Rina Thaler Is First Eastern Shore Recipient Of The “Sue Hess Legacy Arts Advocate Of The Year” For Maryland

Katie Ruskey
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Rina Thaler Is First Eastern Shore Recipient Of The “Sue Hess Legacy Arts Advocate Of The Year” For Maryland

OCEAN CITY, MD — Feb. 10, 2023 — The Maryland Citizens for the Arts has presented Rina Thaler, executive director of the Art League of Ocean City, with the “Sue Hess Legacy Arts Advocate of the Year Award” for 2023. The annual award recognizes an individual whose advocacy efforts have significantly increased support for and public recognition of the arts in Maryland. Thaler is the first recipient from the Eastern Shore to receive the honor.

The award’s namesake, Sue Hess, who passed in 2020, was a leader and staunch defender of the arts in Maryland for over 40 years. Hess, part of the Hess retail store family, was formerly the chair and served on the Board of Trustees of Maryland Citizens for the Arts. Working on her own at her home in Salisbury and at her beach house in the Little Salisbury neighborhood of Ocean City — near the current location of the Ocean City Center for the Arts — Hess formed a network of grassroots art supporters across the state and was instrumental in driving the growth for the arts in Maryland. The first Sue Hess Award was presented in 2009 during Maryland Arts Day and continues to be awarded to individuals whose advocacy efforts have significantly benefitted the entire Maryland arts community.

Maryland Citizen for the Arts will present Thaler with the award during the 2023 Maryland Arts Day on Zoom, Thursday, Feb. 16, 9 a.m. Maryland Arts Day is the largest statewide advocacy day of arts professionals, connecting arts organizations with lawmakers from every legislative district in Maryland.

“Thank you to Maryland Citizens for the Arts for this honor,” Thaler said. “This award continues the legacy of my former neighbor and longtime Art League member, Sue Hess. Sue was part of the effort in the early 1990s to expand the Art League building, and she was so happy when we finally opened the new Ocean City Center for the Arts in 2013. I am proud to be part of the strong group of art advocates leading the charge to make arts accessible to the people of Ocean City, the Eastern Shore, and throughout the State of Maryland.”

Thaler spearheaded a public/private campaign to build the Ocean City Center for the Arts that opened 10 years ago in 2013 on 94th St. She was appointed the nonprofit’s first executive director at that time. The Arts Center is the largest facility in Worcester County dedicated solely to providing year-round opportunities for artistic expression and appreciation for the visual and creative arts in the community.

Under Thaler’s leadership, the Art League has grown from a small grassroots organization into a regional arts institution providing unmatched access to the arts. Since opening in 2013, more than 151,000 patrons have visited the Arts Center, and the Art League has served more than 1 million people worldwide through community opportunities and online events. Thaler’s sheer determination to bring art and cultural opportunities to an area thought of as simply a “vacation town” has stimulated the growth of a vibrant arts community. Her personal mission is to “design innovative and collaborative programs that advocate through art for social change and address pervasive social issues on the Lower Eastern Shore, including diversity, poverty, addiction, animal welfare, and mental health,” she said.

Previous awards for Thaler’s arts advocacy efforts include the 2015 Henson Award from the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore to the Art League of Ocean City, the 2017 Worcester County Commission Woman of the Year Award, and the 2019 Distinguished Women of Ocean City Award from the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce.

Thaler served on the Ocean City Arts Advisory Board that established the 1,200-seat Ocean City Performing Arts Center, the only theater of its kind on the Lower Eastern Shore. She has also served on state-wide panels and committees including the Maryland State Arts Council, Maryland Citizens for the Arts, and Governor Hogan’s Maryland Arts Recovery Task Force during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A working artist herself, Thaler is known for her contemporary water media paintings and is a founding partner of Gallery One in Ocean View, De. She is the proud mother of Brandon Thaler and Chelsea Thaler and has resided with her husband, Jeff, in Ocean City since 1980. The couple has been actively involved in the local business community for more than 40 years. In honor of their work and generosity, the Board of Directors of the Art League named the Thaler Gallery at the Arts Center in their honor.

Additional information about Thaler’s art is available at www.rinathaler.com. Information about the Art League of Ocean City is available at www.OCart.org.

Odyssea WaterSports is Making Waves

Katie Ruskey
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Odyssea WaterSports is Making Waves

The 2023 season is upon us here in Ocean City and Odyssea WaterSports is looking forward to it. With their 26th season beginning in just three short months, Odyssea WaterSports will be moving to two new locations in Ocean City. 

Formerly on 50th street next to Seacrets, Odyssea WaterSports will be moving and opening two new locations. The first location will be on 52nd street. “Jetski rentals are at our location formerly known as Action Watersports on 52nd st. We have rebranded that location to become Odyssea Jetski Rentals.” While their other location in Ocean Pines serves as a “full-service watercraft repair shop named, Odyssea Jet and Prop Shop. We offer service work, indoor/outdoor storage, seasonal services, trailer repairs and sales, and pre-owned boat/jetski sales.”

The official opening day for jet ski rentals is set for May 15th with hopes that the weather may allow for an earlier opening. Odyssea Jetski Rentals plan to close sometime in September again weather dependent. On their second location in Ocean Pines- “Our Service Shop is still open but by appointment only through February. We will be open Tuesday – Saturday most likely starting in March.”

Other than jet ski rentals and watercraft repair and services, Odyssea Watersports is hoping to again one day offer pontoon boat rentals. “We are still in the process of finding a new location for potential Pontoon Boat Rentals. Once we have that figured out we will be updating everyone through our website, social media, and blogs.”

When asked about the reason for the move, Justin Clemens of Odyssea Watersports says, “The lease we had for the 50th street location was not renewed due to the landlord’s decision. It was the best location for watersports in all of Ocean City and losing the location we’ve worked so hard for over the last 25 years, was not easy. But things happen and times change so now we are excited about the new challenge and we look forward to continuing to serve Ocean City and its visitors with great customer service and fun in 2023.”

Embracing the move for 2023 and accepting new challenges seems to be the main focus for Odyssea Watersports. The Odyssea Watersports family had this to say: “Our family is incredibly grateful for the love and support shown by our customers, fans, family, friends, and the Town of Ocean City over the past 25 years. Losing a location that we built with blood, sweat and tears for over 2 decades hasn’t been easy but the memories will live on and new memories will be made. There are still so many unknowns for the future as we continue to navigate these major changes but we know that no matter where we go, our loyal Odyssea Family will be there for support and words can not explain how thankful we are for you! We look forward to seeing you on the water starting in May!”

For more information on rentals for this upcoming season, visit https://odysseawatersports.com/ Interested in becoming a jet ski guide? Visit https://odysseawatersports.com/employment/

FeBREWary offers Ocean City Getaway as Prize for Visiting Local Breweries.

Ann
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FeBREWary offers Ocean City Getaway as Prize for Visiting Local Breweries.
Evo’s XO stout is just one delicious example of a beer made for FeBREWary.

Giveaway in Honor of FeBREWary!

FeBREWary in Ocean City has always meant having a Shore Craft Beer Fest.  This year, however, Shore Craft Beer and the Town were unable to find an appropriate weekend to host the event.  Not to be deterred, Shore Craft Beer has put together a special FeBREWary themed Beercation in Ocean City.  The lucky winner will spend 2 nights in the Grand Hotel Oceanfront where they can wake up to the sounds of the surf as it crashes on the beach or walk the miles of boardwalk just outside the door of the hotel.  They will also get a special pint glass and local craft beer when they check in.   

You can build your beercation around your off-season stay at the Grand!

If you don’t win, or you don’t want to wait until the end of FeBREWary to visit some of the local craft breweries, here is a list of the 10 best hotels in Ocean City for a beercation!

How Do You Win the Ocean City FeBREWary Beercation?

Grand Hotel Beach View

All you have to do is

  • check into 3 local craft breweries with the Shore Craft Beer App.  
  • When you check-in, just take a selfie of yourself with a beer or just the beer, tell us what beer you are drinking and that’s it.  
  • Do it 3 times during the month of FeBREWary and you will be automatically entered to win this fabulous Beercation.

A lucky winner will be drawn on March 1st and the award certificate for your off-season 2 night stay at the Grand will be mailed to you.

More Details on Shore Craft Beer.

More details on the FeBREWary celebration as well as beercation options are available on ShoreCraftBeer.com.  Click here to learn more.

Shore Craft Beer app - check in and win prizes

Download the Shore Craft Beer App Now

scan code to download the shore craft beer app
Just scan the QR code with your phone to download the Shore Craft Beer App. Just use the app to check into 3 different local craft breweries during FeBREWary to be automatically entered for a chance to win an Ocean City Beercation.

 

10 Hotels for Your Next Beercation in Ocean City, MD

Ann
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10 Hotels for Your Next Beercation in Ocean City, MD

We know FeBREWary is a great month for beercations in Ocean City, MD and that’s why we are putting together a list of Ocean City, MD hotels that make a great base for your exploration of the Shore’s local craft breweries.  Don’t neglect to plan for more beer cations throughout the year as some of the breweries and restaurants won’t be open in FeBREWary, but are worth another trip later into the Spring when hotel rates are reasonable and the craft beer is flowing.

The Grand Hotel Oceanfront

Indoor pool at the Grand Hotel Oceanfront
We started with an indoor pool since we like our beercations in Ocean City during the shoulder and off-season when the weather is cooler. The Grand is on the boardwalk and offers easy access to many bars & restaurants downtown.

The Grand Hotel Oceanfront is located at 21st Street and the ocean.  Located right on the Boardwalk, this hotel is large, has great views, and lots of areas to play.  The best part for your next Beercation is that the new “Other One Brewing Co” is located just up the street, but on the bayside, between 23rd and 24th. It’s part of the Embers Center where you can also find great food with views. That’s a quick taxi, Uber, or bus ride and a nice stroll so you can leave your car in the hotel’s lot.  Check that brewery off your list!

The Fontainebleau Resort Hotel

Pub in the Fontainebleau with local craft beer
The Fontainebleau is in north Ocean City and can be your exclusive Beercation destination. They have indoor and outdoor pools. They have indoor and outdoor bars and can even bring your drinks to the beach. Their large restaurant accommodates your dining requirements so you never have to leave, unless you are ready to visit some local breweries!

Located at 101st Street and the ocean, the Fontainebleau is your answer to easy access to Delaware and the many breweries there.  Their pub, pictured above, has had lots of craft beer on tap and it has a great ocean view too!  In warmer weather, there is an outside bar and the Fontainebleau owns their beach so drinks can be served there as well.  (This is one of only two hotels that own their beaches which is why getting a drink on the beach isn’t easy.). Start with the closest brewery headed north, the Dewey Beer Co and work your way up Coastal Highway.  You will find Thompson Island and Dogfish Head Brewing & Eats, both in Rehoboth, and then you can try Crooked Hammock and Big Oyster both in Lewes.  Grab a beer in each one and take several days to do it.  Those breweries are off your list now too and you will love a several night stay in a newly renovated hotel!  (Make sure you check the hotel’s website because they are closed for renovations and we aren’t sure when they will reopen.)

The Park Place

The Park Place hotel in Ocean City MD
The Park Place is located near Shenanigan’s, a favorite location for local craft beer – and for Guinness. It might be the only place to get Smithwicks and it is the center for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

The Park Place Hotel Ocean City is a lovely oceanfront hotel on the Boardwalk and the beach in downtown Ocean City.  Their outdoor pool area is beautiful and they are only one block south of Shenanigan’s Irish Pub.  Shenanigan’s doesn’t open until St. Patrick’s Day, but there are also lots of other restaurants nearby.  Located just a couple blocks north of the Ocean City Route 50 bridge, you can easily get in and out of Ocean City to try Burley Oak Brewing in Berlin.  There is another brewery coming soon in Berlin and a Distillery that also looks likes it’s getting closer to opening. There is great craft beer on tap at the Sterling Tavern and at Boxcar on Main.  If you haven’t been to Berlin, it’s worth the drive and you can check Burley Oak off your list.

 

The Hilton

Marisa Novak Anderson – At the Hilton Oceanfront pool. A winner of our photo contest, this image shows you that a Beercation doesn’t have to exclude kids. The Hilton has lots of great amenities for the whole family.

The Hilton is run by the Harrison family who takes great pride in their properties – both restaurants and hotels.  The outdoor pool at the Hilton is gorgeous, but so is their indoor pool.  They have a game room – for the kids and the young at heart.  They have a Prohibition Happy Hour where you can get Prohibition era pricing on period appetizers while you sample fabulous old-fashioned drinks like – the Old Fashioned, a Bees Knees, and others. We know this doesn’t sound like beer, but they always have craft beer on tap and the property is fun for the whole family.

The Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites

Holiday Inn hotel and suites ocean city md
Oceanfront, the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites is also next to Starbucks.

The Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites is another property owned and run by the Harrison family businesses so it’s a great bet for cleanliness, location, and FUN for the whole family.  Some people travel and must find a Starbuck’s nearby.  There is a Starbuck’s Cafe at 17th on Coastal Highway, just steps from this hotel.  Again, the Harrison hotels and restaurants serve craft beer and are working on their offerings as this article is being written! 

The Aloft

Aloft Bar, Ocean City
The Aloft brand hotel requires local craft beer to be served from their WXYZ bar. Order one inside there or at their outdoor pool bar, either way, this is a Bayfront location worth trying.

The Aloft has local craft beer on tap, but they are also located to the 45th Street Taphouse Bar & Grill which has over 40 craft beers on tap.  Whether you stay at the hotel or head over to the Tap House, you can’t miss out on the fun and ambience in this beautiful resort hotel.  After a day on the Shore exploring the local breweries, a good burger with a craft beer and a view of the bay is always good way to settle down for a great night’s sleep.  

The Residence Inn by Marriott

Residence Inn Ocean City Bar
Their bar is beautiful and they serve Sam Adams – as well as many other refreshing beverages. They also have a spectacular outdoor pool and are located immediately to the south of the Route 90 bridge so access in and out of Ocean City is easy!

You will automatically relax as you approach the Residence Inn by Marriott.  You see the hotel in its waterfront location and with its beautiful pool as you head east on the Route 90 bridge. If you passed through Salisbury, you probably stopped at EVO, the largest brewery on the Shore, Burnish, the second largest and at Tall Tales in Parsonsburg.  Tall Tales is a great place to sit outside and enjoy a local craft beer.  They stopped brewing when their head brewer went to Big Oyster, but we hear that they may be under new ownership with plans to start brewing again.  We certainly hope so  – which will let you check off 3 more breweries.  Then, you get to the Residence Inn where you can unwind at their bar with a Sam Adams before resting to begin the next morning refreshed and ready to check more breweries off your list!

Hyatt Place

Bar at the Hyatt Place Ocean City
The oceanfront Hyatt Place Ocean City is right on the boardwalk and serves craft beer from their lobby area bar. There is outside seating and they even allowed us to put a sixtel of local craft beer at the bar for wedding guests.

The Hyatt Place is one of the newest hotels in Ocean City.  It has both an indoor and an outdoor pool just off the lobby.  The hotel is beautiful with great views of the ocean.  The Hyatt is near the center of activity for the Air Show in June and they have a great side bar outside with comfortable furniture where you can enjoy a beer or curated limited menu from the Placery, the inside bar.  When you ask for local craft beer they tell us you will get a Dogfish Head choice.

The Cambria

The Cambria Hotel in Ocean City MD
This hotel is just cool – and they have beer and wine for sale in their lobby and one of the best restaurants in Ocean City, Spain, on their roof.

The Cambria is even newer than the Hyatt and is open and fun inside.  There is a bar and restaurant downstairs where you can watch the fishermen slip by the window – which is distracting if you have work to do.  If you are there just for a Beercation, start your day with breakfast by the bay – there are outside tables and October and FeBREWary have great days where eating outside doesn’t sound crazy.  Then, head out for a day exploring the local breweries and towns nearby.  If you brought your bike, you can ride on the Boardwalk off-season and stop at one of the many bars and restaurants with local craft beer.  You can then park your bike, grab your car and head into Berlin or Salisbury for some brewery fun.  You will pass Sinexpuxent Brewing (Sin Brewing) and find Worcester County’s only farm brewery with an outdoor area and lots of picnic tables. You can also take 113 south and try Cypress Roots Brewing once it opens in Pocomoke.  Another unique brewery off your list.  

 

The Henry Hotel’s History in Ocean City Md

Anne
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The Henry Hotel’s History in Ocean City Md
Henry House Ocean City
The Henry Hotel

You may have walked past it many times, paying no attention, but The Henry Hotel on 101 South Division Street in Ocean City, next to the bus station and across from Trimper’s Rides, has a long and often painful history in Ocean City, and tells of a time that thankfully is in our past.

Segregated Ocean City  

OCDC’s Walking Tour of Downtown Ocean City Md tells us  “Henry’s Colored Hotel,” as it was formerly known, is the last surviving hotel to serve only African-American visitors. Charles Henry and his wife Louisa purchased the 20-room hotel in 1926, when access to the beach and businesses for what was then called the “colored” population was severely restricted. 

Henry House Ocean City

Duke Ellington, Count Basie & Others Stayed Here

The hotel was built around 1895 by Mr. and Mrs Henry, and was a full service facility catering to visiting African-American tourists and entertainers. Famous black entertainers like Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Willie Harmon came to Ocean City in those days and performed at Ocean City establishments such as the Pier Ballroom nearby.  Although they performed at these local establishments, they were not actually permitted to sleep in the hotels in which they performed. They stayed, instead, at Henry’s Hotel during these years of strict segregation.

Henry House Ocean City

“Colored Excursion Days”

Up until the mid 20th century, the Ocean City beach was restricted for African Americans with reserved periods, known as “Colored Excursion Days” in effect. Before the 1960s, Black people could only roam the beach and boardwalk freely on “Colored Excursion Days”. (Maryland, Delaware and Virginia each reserved one day a year after the summer season had ended for this).  At other times during the summer, African American’s were relegated to the beach beyond the northern end of the boardwalk, far from the center and hustle and bustle of the resort. 

Henry House Ocean City

Henry Hotel Named Heritage Landmark

In 1942, Charles T. Henry died, and his wife Louisa continued to operate the hotel until 1951 when it passed on to their son, Charles Wesley Henry. In 2007, the property was named one of four African American heritage landmarks on the Lower Eastern Shore and the hotel remains under African-American ownership today.

Henry House Ocean City

Segregated Beaches Ruled Unconstitutional in 1955

According to a Baltimore Sun article on Ocean City’s Long History of Segregation, after the Supreme Court ruled that the concept of “separate but equal” was unconstitutional, they also ruled that a segregated beach was also unconstitutional.  According to the same article, Pierre Salinger, President John F. Kennedy’s press secretary called off a planned trip to Ocean City in 1961 because African American guests were not welcomed in his hotel.  After protests and continued unlawful segregation, it appears that African Americans had enjoyed all areas of Ocean City without incident by 1964.

Jessica Waters, the current Communications & Marketing Director for the Town of Ocean City was quoted in this Baltimore Sun article with a much more welcoming and inclusive message: “While we cannot undo Ocean City’s past, we can continue to learn from it,” wrote Jessica Waters, a city spokesperson, in an email. “We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive community that welcomes all visitors throughout the year. Our beach town offers all visitors an opportunity to come here and relax, unwind and enjoy a fun, safe and welcoming environment.”

Visit the Henry Hotel

The Henry Hotel has an important story to tell of life in the not so distant past in Ocean City and the USA in general. It’s also rumored to be haunted, but whether you believe in such things or not, a visit to the Henry Hotel next time you are here, will help you learn more about Ocean City’s history and segregated past.

Henry’s Hotel stands vacant today at the corner of Baltimore and South Division Street.  

City Council Moves Forward with Sports Complex Discussion

Anne
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City Council Moves Forward with Sports Complex Discussion

Ocean City, Maryland – (February 1, 2023): Ocean City Councilmembers voted unanimously on Tuesday, January 31, to invite the Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA) and their consultant to present the updated Sports Complex Market and Economic Feasibility Study at an upcoming meeting. The meeting, which is expected to occur in March, will be held at the Ocean City Convention Center and open to elected officials in Worcester County.

“A Worcester County Sports Complex has remained a top priority for the City Council for the last several years,” commented City Manager Terry McGean. “The Town believes it is tremendously important to have the Maryland Stadium Authority present the Sports Complex and Economic Analysis Update to the council, the commissioners, other local elected officials and to the public.”

The updated study, released in November 2022, includes updated market research, economic and fiscal impact analysis, an updated summary of sports participation trends, and construction cost estimates. In addition, the updated study provides key findings, which include estimated tax revenues generated from the ongoing operations of the sports complex.

“There have been a lot of questions surrounding the proposed sports complex, and we believe inviting the MSA here with their consultant will give elected officials the opportunity to ask questions about the project and the report findings,” McGean finished. “The Ocean City Mayor and City Council remain interested in building a sports complex in Worcester County, and we hope that this meeting will be a fresh start and the beginning of additional discussions on how to move forward with what we believe is an exciting opportunity for economic development, tourism and our local county citizens.”

4 Favorite Restaurants Coming or Going in Ocean City for 2023

Ann
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4 Favorite Restaurants Coming or Going in Ocean City for 2023

With time comes change, whether we like the changes or not and in the Ocean City restaurant world, there is big change coming.  

SoDel Concepts will Operate Macky’s Bayside Bar & Grill 

Mackys restaurant in ocean city

SoDel Concepts is leasing Macky’s starting this year, 2023.  Pam and Macky Stansall have been quoted as saying that it was time to move on but that they were hoping somebody would step in and run the restaurant as it has been run for years in Ocean City, MD.  SoDel Concepts who own and operate many restaurants in Delaware stepped up and will be keeping the name and hiring most of the same people.  

SoDel Concepts is based in Rehoboth.  According to their website, SoDel Concepts is “an award-winning, chef driven restaurant group …SoDel Concepts believes in cooking beautiful, simple food, developing the people we work with, and making the world a better place.” They have Thompson Island Brewing, Papa Grande’s,  Matt’s Fish Camp and more.  

Most Ocean City restaurant goers are hoping that a reinvigorated Macky’s under new management will be the new and improved version of the same Macky’s which is a beloved Ocean City restaurant and has been for decades.  If you want to read more about Macky’s Bayside Bar and Grill history, click here.

Shotti’s Point buys Full Moon Saloon in West Ocean City

Shottis point restaurant at coast

This white restaurant in West Ocean City on Old Bridge Road in West Ocean City is getting a new owner and certainly a new vibe.  Shotti’s Point which is a popular bar/restaurant next to K-Coast Surf Shop opened in 2016.  Mike Shott expanded to a Boardwalk location in 2019 and is now expanding into West Ocean City.  According to their website, Shotti’s Point focuses on a “unique menu and a locals vibe.”  If the crowds at their K-Coast location are any indication of the success of their new location, you will see a migration to the old Full Moon Saloon once it opens under the new ownership.

Rope Walk Will Take Over Coastal Smokehouse in West Ocean City

Coastal Smokehouse being taken over by Rope Walk

According to the Ocean City Today article, Matt Ortt Companies confirmed that the Rope Walk group will take over the Coastal Smokehouse restaurant on Route 50 in West Ocean City.  Coastal Smokehouse only opened in 2021, but is exiting the West Ocean City scene.  Let’s hope Ropewalk brings a restaurant to this location that has some staying power.  Several other restaurants at this location have failed.

The Globe in Berlin Will Be Operated by Owner of Braddagh Barney’s

The Globe in Berlin MD

Bryan Brushmiller has apparently turned over the Globe Restaurant in Berlin, MD to the capable hands of Jon Lane who will lease the Globe.  His current Asian Fusion restaurant in West Ocean City will not necessarily predict the menu for the Globe.  The OceanCityToday article states that “’We’re going to be doing some sweet tea-brined fried chicken, a lot of different smoked meats, ribs, pulled pork, kind of southern sides, salads. And we’ll have a good cocktail program as well,’ Lane said.”

Ocean City to Host First Running Festival

Katie Ruskey
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Ocean City to Host First Running Festival
OC Running Festival

Ocean City will be hosting their very first Ocean City Running Festival. The running festival will take place on October 28, 2023. There are several distances available from marathon and half marathon to 8K and 5K. Virtual running options are also available. Registration is now open. Prices vary from $30-$100 with a price increase once the first 500 people register. Register here.

Ocean City Running Festival

Chessie Challenge

In addition to the scenic running experience in Ocean City, the running festival has transformed itself into a chase for Chessie! Start your journey in Annapolis in March at the Annapolis Running Festival. Take on any distance to start your search for the infamous sea monster. Continue the trek in Baltimore, either in June at the Baltimore 10 Miler or in October at the Baltimore Running Festival. And finally bring your ship in through the inlet of Ocean City and run any distance to complete the Chessie Challenge. All runners will receive a shiny metal fit for any running pirate in addition to other gifts for participating. For more information on the Chessie Challenge, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/OceanCityRunningFestival/Page/chessie

Chessie Challenge 2023

Art League of Ocean City First Friday Opening Reception

Katie Ruskey
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Art League of Ocean City First Friday Opening Reception

OCEAN CITY, MD —Jan. 30, 2023 — The Art League of Ocean City welcomes the public to their free First Friday opening reception. The event takes place Feb. 3, 5-7 p.m. at the Ocean City Center for the Arts, 502 94th St. bayside, with openings for six new exhibitions.

Staircase Gallery artist Emil Markulis

Fabric is the medium in the “Art Quilters on the Edge” exhibition in the Thaler Gallery. Members of the Four County Quilters Guild formed the group to explore fiber art, mixed

media, contemporary quilting, and creativity. Current members include Della Aubrey-Miller, Ann Brakob, Karen Amelia Brown, Kay Campbell, Dawn Cynamon, Elsie Dentes, Neani Mee, Olga Schrichte, Etta Stewart, Janie Tegeler, Joan Watkins, and Carol Yonetz.

The Sisson Galleria hosts an all-media group show entitled “Opposites Attract.” Contrast in art creates variety, visual interest, and drama, and this show explores this essential principle of design by including two opposing elements, such as light/shadow, calm/chaos, or complementary colors.

Studio E artist D’Shon McCarthy grew up in Salisbury with a passion for creating art. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Salisbury University, where she primarily focused on portraiture and narrative. Finding inspiration in the subconscious and her interpersonal relationships has allowed McCarthy to combine the traditional figure with her own personal symbols and images in her paintings.

The photographs of Kevin Moore line the walls of the Spotlight Gallery. A full-time designer, photographer, and resident of Baltimore, he photographs around the Chesapeake region. “My work covers a range of subjects, but colorful people and interesting places are among my favorite things to photograph,” he said. His photos have appeared in The Boston Review, Baltimore Magazine, Bethesda Magazine, and Delaware Beach Life, as well as online sites like The Huffington Post, Sports Illustrated, and the Colbert Report.  

Jeweler Rachael Parolski of Berlin is the artisan in residence for February. She has been designing for her South Pointe Jewelry company for seven years, and is a lifelong treasure hunter, nature lover, and crafter. Parolski designs jewelry using upcycled elements, such as antique silver platters and semi-precious stones.

The art exhibition in the new Staircase Gallery also changes for a six-month show entitled “Jazz Greats” by Emil Markulis of Washington, D. C. The artist has devoted himself to self-expression and the portrayal of beauty and life through painting in a wide variety of mediums. He has studied extensively at the Alexandria Art League, and his worldwide travels have inspired many of his paintings.

PKS Investments sponsors the complimentary refreshments for the event.

The Art League’s satellite galleries are also continuing their exhibitions. Fiber artist Dale Ashera-Davis of Berlin shows her work at the Coffee Beanery on 94th St. and Coastal Hwy. Don Hartman of Ocean Pines continues his show entitled “On Vacation with the Boys and Girls” in the Princess Royale lobby, 9100 Coastal Hwy.

The Ocean City Center for the Arts at 502 94th St. is open daily until 4 p.m., and admission is always free. More information is available at OCart.org or by calling 410-524-9433.

The Art League of Ocean City is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the visual arts to the community through education, exhibits, scholarship, programs and community art projects. Funding for this event is in part provided by the Worcester County Arts Council, Maryland State Arts Council and the National Endowment of the Arts, organizations dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive.

Ocean City Film Festival: Tickets Now Available

Katie Ruskey
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Ocean City Film Festival: Tickets Now Available

TICKETS ON SALE FOR 7TH ANNUAL OCEAN CITY FILM FESTIVAL

FEATURING HEADLINER JOHN WATERS

OCEAN CITY, MD — Jan. 30, 2023 — Legendary filmmaker John Waters will headline the 7th Annual Ocean City Film Festival coming to theaters and venues in the resort Mar. 2-5, 2023, screening 70 independent films from around the world. Waters will give a live performance on Saturday, Mar. 4 at The Ballroom at Ocean Downs Casino. Tickets and passes are on sale at OCMDFilmFestival.com

Waters’ spoken-word show, entitled “The End of the World,” will be the first time the artist has performed around Ocean City and will be exceptional for its intimate, limited-seated setting. His all-new, fast-moving, comic monologue about today’s despair and diseases, desires and desperation breaks through with an optimism that welcomes all audiences – and includes his memories of Ocean City over the years.

 

“One summer when I was an angry teenager, I lived under the Boardwalk at 9TH Street in Ocean City and dreamed of making weird films,” Waters said. “Now I’m coming back, and, hey, I did just that. You can, too! That is what film festivals are all about – inspiring creative lunacy.”

 

Waters is performing on Saturday, Mar. 4, 8 p.m. at The Ballroom at Ocean Downs Casino on Racetrack Rd. in Berlin. General admission tickets are limited, with a small number of VIP tickets to meet and greet Waters after the show available at a special price and on a first-come-first-serve basis.

 

“We are honored to welcome the legendary filmmaker, John Waters, as the headliner for the 2023 OC Film Fest, Rina Thaler, executive director of the festival and the Arts League of Ocean City, said. “The entire festival is a great opportunity for film lovers to watch never-before-seen films and some local favorites and mingle and party with the filmmakers and film crews.”

 

The festival will premier two films with local interest. “Hedgehog” was produced by Dave Messick of Unscene Productions and filmed at Mariner’s Country Down in Berlin. “Biggest Little Farm: The Return” is a 30-minute documentary directed by Ocean City native John Chester as a follow-up to his award-winning feature film.

 

The Film Festival is an initiative of the nonprofit Art League that produces the festival annually along with broad support from the Town of Ocean City, Ocean Downs Casino, The State of Maryland Film Office, and the Ocean City community. The event is organized by Film Festival Director and Towson University alumnus B.L. Strang-Moya.

 

The 7th year of the festival will showcase independent films in multiple genres at iconic Ocean City venues including Morley Hall at Seacrets, Flagship Cinemas in West OC, Fox Gold Coast Theater, Nick’s, Ocean Downs Casino, and the Ocean City Performing Arts Center. Themes of packaged film showcases include Maritime Life; Veterans; Dark & Mysterious; Between Worlds; Resilient Women; Family Dynamics; Sex, Love, Romance & Intimacy; Perseverance; Outsiders; Comedy, and Hassle Us – We’re Local.

 

Complete information about the festival, including a list of films, parties, Q&As, and events is available at OCMdFilmFestival.com. Passes are available for one day of films and parties, four days of films and parties, and individually-sold John Waters tickets. Also listed on the website are special, off-season hotel rates for festival goers.

 

“Traveling to Ocean City is incredibly affordable this time of year, even more now that our hotel sponsors are offering festival attendees discounted rates,” Strang-Moya said. “These are waterfront rooms in major hotels that are booked solid in the summer season.”

 

The films have not been rated, and some feature adult content. Viewer discretion is advised.

 

More information is available at OCMDFilmFestival.com or by calling 410-524-9433.

 

The Art League of Ocean City is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the visual arts to the community through education, exhibits, scholarship, programs and community art projects.

Northside Park on a Windy Winter’s Day

Anne
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Northside Park on a Windy Winter’s Day

We all know and love Northside Park for many things, including Sundaes in the Park each Sunday evening during the summer months, with its live music, and ice cream to indulge in, while sitting on your blanket relaxing! Winterfest of Lights is of course a stunning December event, a dazzling display of thousands of lights distributed throughout the park, creating a winter wonderland for the young and old. But next time you are in town, take a quiet walk through the park and see the natural beauty of this North Ocean City gem. There’s walking paths and spectacular views of the bay. There’s wild life to see including herons and egrets, and it truly does give you the feeling of getting away from it all. Isn’t that what Ocean City is all about?

Subscribe to our SeeOC YouTube channel for more videos.

New Playground coming to Northside Park!

Anne
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New Playground coming to Northside Park!

Calling all parents with children! The playground at Northside Park is to be replaced, and will be closed beginning Monday, January 30th. The existing playground will be dismantled in February and the new equipment is scheduled to be installed and ready to play on by the end of April 2023, just in time for some spring and summer fun! Take one last look at how it looks now.

Out With The Old At the Holiday Inn Oceanfront

Anne
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Out With The Old At the Holiday Inn Oceanfront

The outdoor pool and garden area of the Holiday Inn Oceanfront Ocean City on 66th Street is under a huge transformation this winter. The original pool bar and tennis courts have been ripped out, and a new design has been laid out. The new pool and hot tub forms are being built, and the concrete is being poured next week. The new pool and outdoor area will be open by Memorial Day 2023. We can’t wait to see the finished design! Take a look at its progression.

Looking down at the original pool
View of the Holiday Inn from the beach
The original pool at the Holiday Inn Oceanfront
View of the tennis courts at the Holiday Inn Oceanfront
Relaxing on a hammock at the Holiday Inn Oceanfront
Start of demolition
The old pool has gone
Work continues with the redesigned pool area
Tennis courts are gone!
New layout planned
Work continues
Looking down at the new layout
Pool and hot tub forms are being built, and concrete is next week!

Ocean City from the Sky in January 2023

Anne
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Ocean City from the Sky in January 2023

Many visitors to Ocean City only see the resort in the summer months, packed with tourists vying for space on the beach, Boardwalk and Coastal Highway! But winter in Ocean City is an entirely different affair. It’s true, you don’t get to sunbath on the beach or swim in the ocean (unless you’re here for the Penguin Swim) but you do get to appreciate the simple beauty of our resort, and get some space for yourself.  Take a look at some of these spectacular aerial views of Ocean City Md during January 2023.

Aerial view showing the Grand Hotel and the Days Inn in the foreground.
City view at Sunset. The Grand Hotel and the Holiday Inn and Suites clearly visible.
View of the Downtown water-tower on 1st Street
Looking north from the top end of the Boardwalk, with the Dunes Manor in the center of the picture.
Looking West towards West Ocean City
Sunset looking over West Ocean City.
Looking east across the Rt 50 Bridge towards Ocean City
Looking south over the Rt50 Bridge towards West Ocean city and Assateague Island
Ocean City looking over to Assateague Island at Sunset
An evening view looking north

You can see drone videos of Ocean City here.

Beach District Plants Offered to Ocean City Property Owners

Anne
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Beach District Plants Offered to Ocean City Property Owners

Ocean City, Maryland – (January 18, 2023):  For the 18th year in a row, the Town of Ocean City will be offering beach district plants to the public for planting in the secondary dune area.   The plants being offered are hardy plants that tolerate the harsh environment of the ocean front areas.   In addition, these plants provide habitat enhancement, food and shelter, water quality treatment and erosion control to the secondary dune area, which tends to be overlooked and needs attention.

“We began this program to help create habitat and prevent erosion of the area behind the dune which was in need of attention,” said Town of Ocean City Environmental Engineer Gail Blazer.  “The plants are very beneficial to the stability of the dune system and help with erosion and scour.  Our residents and property owners love the program and it benefits the environment and the beach, so it is a win for everyone.”

Oceanfront and ocean side residents will have the opportunity to order plants that will need to be picked up at a predetermined date and time. Suitable plants to add to a secondary dune area include beach grass, bayberry, rugosa rose, beach plum, high tide bush, red cedar and panic grass.  Applications are now being accepted, however, the deadline for all applications is February 24, 2023.

For more information or to receive an application, please contact Joann Landon at (410) 289-8887 or email JLandon@oceancitymd.gov. Also, more information is provided by visiting https://oceancitymd.gov/oc/departments/planning-community-development/.

Dead Whale Found on Assateague – One of Many Recently Washed-up on East Coast Shores

Ann
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Dead Whale Found on Assateague – One of Many Recently Washed-up on East Coast Shores

Allen Sklar’s photos of the dead whale found on Assateague have been making their way around Facebook.  On January 16 at 10 am, Allen came across the dead whale in the OSV area of Assateague.  He believes the whale is likely a humpback and has been dead for at least 2 weeks.  To read more and see more of Allen’s pictures, click here.

Allen Sklar photographed this whale on the beach at Assateague.
Waves crash against the corpse of a whale on Assateague. Photo by Allen Sklar.
The baleen on this filter feeder is intact. Photo courtesy of Allen Sklar

The National Park Service has made a post on Facebook addressing this 20′ long humpback.  They said that Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Stranding Response Program (MD-DNR) is the lead agency for stranding response in Maryland.  They are performing a necropsy on January 17th to determine this whale’s cause of death as there is no apparent reason visible.

Why are the Whales Dying?

Of course, the best answer, until somebody actually does a necropsy is to say, who knows?, but there are lots of theories out there.  On January 13, 2023 the AP posted an article out of Brigantine, New Jersey, saying that the Governor there did not want to halt the progress on off-shore wind farms despite the recent deaths of 7 whales off the coasts of New Jersey and New York.  Speculators accuse off-shore wind, boats, and other options for these deaths.

Another article on the AP details how an environmental group opposed to off-shore wind is demanding a probe to determine the cause of death for these whales by writing to President Biden.  The Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, NJ is taking tissue samples to see if they can find the cause. (click to read more)  

In the above linked article, it states that NOAA is investigating why a large number of whales have been dying along the entire East Coast since January of 2016 with 40% of them having been struck by a ship or becoming entangled…

“The Associated Press reported that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a federal agency, has been studying what it calls “unusual mortality events” involving 174 humpback whales along the entire East Coast since January 2016.

NOAA spokeswoman Lauren Gaches told the Associated Press that the study period pre-dates offshore wind farm work along the East Coast.

About 40 percent of the whale deaths showed evidence of having been struck by a ship or having become entangled in ropes, lines or fishing gear. No humpback whale deaths have been attributed yet to activity related to offshore wind farms, Gaches also told the Associated Press.”

Hopefully, the Assateague National Park will soon release the details on the cause of this whale’s death.

Early Necropsy Results Ship Strike is the Culprit 

(updated January 19, 2023)

NOAA released early details from their necropsy performed on January 17th on the female humpback whale that washed ashore on Assateague earlier this week.  Blunt force trauma causing a blood clot consistent with a ship strike.  More details are available in an article on DelmarvaNow.

Visit www.assateaguephotos.com to see more of Allen Sklar’s photos from Assateague.

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