Hurricane Dorian delivered Category 5 winds to the Bahamas over the Labor Day weekend; but the storm has weakened to a Category 3 in strength since then, and its track is predicted to stay off the east coast. Current estimates say it could make landfall in the Carolinas some time on Thursday. The Weather Channel also states that Delmarva Peninsula could see effects from Dorian Friday into Saturday. We can’t estimate the amount of rain at this point, but from what is being said we will most likely see just a wet start to our weekend. Rip currents could be strong, so please swim only on guarded beaches. See the graphics provided by The Weather Channel and check back with us for more updates.
graphic/image from weather.comgraphic/image from weather.com
Now, however, we have perfect weather in Ocean City. Mostly sunny and 76° is the forecast for today and it couldn’t be more lovely! Although they say “mostly” sunny we are hard pressed to find a single cloud right now! The bicycles are rolling by on the boards. Warm donuts have been served for a great breakfast treat! Arcades are swirling and buzzing as a new high score is achieved. Vacationers are currently either laying poolside before going to the beach, or on the beach covered in their favorite SPF! If you are worried that Hurricane Dorian will dampen the end of the week, come now!
For many years the public relied on real estate agents for nearly all property information. For most people, the world of real estate is somewhat vast and complex, but with the right information, that world becomes much smaller. Historically, real estate agents have had access to information that was not readily available to the general public.
The majority of the public relied on real estate agents for such information as:
Past owners
Property sales history
Year it was built
Square footage
Appraisal value
The main source of that information remained a mystery for years. Of course, everyone knows the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) provides some of that information, but there were other sources as well.
Many years ago, SpecPrint, Inc. supplied large hard bound books for use, mainly by REALTORS . Those books contained all the above information plus items like:
Mapping
Boundary lines
Plats
Assessment and Taxation information
Neighboring land
Now, this information is available to everyone online: www.specprint.com SpecPrint, Inc. is a company that provides a wealth of information on every property in the United States! In fact, founded in 1980, SpecPrint has grown to be an industry leader in the field of real estate information. For easier cross referencing SpecPrint now offers property data details by:
Owners names and addresses
Lot size
Sales dates, etc.
All information provided by SpecPrint allows the easiest reference to assist in locating any such information and is available in a number of different formats for your convenience. The SpecPrint Real Estate Directory Service is the easiest way to transform the county assessor’s office into book form. It is also available online. The Directory Service includes assessment maps and real property information – all gleaned directly from the assessor’s rolls.
The Information Isn’t Enough Though…
Although this information is invaluable to consumers researching a particular property, it cannot replace an experienced REALTOR. A REALTOR would be better able to apply this information to your specific needs. Realtors have the expertise, negotiating skills, connections, ethics, and sage advice that the internet cannot provide. Beyond that, they often know of properties before they can display on the internet. Even though most sites will boast real-time up-to-date listings, Realtors often know of properties before they are active. If using the internet and other great tools like specprint.com can provide to be prepared to buy or sell a property, don’t forget the most important tool in your basket, a REALTOR.
Our special thanks to SpecPrint, Inc. for the information supplied and for assisting in this blog.
Happy Friday, Ocean City lovers! Every week throughout the summer, we accept photo submissions for our Photo Friday contest. From the posted photos, we randomly choose a winner to receive a prize, usually two tickets to Jolly Roger Amusements. This week our winner is Wendy Schultz, who submitted a photo of the the amusement rides at night, and won two tickets to Jolly Roger. Congratulations!
WE ONLY HAVE ONE MORE WEEK!! Our last contest for the 2019 Summer season will conclude on August 30, 2019. Don’t miss out on a great prize!
You could win, too — justsubmit your vacation photos here! Even if you don’t win, you get to share your Ocean City pictures with the world. Just remember, you must include your full name and email address in your submission in order to win. (It also helps your chances to submit photos that are large, horizontally-oriented and not pixelated or blurry.)
From sunrises to sunsets and sunny days to stormy skies, here is a selection of your pictures of Ocean City for our Photo Friday contest. This week our winner is Ray Schearer, who submitted the picture of the stormy skies over Assateague Island, and won two tickets to Jolly Roger. Congratulations! You could win, too — just submit your vacation photos here. Even if you don’t win, you get to share your Ocean City pictures with the world. Just remember, you must include your full name and email address in your submission in order to win. (It also helps your chances to submit photos that are large, horizontally-oriented and not pixelated or blurry.)
Ray Schearer’s photo of the storm on August 4th taken on Assateague IslandJames Ebenhoch enjoyed the sunsets and sunrises of Ocean CityDeonna Lyn Our loves the beach in Ocean City MdSunset at Northside Park, by Melissa KizisJodie Kerns’ boys love Ocean CityMichele Scopel Muir’s view from the Princess Bayside.Hit by a wave on the beach near Flamingo Motel. Love their expressions says mom Kelly Jay.Brian Kelly was enjoying the sunset at the AnglerGreat picture of Marissa Gayle Custis and Jolly Rodger taken on the BoardwalkJennifer Hieber son enjoying a day on Assateague IslandGirl on a beach by Jennifer HieberMichele Bernot’s view of the fireworks at Northside ParkJason Carst was looking out through the lagoon to the bay at Gullway on 28th Street.Don Baker said he was coming back from the OC Princess Fishing Boat when he got this image.Kelly Jane Thomas caught the sunrise on 45th streetSplash! by Chrystal LeighThis little boy is taking it all in. By Heather BucklewOn top of the world by Julie Snyder
The confusing history of the white marlin and blue marlin that earn anglers millions during Ocean City’s White Marlin Open in August each year.
Every August, Ocean City hosts the White Marlin Open, the world’s largest billfish tournament. In 2019, more boats entered the tournament than every before. These boats are impressive to see and those fishing and those observing contribute significantly to Ocean City’s economy each summer. To find out more about the White Marlin Open, visit our page dedicated to this tournament.
White Marlin
Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources has a lot to say about the white marlin. This fish is one of many billfish that create a thriving sport fishery off the coast of Ocean City, Maryland. “Every summer, as the waters warm, billfish make the journey to Maryland’s offshore waters to feed. These pelagic swimmers remain off the coast until water temperatures drop again in the fall and they head back south.” The marlin prefer warm surface water, but can be found in waters deeper than 300 feet.
The white marlin is one of four species common off our coast:
White marlin, Kajikia albida
Roundscale Spearfish, Tetrapturus georgii
Blue marlin, Makaira nigricans, and
Atlantic sailfish, Istiophorus platypterus
Originally, the white marlin was named Tetrapturus albidus. This placed the white marlin in the company of the spearfish which have a fossil record dating back 15 million years. In 2006, some scientists did genetic testing and discovered that the white marlin and the striped marlin should be in their own genus, Kajikia. They are distinct from the spearfish genus of Tetrapturus and also separate from the blue marlin which are in the genus Makaira..
The scientists were confused, but so were fishermen. The Virginia Institute of Marine Science began doing DNA testing on the fish weighed in during the Mid-Atlantic $500,000 Tournament since 1992. They discovered that 18% of the white marlin weighed in were actually roundscale spearfish I haven’t seen any numbers for how many of the white marlins caught in the White Marlin Open in Ocean City over the years were actually roundscale spearfish.
White marlin usually do not exceed 5.5 feet and 80 pounds. However, the world record for a white marlin is almost 182 pounds caught in the waters off Brazil.
Blue Marlin
Those fishing in the White Marlin Open tournament in Ocean City, Maryland also hunt for the Blue Marlin. This is a much larger fish. National Geographic describes them as “one of the largest and most beautiful fish in the ocean.” They are cobalt blue on top with a silvery-white underside. The world record Blue Marlin was caught off the coast of Kona, Hawaii and weighed 1,376 pounds and was over 16 feet long. Some commercial fisherman and others have caught bigger fish , but they were not officially weighed. These fish start life when the eggs are fertilized in the water, outside the bodies of the fish. Their diet grows as they do until the Blue Marlin becomes one of the largest, fastest swimming and most successful predators in the ocean. They slash through dense schools of fish to stun their prey and then return to eat the fish they stunned and killed.
Females can be up to four times larger than the males and release millions of eggs multiple times when spawning, thereby hoping to ensure at least one grows to adulthood. Bue marlins were originially thought to be divided into multiple species. DNA testing this time conflated all blue marlin into one species. So, if you catch a blue marlin, it’s just a blue marlin, if you can say that about one of the largest and most beautiful fish in the sea.
Their meat is a delicacy particularly in Japan. During the White Marlin Open, some fishermen keep their fish once weighed. For those anglers who choose not to keep their fish, the tournament donates any extra fish to food banks in the Ocean City area.
White Marlin Open in Ocean City, Maryland: Conservation and Sportsmanship
The White Marlin Open has been at the forefront of billfish conservation for 42 years. They proudly host this tournament formatted for anglers to win millions of dollars while maintaining very high release rates. All fishermen are required to use circle hooks which reduce the mortality rate of released fish because it increases the likelihood of the fish being hooked in the mouth. Those using these hooks are not supposed to set the hook, but rather wait for the hook to set itself as the fish is reeled in. In 2018, almost $4,000,000 in prize money was awarded. 695 billfish were caught and 687 of them were released. In 2019, the largest year to date based on boats entered in the tournament, showed well over 1,000 white marlins caught during the first three days of the tournament.
If you aren’t already acquainted with them, memes are a wildly popular and fun way to express a struggle, experience, relatable moment and pretty much anything else you can think of. Memes are online inside jokes that are shared between friends, and sometimes even shared between thousands and thousands of people.
OCMDMemes, short for Ocean City, Maryland Memes, is an account on Instagram that creates and shares memes. It’s become quite popular, amassing over 830 followers in just over a year. The account even had one of its meme reposted by the official Old Bay Instagram account.
The owner of the OCMDMemes account remains anonymous, but I was lucky enough to get an interview with them and ask them some questions about their memes.
No, this isn’t a real thing, but Old Bay’s official Instagram did repost it! Photo by OCMDMemes.
Q: What inspired you to start the meme account?
A: This is kind of ironic, but I think I was upset about somebody getting hurt because they crossed in the middle of the road. It was an idea I had for a while so I started it with the goals of, one, making memes, obviously, and two, getting people to use the crosswalk.
Photo by OCMDMemes.
Q: Do you make all the memes? Or do people also send them to you for you to share?
A: Yeah, I make most of the memes. I tag people in any posts that contain memes they’ve sent to me.
Q: What inspires you to make your memes? Do they come from personal experiences?
A: A lot of it comes from what I’m doing or what’s going on. I burn my feet at the beach, and I make a meme about it. H2Oi comes into town, I make a meme about it. Etc., etc.
Photo by OCMDMemes.
Q: How do you stay up to date with all the new meme trends? Do you ever get overwhelmed with trying to keep up?
A: I think staying up to date with the trends just involves being active on the internet. Honestly, I don’t use social media that much. Memes are everywhere, so it’s not too hard to find ideas.
Q: I see that people have started to submit memes to you. Do you think your page is bringing people together?
A: I hope so. The main goal was always to get people to use crosswalks, but I’m not sure if that’s going well. Seeing people comment or send me stuff related to Ocean City makes me happy.
Photo by OCMDMemes.
Q: Where do you see the account heading to in the future? Do you plan to keep posting memes?
A: I don’t know where the account is headed. I truly never thought I’d be doing the stuff I am now because of a meme account. I’ve made a lot of new connections and it’s really interesting to see the kinds of people that reach out to me. Although I plan to keep posting memes, I’m worried that I’ll run out of ideas or that the content will all start to seem the same.
Q: You just hit the one-year anniversary on your account and had a giveaway, will there be more giveaways when you hit milestones in the future?
A: Yes, there will be. I don’t plan to start selling stickers anytime soon unless people express a lot of interest in it, but I want to keep giving them out in whatever ways possible.
Photo by OCMDMemes.
Q: You’re anonymous. Do you get a lot of people asking about your identity or who you are?
A: All the time. I get people that [direct message] me random things they think I’ll find funny, and then as soon as I respond, they go, “Tell me who you are please, I won’t tell anybody.” Maybe sometime in the future I’ll tell people who I am, but until I decide to, nobody is getting any information. Staying anonymous has definitely been an experience.
Q: Do you see your account as a way of educating tourists? For example, the memes about not littering and using the crosswalk.
A: Yes. I want tourists to see the posts about those things and stop doing them. There’s nothing more annoying than the fact that some tourists will trash our town and then leave because they will never have to deal with the consequences of it.
Photo by OCMDMemes.
Q: Do you have a message you want to spread or something you want to say?
A: #usethecrosswalkocmd! But seriously, if I see you crossing the street in the middle of nowhere, I WILL yell at you. I have done it before.
Photo by OCMDMemes.
Thank you, OCMDMemes!
It’s great to see someone trying to spread an important message in a funny way. You can find their account on Instagram by searching OCMDMemes, and a link will also be on this page so it’s easier to find. Please give them a follow, you’ll have tons of laughs and you can send their memes to a tourist you know!
Here are some facts for those who are concerned about the overdevelopment of Ocean City. This will help separate fact from fiction. These statistics do not include new construction for owner-occupied, or primary homes for local occupants.
In 1950, the town saw 153 new construction properties including:
The Lankford Hotel
Stone Haven Apartments
Buckingham Hotel
Seascape Motel
Castle In the Sand
Between 1950 and 1960, there were 517 new construction units built in Ocean City. Those ten years brought us:
Harrison Hall
Buas Bayside Hotel
Commander Hotel
Phillips Crab House
Surf & Sands
Castle in the Sand
From 1961 to 1970, a total of 1866 properties were constructed within the city limits of Ocean City. Those years brought:
The French Quarter
Sundowner Park
Madison Beach Motel
U.S. Coast Guard Station
Safari Hotel
Beach Plaza Hotel
Between 1971 and 1980, we saw 9,424 units of new construction in town. This was 7041 more units than was built in the previous 20 years. This new construction consisted mostly of condo units.
1981 to 1990 brought us 2,356 more units constructed than in the previous ten years. This construction consisted of, again, mostly condo units.
Construction slowed between the years 1991 to 2000, bringing only 1,485 new properties to town. The majority of this construction was condo units.
Construction ramped up again between 2001 and 2010. 3,187 newly-constructed properties popped up in those years. Condos made up the majority of this construction.
Even though you might believe the town couldn’t expand another inch, with 18,835 properties improved between 1950 and 2010, another 359 properties were constructed between 2011 and today, with more condo properties than any other type.
Certainly we can make the argument that the bulk of construction over the years was to accommodate tourists and vacationers. Therefore, as far as rental income, the more we slice the pie, the smaller the portions become for those wishing to recognize income from their rental unit.
We want to thank SpecPrint for the statistics and information supplied in this blog.
Wherever you’re reading this, we sincerely hope that it’s in a space that’s heavily air-conditioned, or at the very least, under the shade of a beach tent or imported palm tree. This heat wave is serious business. Serious enough that a cold drink and an ocean breeze probably won’t be enough to cool you off. Slightly brisker temperatures are forecasted later in the week, but until then, stay plenty hydrated and make sure your pets are doing okay in this weather, too.
Maybe you’re looking for an indoor activity to keep your family cool and entertained for at least part of the day. Here, we’ll have to recommend the winner of The Best of Ocean City 2019’s Best Rainy Day/Indoor Activity category: Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Otherwise, try the runner-up, the Fox Sun & Surf Cinema, or the editor’s choice, Escapomania Escape Rooms.
Yes, it’s true- we’ve finally announced the winners of the Best of Ocean City® 2019! We received a record-breaking 102,000+ votes in total this year, and are happy to finally share the winners with you, recognizing Ocean City’s bar, restaurant, activity and Boardwalk businesses that visitors and locals truly love. Take a look, and then be sure to vote for the Best of Ocean City 2020 (it’s far off now, but 2020 will be here before you know it!).
2019 Winners Announced! Click here to vote for 2020! The polls are closed, the votes are tallied, and the people have spoken. This year’s competition saw more than 102,000 votes cast across more than 40 categories including best restaurants, activities, bars, and boardwalk businesses.
That’s our big news for the week. Here’s what else is going on in Ocean City.
Last Week’s News
Plane flips while pilot attempts abrupt landing in Ocean City: A pilot was injured on Friday as he tried to land at the Ocean City Municipal Airport. He experienced engine trouble upon taking off, and flipped once on the runway while landing.
A pilot suffered a shoulder injury Friday after his plane flipped while trying to land at the Ocean City Municipal Airport, Maryland State Police said.
88-Year-Old Woman Critically Missing From Ocean City, Md. Found Safe: Some good news- 88-year-old Aeiko Hatfield, who was reported critically missing on Thursday, was found safe.
OCEAN CITY, Md. (WJZ) – An 88-year-old woman reported critically missing from Ocean City Thursday has been found safe. Aeiko Hatfield had last been seen around 10:30 a.m. leaving the area of 12300 Jamaica Avenue on foot. Around 1:30 p.m., police said she had been found safe. Updated info: Eiko Hatfield.
August is Runaway Bride Month in Berlin: Fans of the movie “Runaway Bride” and of the small town of Berlin, Md. surely already know that it’s where the 1999 romantic comedy was shot. Berlin will be celebrating the iconic film throughout the month of August with themed window displays, tours, a scavenger hunt and a screening of the movie on Aug. 24.
The Town of Berlin, Maryland, a community of about 4,500 residents, will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the release of the hit movie ‘Runaway Bride’ during the month of August. Downtown Berlin will feature decorated wedding-themed storefront windows and those shops that were featured in the film will be showcased with posters depicting what they were in the movie.
#ThisWeekinOC
Free Movies on the Beach (July 22 and 26, 8:30-10:30 p.m.): Grab and chair and a blanket and enjoy free movies all summer long on the beach. Monday and Friday movies are shown at 27th Street Beach.
Family Beach Olympics (July 23, 6:30-8:45 p.m.): Fun for the whole family – sand castle contests, tug-of-war, relays, & more!
OC Beach Dance Party (July 23, 7-9 p.m.): Get your dancing shoes on for the weekly dance party hosted by local DJ’s at Ocean City’s Caroline Street Stage on the beach by the Boardwalk!
Free Movies on the Beach (July 24, 8:30-10:30 p.m.): Grab and chair and a blanket and enjoy free movies all summer long on the beach. Wednesday movies are shown on the beach at the Carousel Hotel.
Liquid Therapy Sunset Splash Pool Party (July 25, 4-7 p.m.): The new Aloft Ocean City on 45th Street invites you to join them in celebrating the opening of their new waterfront tiki bar, Liquid Therapy. There will be music, games, giveaways and more, and you don’t have to be staying at the Aloft to enjoy, all are welcome. Come have some fun, enjoy the spectacular views, and check out this brand new hotel.
Shore Craft Beer Cruise: Tall Tales Brewing Tap Takeover (July 25, 7-9 p.m.): Take an evening cruise while tasting four different craft beers by Tall Tales Brewing in Parsonsburg, Maryland. This casual, two-hour trip, which always includes the potential for a stunning sunset and unparalleled views of the Ocean City skyline, lets you to sit back, relax, take in the smell of the salty sea air, and crack open a cold, local craft beer, brewed by Tall Tales. Tall Tales brewing will be there to discuss their beers and try four favorites.
Sunset Park Party Nights (July 25, 7-10 p.m.): Enjoy FREE concerts all summer long at sunset Park. Attendees are recommended to bring your own chairs. Drinks, including beer, are available for purchase.
Greek Festival (July 25-28, 12-8 p.m.): Delmarva’s Largest Greek Festival will offer all things Greek – from lunch and dinner, to shopping and dancing! The Roland E. Powell Convention Center will be transformed into a place for “All things Greek”, with authentic traditional Greek cuisine and entertainment for thousands of Delmarva tourists and local families. Real Greek Coffee and a huge selection of Greek cookies and Baklava pastries will be available, as well as hot bowls of fresh loukoumathes and rice puddings.
Huk Big Fish Classic (July 26-27, 4-10 p.m.): The 6th Annual Huk Big Fish Classic. The Hottest Tuna Tournament to Hit the Mid-Atlantic!
Mind, Body and Spirit Festival (July 27, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.): Illuminate Ocean City is a holistic festival with free workshops, hosted near the shores of Delaware and Maryland. We are here to enlighten our community to alternative healing practitioners, modalities, and products. Explore aisles filled with practitioners & vendors to sample a range of holistic services.
Sundaes in the Park (July 28, 7-9 p.m.): Come to Northside Park each Sunday night, and make yourself an ice cream sundae while enjoying live music and children’s activities. This is a free evening, although there is a small charge for the ice cream. The evening ends with a fireworks display at 9pm.
OceanCity.com is proud to announce the winners of the 2019 Best of Ocean City® contest, wherein visitors and locals alike nominate and vote for their favorite businesses in Ocean City’s longest running, most prestigious contest of its kind.
Now in its 10th year, Best of Ocean City is the only local popular vote not tied to advertising or sponsorship, instead relying on the fans of Ocean City business’ enthusiasm to propel the most engaged businesses to the top. This year, the contest received a record-breaking total vote count of well over 100,000.
Winning an OceanCity.com Best of Ocean City award is a triumph for Ocean City businesses because it shows that their fans are willing to take the time to vote. Winners are prominently recognized within the local community and receive a coveted certificate of achievement and distinctive window decal to display throughout 2019 and into 2020.
“This all started when hotels were coming to us wanting this information — guests in the hotels wanted recommendations for the best businesses in a variety of categories. That is why it’s imperative that the Best of Ocean City not be related to advertising,” said OceanCity.com CEO Ann McGinnis Hillyer. “We want to provide every visitor in Ocean City with real, honest recommendations for the best businesses in town.”
The awarding of the title of ‘Best of Ocean City’ falls on the readers of OceanCity.com and their nearly 200,000 Facebook fans. With more votes than any other contest, results were tallied across 40 categories including Best Restaurants, Best Bars, Best Activities and Best of the Boardwalk.
Congratulations to the award-winning businesses of 2019! The full list of award winners, runners up and editors picks, in addition to five-year winners, can be found online at OceanCity.com/best-of-ocean-city. Best of Ocean City 2020 polls are now open at OceanCity.com/best-of-ocean-city-2020.
2019 Winners Announced! Click here to vote for 2020! The polls are closed, the votes are tallied, and the people have spoken. This year’s competition saw more than 102,000 votes cast across more than 40 categories including best restaurants, activities, bars, and boardwalk businesses.
The well-known band Ripe will bring their funk-tinged fresh vibe to Ocean City’s second annual ArtX festival in August. The live concert will take place on Saturday evening, Aug. 24 beginning at 8 p.m. with local band The Swell Fellas opening the night’s entertainment.
This eight-year-old Boston band consists of musicians from all over the world, including Robbie Wulfsohn (vocals), Tory Geismar (guitar), Jon Becker (guitar), Sampson Hellerman (drums), Josh Shpak (trumpet, EWL), Calvin Barthel (trombone) and Nadav Shapira (bass). In April 2018, they released their first album, “Joy In The Wild Unknown.” They’ve continued to make their musical mark at the Paradise Rock Club, Levitate Festival, Harborfest, Bonnaroo and Firefly, and will soon grace the stages at Ocean Mist, Wonderbus and Devil’s Backbone Hoopla.
The funk band is a perfect fit for Ocean City’s new and growing event, ArtX.
“We really want ArtX to be a fresh event concept for the Town by providing unique opportunities to enjoy art, music and hands-on experiences,” said Frank Miller, Director of Special Events. “Their music is fresh and upbeat– the kind of music you can dance and sing to or kick-back and relax to. It’s a perfect fit for our beach community.”
ArtX hours are Saturday, Aug. 24, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 25, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. RIPE will take the stage on Saturday at 8 p.m., with free admission to the Northside Park outdoor grass venue.
“ArtX is an opportunity for friends and families to discover the artist within while also creating great Ocean City memories,” Miller said. “Bring your blankets or chairs but expect to stand and dance as we enjoy great art and live music.”
The Town of Berlin, Maryland, a community of about 4,500 residents, will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the release of the hit movie “Runaway Bride” during the month of August.
Downtown Berlin will feature decorated wedding-themed storefront windows and those shops that were featured in the film will be showcased with posters depicting what they were in the movie.
A free guided walking tour will take place every Monday in August starting at 4:00 p.m. Meet in front of the Berlin Welcome Center and tour guide Mary Raley will share stories of the filming and point out each location. The tour will last 45 minutes and is sponsored by the Gulyas family.
There will additionally be Runaway Bride trivia questions posted in most of the downtown shop windows and visitors can pick up an entry form inside each shop or the Berlin Welcome Center. You only need 10 correct answers to be entered in the drawing for a free night’s stay at the historic Atlantic Hotel. Drop your completed entry form in the box located in the vestibule of the Welcome Center, which is open 24/7.
The Berlin Welcome Center will be featuring life-size images of Julia Roberts and Richard Gere for visitors to take photos with. Hours are Monday-Friday 10-4 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 24 is Runaway Bride Day in Berlin. The movie will be shown on Jefferson Street starting at 8:30 p.m. Adults and children are encouraged to wear their best Runaway Bride movie costumes to win some cool prizes sponsored by the Berlin Arts and Entertainment Committee. The Berlin Arts and Entertainment Committee will also be offering a special café table seating option for the movie which will include a beverage, light fare and a slice of Baked Dessert Café wedding cake. For more information on the Arts and Entertainment sponsored events, please contact Robin Tomaselli at Baked Dessert Café.
A look at the menu in Seaside Deli. Click to enlarge.
In Maryland, the locals like to put their delis inside liquor stores.
Before I began working in the Old Line State, this was a completely foreign concept to me. The first time I entered a liquor store on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, I was instantly overwhelmed by the scent of dill pickles. Astonished and more than a little enamored, I sought out the source. In the corner was a petite counter and two ladies preparing submarine sandwiches to go.
Now I will forever associate a liquor store with sub sandwiches. Seaside Deli, Beer and Wine in Ocean City captures this unique and successful combination with its surfside store.
On 72nd Street and Coastal Highway, you’ll find the deli in a small strip center on the southbound side of the road. It’s unassuming and at first, I wasn’t sure why it came so highly recommended to me. But when I approached the front door, I understood. Liscio’s and Aversa Bakery boxes were waiting outside the door. Their breads are no joke.
And the bread is very important on a sub. Critically important. Too soft and it’s like eating a carwash sponge; too hard and it ruins the sanctity of the ingredients inside. The perfect combo of crispy crust and airy insides is paramount. And both these bakeries are locally known to balance crust and crumb beautifully.
The advertisement of Boar’s Head deli meats and cheeses was also a good sign.
Inside, I was surprised to see not just a liquor store, but also a full-service quick-stop convenience store. The store was hopping, with at least two dozen customers browsing, chatting up the staff or reviewing the overhead sandwich menu. In fact, I heard many guests greeted by name, letting me know that this place caters to a recurring customer base. Promising, indeed.
I was overjoyed to see local brands like Lewes Dairy and Turkey Hill in the refrigerated cases as well. Martin’s Eggs and C.W. Dunnet dairy products filled the squat glass-front case, both Lancaster-based brands. Tossed green and bound side salads were ready to grab and go, and Schmidt breads and rolls, another local name, were available for home sandwich building. Nine fridges of cold beer supply lined the back wall and a full-service bar is set up in the back, too, with six stools and TVs ready for sports viewing.
It was hard to choose a sandwich from those on display. They had the standards like freshly-made chicken salad, Italian-style sandwiches and Reubens, but there were some curve balls in there, too, Oriental Chicken and the Barnyard among them. I ended up choosing the Hungry Kayaker and was overwhelmed at the amount of filling in it. I ate half and was so full, I could barely sit comfortably.
Make sure to stop in for Woody’s Kegs and Eggs too. It’s breakfast served all day at the bar, complete with a pint of beer. Really.
Great sandwiches, inside a liquor store. Only in Maryland, and Seaside’s only in Ocean City.
Have you visited Seaside Deli? What did you order? What other local businesses should I review? Let me know in the comments!
Each year OceanCity.com readers vote on the best of everything in Ocean City. We also have a panel of experts around Ocean City who pick their favorites based on local experiences, which we refer to as Editor’s Choice. Click here for this year’s voting.
Whatever the weather and whatever your preferred form of entertainment, there’s always something to do in Ocean City. The bay is riddled with watersports for the adventurous vacationers, just as Coastal Highway is home to an abundance of mini-golf courses for those who prefer a more relaxed kind of fun. Whatever fun activities you choose to partake in, you’re sure to have a great time.
If you’re looking to reel in sea bass, cod, trout and everything else the Atlantic Ocean has to offer, sign up for one of the Angler’s Deep Sea Fishing Trips and set sail on their 65-foot fiber glass party boat with your fishing rod in hand. If you’re looking for more of a scenic adventure, their Nature Cruise will take you around Assateague Island to see the ponies and waterfowl, and the Evening Scenic Cruise treats boaters to a trip around the bay as the sun sets.
Since 1965, Old Pro has been treating golfers of every age to fun, challenging games at all four of their locations. Fuel your imagination with whatever your heart desires, whether that be underwater, safari, Renaissance castle, dragon, dinosaur or pirate-themed courses. You’ve seen all of Old Pro’s fantasy sculptures every time you drive down Coastal Highway – the dinosaurs don’t bite, so why not get to know them a little?
Feel the wind in your hair as you watch the waves move beneath your feet. Paradise Watersports will take you up in the air on their parasails, where you’ll get a birds-eye view of dolphins, sea turtles, Assateague’s wild ponies and the most beautiful views you can imagine of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. You can even choose your own height — but of course, the higher you go, the better your view will be!
Open from May 1 to Sept. 24 each season, Paradise offers a premiere jet skiing experience in Ocean City (you know, to cool off after your parasailing expedition). Navigate the waters near Hooper’s Crab House at the foot of the Route 50 bridge where Paradise is located, reach top speeds and achieve the ultimate adrenaline rush on your Ocean City vacation. Your vacation isn’t a true adventure if you don’t jet ski at least once!
Located on the picturesque Isle of Wight Bay, 48th Street Watersports is one of the only places in Ocean City that offers kayak eco tours, where guides help you get on the water to catch an intimate glance at all the plant and animal life that lives in the bay. You can see diamondback terrapins, Maryland blue crabs, ospreys, egrets, horseshoe crabs, jellyfish and sometimes even stingrays and skates as you glide over the shallow waters of the bay.
Surfers rejoice at Malibu’s Surf Shop, where you can find the best surf gear and boards that Ocean City has to offer. If you’re new to surfing but looking to ride the waves, Malibu’s offers private lessons every morning with seasoned instructors who are local to the Ocean City area. If you don’t have a board of your own, Malibu’s has rentals, too.
When the rain starts pouring down and you’re seeking shelter near the Jolly Roger pier rides, head inside Ripley’s to be amazed by all their weird collections — a model of the world’s tallest man, shrunken heads and two-headed animals among them. The kids will be entertained for as long as their attention spans allow them.
Not everyone is lucky enough to have their own boat tied up behind their beach house… That’s why you rent one from Odyssea Watersports. Odyssea offers pontoon boats that hold up to 12 passengers and deluxe pontoons that hold up to 14, available to rent for two, four, six and eight hours at a time. Bring a cooler full of drinks, or bar hop your way down the bay. Whatever you do, you’ll have a blast, especially if you opt to use the boats’ bluetooth speaker radios. Now it’s a party!
Each year OceanCity.com readers vote on the best of everything in Ocean City. We also have a panel of experts around Ocean City who pick their favorites based on local experiences, which we refer to as Editor’s Choice. Click here for the 2020 voting.
Whatever you’re in the mood for, there’s a restaurant for it in Ocean City (especially if you’re in the mood for crabs). With seafood, buffet, pub-style and pizza joints on every corner, the possibilities are endless.
Restaurants who have placed in a “Best Of” restaurant category for 5 straight years include Harrison’s Harbor Watch, Dumser’s Ice Cream, Kohr Bros, 28th Street Pit n Pub, Smokers BBQ, Anthony’s Carryout, Hooper’s Crab House, The Crab Bag, The Crabcake Factory, Tequila Mockingbird, Blu Crabhouse, The Bonfire, OC Wasabi and Belly Busters. Congrats to those fine award-winning establishments, and to all of those listed below!
Where are you getting your pizza from? There was no clear winner in this category, with over 1,000 voters writing in a favorite pizza place that wasn’t on our poll. That’s typical for this category, one of our most popular (this year it received almost 6,000 votes total), so we wrote about some of the common write-ins that voters chose. To be fair, there are a lot of pizza options in Ocean City. But ultimately the winner was Grotto Pizza, a Maryland and Delaware pizza tradition since the 1960s. The family-friendly pizzeria has locations on 14th and 125th Street and also offers subs, salads, pastas, wings, strombolis, calzones and more.
They say that crab is on the menu all day at Crabcake Factory USA, and so are their Bloody Marys, which make the perfect complement to a crabcake. It’s no wonder that with five locations (their original location at 120th street, bayside in Selbyville, DE, a seafood house across from the original restaurant, an express store at the boardwalk and poolside at the Tidelands Hotel) and an option to get their crabcakes shipped straight to your door, Crabcake Factory is the clear winner for the Best Seafood of 2017.
The Crab Bag’s “fattest crabs ever” are, according to the seasoned crab pickers and “Best Of” voters, by far the best crabs in Ocean City. With so many crab restaurants on the Eastern Shore, the Bag must be doing something right to garner so much support for their male blue crabs, which are steamed for 20-30 minutes and offered with sides like fries, corn and fried chicken in their “Feast” entrees. Pick a picnic table and get pickin’.
Are you surprised? In addition to taking home the Best Seafood award, the Factory has also been crowned Best Crabcakes, winning by a landslide thanks to their signature entree. Whatever underwater creature you’re craving, Crabcake Factory literally takes the cake.
An Ocean City staple since 1939, Dumser’s Dairyland wins Best Ice Cream yet again. The ice creamery has expanded to seven locations throughout OC since the 30s, when Mrs. Gladys Dumser made her first homemade batch on the boardwalk, and today the family-owned-and-operated business offers every flavor and topping under the sun. Whether you’re dining in at their 49th or 123rd street locations or getting your dessert to go, Dumser’s is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
For delicious barbecue including house-smoked brisket, pork, chicken, ribs and wings, look no further than 28th Street — the 28th Street Pit & Pub, to be exact. You’ll also find this smokehouse in North Ocean City and, as of this year, in Salisbury, too. The Pit & Pub offers a casual environment where you won’t be ashamed to get your fingers a little saucy, and they also have a great daily Happy Hour from 3-6 p.m.
The shop on 33rd street with the dancing light-up beer cans isn’t just a liquor store. Anthony’s also carries beer and wine, and the best subs in Ocean City. For 45 years, their deli has been serving top-quality sandwich meats from Boar’s Head and Critterio, so when you’re in the mood for a hoagie, Anthony’s is the place to go. Be sure to stop at the bar for a cold brew on your way out.
Down at the Sunset Grille… you’ll find some of the best deals in town, including $6.99 lunch specials Monday through Thursday and half-priced drinks at Happy Hour. But those deals aren’t even the best part of dining at the Sunset Grille. The best part is being able to enjoy your meal sitting dockside under an umbrella, watching boats roll into the harbor while the sun sets over the bay. Combine that view with a couple of drinks from Teasers Bar and you’ll never want to leave.
The Harrison family has been local to the Ocean City region for over 100 years, and maybe that’s why they’re so dedicated to offering the freshest shellfish in all of OC. Fish on the restaurant’s menu are often served the same day they’re caught, and in the summer, produce comes freshly picked from the Laurel Produce Market in Laurel, DE. Chow down on the oyster stew while enjoying one of the best bay views the island has to offer.
The Bonfire has been serving up a large and diverse array of food since 1973. At their 70th street buffet, pretty much any craving can be sated, whether it be with seafood, steak, ribs, crab legs or any other fresh buffet staple. The Bonfire proves to be Ocean City’s best buffet (and there are lots in this region!) because here, as you sit under their beautiful stained glass with a view of the restaurant’s tropical fish tanks, all your senses will be satisfied.
In the barn-style building formerly home to the Pirate’s Den, Barn 34 continues the tradition of delicious breakfasts and other great meals throughout the day, too. Downstairs you can dine-in or order a drink at the Rum Bar, or upstairs, hang out in the Loft Dining Room and Bar. Either way, your experience will be accented with great food, live music and maybe even a game of ping-pong.
Shotti’s Point is only a few years old (and their second location on the Boardwalk just opened this summer), but in a short period of time, their wings have taken Ocean City by storm. According to Best of Ocean City voters, their pizza isn’t bad either (it received a ton of write-in votes!) and their fries are second only to Thrasher’s. You might have to schedule several meals at Shotti’s Point just to try all the highly-favored food they have to offer.
Best Carry Out was a close race between 17th Street Anthony’s and the other Anthony’s, but the audience choice ultimately goes to Anthony’s at 17th street. Tried and true and owned by the same family for 45 years, Anthony’s serves the best takeout breakfast, fried chicken, subs and pizza in Ocean City. They’re cash only, so be sure to hit up an ATM before you go!
OC Wasabi wins Best Asian Food in a landslide. Come try the freshest sushi and sake on the beach, dine-in or carryout, or hit up the bar for happy hour specials on beer and house margaritas. If you’re feeling adventurous, be sure to order the fried ice cream for dessert, or the mochi, a sweet Japanese classic.
Hands down some of the best pizza you can get on the beach. Touch of Italy started out as a Lewes, DE exclusive in 2010, but today their artisanal pizza can be found in Ocean City and Rehoboth Beach, too. Check out their pasticceria, better known as a pastry shop with biscottis, pastries and cakes, or their salumeria, the Italian version of a deli. And whatever you do, be sure to treat yourself to an authentic Touch of Italy pizza.
Mother’s Cantina prides themselves on their bold flavors and local, organic ingredients that make their Tex-Mex entrees so delicious. Mother’s Cantina is not only authentic but also affordable, so when you’re in the mood for a Mexican meal, you can dine-in, carry out or hit up the market at their 28th street restaurant. Happy hour is every day from 4-7, so keep in mind that a margarita is the perfect complement to a spicy fajita.
Each year OceanCity.com readers vote on the best of everything in Ocean City. We also have a panel of experts around Ocean City who pick their favorites based on local experiences, which we refer to as Editor’s Choice. Click here for the 2020 voting.
For many Ocean City visitors, the most important part of any Ocean City vacation is the bar-hopping. “Best Bars” almost always proves to be the category that we get the most votes in, and we totally understand why. There are some great bars in Ocean City, and some not-so-great bars. We’re here to concentrate on the positives, of which there are many.
Bars that have placed in a “Best Of” restaurant category for 5 straight years include Seacrets, Fish Tales, Coconuts and Fager’s Island.
Without further ado, here are 2019’s Best Bars in Ocean City, Maryland! If you don’t agree with the results — or even if you do agree, but want them to stay the same next year — it’s not too early to start voting in the Best of Ocean City 2020.
‘Best Bar Overall’ voting is almost always a neck-and-neck race between Seacrets and Fish Tales; last year, Fish Tales pulled through. This year, Seacrets took the crown back. Both are incredible bars in their own right, but for very different reasons. Fish Tales is a colorful oasis with a playground for kids, so you can spend hours there with the entire family. Seacrets is known more for its nightlife, especially the local and national musical acts is attracts to its sweeping Morley Hall nightclub. You can eat indoors at Seacrets, or outdoors on the sand, or outdoors in the water as you watch more diners arrive via their boats and Seacrets’ own water taxi. You could spend all day, and well into the night, at Seacrets.
Always another close race between Seacrets and Fish Tales! Seacrets’ drinks are often made with liquor from their distilling company next door, which has won medals from spirits competitions all over the United States. Their spiced rum is especially renowned. Also be sure to try their Tropicale craft beer, brewed specially for Seacrets by Evolution Craft Brewing in Salisbury, Md.
Head inside the Castle in the Sand hotel on 37th Street and that’s where you’ll find Coconuts, a frequent winner of Ocean City’s “Best Happy Hour.” Happy Hour at Coconuts is every day from 5 to 6 p.m., where drinks are 2-for-the-price-of-1. It’s the best and the fastest hour in Ocean City, often enjoyed alongside live music and, of course, beautiful views of the ocean.
It would be blasphemous to not award Ocean City’s Best Sunset View to Fager’s Island. They time it perfectly every evening so that the 1812 Overture bellows from the bar just as the sun is setting, and if you haven’t stood on their gazebo on the water to enjoy this phenomenon, you haven’t really had the full Ocean City experience.
No one in Ocean City does live music better than Seacrets. Whether an act is performing at Morley Hall, the Tiki Stage or the outdoor Beach Stage, you can bet there will be a huge crowd with seemingly limitless energy and dance moves. You can even watch live cams and pre-recorded videos of the bands that regularly rock the Seacrets stages right on their website.
Pickles has been a favorite sports bar among locals since the joint first opened up in 1989. Open year-round and providing Ocean City with a dose of casual pub atmosphere downtown, locals and visitors alike are known to catch a game on their giant high-def TV, and maybe enjoy a fried pickle or two. Or 12.
4th Street, 9th Street or 45th Street — whichever Tap House you’re at, you can bet they’ll have an awe-inspiring assortment of craft beer! The Tap House features local and national craft beer brands, which pair perfectly with food selections including the crabby pretzel, wings and a king-sized burger. Happy Hour is every weekday from 3-6 p.m., the perfect opportunity to try your new favorite craft beer.
Burley Oak in Berlin, MD draws thousands of visitors to the area every year just for their craft beer alone. According to Burley, “Our goal is to produce distinctive beers whose quality is unsurpassed using new and traditional brewing methods,” a goal that they’ve certainly accomplished: Their brews are as unique as it gets, and made largely with local ingredients. Stop in for an IPA or, for those feeling adventurous, a JREAM: a sour beer made with fruit and milk sugar, offered in a variety of flavors.
Some of us like to stay somewhere new every time we go on vacation. After all, there are hundreds of fantastic hotels and motels lining Ocean City’s beach and bayside — for some, it can be hard to commit to just one regular destination.
Others, however, already know what they like. Sometimes it’s a tradition; your family stayed at this hotel for decades and decades, and you know they wouldn’t frequent any place but the very best (this is common, because many of Ocean City hotels have been around for decades and decades). Or maybe you spent summer after summer trying out different accommodations, only to finally find the one that was completely perfect for you and your family. There’s no turning back now!
Either way, if you’re set on where you’re staying, be sure to check if that hotel has a loyalty program that you can take advantage of. You might just find that your favorite locale does offer rewards that you haven’t been rightfully earning. Or, you might find your new favorite hotel based on their amazing loyalty program alone.
Here are some of our favorites, and we can vouch that these are all excellent hotels. They’re well worth the multiple stays that are usually required to start earning points, and to eventually receive that free week in Ocean City you’ve always dreamed of. Let us know what your favorite loyalty-friendly hotels are and we might just add them to the list!
We are part of Choice Privileges which includes Quality Inn, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Econo Lodge and Ascend properties. It is a rewards program where you earn points for your stay based on dollar amount of reservation. They can be redeemed for not only free nights but also many types of gift cards.
The Aloft and Residence Inn are both Marriott hotels, which use the Marriott Bonvoy awards program. Through Bonvoy, guests earn points by staying at Marriott Properties and through credit card spending. Points can be redeemed for a free hotel stay, with awards priced according to the specific hotel, or for airline miles with any of 40 qualifying airline loyalty programs.
Reward points at the Grand Hotel can be earned simply bybooking directly. Guests can earn six vacation rewards per reservation; rewards include Grand Hotel gear, vouchers to local businesses like Jolly Roger, Splash Mountain, Speed World and Thrasher’s, complimentary upgrades and more.
Our signature program is called “Dunes Circle.” If you mention that you are a returning patron, we offer discounts from 5% – 20% depending on season and day of week.
Hilton Honors – Guests earn a certain amount of points per dollars spent, and the amount of points returned to the guest depends on their tier — there’s blue, silver, gold and diamond. Silver members and blue members earn the same return on points, gold members get 20% more and I believe diamond is 25% more on dollars spent. They can use those points at any Hilton property, for an entire free stay if they have enough or they can do a points-and-money combination to get a discount.
Ocean City Hotels Click for Hotel Navigation There are literally hundreds of places to stay in Ocean City, so choosing just one for your Ocean City vacation can feel a bit overwhelming. No need to worry, though.
