Photo Friday: Kicking off the season over Memorial Day Weekend

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Photo Friday: Kicking off the season over Memorial Day Weekend

Happy Friday, Ocean City lovers! Today marks our second Photo Friday of the season. Every other week in the spring and summertime, we accept photo submissions and compile about 10-20 into a blog just like this one. Out of the posted photos, we randomly choose a winner to receive a prize, usually to an Ocean City restaurant or entertainment like Jolly Roger Amusements. This week, Kelley O’Dell, who submitted the above photo of the West Ocean City landscape overlooking the Assawoman Bay on Memorial Day, won two tickets to Jolly Roger. Congrats, Kelley! 

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. 

Submit your photos by June 13 and we’ll publish them to our site on June 14, then pick a winner to receive two Jolly Roger tickets that will be good for the entire 2019 season. There’s no theme for our next Photo Friday, but last week’s was Memorial Day Weekend. Here are your photos from the holiday weekend, along with a few shots from the weekend prior. 

Safari tour 5/26 osprey.
Sunday May 26 at the Atlantis Condominium.
Josie brought the rolls to the beach, freshly baked
Ocean city Ninja warrior obstacle course 5/27
These flags are on display in the park in Ocean Pines to remember all of those who have severed our country, fought and died for our country. They are so beautiful lowing in the wind.
I thought that this photo was so appropriate for the Memorial Weekend, it is a new memorial on display in the park in Ocean Pines.
“ Dream Big Little Mermaid “ This photo of My Daughter Selena was taken in the Sand just off the boardwalk of The Crystal Beach Hotel. It was a day full of fun and excitement in the sand. My oldest daughter and I promised my youngest daughter Selena a Mermaid Tail.
Coulter Donaway, 9, of Snow Hill, MD, fishing near Assateague over Memorial Day weekend.
Unique Sunrise Skyline
Kicking back…..
Locks of Love. Ocean City Boardwalk Pier. Taken Memorial Day 2019.
Ocean City. May 16,2019.
Sunset. Assateague Island. May, 15,2019.
Nora living her best life in Pocomoke City over the weekend celebrating turning 1 !
Sunrise. 118th street, May 13, 2019
On the bay behind Embers. May 23,2019
OC boardwalk
Grand hotel and spa 5/25 sunrise
Grand hotel and spa Ocean city boardwalk
“Good morning, Ocean City”

Ocean City Beach Patrol Testing for Summer 2019

OceanCity.com
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Ocean City Beach Patrol Testing for Summer 2019

The Ocean City Beach Patrol (OCBP) will hold a pre-employment physical skills evaluation on Saturday, June 1, to fill openings in the 2019 employment roster. The pre-employment evaluation is being held in Ocean City, in the area of Dorchester Street and the beach. There are no pre-certification requirements and experience in ocean rescue is not necessary to apply. All training and certifications will be provided in a paid ($13.55 hr) Surf Rescue Academy, which is being conducted in Ocean City, beginning June 16, 2019.

Registration/check-in for the test begins at 9 a.m. on Dorchester Street and the Boardwalk. After orientation and an English language proficiency test, applicants should prepare for a full day of testing beginning shortly after registration. Candidates will swim 400m, run 300m, perform simulated swimming rescues, and demonstrate the capacity to run fast in timed sprint races. Water-related activities take place in the Atlantic Ocean with all running activities on the beach.

Although pre-registration is not required, candidates are strongly encouraged to pre-register for the test by visiting www.ococean.com/ocbp. The Beach Patrol requires acceptable proof of age of all candidates, which can be a driver’s license, birth certificate or U.S. passport. Without proper proof of age, applicants will not be permitted to participate. In addition, applicants must be 17 years old or older prior to June 24, 2019, and those under 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian during the entire testing process.

Following the physical skills evaluation, those meeting qualifying standards are eligible for appointment to the Beach Patrol’s Surf Rescue Academy (SRA), which is being conducted in Ocean City beginning on June 16th. The SRA is eight days long and provides all training and certifications required to be a Surf Rescue Technician while earning $13.55 per hour, with an increase to $14.94 after a three week probation period (2018 pay rates).

If interested in the 2020 season, testing for next season begins this August and you may register for future testing dates, beginning on June 2, 2019. For additional information, please contact the Ocean City Beach Patrol at 410-289-7556 or visit www.oceancitymd.gov/ocbp.

It’s all in the details at the Lighthouse Club on Fager’s Island

Kristin
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It’s all in the details at the Lighthouse Club on Fager’s Island

Ocean City’s bayside has steadily become a more popular hub for vacationers over the decades; not only to the boaters, who already know from experience all the delights of the Assawoman and Isle of Wight bays, but now for the families, couples and friends who have discovered that nothing beats a sunset over the peninsula, too.

It wasn’t always this way. Some still remember the days when Ocean City’s upper streets were all but completely undeveloped, and most hotels that were daring enough to open past the Boardwalk did so on the coveted oceanside.

In 1975, John Fager built Fager’s Island on 60th Street on the bay, which he described as then being “kind of the Wild West.” The restaurant, with its open-air atmosphere and decks, live plants and picturesque sunset views, was different than anything else in Ocean City at the time, and it was a success, quickly evolving from a seasonal venture to a year-round destination.

Mondays just got way better, thanks to Fager’s Island

I <3 Mondays (at least, now I do) I’d never been to Fager’s Island before Monday night. I’d heard about it plenty from friends and co-workers — the food’s great, but the view of the sunset on the bay is spectacular, is what I’ve constantly heard everyone say — but for some reason it still took me this long to make my way down there.


The all-suites Lighthouse Club hotel — two bridge crossings from Fager’s Island restaurant and one bridge crossing from another Fager’s hotel, The Edge — was built in 1978. The building, modeled after the Thomas Point Shoal Light on the Chesapeake Bay, hosted three different restaurants until Fager bought the building and converted it into a hotel in 1988. Still, even with the success of the restaurant next-door, opening a bayside hotel was a risk.

“At the time the bayside was still not a popular thing. Everyone wanted to be on the ocean,” said Angela Reynolds, Managing Director of Hotels at Fager’s Island. “As it turned out, the bayside has become popular.”

Today, the Lighthouse Club is a mainstay of Ocean City’s midtown bayside and is geared toward couples looking to experience a more intimate, quiet side of town. 23 elegant suites in total sit upon the wetlands, with sweeping views of the Isle of Wight Bay beckoning guests to step onto their balconies or the lower wraparound porch, where the water is just steps away.

Amenities include a fitness and massage room, access to the pool at The Edge next door and an evening turndown service for each room, but it’s the details in the hotel’s Clubroom that set the Lighthouse Club apart from other luxury accommodations: that’s where fresh-baked cookies are set out every afternoon, and in the evenings, a beer and wine honor bar is also available to guests.

The unique, personal touches in the Lighthouse Club’s decor also make it special. The Edge hotel boasts suites that are each decorated according to a different theme, but the Lighthouse Club is similarly marked by John Fager’s affinity for travel and collecting pieces from around the world. The furniture in each suite is custom-made, and the decor in the Clubroom and other common areas throughout the hotel is interesting, eye-catching and luxurious.

Not only is the Lighthouse Club a destination for couples looking to experience the peace and tranquility of Ocean City’s bayside, but it’s also a clear choice for those who appreciate all the little details that work in tandem to make a vacation so enjoyable. 

And now, a virtual tour of the Lighthouse Club hotel. This is the view walking across the bridge from the Edge Hotel, toward the Route 90 bridge, but the tucked-away Lighthouse Club is accessible from Coastal Highway as well.
The chest in the center of the seating arrangement is an antique from China. “It’s large enough for a body,” Reynolds joked. “It opens up and I swear, it is so big inside we often joke about that: If you’re going to hide a body, that’s the perfect place.”
On the handcart is one of Fager’s Island’s own bottles of wine. They have vineyards in California and in France.
Coffee and tea are served at the bar, which also serves as an honor bar in the evening.
It’s all in the details.
Guests do sometimes borrow books from the library in the Lighthouse Club’s lobby. When guests have occasionally brought books home with them to finish, Reynolds said, they’ve always mailed them back.
A look outside to the porch from the Clubroom.
An unbeatable view of the Isle of Wight Bay.
A look inside one of 23 suites in the Lighthouse Club. Suites include whirlpool Jacuzzi tubs, custom furniture, spacious sitting areas, refrigerators stocked with soda and bottled water, coffee makers and in some suites, fireplaces.
They also have luxurious marble bathrooms.
A look down from the third floor. When the building was a restaurant, the staircase went straight up to the upper-floor dining room. Around Christmastime in the ’70s, a Christmas tree hung upside down from the rafters. And that’s your Ocean City trivia for today.

[promos][promo name=”The Lighthouse Club” business=”201 60th Street, Ocean City, MD” img=”https://www.oceancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2026_Lighthouse-Club-Hotel.jpg” link=”https://www.oceancity.com/hotels-and-motels/the-lighthouse-club/” cta_text=”Book Now” small_img=”true” top_border=”1″] The Lighthouse Club is a waterfront replica of the Thomas Point Lighthouse and consists of the Lighthouse Suites and The Lightkeeper Suites. This small boutique designer hotel sits on Ocean City’s bayside and offers an atmosphere of privacy and relaxation that’s unparalleled to anywhere else in town. [/promo][/promos]

This Week in Ocean City: June in Ocean City Looks Sunny and Bright ☀

Kristin
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This Week in Ocean City: June in Ocean City Looks Sunny and Bright ☀

Happy Tuesday, Ocean City lovers! Here’s hoping you had a fantastic Memorial Day Weekend ’19. If you celebrated the holiday in town, then you know that the weather couldn’t have been better and that steady crowds took hold of the beach and Boardwalk Friday through Monday; it was the perfect weekend to be in Ocean City, and there are certainly many more to come. 

If you were in town over the weekend, feel free to submit your vacation photos to this week’s Photo Friday. All we ask is that your Ocean City photo submissions be current (i.e. taken in 2019) and that you include your name and email address in the caption so we can reach you if you’re chosen as the winner of the week. The prize is two passes to Jolly Roger Amusements, good all summer long. 

This week in OC will see the end of May and the beginning of June, which is pretty exciting since there are so many fun things happening in June — Air Show, anyone? Or Jellyfish Festival? Or Senior Week, and the free, fun Play It Safe activities that come with it (they start this week!)? How about the end of the school year for kids and all the warm, sunny beach days that lie ahead? Sometimes, it’s the little things that make this season so great. 

 

Last Week’s News (A Memorial Day Weekend Recap)

This may not come as a surprise to anyone: Last weekend, the line at Seacrets was long. That’s a Memorial Day Weekend tradition.  

It’s Memorial Day weekend and yes, the Seacrets line is long

CLOSE It might not have been 5 o’clock when the habitual lines started forming at Seacrets in Ocean City, but when it’s Memorial Day weekend and you’re at arguably the most popular waterfront bar in town, time doesn’t seem to matter.

On Monday, a car flipped on Coastal Highway at the intersection of 56th Street near Fractured Prune and Nick’s Maui Golf. One person was removed from the vehicle.

Car Flips Along Coastal Highway In Ocean City On Memorial Day

OCEAN CITY, Md. (WJZ) – A car flipped over along Coastal Highway in Ocean City on Memorial Day. The Ocean City Fire Department posted photos of the Acura overturned at the intersection of 56th Street near Fractured Prune and Nick’s Maui Golf. Fire officials had to remove one person from the vehicle.

The Ocean City Beach Patrol kicked off their season over Memorial Day Weekend. OCBP guards will now be on duty every day from 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. until mid-September.

Ocean City Beach Patrol Ready To Keep Swimmers Safe This Summer

OCEAN CITY, Md. (WJZ) – Starting Memorial Day weekend, swimmers in Ocean City are under the watchful eye of dozens of lifeguards. The water is officially heating up, and for Ocean City Beach Patrol’s only year-round employee, Memorial Day Weekend is the best time of the year.


This Week in OC

Play It Safe (May 29 – June 14): Play It Safe is a town-wide program for 2019 high school graduates, featuring karaoke, volleyball, dodgeball, kayaking, mini golf, paddleboarding and more. Those who attend a “Play It Safe” event will receive a wristband to ride the bus all week for $5. All events are free. Visit the website for all the details.

Baltimore Ravens Roost Parade (June 1): The annual Baltimore Ravens Roost parade showcases over 50 member roosts from MD, DE & PA, as they show pride for the Baltimore Ravens. The Parade is on Baltimore Avenue, between 19th and 26th Streets. Players, cheerleaders, mascots, bands, floats & more will appear in this 2-hour parade.

Walk MS (June 1): Walk MS is the place to connect with others affected by MS and to learn more about the services and support offered by the National MS Society. Walk MS routes are fully accessible, with distance options of 1 & 3 miles. Throughout the day, you’ll receive support from our dedicated volunteers to ensure your day goes smoothly.

Only in Ocean City: Seaside Sparklers To Take Home at Jewel of the Ocean

Jill Denton
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Only in Ocean City: Seaside Sparklers To Take Home at Jewel of the Ocean
Jewel of the Ocean
Sparkling, beachy wares on display at Jewel of the Ocean.

When you think of a vacation to the shore, what’s your first mental image? Is it accessories like striped beach umbrellas, overflowing tropical drinks and canvas chairs? I can almost smell the massive pizza slices, buttery popcorn for sale in broad white tubs, and twists of orange and white soft-serve towering over crispy cake cones. For most, though, thoughts of the sea bring about visuals of warm glowing sands, boats cresting along the horizon and creatures dwelling beneath the crashing waves.

Admit it: you’re picturing the beach right now, aren’t you?

Thanks to Jewel of the Ocean, you can take a little piece of the coastline home with you and wear it all year long. Nestled into a strip of boardwalk shops between Somerset and Wicomico Streets, this sparkling sanctuary for Swarovski is the prime spot for jewelry with nautical themes.

The seashells, anchors, starfish, sand dollars and blue crabs greet you the moment you approach, poised on their modeling busts and facing the crashing waves in their glass display cases. The icy, glittering crystals Swarovski utilizes so well reflect the summer sun like tiny prisms back to your eager eyes, conjuring thoughts of beautiful, relaxing and rejuvenating beachside days. The shop’s personal and attentive service means you can take those sun-kissed crystals and the luminous memories they bring to mind back home to enjoy anytime.

Jewelry makes a great gift, especially themed pieces that bring seasonal, seaside fun to mind. For those wanting a nicer souvenir or needing gift inspiration, this shop is a lifesaver. Each item is specially chosen to create seaside nostalgia, with a good ninety percent of their merchandise featuring ocean life and themes. Base pieces like chains, bracelets and simple studs are scattered throughout, ready to compliment your jewelry wardrobe and suit those with a more minimalistic taste.

The store frequently offers specials, free gifts with purchases and sales on merchandise in time with holidays. Staff was cordial and welcoming, genuinely interested in offering the best price possible and offered me the time I needed to peruse everything. I was drawn to a sterling silver, crystal-clad piece of a cresting wave over a pale blue cabochon. Those opaque stones were featured prominently in that case and I learned they are shells from Hawaii, used in their seaside-themed pieces along with their trademark crystals. The idea of capturing a bit of both Atlantic and Pacific in a single piece was enchanting and I had to own it.

Items can be packaged, ready for gifting, or can be worn right out of the store. I changed into my new piece immediately. It was so beautiful that I couldn’t resist, and I’ve been paid many compliments since.

Hours for Jewel of the Ocean are seasonal, with their May-September hours 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily. 

It might be a good idea to stop in soon if you like sterling silver and wave themes. Just a friendly suggestion from a fellow aficionado and collector.

Learn to sail, or just relax and enjoy the waves, on the Alyosha catamaran

Kristin
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Learn to sail, or just relax and enjoy the waves, on the Alyosha catamaran

The Alyosha is a 50-ft. St. Francis catamaran, built in South Africa, that has sailed around the world; its captain, Steve Butz of the OC Bay Hopper team, completed a circumnavigation in three years, traveling over 30,000 nautical miles and spending as many 29 days at a time on the water without stopping.

Now, the Alyosha has made a permanent home in Ocean City, Maryland.

Butz is chartering his sailboat and taking guests out every day for sunset cruises, open ocean sailing and even abridged sailing lessons where people can learn the basics of sailing and watchstanding, along with what it’s like to circumnavigate the globe. 

“Bluewater sailing is unlike anything else,” Butz said. “It’s going to be pretty exciting — dolphins love to play in the bow of a sailboat, it’s quiet, there’s not a lot of noise, you can talk, you can hear yourself think… Sailing is an entirely different experience from being in a powerboat.”

Trips on the Alyosha generally stay within three miles of the shore, and the boat’s various sails will be visible from the beach. Sunset cruises last about an hour-and-a-half and are available twice a week, while the daily charter is about two-and-a-half hours and runs most days at 1 and 4 p.m., depending on weather. 

“We generally will stay on a triangle and I like usually to hug the shore at least one of the legs,” Butz said. “We’re going to have catered options so people can have their trip catered if they want, or they can bring their own food and drink.”

While some boaters are happy relaxing in the catamaran’s trampoline up front and listening to the water rush beneath them, others seek out a more hands-on experience; that’s why Butz decided to offer sailing lessons, which last about three hours and are available one day of the week. 

Those who aren’t busy learning how to sail are free to lounge inside the catamaran’s salon interior, though most prefer to be out in the sun and the open air. 

North Ocean City Water Taxi ‘OC Bay Hopper’ Hits the Water this May

The OC Bay Hopper is an Uber of the ocean, designed to shuttle passengers along Ocean City’s back bays from the northernmost reaches of Ocean City all the way down to the Inlet and Assateague Island.

The roughest part of the trip is typically sailing in and out of the inlet. Once the boat is out of the inlet, ocean patterns become more regular. For those who have a tendency toward motion sickness, Butz recommends taking a preventative medicine like Bonine well before boarding the sailboat.

“Motion sickness is typically a disconnect between what your eyes are seeing and what your body is feeling,” he said. “That’s why it is so helpful to sit there and stare at the horizon and to acknowledge that you’re rocking .”

While Butz’s brother and business partners operate Ocean City’s newest water taxi, the OC Bay Hopper, Butz will be sailing the Atlantic in the 50-ft., multi-hulled watercraft, teaching others how to navigate the open ocean and simply providing vacationers a scenic excursion with unparalleled views of the Ocean City skyline. 

The Alyosha departs from Mad Fish Bar & Grill in West Ocean City and can be booked by calling 410-376-5454. 

 

Ocean City Police Warn Residents and Business Owners of Counterfeit Currency

OceanCity.com
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Ocean City Police Warn Residents and Business Owners of Counterfeit Currency

The Ocean City Police Department is warning residents, business owners and employees to be on the lookout for counterfeit currency being circulated in Ocean City. In the past week, there have been two reports of counterfeit currency, including several counterfeit $100.00 bills.  These bills either are marked as “play money” or have Chinese writing on both sides.    

Ocean City police are encouraging citizens to closely examine currency by looking carefully at the money being exchanged. When receiving a $100 bill for a very small purchase, examine the currency. Often times, suspects will pass the counterfeit bill to exchange it for real currency, not necessarily to purchase big-ticket items. Also, business owners are reminded that counterfeit detection pens very often generate false results. Counterfeiters can use bleached genuine currency or coat counterfeit notes to prevent the proper chemical reactions.

In addition, the Federal Reserve Board offers these tips to detect suspicious or counterfeit currency:

  • Feel the paper. Genuine U.S. currency has a unique feel. The note should feel slightly rough to the touch. If the currency feels different than what you are used to, examine it closer.
  • Tilt the note back and forth to observe the color-shifting ink in the right-hand corner of denominations $10 or higher. Most bills will shift from copper to green.
  • Check the watermark and security thread by holding the currency up to a light. A watermark should be visible from both sides and will match the portrait or denomination. A security thread should also be visible from both sides and match the denomination. When held to UV light, the security thread will glow a unique color.

For more information about U.S. currency and how to detect a counterfeit note, visit www.uscurrency.gov.

Counterfeit bill with Chinese writing
Counterfeit bill marked with “Play Money”

Only in Ocean City: Fisher’s is the First Name in Ocean City Popcorn

Jill Denton
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Only in Ocean City: Fisher’s is the First Name in Ocean City Popcorn
Fishers Popcorn
A sunny day at Fisher’s Popcorn.

Okay, technically it’s a surname, but once you taste Fisher’s, you’ll know why it’s the only name in local popcorn.

The Fisher family has been cooking in kettles, perfecting their recipes right here in Ocean City since 1937, when Everett Fisher decided to open shop right on the boardwalk. While the third generation is now in charge and the business has grown to take up a few storefronts, it’s still undeniably, intoxicatingly enticing to anyone nearby. Who can resist fresh popcorn? And Fisher’s offers a few unique flavors, the kind of finds you’ll tell your hometown friends about once your OC vacation is over. While Old Bay-flavored things might be old news, you can count on Old Bay-dusted caramel popcorn to lift a few brows back home. Not as adventurous? Traditional butter is always available, too.

I make sure to stop by Fisher’s every time I’m walking the boards. It’s hard to avoid the toasty scent and flood of workers dropping bags and tubs of popcorn into outstretched, suntanned hands. Clear glass bins display the colorful, glazy bits of awesome, so it’s easy to see the quality buds you’re waiting so patiently to inhale.

Fortunately, everyone behind the counter is on board and ready to offer suggestions and answer questions. Mine included asking about what oils are used for popping (coconut oil primarily, but they do air-pop their caramel flavors) and what flavors are the most popular (caramel with and without peanuts).

Every single flavor is handmade with intention, with crisp, pure flavors to keep you going back to the bucket until your own demise slowly sets in. It’s hard to pick just one from the menu overhead.

Side note, Fisher’s differentiates between white cheddar and yellow cheddar. This may not seem like a big deal, but if you want that tell-tale symptom of cheese popcorn addiction a.k.a. neon orange fingers, you can make that call. And you will, because yellow cheddar has been my favorite from this shop since I was knee-high. Then again, the caramel apple and kettle flavors are up there, too. Oh, but the cheddar-caramel mix… They’re all dangerous, but in the best way.

A look at the menu at Fisher’s 200 South Boardwalk location.

In addition to classic summer Boardwalk snacks, Fisher’s also offers winter survival stashes and gifts for order in the off-season. Decorative tins and tubs in varying sizes are offered all year. While their mail-order business picks up in late fall for the winter holidays, popcorn is made daily and available for all holidays. A taste of the shore is a welcome gift for anyone, and would be welcome on your Thanksgiving appetizer table. The owners recommend airtight storage, which will keep your popcorn crisp for a long while. Fisher’s ships anywhere in the US and to military locations.

[promos][promo name=”Fisher’s Popcorn” business=”200 South Boardwalk, Ocean City, MD” img=”https://www.oceancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Fishers-2-1.jpg” link=”https://www.oceancity.com/restaurants-and-bars/fishers-popcorn/” cta_text=”Read More” small_img=”true” top_border=”1″] Fisher’s Popcorn has been making delicious caramel popcorn at the beaches of MD and DE since 1937. [/promo][/promos]

If you’re visiting in person, here are their hours:

Jan-May and Oct-Dec, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am- 4 pm

April-Memorial Day and all Oct, Monday-Friday 10 am- 3 pm

Memorial Day – September, daily 9 am – 11 pm (may close earlier on rainy nights)

 

I hope I see you in line later on this year. I’ll be the one with the orange stains under my nails.

This Week in Ocean City: Memorial Day Weekend 2019

Kristin
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This Week in Ocean City: Memorial Day Weekend 2019

It’s official: the start of the season is just about underway here in Ocean City, Maryland. Memorial Day Weekend is just around the corner.

If you’re lucky enough to get the day off work, hopefully you’re also lucky enough to get to spend a long weekend full of sunshine and barbecues in OC. There’s a ton going on around town this week, so whether you like to plan your vacation down to a T or just relax on the beach with absolutely nothing on the itinerary, you won’t be disappointed. The forecast is warm, clear and sunny with 100% chance of fun during this year’s summer kickoff weekend. We’ll see you on the sand!

Last Week’s News

Try something new when you’re in town this summer. We compiled a list of all the activities, restaurants and accommodations in Ocean City that are totally new for summer 2019. 

New This Summer in Ocean City: Hotels, Restaurants, Things to Do

Maintain your favorite Ocean City traditions — riding the Ferris wheel, Boardwalk fries, family bike rides — and make some new ones this summer, too!

This summer, the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum will offer free admission to active-duty military personnel and their families, marking the tenth summer of the Blue Star Museums program. 

Life Saving Station Museum offers free admission to military personnel and their families this summer

The Ocean City Life Saving Station Museum will be participating in the tenth summer of Blue Star Museums, a program which provides free admission to our nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families this summer.

So far, the weather forecast for this coming weekend is looking good — so let’s go to the beach!

Maryland weather: Memorial Day weekend forecast looking warm and dry at the beach

The summer solstice is still a month away, but beach season begins in earnest this weekend. And early forecasts call for pleasant weather on the Maryland and Delaware coasts. Over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, dry weather and high temperatures in the 70s and lower 80s are expected from Ocean City to Rehoboth Beach.

#ThisWeekinOC

The Enslaved at Rackliffe House Exhibition (May 21 – Oct. 31): An exhibition entitled The Enslaved at Rackliffe House and Worcester County, MD: A Local Story, opens to the public at Rackliffe House near Assateague Island National Seashore on May 21 st .
The exhibition covers such topics as The Middle Passage, Growth of the Slave Economy, Resistance to Slavery in Worcester County, Methodism and African-American Life, and the US Colored Troops. It includes images as well as two cases of artifacts (one of which displays pieces discovered during an archaeological dig on the Rackliffe property).

The Big Get-Together (May 22): The Art League needs your support. Join them for The Big Get-Together where there will be food tastings by local restaurants, beer and wine tastings, and live music by Claire Esham, all in the beautiful Art League building. Featuring the “99 Bottles of Wine on the Wall” Off-the-Wall Benefit Auction.

The Broadway Jukebox Revolution (May 23): The Broadway Jukebox returns due to popular demand! With a new list of 30 new songs to choose from, each performance is unique based on the selection of that night’s audience. Upon arrival, each audience member votes for their top choices from five new categories: “Classics,” “Contemporary Musicals,” “Animation,” “Diva,” and “Written by Rockers.” Brown Box then curates that night’s show on the spot in this interactive, family-friendly evening, where we perform what YOU consider the best of Broadway.

Spring Family Movie Night in the Park (May 24): Come join us for a FREE night of family fun! Ocean City Recreation & Parks will show a family appropriate movie at Northside Park on the giant projection screen. (The movie will begin shortly after sunset.)

For Memorial Day Weekend Services, Parades and Live Entertainment:

Abundance of Memorial Day activities planned in and around Ocean City

Kick off the season in Ocean City over Memorial Day Weekend — lots of people do, because for many, Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of the summer.

Life Saving Station Museum offers free admission to military personnel and their families this summer

Kristin
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0
Life Saving Station Museum offers free admission to military personnel and their families this summer

The Ocean City Life Saving Station Museum will be participating in the tenth summer of Blue Star Museums, a program which provides free admission to our nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families this summer. The 2019 program will begin earlier than in past years, launching on Saturday, May 18, 2019, Armed Forces Day, and ending on Monday, September 2, 2019, Labor Day. Blue Star Museums is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in collaboration with Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums nationwide.

“The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to celebrate the tenth summer of collaborating with Blue Star Families, Department of Defense, and especially the more than 2,000 museums across our nation that make this program possible, “ said Mary Anne Carter, acting chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts.

This year’s participating organizations include fine art, science, history, and children’s museums, as well as zoos, aquariums, gardens, and more. “We’ve seen the tremendous impact the Blue Star Museums program brings to our military families, and we’re thrilled to be celebrating a decade of support,” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, chief executive officer of Blue Star Families. “Not only are museums fun to explore but are also great for making memories and strengthening military families as a whole.”

The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military—Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard as well as members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and up to five family members. Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum. The Ocean City Life Saving Station Museum is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

New This Summer in Ocean City: Hotels, Restaurants, Things to Do

Kristin
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0
New This Summer in Ocean City: Hotels, Restaurants, Things to Do

Maintain your favorite Ocean City traditions — riding the Ferris wheel, Boardwalk fries, family bike rides — and make some new ones this summer, too! A new summer means a new story in Ocean City, with a fresh lineup of activities, accommodations and restaurants to keep your annual vacation from being anything but boring. 

New things to do

Thanks to the OC Bay Hopper and the Liquid Limo, getting around Ocean City by water has never been easier. Family fun abounds with new niche businesses like Selfie Fantasy — an Instagram-friendly selfie-taking experience featuring a variety of backdrops and props to make your selfie stand out — and the Woodward WreckTangle, an outdoor Ninja Warrior-style obstacle course for all ages and skill levels.

For rainy day fun, the Flagship Premium Cinemas in the White Marlin Mall will open its doors this month; sit back and relax as you watch the latest blockbuster from the comfort of their reclining seats. 

Additionally, Tanger Outlets is under new ownership and has been rebranded the Ocean City Outlets, where a Forever 21 and Michael Kors outlet will be opening soon. 

OC Bay Hopper

All aboard the Bay Hopper! The new water taxi offers a variety of options, including transportation around Ocean City, rental services and expeditions like crabbing on Assateague and watching seasonal fireworks from the water.

North Ocean City Water Taxi ‘OC Bay Hopper’ Hits the Water this May

The OC Bay Hopper is an Uber of the ocean, designed to shuttle passengers along Ocean City’s back bays from the northernmost reaches of Ocean City all the way down to the Inlet and Assateague Island.

Woodward WreckTangle

Are you up to the challenge? The Woodward WreckTangle is an obstacle course that’s fit for both children and adults, regardless of their current Ninja abilities. 

Woodward WreckTangle Obstacle Course Coming to Ocean City this April

Ocean City, Maryland, (February 26, 2019) The Town of Ocean City announced today a new partnership with POWDR Adventure Lifestyle Co. and Woodward, a playground for progressive athletic experiences. Beginning in late April and continuing through October, the Woodward WreckTangle — a proprietary ninja obstacle challenge course for kids and adults, named for its rectangular shape — will be available for use in Ocean City.

The Liquid Limo

Whether you’re hosting a bachelorette party this summer or just looking to have a peaceful day on the bay with your family, the Liquid Limo is another great option for cruising around Ocean City’s waterways.

Wherever you’re going, the Liquid Limo will get you there in style

Imagine riding along Ocean City’s back bays while the sun’s going down, a cold drink in your hand and all of your closest friends by your side. They’re snapping pictures, taking turns picking which song to play next, pulling snacks and sodas out of the cooler and passing them around.

Selfie Fantasy

Even if you’re not a regular selfie-taker, you probably know someone who is, whose Instagram fantasies can come to life at Selfie Fantasy. 60-90 minutes of picture taking costs $20 for adults, with discounted rates for children. 

Selfie Fantasy’s interactive, Instagram-worthy experience to open in May

The exterior walls of 14 Worcester Street won’t be deep sea-blue and decorated with spine-chilling underwater monsters for much longer.

New places to eat

One of the best parts of an annual summer vacation in Ocean City is that there will always be a variety of great new restaurants to try. Even the pickiest of eaters can find something new to please their palette every year, besides just caramel corn and ice cream cones. This season in Ocean City has seen the openings and upcoming-openings of eateries including Mexican cafe Casita Linda (located inside the Monte Carlo hotel), a fourth location for the Taphouse Tavern (replacing Kirby’s Red Onion Grill in North Ocean City), Irish beach bar The Lucky Anchor (replacing the Alibi Room downtown), Papi Joe’s Cafe (opening soon on Somerset St.) and a second Ocean City location for Shotti’s Point on Atlantic Ave.

Casita Linda

Casita Linda, located across from City Hall inside the Monte Carlo hotel, is a family-owned-and-operated cafe that serves breakfast, baked goods, lunch and coffee. 

Inside Casita Linda, Ocean City’s New Mexican Bakery and Café

Casita Linda, a bakery and cafe serving traditional Mexican baked goods, breakfast foods, coffee and espresso, opened to a steady stream of customers on Thursday, April 25. Located on N. Baltimore Avenue in the Monte Carlo Hotel, the new cafe is now open daily from 6 a.m.

The Lucky Anchor

Making its debut on St. Patrick’s Day weekend of 2019, The Lucky Anchor is a beachy bar and restaurant “with an Irish twist.”

The Lucky Anchor brings beach flair with an Irish twist to downtown Ocean City

Starting this March, a new downtown bar and grill is adding its unique, beach-friendly flair with an Irish twist to the lineup of bars and restaurants that are on, and just off of, the Ocean City Boardwalk. The Lucky Anchor is the latest addition in town, taking over the building that previously housed The Alibi Room from 2016-18 on the corner of Baltimore and Wicomico St.

Marisol’s Market and Cafe

Marisol’s Market will be hard to miss this summer. Now with Ocean City locations in Sunset Island, the Gateway Hotel and eventually the under-construction Cambria Hotel, along with a location on Chincoteague Island, Marisol’s grab-and-go food and drink selection won’t be hard to come by. 

Marisol’s Market & Cafe opens a second location in the Gateway Hotel

The Gateway Hotel and Suites on 1st Street and Baltimore Ave. is known for its prime location across from the beach, along with amenities like an outdoor pool and a free continental breakfast. Now, as of spring 2019, the Gateway is also known for hosting the second Ocean City location of an up-and-coming, family-run business.


New places to stay

Ocean City’s two newest hotels are both modern, artistically designed and perfect for every vacationer, from the family to the young couple to the business traveler. The Aloft Hotel is ‘different by design’: It boasts a bar with an area for live entertainment, indoor and outdoor pools, and plenty of space for guests to hang out, mingle and socialize. Meanwhile, the Hampton Inn & Suites in West Ocean City is an intimate and personal hotel that makes guests feel right at home, but still includes all the amenities of a large chain from spacious rooms and WiFi to free hot breakfast and a pool.
In addition to the Aloft and the Hampton Inn, top-rated hotels that are entering their second year of operation in Ocean City include the Hyatt Place on 16th Street and the Boardwalk and the bayside Residence Inn at the foot of the Route 90 bridge. 

Aloft Hotel

Take a look inside the Aloft, Ocean City’s newest, ‘different by design’ hotel

The gym isn’t called the gym — it’s Re:charge. The breakfast bar is Re:fuel. The indoor pool is called the Splash. And the lobby, the center of all the action at the Aloft hotel, home of both the check-in desk and the W XYZ Bar, is referred to only as Re:mix.


Hampton Inn & Suites

Peek inside West Ocean City’s new Hampton Inn & Suites

West Ocean City’s business boom continues with the brand new Hampton Inn & Suites, which will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 14. The Hampton Inn takes the place of the old Wheels of Yesterday Museum, sandwiched between a Dumser’s and Comfort Suites and with the White Marlin Mall a hop, skip and a jump across Ocean Gateway.

Our First Photo Friday of the Season! Cruisin’ OC, Assateague Ponies and More

Kristin
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Our First Photo Friday of the Season! Cruisin’ OC, Assateague Ponies and More

It’s our first Photo Friday of the season! Our randomly-selected winner Kimberly, who submitted the Assateague pony photo below, has won a pair of tickets to Jolly Roger Amusements.

You could win, too — just submit your vacation photos here! We’ll compile them into a photoblog like this one every other Friday and pick a winner. (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. 

Our next Photo Friday theme is Memorial Day Weekend. Submit your photos by May 30 and we’ll publish them to our site on May 31, and pick a winner to receive two Jolly Roger tickets, good for the entire 2019 season. 

Photo Fridays are our way of celebrating you and the good times you have in Ocean City, and getting to give away fun, OC-related prizes is a major bonus. We’re excited to finally kick off the season with our first Photo Friday of the year, and we can’t wait to see all the incredible memories you make here this summer! 

Cruisin OC sunset on the bay.
It was in this moment sitting on the beach at Ocean City that I realized all my dreams had come true. Holding my youngest son, watching my oldest and my husband play in the water in the early morning hours. It was this huge epiphany. I could stop looking forward all the time, dreaming bigger, wanting more, because I already had it ALL. Everything I had ever dreamed of. Then I snapped this picture to remember the moment forever. Ocean city is a yearly destination for our family full of traditions and memories.
One solitary wanderer keeping another solitary soul company through the sunrise.
Cousins Cruisin’ in OCMD
Nora’s second bday

Governor, Mayor to Recreate Ceremonial Summer Kickoff in Ocean City

Kristin
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Governor, Mayor to Recreate Ceremonial Summer Kickoff in Ocean City

With Memorial Day Weekend fast approaching, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and Mayor Rick Meehan have plans to bring back their now-annual ceremonial summer kickoff event.

The event first took place more than seven decades ago: in 1946, Maryland Gov. Harry O’Connor joined Ocean City Mayor Daniel Trimper Jr. to officially start the summer season in Ocean City by placing an umbrella in the sand. Now, almost 75 years later, Hogan and Meehan will reestablish the ceremonious event by placing the first umbrella of the season on Ocean City’s beach at Somerset Street on Friday, May 24 at 11 a.m.

During the event, Hogan and Meehan will provide brief remarks about the significance of the event and what this historic tradition means for Ocean City and the town’s visitors. Meehan will also speak about upcoming events and other highlights that vacationers can enjoy this year, starting this Memorial Day weekend.

Maryland Governor Harry O’Connor and Ocean City Mayor Daniel Trimper, Jr. ceremoniously kick off the summer in this colorized photo from 1946.

Public meeting on Ocean City Inlet projects scheduled for May 30

Kristin
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Public meeting on Ocean City Inlet projects scheduled for May 30

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in coordination with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Worcester County, will host a public meeting to discuss two concurrent efforts: a project to address sediment accumulation in the Ocean City Inlet, as well as a study on the scour hole near Homer Gudelsky Park.

The meeting will take place May 30 at the Worcester County Library – Berlin Branch from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

The Ocean City Inlet navigation channel is regularly used by commercial fishermen, recreational boaters, the U.S. Coast Guard and others. The Corps removes material from the inlet through dredging two or more times per year in an attempt to maintain the channel’s authorized depth of 10 feet; however, it continues to fill in with material, creating concerns for navigation.

The Corps signed a project partnership agreement Feb. 14, 2019, with Maryland DNR and Worcester County for the “Ocean City Harbor and Inlet” navigation improvement project, which is 90 percent federally funded. The Corps will evaluate sediment transport in the inlet and recommend options to manage the shoaling to include structural solutions like jetties or channel modifications like deepening the channel in the inlet.

As part of the “Scour Hole: Beneficial Use of Dredged Material” study, which is 100 percent federally funded, the Corps and crews from the Corps’ Engineer Research and Development Center began work in 2017 to gather field data to better understand the approximately 50-foot-deep scour hole just northwest of Homer Gudelsky Park. Work included collecting sediment samples, deploying instrument suites, and mapping the region to obtain information about the movement of sediment in and around the scour hole. The scour hole is causing shoreline instability, foundation issues and compromising the rip rap along the shoreline.

Both efforts are being conducted through the Corps’ Continuing Authorities Program, which allows the Corps to partner with state and local partners for smaller water resources issues without the need for Congressional authorization.

From 6:30 – 7 p.m., there will be an open house in which participants can view posters, provide feedback and speak with project personnel. From 7 – 8 p.m., there will be a formal presentation to provide an overview of the projects, as well as open the floor for questions. The meeting will wrap up at 8:30 p.m., allowing attendees to again view materials and speak with Corps and state employees about specific concerns following the presentation.

Fourth of July 2019 – Parking and Getting Around in Ocean City

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Fourth of July 2019 – Parking and Getting Around in Ocean City

The Fourth of July is one of the most popular holidays to celebrate in Ocean City, so it’s also one that requires ample planning ahead in regard to traffic, parking and finding the perfect spot to watch the fireworks.

Inlet parking rates on July 4

In previous years, the Town of Ocean City has charged a flat rate for Inlet parking on the Fourth of July. In 2019, a $5 per hour rate will take effect on the Fourth of July. Payment will be accepted as usual in the pay-by-plate kiosks located throughout the Inlet Lot. 

Parking downtown

Parking rates remain $2 per hour as usual on downtown streets, though available parking spaces will be limited. Private lots offer additional parking – rates vary. 

Getting around

Since parking downtown is extremely limited on the Fourth of July, we always recommend that visitors take the bus! Bus service is $3 to ride all day. The West Ocean City Park & Ride on Route 50 is just west of the Route 50 Bridge and offers free parking and $3 ride-all-day shuttle service to downtown. 

Additionally, boaters should note that on the evening of July 4, the span of the Route 50 Bridge is typically closed to marine traffic at the usually scheduled 10:25 p.m. and 10:55 p.m. opening times. The Route 50 Bridge reopens for boaters at 11:25 p.m. on the evening of July 4.

Fourth of July 2019 events

Every year, Ocean City provides the best Fourth of July celebration on the Eastern Shore, with two fireworks shows scheduled on either side of town.

Downtown fireworks start at 9:30, preceded by a concert on the beach at 8 p.m. Bring your beach blanket and chair and watch the show from your spot in the sand. Similarly, live music in Northside Park starts at 8 p.m. and fireworks start at 9:30. 

Marisol’s Market & Cafe opens a second location in the Gateway Hotel

Kristin
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Marisol’s Market & Cafe opens a second location in the Gateway Hotel
Sign for Marisol’s outside the Gateway Hotel.

The Gateway Hotel and Suites on 1st Street and Baltimore Ave. is known for its prime location across from the beach, along with amenities like an outdoor pool and a free continental breakfast. Now, as of spring 2019, the Gateway is also known for hosting the second Ocean City location of an up-and-coming, family-run business.

Marisol’s Market & Cafe is a grab-and-go snack shop and general store that’s taking the Eastern Shore by storm this summer. While its second location just opened inside the Gateway, it was only last year that Kathleen Kropp opened the original Marisol’s on Sunset Island, the 37-acre bayside community off 67th Street.

“I personally live in Sunset Island all year round — there was a Dunkin Donuts that opened up on the outside of Sunset Island and I said, the only thing that could compete with a Dunkin Donuts would be a Starbucks, right?” Kropp said. “So I got in touch with Starbucks and they enabled me to do this.”

The Marisol’s in the Gateway Hotel will have the same hours as the hotel and serve Starbucks coffee, Boar’s Head deli sandwiches, ice cream, acai bowls, beer, wine and sundries that visitors might forget when packing for vacation. The cafe is accessible from the hotel’s patio and its lobby inside. 

In addition to its Sunset Island and Gateway Hotel locations, there’s also a brand new Marisol’s in the Marina Bay Hotel on Chincoteague Island and one coming soon to the Cambria Hotel, currently under construction and slated to open in Ocean City in 2020.

Peeking into Marisol’s from the Gateway Hotel lobby.

“Marisol” in Spanish, translated literally, means “sea and sun.” The business was christened Marisol’s by Kropp’s daughter, Kimberly Freund, who helps Kropp run the family business with her daughter, Hannah Freund.

“I think Marisol’s is a great concept that works for any community or hotel because people always forget something that they might need,” Kropp said. “If you’re in a hurry, we have the grab-and-go, and it’s just so nice.”

In addition to Marisol’s Market & Cafe, Kropp and her daughter Kimberly own Sanibel’s Oceanside 32, a restaurant serving contemporary American cuisine, which also opened its doors this spring. Sanibel’s Oceanside 32 is located in the La Quinta Hotel on 32nd Street, and a second location will open in Sunset Island on May 24.

[promos][promo name=”Gateway Hotel & Suites” business=”11 Baltimore Avenue, Ocean City, MD” img=”https://www.oceancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/1606_gateway10.jpg” link=”https://www.oceancity.com/hotels-and-motels/gateway-hotel-and-suites-ocean-city/” cta_text=”Book Now” small_img=”true” top_border=”1″]The Gateway Hotel & Suites (formerly the Sleep Inn & Suites) is located in the heart of Downtown Ocean City, just a block from the beautiful beach and famous Boardwalk. Each room has TV, refrigerator, coffee maker, hair dryer, and iron and ironing board.[/promo][/promos]

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