments.
Along the roadways the fallen trees have been cleared, and much of the debris is slowly being removed. Additionally, stores are starting to open here and there. Building materials are more available. Things are shifting towards normalcy once more and the people sway with the times. Always smiling, always polite and always ready to lend a helping hand.
The people of Rincon teasingly compare their present circumstances to “camping out.” No complaints bemoaning their fate. They accepted that they were unable to enjoy a hot shower, or any shower for that matter, or that they could not flip on a light at night. There was no power, no television, or air conditioning in 90 degree heat. None of that mattered. They were among family and friends. These people were genuinely happy! They are going to continue to laugh, hug, love and keep on with their lives in gratitude, regardless of whatever hand they are dealt.
Rincon locals don’t mind if they were now standing in a parking lot rather than sitting in a nice restaurant! They are actually grateful they are alive, grateful for everything that survived the storm. Nothing is going to keep them from enjoying their lives. They are a deeply giving, and happy, people. They make one feel honored and humbled to walk among them. Selfishness seems to fade in their presence. Almost as a testament to the steadfast nature and goodness of the local people, the land is already green again with the promise of blooms soon to come.
Coming back after Maria
As an aside, what are the chances that two people (from the same family) who are in the direct path of two separate, dangerous and destructive storms, could escape both hurricanes without damage? The answer is: Zero.
Nevertheless, my daughter’s home, her sail boat in the Florida Keys, suffered only minor damage from Hurricane Irma, for which I am extremely grateful. Unfortunately, my home (Villa Panorama) in Puerto Rico was not as lucky with Maria. The roof to our shed was lost. The shed holds our cistern (for fresh water). The top floor wall (on the gable end) pushed outward and allowed extensive water infiltration into the mid level. All three sets of mahogany French doors towards the Caribbean were shattered and splintered. Once the doors blew in, more water was allowed to flood the bottom floor. There are broken windows. Furniture was destroyed, and my oven has two inches of water in the bottom, etc. etc.
However…. we carry homeowners insurance. Anything material can be replaced. I am extremely grateful that the majority of the people of Rincon are safe, happy and smiling. That image will carry me through.
Summer has been winding down for months and as we approach November, Joe White still is keeping busy serving crowds at the Shrimp Boat. Traditionally there have been peaks and valleys in Ocean City, with insanely busy summers followed by deadish falls and winter doldrums, but that hasn’t been White’s experience in recent years. He opens every weekend in the fall, and often is open through the week well past the days he traditionally would have been. More recently, he has expanded the Shrimp Boat’s business by completing the dining area and making a play for both the local dinner and lunch crowd. He has added a significant craft beer selection and, most important, has secured an air-tight supply chain that’s going to allow the Shrimp Boat to (technically) stay open all year.
A big part of the decision was the fact that the fall really has picked up in Ocean City with events nearly every weekend through Thanksgiving. It is a lot busier than it ever has been in October and November.
“There are all these events throughout the fall,” he said. “When I was a kid we were happy if there was anything to do at all.”
People with places at the beach, in broad terms, close up their homes one of two weekends (if they close up at all). The first is generally Cruisin’ Weekend and the second is Thanksgiving. When people return for the holidays, they often arrange to get fresh seafood from Joe, who provides everything from salmon to the specialty fishes that people enjoy particularly at the holidays (octopus, calamari, salted cod) It was the sustained holiday boom that gave Joe the insight into extending the Shrimp Boat’s services beyond the fall.
People love shrimp and crabs as often as they can get them, and the Shrimp Boat can get them pretty often.
Fresh caught and delivered
In addition to owning the shrimp Boat, Joe owns Salty Wave Seafood in Harrington, Del. It’s a wholesaler with a small carryout business upon which Joe will build a fresh-delivered seafood business.
“In the summer you do the things you do best,” he said. “But in the winter we get to dabble.”
For him, the past few winters have been dabbling with recipes and logistics in preparation for this additional venture. It was important to figure out not only what people wanted, but how they wanted it. To that end, he has prepared meals that he can ship, as well as a crab cake mix, along with fresh salmon, catfish, tuna and flounder.
“We’re sticking to the favorites, the things we know people want,” he said.
For Joe, it all comes down to his reputation and how people view the quality and care that goes into everything he does with seafood. If a person is going to make an effort to get fresh caught salmon, for instance, they want to be certain that is will arrive in good condition and be a pleasure to serve as well as to eat.
Joe has been beta-testing the delivery systems to make sure that what he sends is what people are receiving. That way, once the online store goes live it will enhance, rather than detract from his reputation.
The Shrimp Boat still does brisk business on the weekends and even is open several weekdays as necessary in the late fall.
Cruising into the fall at the Shrimp Boat
For the time being, Joe and his staff are keeping busy with the Shrimp Boat proper, which still is open weekends and often later in the week as well (call for details). They’ve been really busy every weekend and, with their expanded menu offerings, have attracted new fans every week. And that is a huge part of why it has been and remains a successful business.
Once people have popped in for lunch or dinner, they get a sense that the Shrimp Boat is even more than in look like from the outside. Sure, people still swing by to bring something fresh home, or even to take advantage of the carryout, but for people who remember the boat before the restaurant was added, it still is a pleasant surprise.
Excellent service and food is kind of what you would expect given the reputation of the fresh and carryout aspects of the business, but to experience it as a sit down place really gives you a sense of how deep the quality goes.
If you combine one of the nicest guys in Ocean City with a business he has been a part of since he was a child and add fabulous, FRESH seafood, you will just begin to understand how cool the Shrimp Boat is in West Ocean City.
For one weekend out of every year, Ocean City gets All Shook Up and becomes a Promised Land for Elvis fans who just Can’t Help Falling in Love with the Ocean City Elvis Festival. But it’s not happening at the Heartbreak Hotel–the four-day festival is actually located at the Clarion Resort Fountainebleau Hotel on 101st street.
Bad puns aside, the Elvis Festival is one of the most unique events to ever hit OC, making Coastal Highway look more like the Las Vegas strip from October 19 – 22.
Elvis by the Atlantic
This is Ocean City’s fourth year hosting an Elvis Festival. In 2014, Sherry Management brought the festival, sanctioned by Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc., to Ocean City in order to replace the Pocono Mountains Elvis Festival.
“They were looking for a new location to replace that festival, so they came down to Ocean City and of course we were a good fit because of the size of our Crystal Ballroom,” said Jackie Berger, Sales Manager at the Clarion. “They loved the idea of having everything in one location, so we partnered with them and decided to have it as a package.”
The Elvis Festival isn’t exclusive to Maryland–there’s also one in Georgia, New York, Vegas and Memphis–but followers of Elvis Fest travel from all over the United States to see Ocean City’s version of the event.
“We have people coming from Florida, Las Vegas, from the New England area,” Berger said. “The Elvis Festival has a big following because they do these festivals across the country, and we’re getting a lot of the attendees who used to go to the Poconos coming down here.”
Festival schedule (it’s more than “One Night”)
–In fact, it’s four, and there’s a lot happening during each of them. Details, times and admission prices are available here.
Thursday night kicks the weekend off with a Welcome Karaoke Party hosted by Dan Barrella in the Horizons Oceanfront Restaurant.
On Friday is the first round of the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, where Elvis impersonators perform four songs and compete to represent Ocean City at the annual Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest in Memphis, TN. Later there’s a Headline Show featuring Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Dean Z followed by the Great ETA Auction to raise money for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
Saturday features round two of the Ultimate ETA Contest, “’56,” a rockabilly show starring Cody Ray Slaughter, and a “Spooktacular” Halloween Costume Ball.
On Sunday there’s an Elvis Gospel Music Event, the final round of the Ultimate ETA Contest and a Fabulous Fifties Wrap Party to close out the weekend.
“A great time to come for guests to come and have a fun time with the impersonators is Sunday at the Fabulous Fifties Wrap Party,” Berger said. The Wrap Party is free to the public.
There are some pretty great deals happening at Horizons, too.
See it for yourself
Tickets to the Elvis festival are usually included in a hotel package offered by the Clarion (a package which no one, by the way, would ever want to Return to Sender).
This year, the Clarion is selling a limited number of gold and platinum passes for Ocean City locals, who won’t need to get a room at the hotel in order to partake in the ticketed festivities. Those interested in purchasing tickets can call Jackie Berger between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at 410-390-4011 or make a purchase on Friday afternoon outside of the Clarion’s Crystal Ballroom. More information on tickets and packages is available here.
“It’s a fun, fun event if you love Elvis and Elvis impersonators,” Berger said. “They are so nice and fun, and the after-events held in the Ocean Club are open to the public and they are free.”
