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Skateboarding in Ocean City Maryland

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Skateboarding has become more than just a trend as it increases in popularity in Ocean City, Maryland.  For those skateboard enthusiasts there are competitions, lessons, camps, and skate parks to fill any skateboarding needs. Ocean Bowl Skate Park is one of the best skateboarding facilities on the East Coast and is currently the oldest operating public skate park in the United States.

Ocean City Skate Bowl
Kids killing an afternoon at the Ocean City Skate Bowl.

Skateboarding in Ocean City

It opened in the late 1970s after skateboarding was banned on the streets of Ocean City.  Located on Third Street and St. Louis Avenue, this public park is 17,000 square feet.  Ocean Bowl is constantly providing new challenges for skateboards through the combination of east coast and west coast styles.  Features include: a pool bowl with a deep and shallow end, a large vertical ramp and mini ramp, 13,000 square feet of open concrete with hit walls and more.

Ocean City skatepark hours

Since the skatepark is seasonal, the hours change with the seasons. The park is open daily until dark and opens at 9:30 a.m. on the weekends.

June through August it opens at 9:30 a.m.

Sept. and Oct. it opens noon weekdays.

Nov. through March it opens 2 p.m. weekdays and is closed Wednesday.

April and may it opens noon weekdays.

Admission fees for the Ocean City skatepark:

Weekday admission is $12, weekends are $15, and a weekly pass is $42. Annual passes are available. Ocean City residents pay $60 for the year and nonresidents pay $110.

skateboarding in Ocean City
The skatepark also attracts photographers looking for great action shots.

The Ocean Bowl Skate Park provides lessons, camps, competitions, and a clinic. Since 2003 Ocean Bowl has offered Skateboarding Camp every summer for all children over 6 years old.  Competitions are held at the park once a month during the summer.  There are different age groups that compete and there are judges who rate their skill.  Prizes from local skate shops are awarded to winners.  During the spring and fall lessons are offered for beginner and intermediate skaters. The Back to School Skateboarding Blitz is a clinic that is held a weekend in October. Also, the park is available to rent for a half day or full day for events such as birthday parties.

Skateboarding in Worcester County

As a result of the continual growth of skateboarding, Ocean Pines recently opened a skate park.  It took over two year of plans and design to create the new amenity and it is a great addition to the Ocean Pines community.  The skate park is open daily from 8am to dusk.

The park is free of charge but users must be registered to Ocean Pines Recreation and Park Department. Skaters can register at the administration building in White Head Park and are also required to sign a waiver and wear the proper equipment.  The park is opened by the recreation and parks staff and closed by the police department.  The park is under video surveillance 24 hours a day and if there is a violation of a rule the park will close for a two hour period.  However, so far, the park hasn’t had the need to shut down.  Howell said, “they [the skaters] do a very good job of policing themselves…everyone has been very hospitable.”

Skateboarding is very popular in Ocean City; however, skateboards are not permitted on the Boardwalk, sidewalks, alleys, public streets, or public lots in Ocean City. Luckily, skateboarders have these nice skate parks available to them.

Berlin, Maryland: History and Shopping near Ocean City, Maryland

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If you’re looking for a place to go shopping near Ocean City Maryland don’t forget to visit the quaint little town of Berlin, Maryland. Berlin is a historic village just a few miles west of Ocean City. The town’s roots go all the way back to 1677, when a 300 acre land grant was issued, known as the Burley Plantation. The town proper had its start in the 1790’s. The towns name is believed to have been derived from the Burleigh Inn, a small tavern at the crossroads of what is today South Main Street and Tripoli Street. Berlin was incorporated in 1868, twelve years before the neighboring Ocean City. Berlin is historically famous for being the home of Commodore Steven Decatur, a naval officer and hero of the Barbary Naval Wars of the early eighteen hundreds. When the Barbary Pirates captured an American Navy ship, Commodore Decatur led a daring raid to destroy the vessel to prevent its use by the enemy.

The movies “ Runway Bride” and “ Tuck Everlasting” where both set and filmed in Berlin, Maryland. In “Runaway Bride” Berlin became the town of Hale, Maryland. The film features a lot of Berlin culture and is good way to find out more about the town. Many of the shops were used as well as hundreds of locals as extras. In “Tuck Everlasting” the town was taken back in time to the eighteen hundreds. The streets were filled in with dirt to give the appearance of country roads. The town was chosen since such a great deal of architecture was already so historic, little had to be done to make town look like the 19th century.

5 reasons why Berlin is still the coolest small town in America – OceanCity.com

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).

A walkable town for shopping near Ocean City, Maryland

Victorian architecture comes from the period between 1837-1901, corresponding to European practice of naming architectural periods after the reigning King or Queen. It drew its inspiration from medieval and gothic revival architecture. Due to the technological advances of the Industrial Revolution many new materials such as steel were able to be incorporated in this style. More ornate and lavish carvings were possible due to improvements in carpentry machinery. Since the style developed in England, where the Industrial Revolution had taken hold faster then anywhere else, Victorian architecture often went hand in hand with the new advances in structural integrity when the style began to be built in other countries. In Berlin many family homes and business are in this style. Despite three fires during this period much of the architecture remains intact.

Painting Berlin: Wrapping up the first phases of the mural

The mural that’s bringing history and color to the side of the Berlin Visitor’s Center is well underway and deep into its third phase, thanks to a day spent painting at the summer’s annual Peach Festival.

Architectural  tour of Berlin, Md.

Modern architecture is usually agreed to have begun in the nineteen twenties. This style is characterized by functional design over ornate decoration, horizontal and vertical lines, simplification of form, and many more windows included in the design then previous architectural styles. A main emphasis of this style is functionality. A plain looking fireproof material would be used over a more ornate wood like mahogany and cedar. Ironically, some of the newest homes in Berlin are from this period. All together there are 47 separate buildings in Berlin logged in the National Register of Historic Places.

One of the most famous historical structures in Berlin is the Calvin B. Taylor House Museum. The house was built in 1832, during the overlap between the Federal and Victorian architectural periods, by Isaac Covington. Isaac Covington was a Berlin storeowner according to historical records. His family lived in the house throughout the American Civil War era. Robert Henry, the man who was instrumental in bringing the railroad to Berlin also lived in the house. The house’s namesake, Calvin B. Taylor, was a lawyer, teacher and founder of the bank that still today bears his name. His family lived in the house from 1890 to 1932. Their were several owners from then up to the 1970‘s. In 1981 this historical gem was nearly bulldozed to make room for a parking lot. Fortunately, for posterity, a group of concerned citizens had the site registered with National Register of Historic Places. At their behest, the mayor and Town Council purchased the house a year later to be run as a town museum. Some other popular historical places include the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church ( 1825 ), the Atlantic Hotel ( 1895 ), the Federal Era Downtown.

 

Setting the standard: The Globe in Berlin – OceanCity.com

I don’t remember enough about the “old” Globe to say much about it one way or another. I popped in once just around the turn of the century, knew immediately it wasn’t for me, and popped back out. I was in my 30s at the time, maybe my late 20s and pretty much everything about …

Berlin has a wonderful art and culture section Downtown for great shopping near Ocean City Maryland. There are art festivals and events several times a year. Berlin has a Fiddlers Festival every September when the streets fill with music, pit beef, games, and all kinds of fun. Visitors fall in love with Berlins many antique shops. The shops line the streets and have items of all kinds and periods. If you want to step back in time to a 50’s milkshake and soda bar check out Raynes Reef on Main Street. Raynes Reef isn’t a modern building made to look like the 1950’s. Established in 1901, its almost 60 years older then the period it represents! Goobers is another 50’s style bar in the town center. For indoor/outdoor dining over the brick streets of the town square visit the historic Atlantic Hotel, built 1895. This quaint Victorian inn is attached to Globe Theater, the gourmet bistro and micro brewery offering live entertainment that mentioned above. Just off Main Street there is a huge playground and nature trails for the kids.

Berlin is a town of quaint little shops and restaurants that are hidden treasures with all sorts of little nooks you can discover for yourself. Remember when you visit Berlin you are just a short drive from Assateague Island National Seashore and Ocean City, Maryland. Both are within ten minutes. Check out www.berlinmdarts.org for an overview of the town’s arts and entertainment scene, and click here for info on events, lodging, attractions and maps.

Challenger named 2016 Tourism Person of the Year

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Worcester County Tourism Director Lisa Challenger was named Maryland Tourism Person of the Year at the Maryland Tourism & Travel Summit in November for her exceptional commitment to enhancing and perpetuating the Maryland tourism industry.
“I just believe in surrounding myself with really terrific people every day,” Challenger said. “I partner with a great bunch of people on a daily basis who make it possible to accomplish so many great projects that promote Worcester County.”
Known for her success in developing regional partnerships, Challenger was recognized by her peers across the state for her creativity and incessantly positive approach to identifying and developing new tourism markets. A few of the projects she has spearheaded include the Wilds of Worcester video series, Eat, Drink and Buy Art campaign, Worcester Green Award Program, Beach and Beyond website and mobile app, West Ocean City Commercial Harbor and African American historic markers, Delmarva Birding Weekend, the social media campaign that earned Berlin the title America’s Coolest Small Town, and inclusion of the Beach to Bay Indian Trail on the Department of the Interior’s National Recreation Trail.
“Lisa has gone above and beyond for many years, and she was certainly deserving of this coveted title,” said Susan Jones, Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association executive director. “Her dedication, coupled with her passion for Worcester County has helped generate new tourism and travel within the county.”
Challenger has headed up Worcester County’s tourism efforts since 1989. In 2014 she was appointed to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority by Governor Larry Hogan. She is a founding-member of the Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Area, and current Maryland Association of Destination Marketing Organizations vice chair. She also organizes the Eastern Shore economic data handout to explain tourism’s value to the Eastern Shore Delegation.
“Having worked with her for almost two decades, I can attest to her devotion to tourism, desire to work with others in the industry to amplify the effect of any individual effort, as well as her regional approach and dedication,” said Ann McGinnis Hillyer, State Ventures, LLC chief executive officer and ShoreCraftBeer.com creator. “Lisa truly exemplifies hospitality and furthers tourism for her county, her region, the Eastern Shore, and the entire state of Maryland.”
Challenger is the third Worcester County professional to be recognized as Tourism Person of the Year. The title also went to Ruth Waters in 2004 and Susan Jones in 2009.
During the tourism summit, Worcester County Tourism also won the Best Digital Campaign Award for running an advertising campaign on WashingtonPost.Com that utilized cutting-edge, 30-second videos to connect with Washington Post readers on the site and across the web. The advertising campaign was recognized for its quality and the sheer volume of viewers and click-throughs.
For more information, contact Kim Moses, public information officer, at (410) 632-1194.

Open for Thanksgiving in Ocean City

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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.

Enjoy an Ocean City Thanksgiving

Many of the hotels have combination packages that include dinner and a room for the weekend. Some have arrangements with local restaurants. While we would love to claim this is an exhaustive list, if we’ve missed someone or something, let us know here.

The Dunes Manor Hotel, always is a spectacular choice for the holiday. They offer both a room and dinner package or just dinner on its own.

Similarly, the Clarion Resort Fontainebleau Hotel has packages that include their famous Thanksgiving buffet, but they’re also open to the general public if you’re local and want to swing by just for dinner at Horizons.

Of course, the Grand Hotel has packages for the weekend or the evening.

Ocean City Restaurants serving Thanksgiving Dinner

If you’re interested in a casual setting for a scrumptious meal, swing by the Pit ‘n’ Pub for Thanksgiving.

For a beachier, but still cozy event, swing by the Ropewalk, which is as kid-friendly at atmosphere as one could expect. As long as you’re uptown, consider the Original Greene Turtle which will be open all day on Thanksgiving serving its full menu plus a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for $10.99.

The Captain’s Table at the Marriott is offering a traditional Thanksgiving dinner or head uptown to Harpoon Hanna’s for a plated Thanksgiving dinner with complimentary seconds.

Getting ready for Santa (and you) at Ocean City Wintefest

Tony Russo
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Over the next two months or so the Winterfest of Lights at Northside Park will be a beacon in the dark, teeming with families from all over the region who make the regular trip to Ocean City to experience the annual event. Believe it or not, until recently there wasn’t much to see, but over the last few weeks what is a walking path most of the year has been transformed into a winter wonderland.
We recently popped over there to see how things were coming along and found city staff and contractors busy getting things ready for the winter kickoff event.

Ocean City Boardwalk trains
The Ocean City boardwalk trains already are in place to ferry revelers around the Winterfest of Lights displays.

Winter comes to Ocean City, Maryland

Heather Wiles and Lisa Mitchell have each been with the town’s special events department for more than a decade. The pair have worked on decorating the Winterfest of Lights village each of those years, untangling lights, erecting displays and generally making what normally would be just a plain white tent a lot more festive.

Ocean City Winterfest 2017! Your Guide to Winter in Ocean City Md

A Winterfest Excursion – Things to Do in Ocean City Maryland It was a cold night as we drove along the Route 90 into Ocean City. From the bridge, you could see the array of lights set along the coastline, illuminating the buildings all around town.


They didn’t do the entire thing alone, the Ocean City Recreation and Parks folks got to work on Oct. 1, putting up the tent, dragging the buildings out of storage and setting up the lights that will transform the ride around Northside Park into a holiday excursion.

Heather Wiles and Lisa Mitchell have been with the town 14 years and 12 years respectively and have heped set up Winterfest of Lights every year.
Heather Wiles and Lisa Mitchell have been with the town 14 years and 12 years respectively and have helped set up Winterfest of Lights every year.

New Ocean City Attractions at Winterfest

Gaither Burnett, who works for Kutt Productions entertainment group, was putting the final touches on the interior lights and sound system. He’s been working for awhile to make certain that the ambient sound and lights are not distracting but also sufficient. He took a break to pose next to one of the new displays for the Winterfest Village.

boat

 

Northside Park on125th Street Bayside hosts the Winterfest of lights 5:30 – 9:30 p.m. Sunday–Thursday from and 5:30- 10:30 p.m Friday and Saturday. Tickets are available in advance at the Ocean City Community Center and the Convention Center. Admission is $5. Children under 11 are free.

Surfers celebrate the season

Tony Russo
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Surfing is a 12 month activity in Ocean City. Winter waters actually bring in waves that can be superior to the summer ones, and getting out into the water isn’t something reserved for when you’re only wearing a bathing suit. But at the end of the summer the Ocean City Surf Club continues its mission to promote both safe surfing and clean beaches. The club holds an annual Ohana Bonfire (a kind of kit and kin celebration) to cap its latest beach cleanup as well as to say farewell to the warm weather, if not to surfing.

kids service group
Members of Connections helped the Ocean City Surf Club celebrate the end of another great season.

Stephen Decatur High School Connections

The “Connections” service club at Stephen Decatur provided much of the force for the beach cleanup that preceded the beach bonfire. Although there is a lot of overlap among the membership, they are not the same group. Treat Chetelat, an SDHS 11th Grader, happens to b a member of both. He’s been surfing since he was very little and his family has been pretty involved both in the community service program as well as with the Surf Club.

“They’ve both always just as always been part of my life,” he said.

Members of the OCSC and Connections service group descend the dunes on their way to the bonfire following an afternoon of tidying up the beach.
Members of the OCSC and Connections service group descend the dunes on their way to the bonfire following an afternoon of tidying up the beach.

Ohana time is family time

As the light started to fade, the group set to digging the hole that would accommodate the bonfire they had planned. The event is about togetherness and community, working to make Ocean City a better place, for them, has to go beyond just making it prettier and cleaner. Building community bonds that will last is a critical part of making the events worthwhile.

surfing
Summer waves turn to fall waves and Ocean City surfers don their wetsuits and hit the beach.

Embrace the cliches

Tony Russo
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First off, I know how the picture below looks. Don’t get me wrong, there are lots of guys who can pull off the backwards hat, I’m just not one of them. It isn’t that it looks especially bad. In fact, it looks kind of OK, but when I was out shooting photos with my peak cap on backwards, I was projecting a cliche that I don’t really embody. As Todd put in in this week’s podcast, I looked as if I was getting ready to play the saxophone in a movie from 1987. The weird thing is, it only looks that way to people who know me. People who don’t might not even have noticed me turning my hat round while I took pictures of a kid doing bike tricks under the “Boardwalk” sign. It is difficult to admit, but I accept the possibility that not all eyes are on me all the time.

cliche

Owning it was important to me because, working in Ocean City, I’ve developed a new appreciation for cliches. You can’t pretend to have fun with abandon and still maintain a sense of how you look to other people. It’s something I’m learning to worry about less. I was thinking about the particularly as I was freshening up our “Winterfest of Lights” page. There is no way to look traditionally cool and also enjoy the spectacle. You can’t enjoy a candy cane ironically, so just give in to it. That’s what I learned at last year’s Winterfest and what I’ll likely take with me this year.

Winterfest was only a small part of this week’s podcast. We actually had a guest, Don Singleton, who was a teenage spy (kinda) and has written a couple of books. He talks about his adventures on land and sea. Todd talks about all of the closing parties he’s been attending as we wind down the season and begin preparing for the slog into winter. We’re all finding ways to keep busy and we’ll let you know what they are every week.

The Happy Hour Todcast is recorded weekly at the Pit Stop in Berlin. You can subscribe to the podcast below or listen here.

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Small Wonders exhibit opens tonight at the Worcester County Arts Council

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The best things come in the smallest packages! During the months of November and December, the WCAC is pleased to present a special juried exhibition of miniature art: “Small Wonders”.

The exhibition was open to all artists, 18 years old and older, professional or amateur, with work in all media.

The objective of this show was to encourage and challenge artists to become involved in the exciting world of miniatures and the subject was open to the artist’s individual expression.

The guidelines of this art competition required works not to exceed 7 inches for 3D works and 11 inches for 2D works. Despite the size limitation, artists submitted works that incorporate a diverse range of materials to communicate this thoughtful concept.

Free and open to the public reception of this exhibit will be held tonight, November 11 between 5 pm – 8 pm. Monetary awards in this competition will be announced at 5:30 that evening.

Come out for a night of delicate art treasures, meet participating artists and the juror, Angela Herbert – Hodges for an Art inspiring evening to discover the secrets behind Small Wonders.

All artwork on the exhibit is available for sale. The exhibit will continue to be on display until December 31st.

You still can make sand angels in Ocean City

Tony Russo
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Shana Lowry and Donna Reedy played in the sand with the kids, because why not. It was a Thursday and Shana’s husband would be joining them on the weekend. Shana has a time share and said she put in a standing order to be notified when there was a free week in Ocean City. So when the call came she packed up the kids and headed down. Their plans were simple: go to the beach and see what happens.

family
It doesn’t have to be summer to have a spectacular day of family fun on the beach.

Ocean City Timeshares

Although it depends upon the company and the deal, in many cases people buy timeshares for a specific place, but also get deals in other places. It’s complex, but suffice it to say that if the idea is to have a regular getaway, you can do worse than Ocean City in November. The weather was mild and the sand was warm. There was something of a bite in the air, but it was, after all, early November.

One of the children wanted to take her squirt gun in the ocean. Shana advised her that everyone would be better off if she put that desire off until they returned to the indoor pool at the place they were staying. You totally can have fun in the water and also have fun at the beach and not have them be the same place.

sea shell ocean city beach
There is more than one way to collect seashells on the beach.

Ocean City beach photos

For my part, I’d been down at the ocean filming one of the Facebook Live videos our readers seem to like. My colleagues and I take turns “taking one for the team” and wondering down to the beach to get some live video. If you comment with the audio on, a lot of times we answer the questions aloud as they are asked. Even when you just hang out and enjoy the sound of the sea and the wind, we’re happy to be your connection.

beach-views

 

 

 

Catching the last light at the Isle of Wight

Tony Russo
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The Isle of Wight is a little-known fishing spot and kayak destination in West Ocean City. Tucked in just before the eastbound span of the Route 90 Bridge, this state park is a great stop for a quiet(ish) afternoon or evening. Although I’ve heard of it, I never really took the time to explore it and wouldn’t have if I hadn’t seen the sun setting over the Assawoman Bay and wanted to get a photo.

Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight fishing pier extends way out through the marsh into the Assawoman Bay.

Although I’ve been taking photos as part of my writing for more than a decade, there still are some lessons I keep learning the hard way. I always forget that the sun goes down faster when you’re trying to get a photograph than it does when you’re not. As I cruised across the bridge I thought I had plenty of time, but by the time I parked and trotted to the pier entrance, the sun itself was gone, though there still was plenty of light.

Views of Ocean City Maryland

Isle of Wight marsh
The view of Ocean City over the Isle of Wight marsh at sunset can be pretty spectacular.

There isn’t much of a parking area at the park, which is a good thing. The place is, after all, a refuge more than it is a parking lot. There was ample space, fewer than 100 yards from the pier. A red sign said no swimming, diving or ice skating, which always amuses me. Although I don’t know many people who list Ocean City as one of their top ice skating destinations, wherever the bays are shallow and liable to freeze you will find the “No Skating” directive.

Ocean City over the marsh
The marsh at twilight has a surreal color.

Choosing a destination for photography

Even as I passed the marsh and realized I was losing the light, I also understood that the odds were there would be another autumn sunset before too long. As it turned out, it was just as well that I had missed the sunset, because now I had to try a little harder to find interesting angles and perspectives. If I had caught the sunset I would have packed it in a little quicker and missed things like the reflection of the marsh upon itself once most of the light was gone.

reflection of the isle of wight marsh
West Ocean City looks spectacular at sunset, especially in the quiet autumn.

It is funny how sometimes you choose a destination for one thing and discover it was something you needed for a different photo entirely. Finding great places to get unique Photos in Ocean City can be a combination of know-how and dumb luck. Even though I knew this was here, I never appreciated how remote it felt, given its proximity to Route 90.

Isle of wight tree stand
This tree stand is one of the first things you see as you pull off the highway.

I took this final photo from my car window before pulling up to the red light at St. Martins Neck Road and Route 90. I could hear the cars passing and see the traffic light change through my windshield but from the driver’s side window it looked as if I were in the middle of nowhere, which is kind of the appeal of knocking around the lesser-known parts of Ocean City in the fall.

Beer at Burger King: A new low or the perfect meal?

Tony Russo
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It’s important to start out saying that I’m one of those obnoxious localvore wannabes. I get my meat from a farm near my home and many of my vegetables the same way. The relevant point, though, is that I avoid chain restaurants at all costs, mostly. This week I had to make an exception and if the experience was awful, you know I’d mention it, but it wasn’t awful, so credit where it is due.

After a long, vaguely involved series of events (which we discus on the podcast) I found myself at a Burger King in Ocean City with a six pack of beer and a bag of potato chips. This was my second trip to a Burger King this century, so I kept my expectations low and ordered a fish sandwich, grease being the ally of the inebriated. The folks were enthusiastically friendly and involved themselves in my meal happiness well beyond what my appearance required. I looked like a drunk Ocean City dude.

I squirreled myself away in the corner, popped open one of the craft beers I bought and figured I’d take my chances on getting caught. The kids running the place apparently thought I’d left and must have said something inappropriate, because they noticed me and apologized. I told them the following (or something similar):

“I’m drinking a beer from a bag in a Burger King on a Saturday night, I’m not  likely to complain about anything.”

I finished off my beer, sandwich and chips, thanked them again and made my way out so they didn’t feel as if they had to comment on the whole beer thing.

In this week’s show we talk about the differences between in-season Ocean City and off-season Ocean City, covering some of the events that have passed and previewing others that are coming up. Including, and especially, Thanksgiving, Winterfest, and what it is like to be a seasonal employee in a year-round resort.

You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Android or listen here. If you would like to be a guest, reach out to be in the social box below.

 

 

After Party: The Shore Craft Beer Festival

Jeffrey Smith
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After the Seaside 10 Miler I hung around the finish line chatting with Nate and some other runners I knew. That’s what runners do, after all. We talk about running. Running brings people together from all different backgrounds and all ages. I came across four women running the 5K on Saturday, all wearing orange shirts and gray wigs. They didn’t need the wigs to pretend to be on the older side, though, as they were each in their 70s. “Have you ever run the Annapolis 10 miler?” one Grandma (that was the name on the back of their shirts) asked me. I shook my head. “We started that one ages ago,” she said. “I can’t run that far anymore,” she said.

There were Ghostbuster costumes and superhero costumes: a few Flashes and many Wonder Women and Super Girls. One couple was dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Incredible complete with painted on eye masks.

It’s all about the beer

The best part about the after party, though, wasn’t the costumes (though they were good). It was the beer. The EVO Pils was a good start to the post-run celebration, but when that was all said and done I took a walk over to Sunset Park to sample a wide variety of beers from brewers all over the Eastern Shore at the Shore Craft Beer Festival.

Running for me is in part about the food. I run because I enjoy it, and because it keeps me in shape so that I can eat and drink without worrying much about what I’m eating and drinking. I make sure my food is local and minimally processed, and we cook almost every meal we eat at my house. I buy vegetables from local farmers when I can, and have started to get my meat from local processors as well. This desire for local food extends to beer as well, and for local beer the Delmarva Peninsula is an oasis.

The Shore Craft Beer Festival brought together brewers and breweries from as far away as Dover and as close as Ocean City itself to show off their classic concoctions and brawniest brews. Along with some other writer friends, and an acquaintance from Salisbury, I stood behind the cooler that held Fordham and Old Dominion’s Double D IPA and Grapefruit Pale Ale performing my first service as a bartender.

Here’s something I learned. Pouring a beer is harder than you think. Generally if you want to pour a small amount of something you slow down the pour. But when you pour a beer from a tap, slowing the pour only produces more foam than beer. It took a few glasses of foam for me to figure that out.

The GPA was smooth and easy to drink with only a hint of citrus. We sold it as a breakfast beer, a great start to the day. I also had the chance to sample the Honeysuckle Rose from Blue Earl Brewing in Smyrna. Another smooth beer with an even finish that didn’t make my lips pucker.

dancing
People spent the last afternoon dancing after many of them had spent the early morning running.

I kept my medal on thinking it might generate some conversation, though running wise it only helped once when I saw a couple not with medals but dressed in running gear. “Did you run the race this morning?” I asked.

They had come down from New Jersey, they said, to run the race and to sample some beer. Which is a great combination. The woman was wearing a NYC Marathon hat from 2010. I have run that storied race five times (2010 was the last year I ran it), and so I asked if she was running next week.

“Oh yes,” she said.

Her husband said, “It’ll be my first time at a full marathon.”

We talked for a while about running in general and about the New York City marathon. “It’s one big party,” she said, and I agreed.

Though for me these days I can’t beat a smaller event like the Seaside 10 Miler. After which I can walk across the street and sample some truly fine local beers, combining all the things I love about running: community, friends, and beer.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K: Running with the kid.

Jeffrey Smith
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I decided on Friday night to get up early on Saturday and run the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K on the Ocean City boardwalk. My daughter’s pre-K teacher from two years ago has been leading a team on this race for years, and this was the first year since moving here that I had been in town on the day of the race. So I figured I go out and show my support and get a last minute race in before next week’s Seaside 10 miler.

The sky was overcast, the air cool and windy. It had rained the night before so there were puddles of water at the inlet parking lot. The surf was rough, and despite the cold, fishermen and fisherwomen were on the rocks fishing into the inlet.

I parked the car and unloaded the Chariot running stroller. I don’t consider myself a fast runner. Sure, I have some speed in me, but put me in a competitive race and I have no chance. I suspect it’s a lack of training. These days, especially, training time is hard to find. Still, I like to win. I am competitive, especially against myself. No matter the race I try to run my hardest, to push myself to the limit, to see what I can do. Today, that limit would be speed. How fast could I run a 5K while pushing a stroller?

I have two kids. My first is six years old and she’s been home with us since she was six months old. I trained with her in that same stroller for two Boston Marathons, a New York City marathon, a Shiprock marathon, and three separate 100-mile races. When she got old enough to ride her bike I decided it was time to retire the stroller.

Three months ago we brought home our son who just turned two-years-old. I unretired the stroller the day we came home, and he’s been as good a training partner as my daughter. He loves being pushed in the stroller, loves the feel of the wind on his face, and screams the same way she did when he wants me to go faster. If I go too many days without running he’ll hand me my running shoes and go get in the Chariot himself.

 

After I registered I slipped my son into the pink race T-shirt and I pinned our number on the stroller. This was my first time racing with a stroller, and when we started to line up I worried about getting in other runners way. So I stayed back from the start. As soon as the gun sounded, though, it became clear that I was going to be faster than most of them. I said to j, “That was a mistake,” and moved to the side and got around the runners I’d lined up behind.

Another Rabbit

The leader was an eighth grader from SDMS, and I had flashbacks to the half marathon I ran in Pemberton Park in Salisbury a few weeks ago. There a rabbit had pulled into the lead and stayed there the entire race. I could see the lead runner on Saturday, but I knew, even if I wasn’t pushing the stroller, even if I had started running along side him, that I couldn’t have beat him.

Winning, though, was not the goal. Doing my best, pushing myself, that is always the goal. So that’s what I did. I ran as hard as I could. I pushed, and then I pushed some more. I passed a few runners, one a young boy about eight-years-old who went out fast. By the time we hit the first mile I could see the turn around. A few blocks later the rabbit was coming towards me. “You got this,” I told him as he passed me heading back to the finish.

I was running alone now, me and the stroller, pushing myself. The stroller moves a lot easier than people think, especially with a small two-year-old in it. I pushed down on the handle to lift the front tire and scooted deftly around the turn-around cone. “Nice move,” someone said. I smiled. Soon I started passing the other runners coming towards me, and then the walkers, and I cheered for them and they cheered for me. There was a lot of support on this course, and it felt good to hear people cheering.

I was getting tired, though, and was glad this was only three miles. I made the loop around Jolly Roger at the Pier and then saw the finish line waiting in the inlet parking lot. I was so close there was no way I could slow down now. I made the final turn on wet pavement and for a moment thought my right foot would slip out from under me. But it didn’t. I held on and pushed as hard as I could.

Inside the stroller j was smiling from ear to ear. “Congratulations,” someone said. “Do you want some water?” I did, but my son wanted it more. He’d worked hard for it.

In the end I placed second overall. The rabbit finished strong well ahead of me. I was just glad to have had the opportunity to get out for the day, to show support for the survivors of breast cancer and do some small part to help raise both money for a cure and awareness of the cause. I’ve got a pink shirt to wear for the rest of the month. And a goal for next week’s Seaside 10 miler: another medal.

Local rider qualifies for Washington International Horse Show

OceanCity.com
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Berlin (October 2016) -Local equestrian Olivia Brown has qualified to ride in the large pony division at the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) Regional Pony Hunter Finals held at the Verizon Center in Washington DC. on Sunday, October 30. Her spot was secured after competing at a qualifying show at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center last weekend. Her pony Smallwood Magic Mischief is owned by Allison Groff Olmsted from Potomac. 

According to the horse show: “The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) is one of the most prestigious equestrian sporting events in North America. Celebrating its 58th year in 2016, this championship event brings top horses and riders throughout the country and the world to the nation’s capital each October for six days of championship competition and community and social events.”

Olivia Brown is the only rider from the Shore to have qualified to compete at the WIHS, and it is quite an honor to be riding here. 

Olivia rides and trains at Endeavor Farm in Bishopville with Marianne Roth. 

Our favorite 7 shared Facebook photos

Tony Russo
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Many of you also follow our Facebook page, where you guys are kind enough to share some of your best or more compelling photographs of your time at the beach. It is something we never get tired of seeing. We try and share as many as we can with the rest of the world. Even though we don’t get to all of them, we do look at all of them. It is that spirit that we present these shared Facebook photos that represent some of the better photos we saw this week (along with a gratuitous plug from your author at the end).
Remember, if you don’t follow us, please do. And if you do, keep sharing all your great photos, even those from summers past. We love seeing them.

Cute kids doing cute things

The whale has been in more photos recently. People really seem to enjoy playing on it as well as photographing it, which is no great wonder. Keeping things fun is what beach and boardwalk photography should be about.

Cool (and composed)

This was one of the most popular photos we shared this week, and for good reason. It’s beachy and has a late sunrise (which always is fun), but more important, it uses elements of the hotel as framing. All those pointy lines make it a little more attention-getting.

Day trippin’

One of the people who usually shares her great photos on our Facebook page took a day trip to the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore and got a ton of great shots. She was kind enough to share them on a Maryland.com photoblog.

Sometimes less is more

The black and white filter is often underrepresented on the boardwalk. The colors just beg to pop, which is why it is so cool to see a youngster embracing black and white at such a time.

It’s an iconic shot ’cause it never gets old

We love this angle and this time. Also, sunset from the other side, mid-day, dusk, dawn, you get the picture. What makes this cool is that it is super quiet. Even though the season isn’t completely over, it is easier than ever to get those silent beach moments that will be commonplace in another two months.

A mild indulgence

This was my favorite photo that I took this week. Mostly because I love taking pictures of people looking at cellphones. Unfortunately, the picture only enhances the story, it doesn’t tell one of its own. Anyway, I liked it.

 

Finally, don’t be afraid to share videos!

We love all of your takes on the beach and the waves and general goings on.

Ocean City honored at MML Sustainable Maryland Awards Ceremony

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Ocean City, MD (October 18, 2016): The Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland announced that the Town of Ocean City was one of 14 Maryland municipalities honored at the Sustainable Maryland Awards Ceremony at the Maryland Municipal League’s annual Fall Conference last Friday in Solomon’s, Maryland.

Sustainable Maryland is an initiative of the Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland that is designed to support Maryland’s 157 municipalities as they look for cost-effective and strategic ways to protect their natural assets and revitalize their communities. Using best practices in resource areas like water, energy, planning, health, food, and economy, a municipality can earn points toward sustainability certification. In addition, Sustainable Maryland offers a customizable menu of concrete actions, allowing communities to select initiatives that best fit their specific needs.

“We are surrounded by natural beauty in Ocean City, with pristine beaches and our breathtaking ocean and bay,” said Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan. “Our community, and specifically the town’s Green Team, has remained committed to preserving the natural beauty that exists in Ocean City by taking steps to be a more sustainable community.  Receiving the Sustainable Maryland Certified award was a team effort and an accomplishment that we are very proud of. As a town and a community we will remain committed to meeting our resort town needs, while also refusing to compromise the integrity of our community for future generations.”

 A detailed summary of Ocean City’s sustainability Actions can be found in their Certification Report, however; highlights of Ocean City’s accomplishments include:

  • As part of the Shore Power Project, completed a Municipal Carbon Footprint for the Town in 2015.
  • Designated a 2015 Tree City USA, which recognized the Town for meeting the program’s four requirements of having: a tree board, a tree care ordinance and an annual community forest budget of at least $2. Per-capita, and an Arbor Day observation and proclamation.    
  • Developed a Homeowner’s Guide to the Coastal Bays, including topics such as Green Gardening and Native Planting, recycling rules, and healthy housekeeping practices.
  • Conducted energy audits on a dozen town buildings in 2015.
  • Established a volunteer-based Dune Patrol, where residents clean and inspect their local dunes year-round and are part of bi-annual beach clean ups.

“This year’s Sustainable Maryland Certified municipalities featured both large cities and small towns, from both urban and rural parts of the state,” said Mike Hunninghake, Program Manager for Sustainable Maryland. “These communities, while differing in scale and demographics, all recognized the importance of addressing sustainability issues at the local level. We are especially pleased by the successful re-certification of all eight Sustainable Maryland Certified municipalities from 2013, which demonstrates the value communities place on our certification designation and the municipal Green Team/Action Plan framework.”

For more information about Sustainable Maryland: www.sustainablemaryland.com

Pictured above, Gail Blazer, Ocean City’s Environmental Planner, with the Sustainable Maryland Certified award at the Maryland Municipal League conference last Friday. 

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