Even if you don’t know precisely what you’re looking for, it is easy enough to find the Rackliffe House as part of a larger exploration of the Assateague Island Visitor Center. The house once was part of a plantation tract that took up much of the surrounding area, but time and fortune weren’t particularly kind to the house, nor to the family that founded it.
Founded in the 1750s, the building passed out of the Rackliffe family’s hands after about 100 years and, by the early part of the 20th century, was let for rent and in failing condition. By the later part of the 20th century, the house had fallen into disrepair and had survived a fire. Generations of different owners had made structural changes to the house and covered the bare brick facade with layers upon layers of paint and stucco. As the 20th Century came to a close a movement began to restore the house as a museum. Tom Patton, the man for whose name is on the street that takes visitors to the restored house, was among those who led the philosophical (and fundraising) charge.
The walk from the Assateague Island Visitor Center to the Rackliffe House is worth taking, although you can drive to the museum parking if you like.
Rackliffe House is about more than history
Restoring the Rackliffe House was about preserving cultural heritage as well as American history, but there was, and is, more to it than that. In addition to a rich history, Maryland’s Eastern Shore increasingly is becoming an eco-tourism destination. People come to the area to hike, fish, birdwatch and kayak, among other activities.
Located between the Assateague Island Visitor Center and the Sarbanes Coastal Ecology Center the restores Rackliffe House is a real world example of what it was like to live as a partner with the area. If the Visitor Center is about the island life throughout history and the Ecology Center is about sea life, it is appropriate to think of the Rackliffe House as about human history in the area. People have had a great affect on the area, but also have been affected by it. The Rackliffe House deals with this interaction in a particular way.
The Rackliffe House maintains a community garden as a demonstration about how difficult complete self sufficiency is.
Evolving Eastern Shore Culture at the Rackliffe House
The transition from settlers to landowners and the cultural and political entailments of that transition are a central part of the Rackliffe House experience. Touring the inside of the home, you can see not only how the people lived, but the kinds of things they valued in their everyday lives. More important, you get a sense of how the Rackliffe family rose and fell on the Eastern Shore, eventually succumbing to a lack of male heirs and, as a result, the end of the Eastern Shore line. There were Rackliffe women, but inheritance wasn’t part of the deal for Colonial- and Early American-era women.
Today the restored building provides a look into a world that is recognizable, but still radically different from the one we inhabit. Touring the grounds, and participating in the nature walk that includes them, is worth your time not only for the information, but also for the experience. A walk in an old woods among the ghosts of the past is a quiet, soul-restoring activity.
Ocean City, Maryland – (March 27, 2017): The Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum recently made a donation to the USS Cod Submarine Memorial in Cleveland, Ohio. Paul Farace and his wife, Teresa visited mid-March and selected several artifacts to take back to Cleveland. Along with the pyro locker, other artifacts from the USS Blenny include; two crew mess tables, an officer’s state room sink, main exhaust stop valve wheel, and much more.
In an effort to divest of some of the artifacts that do not fit our mission, the Museum Society has been trying to find new homes for them. Many of the very large items include parts of the USS BLENNY, a navy submarine that was sunk off the coast of Ocean City in 1989 to become an artificial reef. Fortunately, we made contact with members of the USS Cod Submarine Memorial (SS 224), docking in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cod was a squadron mate of the Blenny in WW II and the Blenny rescued six Cod crewmen in August, 1945 when they got stranded aboard a junk in the South China Sea. The Society shipped the name plate of the BLENNY and a torpedo igniter stowage unit earlier this year, but since Paul was going to be in our area in March, he decided to visit the Museum and see what there was in storage.
Pictured above:
Paul Farace, director of the USS Cod Submarine Memorial in Cleveland, and O.C. Life-Saving Station Museum curator, Sandra Hurley inspect a pyrotechnic locker from USS Blenny. The storage box held flares used for signaling nearby friendly ships and aircraft.
From June 8 to 11, at the Art League on 94th street (and possibly a few satellite locations), Ocean City will see…drum roll, please…its first ever film festival.
The talented artists and filmmakers that we know to exist on the shore have been sleeping, or hiding, or outsourcing themselves to Baltimore and other cities, for far too long. Ocean City may be an All-American Family Vacation Destination, but there’s a community of artists of every age and background here, too.
We’re inviting filmmakers from all around the world to submit their pieces (for free, right here) to the inaugural Ocean City Film Festival, but we also want to emphasize the region’s local artists who have made films that take place right on the beaches and boardwalks of Delmarva. The festival is artist-oriented, and will feature discussion panels from local and visiting artists (see the tentative schedule of events right here).
While this first annual festival doesn’t have a specific theme, we’re prioritizing diversity—of filmmakers, themes and genres—as well as uniqueness of the films and the messages behind them.
Ocean City Film Festival Categories
We’re here to create and support a network of artists and film people, from directors to audio technicians to actors, in and around the Ocean City area. While this is our number one priority, there’s also a slight (slight!) competitive edge to the festival, and several awards will be given on Saturday, June 10, including:
The Verdict – Judge’s choice
The Inky Tentacle – Best screenplay
The Celluloid Crab – Best use of either analog equipment or practical effects
The Pink Flamingo – Film that’s most uniquely reflective of Maryland life
The Damn Fine Film – Audience choice
Still, fostering a community of artists who help artists is more rewarding than any award we could hand out. Even if you’re not ready to submit anything to this year’s festival, we more than encourage you to come hang out, say hi, see a few films and shake hands with a few directors—and submit your own film in future!
The festival screenings, of course, aren’t just for filmmakers or aspiring filmmakers, but for anyone who wants to come and see movies from around the world, and maybe even from their own backyard. Passes will be on sale soon—for updates, we’re on Facebook and on Instagram (@oceancityfilmfest).
There are many ways to spend Valentine’s Weekend in Ocean City. Here are a few.
Hi Ocean City readers! My name is Cynthia Cavett and I am a new blogger for OceanCity.com. As a frequent visitor to Ocean City and the surrounding areas, I wanted to share my experiences with other visitors as well as locals. I live in Smyrna, Delaware, which isn’t far, so my husband and I escape to our hidden oasis as often as we can when we aren’t working.
Jay and I drive down to Ocean City, Berlin and the Delaware beaches during almost every holiday season. Whether it’s Christmas, Easter, Fourth of July, St. Patrick’s Day, National Pancake day, you name it, we’re there. This year’s Valentine’s Day was no exception. We are big fans of visiting the beach in the off season, even when it’s cold. But this year’s Valentine’s Day weekend (which also fell on President’s Day weekend) was extraordinarily warm – perfect for the OC Boat Show! I’d like to share our weekend with you.
Starting the weekend right
Valentine’s Day Package Goodies
Friday evening started out with checking in at the Grand Hotel & Spa located directly on the Ocean City boardwalk. The view from our oceanfront room was stunning.
We booked the Valentine’s Day Couples package which included a few goodies like a bottle of champagne, custom Grand Hotel Resort & Spa Champagne flutes, chocolate truffles from Wockenfuss (which by the way, we had never tried before and I must say are delicious), a $60 gift voucher to one of six local restaurants, and my favorite goody – a commemorative plaque from the company called Plak That based out of Ocean City, Maryland.
Note – for those who like free things if you book your reservation online you become an instant gold member with the Grand Hotel Resort & Spa and receive a tote when you check in filled with coupons, maps, a Frisbee, and two bottles of water.
Once we finished checking in, we decided to venture out and do something entirely different for us. We took a ride over to Berlin to check out Ocean Downs Casino. It was a quick drive over the Route 50 bridge from the Grand. As soon as we arrived we signed up for the Ocean Downs rewards cards which gave each of us $10 in free play money. We wound up breaking even on the electronic blackjack machines, took our tails between our legs and headed back to Ocean City for chicken fingers, fries and a nightcap at the Greene Turtle, a bar that was new-to-us yet original to Ocean City. We’ll be heading back during dinnertime soon for sure.
Starting Saturday Right
Breakfast at Happy Jack’s Pancake House
Flash forward to Saturday, Day 2 of our Valentine’s weekend celebration. Up first was breakfast at another new-to-us restaurant called Happy Jack’s Pancake House. Here’s a tidbit about us – we love going to places with great reviews and write-ups. I will remember those reviews and write-ups for years, and Happy Jack’s was the runner up for #1 breakfast in Ocean City for 2015. Since Jason is a die-hard Dough Rollers pancake fan, it was hard to convince him to try Happy Jack’s. But boy that 2015 list did not disappoint! Our breakfast was fantastic and Jason wound up loving the pancakes (and scrapple).
After our awesome breakfast, we drove uptown while we waited for our day spa appointment. We drove past the OC Boat Show, which we honestly did not know was going on that weekend. My husband immediately started drooling as we drove past. I made a mental note made to surprise him with tickets the next day.
Around 2 o’clock, we found ourselves standing in the lobby of the Creative Day Spa at the Princess Royale Hotel on 91st street waiting for our couple’s massage.
While waiting for our massage time, we wound up talking with a massage therapist named Donna who oversaw appointments for that hour. I wound up showing her the list of restaurants that we needed to choose from for our $60 gift voucher from the Grand Hotel. Donna’s recommendation will soon be revealed.
Creative Day Spa Lobby at Princess Royale on 91st Street
For the next 60 minutes, Jason and I embarked on a couple’s massage adventure in the Princess room. Two massage therapists gave us a combination of Swedish and hot stone massages that were out of this world. The Princess room was “cozy,” – small, but just right. A small water fountain in the room, soft music and an ambient glow made it the perfect setting for relaxation. Afterwards, we received a Valentine’s Day gift from the spa. With every couple’s treatment that was booked for that weekend, the couple received a bottle of wine and Godiva chocolate truffles. What a nice surprise!
Fat Cat, Truffles & Fruit
Why is there an Edible Arrangements bouquet in this photo do you ask? After we left Creative Day Spa with our bottle of Red Cat and Godiva truffles, we headed back to Berlin to Edible Arrangements to pick up a Valentine’s Day prize I won from Delmarva Life and WBOC! All I did was fill out my name after seeing it advertised on Facebook and, honest to goodness, I won the Send Me Some Love Daisy bouquet the very next day. It was delicious and a perfect addition to our romantic weekend. Plus, we got to see snow geese on the way to and from picking up the bouquet. Couldn’t get a photo of the geese since they were on the side of the highway, but we were still excited to see the flock in person.
Moscato goes well with Valentine’s DaySharky enjoying coffee oceanside
After returning to the hotel and changing into more appropriate attire for our romantic dinner, Ocean City local resident, Donna, did not disappoint with her restaurant recommendation. Adolfo’s on the Ocean was our choice – an Italian restaurant on the boardwalk that was breathtaking. From the moment you walk in you are taken away to an entirely different atmosphere. A roaring fireplace in the bar room, Victorian couches and chairs in the lobby, and a gorgeous garden style dining room on the other side of the restaurant all proved to set the stage for a memorable night. I had the Chicken Parmesan while Jay had the Veal Parmesan. Safe meal selections for trying out a new restaurant, right? Both were exquisite. I cannot say enough about this restaurant. They had an excellent wine selection, too. I had the Moscato (a personal favorite).
The rest of that night involved champagne and a hilarious attempt at gingerly opening the bottle on the balcony. (Note: It’s impossible to open champagne without making noise of some kind – for me, it was laughing hysterically as I waited for the cork to pop out of Jason’s hands).
The next morning, Jason purchased breakfast for us to enjoy in the room while looking out at the ocean. I almost forgot to add, Jason packed my favorite shark from Ocean City bar & restaurant Fish Tales that we frequent every summer season. Aptly named “Sharky,” he comes with us on some of our Ocean City adventures. He enjoyed coffee Oceanside as well.
A surprise ending to a fantastic weekend!
Cindy with Scott Lenox from Hooked on OC
After (sadly) checking out, I began driving down Coastal Highway and pretended that I was going to keep going and hit some of the Rehoboth outlets before heading home. But right around 66th street, I made a left turn towards a parking lot filled with pontoon boats, fishing boats, and yachts and parked at the Ocean City Convention Center. Jay was a happy man as we entered the Ocean City Boat Show. For $10 each, the two of us got to hop up on pontoons, check out kayaks, meet with local vendors, enter a myriad of contests and giveaways, and live the boating life for a little while. As an avid angler myself, I was completely surprised to see one of my personal fishing heroes – Scott Lenox from Hooked on OC! Not only did Scott take a selfie with me but he also autographed a bumper sticker (thanks to Dave Messick of Unscene Productions for coming up with the idea). Hooked on OC is the Mid-Atlantic Premier Fishing TV Show that’s not your ordinary fishing show. Packed with great tips for anglers in the area, he also features other topics such as the hottest local restaurants, and some of the best shops to browse while you’re in the area. Honestly, if I knew I would be taking selfies with my hero I would have let my hair down that day, but I was still grateful to finally meet him. He also gave great tips for catching flounder for the Flounder Pounder coming up this summer at Bahia Marina. Hooked on OC airs every weekend on ABC WMDT – TV ch. 47 and ch. 3 on the CW Network.
Sharky is ready to go back to DE
With Sharky buckled in and Jason and I officially tuckered out from an action-packed Valentine’s Day weekend, we made the trip back home to Smyrna. With love in our hearts and renewed spirits, Ocean City failed to disappoint again. Valentine’s Day in Ocean City is going to become our new tradition. Next year, we plan on staying right at the Princess Royale Hotel so we can enjoy the spa but then head back up to our room afterwards to relax.
Until next time, Seaside Cindy is planning her next Oceanside adventure. For more photos from our Valentine’s Day weekend, please visit me on Instagram.
The Berlin Heritage Foundation announces it will hold the second annual “Afternoon on the Lawn,” on Sunday, June 4, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Calvin B. Taylor House Museum on Main Street.
You don’t have to be an Anglophile or an aristocrat and you don’t have to attend in period costume (although the dress is Garden Party attire), but we hope you will come out to support all things Berlin. Enjoy tastings from Berlin restaurants while you stroll around our historic grounds to the sound of a ragtime band.
During the afternoon we will be celebrating the original members of the Berlin Heritage Foundation whose foresight ensured the creation of the Calvin B. Taylor House Museum as an adjunct to the restoration and preservation of the town of Berlin. We are honored to recognize these individuals who have been so important in our Town’s recent history.
Committee members Carol Rose, Lisa Cook and Melissa Reid are “thrilled to put on this event for the museum, and are pleased to showcase menu items from local Berlin restaurants.”
Tickets are $50.00 per person and include food tastings and two glasses of wine or beer. A cash bar will be available. Contact the museum for tickets by May 20th, at 410-641-1019, or email taylorhousemuseum@verizon.net.
Berlin’s Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Party & Costume Contest Event Saturday, April 8th, 1pm – 5 pm Berlin to host a Pink Party & Costume Contest for the Susan G. Komen Ocean City racers. Berlin will support Komen MD’s Race for the Cure in Ocean City, Maryland with an afternoon devoted to education, support, and fun. Berlin merchants will decorate their stores and windows in pink to welcome the Komen Community to our town.
• Raising awareness for breast cancer and the Komen MD organization
• Raising funds to increase education and awareness on the Eastern Shore and to help battle breast cancer.
• Bringing the Race for the Cure community to Berlin to experience the Coolest Small Town in America and to help promote the Town and the merchants here.
• The Town will decorate public street lamps with pink bows
• Many merchants will offer discounts for all Race participants or those that wear pink,
• There will be pink sidewalk chalk so all can decorate the sidewalks of Berlin with messages of hope
• The Worcester County Tourism Office is sponsoring a pink costume/outfit competition centered in the parking lot behind Fins just off Main Street. They will judge and give prizes for the best pink outfit in three categories:
The following businesses are offering specials as well
The Beez Kneez – 15% off for Race participants
Victorian Charm – Donating the following for the Costume Contest Prizes (1) Adult costume a pink striped backpack and free monogram ($47 value) (1) Kids – Simple Southern pink backpack ($15 value) Present flyer to receive 10% off – excludes Brighton Church Mouse – Pink clothing at $1.00 each and will make donation to Komen.
Maryland Wine Bar – Pink wine slushies for $7.00
Patty Jeans – Pink Sangria and raffle for a pink clutch. Portion of that days sales goes to Komen
Baked Dessert Café – Pink strawberry shortcake cupcakes and tart cherry pie with special discounts for those currently battling this disease and survivors.
On What Grounds – Homemade Pink raspberry truffles Fins – Will donate 10% of all their proceeds to Komen MD. They will offer a pink Kolsch beer (Komen Kolsch) and feature live music.
Runaway Tide General Store – 20% off anything pink in the store Crush & Crab $5 Pink Crush – 50% of each crush donated back to Komen
The Treasure Chest – Pink polishing cloths for $4 regular $8. Drawing for a Pink Jewelry Case
Oh My Hair – Pink Hair Strand Extensions for $10 Sisters – Pink Moscato drink specials and 20% of bar proceeds donated to Komen.
World of Toys – 10% discount off of entire purchase
Una Bella Salute – 20% off robust olive oils and 10% off all other olive oils
Stuarts Antiques – 20-70% off back room items, 20%-50% off
Fine Jewelry A Little Bit Sheepish – 10% discount on all pink yarn that day
Heart of Gold Kids: Pink refreshments & 15% off everything pink in the store.
The Atlantic Hotel: Special Pink dessert featuring layers of Strawberry cream with a pecan crust
INCA RUINS- 10% off and 10% donation to MD Komen on your Purchase if you’re wearing Pink! Spend $50 & get a Special Breast Cancer Awareness Perfume and Wristband Free! (Max 10 Gifts).
Siculi’s – $ 5.00 Cosmo and Siculi’ Lemonades; $12 Shrimp Salad & $8 Beet Salad, will donate a portion of their proceeds to Komen.
Main Street Deli – $1.00 pink cupcakes, will donate a portion of their proceeds to Komen.
Bruder Hill – Offering Pink lemonade, 50% discount on all jewelry to all race participants. All purchases go towards two raffles of $25 each, with a portion of the proceeds going back to Komen.
Nest – 15% off all pink items in the shop
Gilberts Provisions – 10% for those wearing their race numbers Berlin Butcher Shop – 10% of sales donated to Komen.
TaDa – Will be giving away 6 Nora Fleming bud vases and pink ribbon minis to shoppers throughout the day
Traveling can be an exciting adventure, but choosing an Ocean City Hotel doesn’t have to be. People ask questions like, How do I pick a place to stay? I cannot afford to take a vacation this year, can I? These are questions that people ask themselves all of the time. This is what you need to do. There are many hotels in Ocean City, that is for sure, but what that means is there is a lot of different products to choose from.
Stay at the Grand Hotel & Spa in Ocean City, Maryland and enjoy all the comforts and conveniences of a home away from home
Choosing an Ocean City Hotel
There are hotels on the Boardwalk, on the Ocean, Bayside, some with indoor pools, outdoor pools and both, some with restaurants and bars, upscale, luxury and economy accommodations without all of the frills. All of these hotels have different prices.We are sure there is one that you can afford. This is what you need to do. Sit down and come up with a budget, your budget may be $500. This could buy you one night in an upscale hotel or 3 nights in an economy brand. Next, figure out what the most important amenities are to you. These are the amenities that you just cannot live without.
The Clarion Resort Hotel is the finest in Ocean City, MD oceanfront hotels. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, you’ll get the best in Ocean City, MD resorts.
Researching Ocean City Hotels
Then, do some research. You will find some hotels will just meet your price range and minimal requirements and others that exceed your requirements. Then you must make a decision, which one will you choose? Now is the time to book your vacation. The economy is still in bad shape and hotels are discounting their rates to compete for their fair share of the market. Hotels want to get a jump start on their bookings and are offering all sorts of deals from deep discounts to added values in order to capture your reservation. What are you waiting for? Start your search now and start here: https://www.oceancity.com/book-early-ocean-city.php. This site is not only offering discounted room rates for advance bookings, but also including a packet of gift certificates for food and admission to area attractions which will also help reduce the cost of your next vacation!
Spend the weekend in Chincoteague. You’ll be happy you did.
Sometimes it is so easy to get wrapped up in the Assateague ponies we can forget that Chincoteague Island is only a few miles farther as the crow flies, but those of us who aren’t crows have to make the 45 minute drive west, then south then east to wind up on Chincoteague Island. Let me tell you now, it is worth the trip. I spent the afternoon on Chincoteague this week and, even though it’s only been a couple of months since I last visited, I was struck by the island’s potential.
Now, to be clear, I don’t mean that Chincoteague has potential. Given the diversity of distractions (shops, restaurants, and of course the bay, ocean and all those entail) Chincoteague is about as fully realized a destination as it can be. I meant that I tend to forget how much potential it has for me as a weekend destination. It is eminently walkable. It has a 20th century movie theater, almost too many restaurants to choose from and the kind of views you really just have to experience.
It starts with the drive in
Chincoteague in the distance. There is a kind of skyway (or super long bridge) that connects the island to the land.
I was down to take a look at the fairgrounds, where the annual pony auction is held. If you for some reason are unfamiliar with the concept, there are wild horses on Assateague and Chincoteague islands. The Assateague ponies are federally protected and the Chincoteague ponies are owned by the local fire department. The fireman care for the herd and auction some of the ponies off each year to manage the population and fund the fire department.
They’ve been doing it for such a long time that the fairgrounds are permanent, a village of stone buildings holding fast against the elements. Also, as it happens, the fairgrounds are the perfect place for a beer festival, more on that here.
But it would have been silly to make a trip all the way to Chincoteague and not take notice of its potential for me and that’s what I want to get at. By the height of summer Chincoteague is as abuzz as it gets with visitors and part-time residents taking advantage of its perfect placement between the ocean and bay.
There always is something to do on Chincoteague, even if it is nothing
Some of the ponies are penned, others roam the beaches.
The hotel rooms are nearly laughably inexpensive at this time of year and I thought about taking a weekend trip, Friday to Sunday, just to knock around. It is the knocking around part that makes the island a particular attraction. You can wander to the park and watch the penned ponies at play or at rest. You can bike, walk or drive out to Chincoteague National Park and explore the beach. You can sit bayside and have a meal and maybe a drink or two before wandering off again.
Realizing how much there was to do (or not do) on the island is what convinced me to pitch this weekend away to you. The weather will have broken by the end of April and even more of the shops and restaurants will have weekend hours. April 29th, the weekend of the Shore Craft Beer Fest: Chincoteague is an arts weekend as well. There will be a plein air festival and wet paint sale and after-party. The town shops will participate in their own particular ways.
This will be a weekend where Chincoteague shows off its diversity and sparks your imagination for making it your next big weekend destination.
OCEAN CITY, MD – (March 13, 2017): Coastal Highway was glowing in green on Saturday, at the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival hosted by the Delmarva Irish-American Club. Judges reviewed the participating units and presented awards in several categories. The winners are as follows
·Best Marching Unit: Believe in Tomorrow Children’s House by the Sea
oHonorable Mention: Surfrider Foundation
·Best Commercial Float: Mann Properties
oHonorable Mention: Belly Busters Seafood and Deli
·Best Non-Commercial Float: Relay for Life of Northern Worcester County
oHonorable Mention: Ocean City Downtown Association
·Best Motorized Unit: Friends of the Worcester County Developmental Center
oHonorable Mention: Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce
·Best Adult Group: The Frat Boys
oHonorable Mention: Matteo’s Salsa Loco
·Best Youth Group: Sussex Central High School Marching Band
March 13, 2017, the National Weather Service is calling for a wintry mix of freezing rain, snow, and wind gusts of up to 50 mph beginning tonight for the Lower Eastern Shore.
The heaviest periods of rain and possible snow accumulations are expected to take place tonight through Tuesday afternoon, with winds beginning tonight and lasting through Wednesday. Power outages due to downed trees are possible with this storm.
The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office and Worcester County Emergency Services (WCES) urge residents to secure all loose outdoor objects around their homes and businesses. Those who must venture out onto area roadways should exercise extreme caution, as slick conditions, periods of low visibility, and possible downed power lines and trees will make driving hazardous.
The Town of Ocean City’s Emergency Services Department is continue to monitor the storm and will continue to update residents and visitors as services change. Residents should program their radios to 99.5 and follow @townofoceancity on twitter or visit https://www.facebook.com/TownOfOceanCity for updates.
Typically speaking, when most people think about Easter, they don’t necessarily think of vacationing at the beach, but if you were to ask my 12 year old son, it would be the first thing that pops into his mind. Probably because he doesn’t know any different. For his entire life we’ve spent our Easters here in Ocean City. From my son’s perspective this is not only normal, it’s his family’s tradition.
Despite the reality that my son clings to, the truth is spending Easter in Ocean City, is not something that we always did as a family. His older siblings had the much more traditional stay at home type of Holiday experiences when they were growing up, but once we made the leap to spending this weekend at the shore, we folded our mirrors in and never looked back. In fact, the common consensus in our household is that Easter is everyone’s favorite time to visit the resort. If you’re at all intrigued as to why my family views it this way, then continue to read below and I’ll do my best to show you Easter through the lens we’ve been looking through.
Consider a condo
Normally we prefer hotels over condos. This is a whole other topic unto itself, and I’ll no doubt write about this in great detail sometime soon. For now though, lets just say that under normal conditions hotels fit our family’s needs slightly better. Easter weekend has always been one of the exceptions to this though, partially because when we first started doing this over a decade ago, we had all 5 kids with us, which meant space was a top priority. It’s one thing to stack people on top of one another in July, when you know everyone will be spending every waking second outside on the beach and boardwalk, but during early spring you never know what kind of weather you’ll encounter. Don’t get me wrong, I always cross my fingers and hope for good weather, and to be honest we’ve been very fortunate over the years, but I believe strongly on hedging my bets. This means getting a nice big condominium with plenty of room for the bunny to hide some eggs.
Now I realize that the holiday is practically right around the corner, and trying to find a place to rent for the weekend may seem a bit rushed, but keep in mind that you can use this to your advantage. My advice would be to by-pass the agents and brokerages and go straight to VRBO and other sights where the owners personally list their properties. The reason is simple, if they still have vacancies at this late hour you may be sitting in the catbird seat! Every year we pick a different condo unit and I’ve never paid sticker price yet. Now I’m not suggesting that you insult these owners with some ridiculous lowballs, but there’s nothing wrong with doing some fair negotiations. After all, we’re not talking about 4th of July week here, so you know there’s no shortage of options out there to stay. I once got us a stay in a two-story oceanfront penthouse for half of the asking price!
Plenty to do Easter weekend
It seems like every year, there are more and more activities and events planned for this weekend. Over the years we’ve done a host of different things such as attend the Bonnet parade in Berlin, egg hunts on the beach in some rather cold windy conditions and many other fun adventures, but the one tried and true tradition of ours is attending the arts and crafts show at the convention center. The opportunity to take a little boy there to hunt for eggs may be what brought us there initially, but the unique displays and friendly vendors are what has kept us returning every year. Inevitably we walk out of there every year spending money on things we didn’t know existed, or even knew we had a need for them, but it’s still always a very enjoyable and enlightening experience every time.
Ring the dinner bell!
Of course you know I didn’t rent those condos to try out their ovens by baking hams. Make no mistake, when we’re in ocean city we’re taking advantage of the virtual plethora of great restaurants. We’ve swapped out different places over the years, but typically you could expect to find us enjoying some fried oysters at Harborside Bar & Grille on Good Friday before we even unpack the car. Then we like to hit up Rosenfeld’s Jewish Delicatessen on 63rd street for a late breakfast/early lunch, everything there is the real deal, but the Papa Joe’s Ruben sandwich is in a league all of it’s own – no lunch meat here – with an 8 oz mix of house made pastrami & corned beef. As far as the holiday dinner goes, you’ll find no shortage of Easter buffets to choose from, and if that’s your thing by all means go for it, but as for me I’m not a fan of buffets. So there’s a good chance my family and I will be celebrating this holiday around a nice cozy table at the Drummers Cafe, located inside the historic Atlantic Hotel, located just five miles up the road from Ocean City in America’s Coolest Small Town of Berlin.
Here’s what not to do…
Life lessons are equal opportunity teaching experiences. Just as we’ve learned what to do this weekend, we’ve also learned the hard way as to what not to do… One thing in particular that I discovered is that buying Easter candy at home before you head to the beach can turn out to be rather disappointing. This is particularly true if you pack the the chocolate in a bag, and stack it on top of the luggage in direct line with the back window of your mini van. Yes, feel free to label me “Mr. Science” here, but believe me when I tell you that the hot sun is not a friend to chocolate bunnies, and I’ve done more than one experiment to prove my solar heat theory. I also discovered that placing the Easter baskets outside on the balcony the night before, gives the children a runny gooey Easter morning that they will never let you live down. Do yourself a huge favor and buy your candy once you safely arrive in town at Wockenfuss, the results will be much more positive in the long run – trust me. Happy Easter my friends!
Sincerely,
The Ocean City Outsider.
This post was updated on March 9, 2017 for context. — Ed.
The Delmarva Discovery Center and Museum is thrilled to announce the grand opening of an exciting and interactive new exhibit. The Hazel Family Foundation Touch Pool is the culmination of more than a year of research and a custom exhibit which brings all of our guests closer to nature.
“I think it’s very important to expose kids to the natural world. I believe any individual, if better educated about the outside world, will treat it with more respect,” said Morgan Hazel. “The Touch Pool will allow kids to interact with animals in a tactile way, giving them an experience they might not otherwise ever have.”
“It has been our dream to make the Discovery Center as interactive and hands-on as it can be for everyone, and to make the building and exhibits as universally accessible as we can” said Stacey Weisner, President and CEO. “I would have given anything to have been able to see my sister Shelly enjoy this exhibit when she was not as mobile after her stroke. There are actually four wheelchair stations incorporated in the Touch Pool. The Hazel family is well-known throughout the region for their generous support of area non-profits, and the Touch Pool is a permanent reminder of their kindness”.
The Discovery Center is 16,000 square feet of hands-on and interactive exhibits and the Wally Gordon River Otter Exhibit. We are open 7 days a week year-round and only closed on 4 major holidays: New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving & Christmas. Hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Mon-Sat, and noon – 4 p.m. Sun. Visit or call www.DelmarvaDiscoveryCenter.org, 410-957-9933, or contact@DelmarvaDiscoveryCenter.org for more information.
“The new Touch Pool is such an exciting, ever-changing addition for visitors to learn more about the creatures in their environment. We are so very grateful The Hazel Family Foundation made this hands-on enjoyable experience possible” said Susan Buckle Pusey, Board Chair.
Partial funding for the Touch Pool was also provided generously by the Maryland Heritage Area Authority. MHAA has been a great partner with the Discovery Center, as we are able to leverage public and private funds to make great exhibits and capital improvements.
FEATURED PHOTO: Bill Kerbin, Willie Jackson, Janette and Morgan Hazel, Stacey Weisner, and Susan Buckle Pusey around the newly opened touch tank.
Located at Ocean City Center for the Arts – 502 94th Street Ocean City, MD
On Saturday, April 8th, from 5-8pm we are having a pARTy for the arts and all are invited! The event will be held at the Ocean City Center for the Arts on 94th Street in Ocean City, Maryland. Come join the party that will benefit the Art League of Ocean City, Brown Box Theatre Project, AND Friends of the Gwen Freeman Lehman Foundation. That’s three wonderful organizations coming together for an Arts Center takeover. It’s going to be a great night!
Live music from Bryan Russo
Performances by Brown Box Theatre Project
Tapas-style food by Phil Cropper
Cash bar serving craft beer and wine
Art by Gwen Lehman featured in Studio E
Art on the spot with a selfie station and more fun interactive art
Raffles to support the arts & a chance to win a Grand Prize
OCEAN CITY, MD – (March 2, 2016): On Saturday, February 25, 2017, the Ocean City Fire Department (OCFD) held its 3rd Annual Awards and Recognition Ceremony at the 66th Street Holiday Inn, honoring members for their achievements. The ceremony named Fire/EMS Firefighter of the Year, Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company (OCVFC) Firefighter of the Year, and Fire/EMS Paramedic of the Year, along with several Years of Service Awards, Distinguished Service Awards, and Incident Citations.
“In our profession, we don’t often take time to recognize the work we do or the people who do it,” said OCFD Fire Chief Chris Larmore. “Today is a special day, because we can reflect on the past year, focus on our accomplishments and acknowledge our successes.”
Along with several dignitaries who attended in support of the department, Chief Larmore and Deputy Chief’s David Hartley, Chris Shaffer and David Cropper were present to give the awards, which included an honorable service award to recent retires and long term employees Chuck Barton and Trevor Steedman. “Our members go above and beyond the call of duty to make our department constantly the best. We are proud of each and every one you,” Chief Larmore continued.
The first award was given by the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company (OCVFC) Ladies Auxiliary. Teresa Swinscoe was given the OCVFC Ladies Auxiliary Member of the Year Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Yvonne Bunting and Patty Cropper. Also recognized for their active service were Virginia “Ginny” Harmon, for 70 years of active service, Rita Villani, for 65 years of active service and Lillian “Lou” Luciano, for 45 years of active service. In addition, the Ladies Auxiliary donated more than $3,000 dollars to various organizations, including the John Paul Adkins II scholarship fund, the F. Michael Sacca scholarship fund and the OCVFC cadet program.
Awards were presented for length of service, special recognition, citizen appreciation, honorable and incident citations. In addition, members were in attendance to present proclamations to select members for 5, 10, 15, 25 and 50 years of service.
At the close of the event, the top honors for Fire/EMS Firefighter of the Year, OCVFC Firefighter of the Year, and Fire/EMS Paramedic of the Year were awarded. Steven Twilley was named Fire/EMS Firefighter of the Year, Greg Dypsky was named OCVFC Firefighter of the Year, and Sean Sullivan was name Fire/EMS Paramedic of the Year.
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A complete lists of award winners can be found below. Pictures can be found at:
For many of us when we think Ocean City, we think seafood. I start mentally setting up my seafood dinners at least a couple of weeks prior to our beach vacation. Actually, that’s one of the best parts of any vacation for me, having my biggest decision of the entire day be “where are we going to eat at tonight”? When in Ocean City, the answer is easy: someplace offering up fresh seafood! Oftentimes it’s the very first thing we do upon arriving in town, even before we check into our hotel. For some reason it just doesn’t seem like my vacation really starts until that very moment when I stab a crab cake with my fork, and twist out a bright white lump of meat from it’s golden brown crust.
Now, with all that having been said, sometimes there really can be too much of a good thing, and even if I’m not the one ready to throw the towel in on the eastern shore fare, after about three straight days the rest of my family is tapping out! So, being the team player that I am, and for the sake of harmony in general, I’ll agree it’s time to switch it up, and we move on to another one of my favorite cuisines – Italian!
Yes, Italian in Delmarva. Doesn’t really sound like it goes together, but trust me there are some really good options right here in Ocean City, and I’m not just referring to the pizza shops that are spaced out about every 20 feet along the boardwalk. I’m talking about good authentic Italian cuisine that could rival the likes of New York, Philly, or Chicago. No need to waste your effort pouring over reviews (the chances are they were written by me too) to figure out where to go, to experience these culinary delights throughout the resort – The Outsider, has saved you some time by listing my top 5 favorite Italian restaurants below.
The Ocean City Outsider’s 5 Favorite Italian Restaurants
Number 5 – Davinci’s by the Sea
Located right on the boardwalk at 14th Street, chances are you’ve probably walked past this little eatery hidden underneath Harrison Hall’s hotel and wondered what it is like. It’s a small Italian restaurant, offering traditional favorites that you’d expect, like spaghetti with choice of different sauces, lasagna, and chicken parmigiana, but they also incorporate seafood into some of their dishes. I’ve eaten just about everything on the menu over the years, but for some reason, I usually find myself ordering the Linguini Con Cozze Marinara, which is simply mussels simmered in marinara sauce over a huge bed of linguini. For well over a decade it was a long standing tradition of ours to eat dinner here on the 4th of July. This way we could walk from our hotel to a place we could have a great meal, then proceed on from there, and go down and watch the fireworks. I placed them in 5th because they are not open year round, and while they might lose a point or two for this, it’s still one of my favorites, and I believe with their prices, it’s one of the most affordable places you can take a family out to dinner in Ocean City.
Number 4 – Touch of Italy
I’ve only eaten here twice and both times I’ve been impressed with not only the food, but also the friendly and knowledgeable waitstaff. The location inside the the Holiday Inn Oceanfront. used to be home to Reflections – a rather stuffy upscale restaurant that had run it’s course, and (in my opinion) never really quite fit in a family orientated beach hotel. Touch of Italy is a proven concept, all along the east coast of Delaware, and this location is quickly gaining traction among locals and vacationers alike. The dish that I’m most found of so far is the Tagliatelle Fra’ diavolo – that’s a mouthful in more ways than one! To put it into layman’s terms, it’s thin flat pasta, like linguini with shrimp, clams, mussels, and calamari tossed in a spicy hot marinara sauce. Also worth mentioning they have a first class deli and offer great takeout options. On our last visit we did a takeout tray of lasagna, that gave us something to look forward to at the end of our 6 hour ride back home, and needless to say it didn’t disappoint.
Number 3 – Mio Fratello’s
For the third restaurant on this list, we’ll have to travel up to the north end of town and hang a left onto Fenwick Island Delaware. We started going here right after they opened and have been hooked ever since. They offer all the usual traditional Italian dishes, my favorite being their Sausage Puttanesca.
Served over pasta, this sauce traces it’s origin back to kitchens in the brothels of Italy, and as the legend suggests the strong aroma of tomatoes, with black olives, capers, anchovies, onions, garlic, and herbs was invented to lure men inside their establishments. I can’t say for sure how true all that is, but I can tell you it’s made a repeat customer out of this guy. Also worth mentioning, I realize ordering calamari is viewed as a “cop out” by some, but I have to admit I’m a huge fan of it here. It’s lightly dusted, fried just right so it’s not tough or gummy, and the basil infused marina they serve with it is a winner by itself, but if you really want to take it to the next level, ask for a few extra lemon wedges and squeeze them liberally over the squid before you start dipping.
Number 2 -Ristorante Antipasti
Ristorante Antipasti, made the list of top 5 Italian restaurants in the country, (not just by the Outsider),but by the Food Network. All you need to do is visit just once and it’s clear how they achieved such an honor. The owner is an outgoing chef/restaurateur that greets every man with a firm handshake and kiss on the cheek for the ladies. The style of this establishment is more indicative of European dining. For the cuisine think Northern Italy, instead of the traditional Sicilian spaghetti house that most might expect. Small plates, seafood dishes, and pasta is more of a side dish than a main course here. I highly recommend the “Garlic Steak for 2”, and opt for the side of pasta with (and I can’t stress this enough) the PINK sauce. As the name would imply It’s a seamless blend of rich alfredo and tangy tomato, then they guild the lily by throwing in salty capers which allows this sauce to hit practically your entire taste pallet. ~ it’s a flavor I’ve tried to duplicate many times in my own kitchen, but continue to fall short.
Number 1 – Sello’s Italian Restaurant
Located on golf course road in West Ocean City, this place might appear to be a newcomer, but the owners have established deep roots in the resort as they formally owned and operated the legendary Fresco’s which was a favorite among residents and visitors for many years. I chose this one as number one because I believe it works on just about all levels. It’s a trendy, upscale and the food is unparalleled. As you walk up to the entrance a careful eye will notice the mint and basil plants nestled in landscaping. The decor inside has a contemporary Modern American feel, but one look at the pasta machine and pizza oven, and it’s clear that you’re in store for authentic Italian!
If you go, I strongly suggest the Papardelle alla Bolognese, has rich beefy flavor that you’d want in a bolognese. The classical trinity of meats used in this tomato sauce come together perfectly, coating the homemade pasta making it a truly cohesive dish. You also can’t go wrong with the Penne Granchi, the pasta is cooked to a perfect el dente, the tomato/ cream sauce is flavorful, without over powering the sweet lumps of crab meat, that are both large and plentiful. The protein to pasta ratio works as practically as it does aesthetically. If pasta isn’t your thing pizza is another great option here.
So there you have it, from West Ocean City all the way up to the Delaware line, a great Italian meal is never far away when on the Eastern Shore!
Sincerely,
The Outsider.
This story originally appeared on OceanCity.com in 2016. — Ed.
In another few weeks people will be coming to town to dust off their condos, or for short pre-season weekend jaunts. Most of the restaurants and hotels will be open and the buzz of the summer season, the anticipation of warm weather and cold drinks will begin reaching a crescendo. The first step in making sure you have what you want when you arrive is that restaurateurs, hoteliers, attraction hosts and general ancillary service people go to the annual Ocean City Hotel Motel Restaurant Association show to test out some of the newest trends and tech to make your stay more efficient and comfortable.
The two day show brings thousands of purveyors to town to show of the best of the best of what they have to offer. I swung down there to get a general overview. Here are some of my favorite shots and insights. Make sure you’re following us on Instagram. Tomorrow I’ll be documenting the whole day with videos and insights about what to expect from Ocean City this summer.
Big Oyster’s OCHMRA debut was a bigish deal. The brewery has been expanding significantly in the last six months and is getting ready to take its place as one of the breweries that supports the Shore as a craft beer destination.Cody Miller has been at Seacrets most of his working career, but working oneself up from barback to distiller is a pretty rare thing in the 21st century.It’s easy to get excited at the proposition of tasting all the spirits available at the shows, but it also is important to remember that a lot of the attendees are trying to figure out what people will react best to when they come to town for vacation. Booze is a serious-er business than many people know.Deadpan breadman. There were tons of fresh bread and sweets displays, but this guy from Uptown Bakers was a pip. By the end of the first day everyone is a little punchy from all the chatting and work and just ready to lay into having a good time.Brooklyn Baking Barons Tony and Chris did three cooking presentations on the opening day. But the final one on Monday, they kind of had their schtick cold, which just made the presentation more fun.
