EXIT ZERO June 2013 ÂŤ $4.95
From biking to kayaking, parasailing to theater... see pages 97-146 for the ultimate guide to enjoying Cool Cape May!
Dining with the ultimate view.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
R eserve
our
C hef ’ s T able …
An intimate, private room for up to 14 people featuring the chef’s special tasting menu! Call for details.
at the
OCEAN CLUB HOTEL 1035 Beach Avenue, Cape May NJ 08204 capemayoceanclubhotel.com
609.884.7000
the big events guide 7
inside this issue
The events and happenings you need to know about
the a to z of cape may cocktails 18 Part one of a three-part series. Meet the bartenders, and the drinks!
the ultimate food and drink chart 29 Everything you need to know about indulging in Cape May.
the life and loves of hotdog tommy 38 A Cape May icon speaks from the heart.
falling in love in cool cape may 46 Laurence and Lola Glass on 60 years of romance.
the art of sean taylor 64 Sneak preview of an intriguing new show at SOMA NewArt Gallery.
the ultimate cape may bargain 68 How to spend $25 and save $460 while having a blast!
the factory that killed the trees 76 The story of the late-but-not-lamented magnesite plant.
meet the new coast guard recruits 86 They’ve come from all over America to train in Cape May.
in the company of friends 97 The good vibes behind Cape May Stage’s farcical new show.
get lost in the natchez trace 104 How East Lynne Theater landed a compelling play.
where to run in cape may 110 Five essential routes from the folks behind a new running club.
the ultimate cape may to-do guide 121 All the recreational activities you need to know about.
the definitive cape may trolley guide 132 From ghosts to oceanfront mansions... it’s all here!
welcome to cape may wine country 142 Sample what The New York Times called a great wine-growing area.
cape count 152 A page of quirky statistics about your favorite island...
cover painting by marie natale
about us editor/publisher/designer Jack Wright jack@exitzero.us advertising manager Jason Black jason@exitzero.us staff writer Diane Stopyra diane@exitzero.us staff artist Mike DeMusz mike@exitzero.us creative consultant Victor Grasso historical editor Ben Miller
Serving fine food since 1988
photographers Aleksey Moryakov, Sandy Maloney, Gabi Urda graphic artist Doree Bardes contributing writers Kate Chadwick, Mark Chamberlain, Catherine Dugan, Jack Fichter, David Gray, Terry O’Brien, Tom Sims distribution Ashley Larson labeler Mary Smith exit zero store & gallery manager Michele Mulligan exit zero store & gallery team Diane Carson, Martha Kesler, Sharon Holden, Beth Olivero exit zero color magazine is published six times a year. Annual subscription is $25. Or $50 for these AND our 47 black-and-white issues. It’s a great deal! To subscribe call (609) 770-8479 or visit ezstore.us
Open Daily for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (609) 884-9119 322 Washington Street Mall, Cape May www.tishasfinedining.com Pet Friendly Back Patio!
Published by Exit Zero Publishing, Inc. 109 Sunset Boulevard, Suite D, Cape May, NJ 08204 Telephone: (609) 770-8479 Fax: (609) 770-8481 E-mail: info@exitzero.us Website: exitzero.us Online store: ezstore.us president Jack Wright vice-president Jason Black
If you really want to experience Cape May, show your mug at ours.
A local institution for more than half a century. Classic traditional bar meets full-service family-friendly restaurant. Live entertainment nightly! 426 WASHINGTON STREET MALL, cape may • (609) 884-3459
Down-home cooking... with a terrific view!
Beach Avenue & Grant Street, Cape May • 884-3772
editor’s letter
Three members of Cape Island Runners, a virtual and real-life running community in Cape May, jog on Higbee’s Beach. Photograph by Frank Weiss
Y
ou can spend a lot of time in a place and feel like you’re getting to know it... without really getting to know it. Or, at least, without getting to know ALL of it. And this is okay. One of the things I love about Cape May (and there are many) is that even though it’s a tiny island and I’ve lived here for 11 years (I know, I know, I’m still regarded as an outsider), I’m still discovering things I never knew, and people I haven’t met. Take the US Coast Guard base for example. It’s the only training center of its type in the country, an establishment that puts around 3,000 young men and women through boot camp every year. I’ve never been past the gates down there on the eastern part of this island, which is a terrible thing to admit. I want to know more about this place, about the people there, what makes them tick, and what they think about this place where they landed — a quiet, beautiful little seaside resort. So we asked photographer Frank Weiss and our writer Diane Stopyra to go beyond the gates (with the Coast Guard’s permission, naturally) and meet the recruits who are going through their basic training — the four men and two women we interviewed were in week seven of their gruelling eight-week regiment. I loved hearing their stories, and I think you will, too. There’s another institution I had heard of but knew little about — the magnesite plant, which occupied a large tract of land in Cape May Point, just off Sunset Boulevard, which now seems like an unlikely place for an industrial machine that spewed out particles exit zero
that destroyed trees and damaged cars in its vicinity. We asked Jack Fichter, a highly respected veteran journalist who recently left the Cape May County Herald and will write regularly for our color and black-and-white issues (welcome aboard, Jack!) to tell the story behind the magnesite plant by talking to some of the people who worked there or, in the case of Marvin Hume (aka Mr Sunset Beach), who worked in the shadow of this behemoth. And even if you think you know the guy who wears the funny hot dog hat at his little hole-in-the-wall on Jackson Street you will discover there’s a lot more to Tom Snyder (aka HotDog Tommy), than a weiner obsession and an affinity for really bad jokes. I love Diane Stopyra’s interview with him, and Frank Weiss’s stunning photographs. Elsewhere in the issue you will find a story that will surely inspire the more athletic types to get out and run around this island — it’s great for your body and the wonderful scenery will work magic for your soul. And for those who like to sit on bar stools and ruminate about the nature of the world or just gossip with friends, don’t miss part one of our definitive guide to Cape May cocktails. We’re chatting with bartenders from every bar on the island (and a few notable ones offshore) to discover their likes and dislikes, and how they make the favorite house cocktail. Finally, don’t miss the most comprehensive what’s on and activity guides — when it comes to Cool Cape May, we’ve got your back. Now get out there and enjoy it. JACK WRIGHT Editor/Publisher
5 June 2013
From the owners of the Southern Mansion
Visit our 200 Year Old Farm Land for Daily Wine & Sangria tastings, tours, & private wine paired events.
Willow Creek is proud to feature premium estate grown wines from New Jersey’s outer coastal plain. Wine & Sangria Tastings Daily... Reservations Strongly Recommended Vineyard Farm Tours on Our Electric Farm Cart Private Wine Paired Events 160-168 Stevens Street, Cape May 609.770.8782 • 609.884.7171 willowcreekwinerycapemay.com
The big June events guide
June 1 WEST CAPE MAY STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL It’s held every year on the first Saturday of June in Wilbraham Park, and it features all things strawberry plus unique vendors. 9am to 5pm. Call 609884-9325. June 1 and 8 EXPLORE THE SHORE From 11am to 12:30pm, explore the secrets of Cape May’s harbor by discovering the marsh with an expert naturalist from the Nature Center of Cape May. Call 609-898-8848.
There are several good reason why New Jersey is called the Garden State — the fabulous tomatoes and strawberries are two of those reasons. Celebrate the latter at the annual West Cape May Strawberry Festival in Wilbraham Park. This year’s event is on Saturday, June 1. Photograph by Aleksey Moryakov
June 4-27 FAMILY FISHING TRIPS It’s fun for the whole gang, every Tuesday and Thursday, on the Cape May Lady. Call 609-780-7900. June 5 Dr Physick’s 158th birthday party Celebrate the birthday of Dr Emlen Physick, Cape May’s illustrious Victorian citizen, on the grounds of the 1879 Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street. And watch a croquet match... wear your summer whites and root for your favorite players. Starts at 10am. Call 609-884-5404.
June 5 Bach’s Lunch Enjoy a mini-concert by members of the BayAtlantic Symphony and an elegant Tea Luncheon at the Carriage House Café and Tearoom located on the grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street. 12:30pm; $30 per person. Call 609-884-5404.
June 6-9 33RD SOUTH JERSEY SHARK TOURNAMENT It’s the richest shark tournament in New Jersey. Contact South Jersey Marina at 609-884-2400 for more information. And you don’t HAVE to enter — you can hang around the marina for that fun sharky vibe.
June 2-9 RESTAURANT WEEK Known for its variety of fine dining experiences, from casual sit-down to formal dining, Cape May will showcase its best restaurants. Visit cmrestaurantweek.com.
June 8 SISTER CAPE BIKE TOUR Get familiar with our sister cape, Cape Henlopen State Park. Expect to cover about 20 miles while exploring natural and cultural gems. Starts at 8:30am. Call 609-898-8848. exit zero
7 June 2013
“BEST AMERICAN” and “TOP 25 RESTAURANTS IN THE STATE” New Jersey Monthly
Dinner from 5:15pm (closed Tuesday) oceanfront porch dining available 3 course prix-fixe $24 from 5:15-6:15pm
weddings • rehearsals • private parties
Beach Avenue & Howard Street at the
H o t e l M a c o mb e r
609 884 8811 unionparkdiningroom.com
exit zero
8 June 2013
June 8-9 boardwalk craft show This is the 21st craft show of its kind, but only the second to take place at Cape May’s Convention Hall. It’s the perfect time for a treasure hunt. For details, visit capemayrecreation.org. June 12 bach’s lunch Enjoy a mini-concert by members of the Bay-Atlantic Symphony and an elegant Tea Luncheon at the Carriage House Café and Tearoom located on the grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street. 12:30pm; $30 per person. Call 609884-5404. June 14-16 HARBOR FEST Check out the Blessings of the Waters ceremony on the 14th, and then enjoy an oldfashioned street festival at Cape May harbor. The event features a myriad of water activities and demonstrations, the wildly popular scallop cook-off, a beer garden and vendors. It culminates with a Coast Guard SAR demonstration. The water taxi includes stops at South Jersey Marina and
Harborfest, a celebration of all things watery, will be held at the harbor (no, really) June 14-16.
exit zero
9 June 2013
Canyon Club Resort Marina. Call 609884-2400. June 16 SCAVENGER HUNT BIKE: FATHER’S DAY It’s not a race; it’s an adventure! Call the Nature Center of Cape May for details of this fun family event on 609-898-8848. June 17 - September 9 CAPE MAY HARBOR AND SALT MARSH SUNSET CRUISE Explore undiscovered Cape May as you sail into the scenic and historic harbor. You’ll see quaint boathouses, the commerial fishing fleet, and Sewell Point. Call 609898-3500.
onstration. Call 609-889-8848.
609-884-5404.
June 20 SISTER CAPE BIKE TOUR Get familiar with the “other side:” our sister cape, Cape Henlopen State Park. Expect to cover about 20 miles while exploring natural and cultural gems. Meet at the Cape May Lewes Ferry at 8:30am. Call 609-898-8848.
June 22 delaware bay lighthouse adventure Come aboard the Cape May Whale Watcher or the Spirit of Cape May to view and photograph historic lighthouses of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 10am to 5pm. Tickets are $99. Call 609-884-5404.
June 21 - September 6 FAMILY BIRDING CRUISE Take an up-close look at osprey, egrets and bald eagles along with other birds on the coastal salt marsh. Call 609-898-3500.
June 24 - August 16 DISCOVERY KIDS This program, for children in pre-k through sixth grades, allows kids to explore our environment through experiements, games, arts and crafts and hands-on science activities at the Nature Center of Cape May. Call 609-898-8848.
June 18-27 HARBOR SAFARI Tuesdays and Thursdays, pull a 20-foot seine net through the shallows of Cape May’s harbor. Call 609-898-8848.
June 21-23 FULL MOON KAYAK TOUR This is a tidal marsh tour, with the extra attraction of seeing a sunset over the water and the ascent of a full moon while an exceptionally high tide rises. Call 609898-8848.
June 18 CRABBING 101 Come aboard the 40-foot Skimmer for a hands-on crabbing experience and dem-
June 21 - October 31 cape may’s 2013 designer show house Tours are offered daily; hours vary. Call
June 25 CRABBING 101 Come aboard the 40-foot Skimmer for a hands-on crabbing experience and demonstration. Call 609-889-8848. June 26 COVE TO HIGBEE BEACH KAYAK TOUR It’s a thrilling sunset tour designed by
“100 Most Romantic Restaurant” in America — 2013 o p e n t a b l e Open Seven Days Live
piano ,
and
Thursday
J une 21 S even
Saturday
nights now
through
to J uly
Sunday
6
nights J uly
7
through labor day
1 3 0 1 B e a c h Av e n u e C a p e M ay
exit zero
609.884.9090
10 June 2013
petershieldsinn.com
An exquisite gourmet experience... so much more than olive oils to indulge in. Plus, three words... bacon olive oil. Need we say more?
• OLIVE OILS • BALSAMIC VINEGARS
• FRESH BREADS • GOURMET SALTS • RUBS/SPICES
• GIFT BOXES • PASTA • JAMS/SPREADS
• SUGARS • MUSTARDS • DIPS
324 CARPENTERS LANE • CAPEMAYOLIVEOILCOMPANY.COM
609.898.4441 exit zero
11 June 2013
the Nature Center of Cape May for more adventurous paddlers. For details, call 609-898-8848. June 26 - August 28 CYCLING THE SOUTHERN CAPE Wedensdays from 9:30am to noon, join Nature Center naturalists for a leisurly 12-mile tour of the most beautiful natural areas of Cape Island. Call 609-898-8848. June 29 Victorian family fair A traditional Victorian fair with activities for the whole family on the grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street, 10am to 4pm. Call 609-884-5404. June 29 teddy bear tea party BYOB — Bring your own bear (or dolly). Teddy Bear Tea Parties at the Emlen Physick Estate feature kid-friendly menus and teddy bear music. Miss Jeanne and a special guest from The Cape May Teddy Bear Co. will be presenting stories and activities. 11am and 1pm. $18 for adults; $10 for children (ages 3-12). 1048 Washington Street. Call 609-884-5404.
and
July 1 A NIGHT BACK IN TIME WITH BILL HALEY JR AND THE COMETS Enjoy the great acoustics of Cape May’s Convention Hall at this concert, featuring special guest The Jerry Spathis Rockabilly Band. Show starts at 7:30pm. Call the Cape May Convention Hall Box Office at 609-884-9563. July 2 CRABBING 101 Come aboard the 40-foot Skimmer for a hands-on crabbing experience and demonstration. Call 609-889-8848. July 2-30 HARBOR SAFARI Tuesdays and Thursdays, pull a 20-foot seine net through the shallows of Cape May harbor. Your kids will love it — and so will you. Call 609-898-8848. July 2-30 FAMILY FISHING TRIPS Every Tuesday and Thursday, it’s fun for the whole gang aboard the Cape May Lady, which leaves from South Jersey Marina. Call 609-780-7900 for more information.
July 3 family fun day at the lighthouse The 1859 Cape May Lighthouse located in Cape May Point State Park, Lower Township, becomes a beacon of fun. Enjoy kid-friendly activities, performers, entertainment and unique craft vendors at the base of the lighthouse. From 9am to 2pm. Call 609-884-5404. July 3 - August 28 BEACHCOMING THE COVE On Wednesdays from 8:30am to 9:30am, explore the area’s ever-changing coastal habitats — the beach, ocean, and dunes — of Cape May’s Cove beach. Call 609898-8848. July 4 FIREWORKS EXTRAVAGANZA Summertime is the time for simple American pleasures — like running through sprinklers, chasing ice cream trucks and, of course, enjoying fireworks. From Congress Hall’s lawn or the surrounding beaches and streets, you’ll see a five-star show while savoring salty ocean breezes. Kicks off at 9pm.
CLIPPER SHIP PUB
Dinner from 5-9pm Early Dinner Specials 5-6pm Lite Fare Pub Menu 5-10pm 1/2 Price Raw Bar Items 5-6pm in the Pub Reservations: 609-884-5878 991 Ocean Drive, Cape May www.blueclawrestaurant.com
Try a Taste of Asia at the Blue Claw! exit zero
12 June 2013
“At the Beach” 715 Beach Avenue, Cape May (609) 884-1233 zoescapemay.com OPEN EVERY DAY
B E AC H F R O N T E AT E RY Get Hooked on Zoe’s Seafood
ICE CREAM COFFEE DESSERT
Breakfast - Homemade Muffins, Pancakes & Omelettes Lunch - Our Own Roasted Turkey & Roast Beef, Cape May’s Largest Cheese Steaks & Hoagies. Vegetarians, Enjoy Our Homemade Veggie Burgers!
Entire Menu Available for Take-Out Patio Dining/Pet Friendly... BYOD/BYOB exit zero
13 June 2013
July 8-12 KAYAK AND PADDLEBOARD CAMP Aqua Trails Kayaking and Paddleboard Camp is fun for adventurers between the ages of 12 and 16. They’ll learn safety, basic paddling skills, and self and aided rescues. Call 884-5600.
July 5 princesses and pirates luncheon Young buccaneers and little maidens are invited to the Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street, for a pirate/princessthemed luncheon. Lunch includes princess dress-up, mani-pedis and etiquette tips for the girls, and pirate gear, lessons in pirate walking and balloon swords for the boys. $23 for adults, $15 for children (ages 3-12). 11:30am. Call 609-884-5404. July 6 34TH INDEPENDENCE PARADE Who says the Fourth of July celebration has to end on the 4th? We’re still just as happy about our independence on the 6th, so why not have a parade? The fun starts at 1pm in front of Convention Hall. July 7 teddy bear tea party BYOB — Bring your own bear (or dolly). Teddy Bear Tea Parties at the Emlen Physick Estate feature kid-friendly menus and teddy bear music. 11am and 1pm. 1048 Washington Street. Call 609-884-5404. July 8
Check out our new tasting bar!
July 9 CRABBING 101 Come aboard the 40-foot Skimmer for a hands-on crabbing experience and demonstration. Call 609-889-8848.
John Ford Coley plays at Cape May Convention Hall on July 8.
JOHN FORD COLEY: STOCKTON GOES TO THE BEACH CONCERT This show by the Grammy-nominated musician (who shot to fame as one half of England Dan and John Ford Coley) starts 8pm at Convention Hall. Call the box office on 609-884-9563.
July 10 COVE TO HIGBEE BEACH KAYAK TOUR It’s a thrilling sunset tour designed by the Nature Center of Cape May for more adventurous paddlers. Call 609-8988848. July 10 DIPPIN’ FOR FISHES: A HARBOR WADING TOUR Join an expert naturalist to explore and learn about the marine species that make the harbor and salt marsh special. Cost for member is: $8, adults; $5 children. Call 609-898-8848.
Over 40 Varieties of Local, American and International Honey! Gifts from the hive and Much More!
135 S unset B lvd ., W est C ape M ay ( behind the E xit Z ero S tore ) 609.425.6434 • F ind us on F acebook ! exit zero
14 June 2013
Aleathea’s Restaurant
AT 7 OCEAN
Superb food, elegant bar, antique store, dining room with ocean views... it’s all here! Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Served Daily Enjoy a Cocktail on our Ocean Front Porch!
HAPPY HOUR
Sunday thru Friday 3-6pm Food Specials 4 to 5pm 7 Ocean Street at the Inn of Cape May 609.884.5555 | www.innofcapemay.com exit zero
15
may
2013
a cape may moment
Claire Lowe and Jonathan Sylvester were married at the Ocean Club Hotel on Friday, May 17. Photograph by Aleksey Moryakov
A Little Slice of the Caribbean
ISLAND GRILL’S FRESH FISH PREPARED GRILLED, SAUTÉED, OR BLACKENED WITH YOUR CHOICE OF SAUCE. LEMON NAGE, TROPICAL FRUIT SALSA, OR MANGO BEURRE BLANC... AND TRY
A Local Café with ... a Wholesome Aroma
OUR CHEF’S JERK SEASONING
OPEN DAILY YEAR ROUND! Breakfast 7:30 - 2:30 Lunch 11:30 - 2:30 Dinner from 4:30
ISLAND GRILL does catering! PROVIDING FULL SERVICES FOR ALL OCCASIONS PROFESSIONAL SERVICE • CREATIVITY INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS • DETAIL ORIENTED
$13.95 Early Bird Dinner Menu 4:30-5:30
Vegetarian & Gluten Free Friendly!
CAROL HERFORTH - 609.408.0612
311 MANSION STREET, CAPE MAY RESERVATIONS 609.884.0200 * CASH ONLY
4 0 6 N . B r o a d w a y, W e s t C a p e M a y 609.884.6332 • bellavidacafe.com
exit zero
16 June 2013
and another cape may moment
Lauren Frank and Patrick Drain were married at the Southern Mansion on Saturday, May 18. Photograph by Aleksey Moryakov
Green Street Market
Natural Health & Gourmet 0rganic produce Grass fed organic meats Organic poultry Gluten Free Vegan Vitamins and Herbal Supplements
iet ean D rran tes e t i d ola Me Choc Dark
e mad Hand amels ar C t l Sa Roas t Dark Almond Choc olate
Pean ut a Choc nd Caram olate e Bars l Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Edamame Crunch
y berr Rasp che Red ana G e Win Raw
Coco
nut C hoco
late
olate Choc Dark unky c i n Orga mond Ch Al
l retze key P te Smo a l o Choc Fair T Choc rade olate s r Taylo Dick ocolate h tC Craf
Pistachio Chipotle Chocolate
open 7 days 3167 RT. 9 South Rio Grande NJ 08242 (next to Avalon Coffee) 609-463-0606 www.greenstreetmarket.com email: info@greenstreetmarket.com
exit zero
609-884-5519
108 Jackson Street, Cape May 17 June 2013
The Aof to Z Cape May cocktails
exit zero
18 June 2013
exit zero
19 June 2013
Cape May cocktails: The a to z guide... Pt 1 } aleathea’s A N AWAR D- WINNING MICRO BRE WERY
Visit Our All-New Tap Room!
TAP RO O M HO U R S
Wednes day & Thur sday 4-8pm Fr iday, Saturday & Sun day 12-8pm P I N T S • TAST ING S • G IFT CERTIFICAT ES ME RCHAND IS E
Live M u s i c on Sat u rday s ! H OST YOUR NEXT PART Y AT THE BRE WERY !
1 2 8 8 HO R N E T ROA D RIO GRANDE NJ C AP E MAY B R E W E RY. C O M 6 0 9 . 8 49. 9 933 ( at t h e c a p e m ay c o u n t y a i r p o r t )
exit zero
The bartender: Connie O’Connor, Del Haven, NJ. The signature cocktail: Aleathea’s Tidal Wave. The ingredients: Stoli vanilla, Malibu rum, Blue Curacao, pineapple. How long have you’ve worked here: Seventeen years and counting (hopefully). Your own drink of choice: Wine. Worst thing a customer can do at the bar: Take pictures of me. Best pickup line you’ve heard: Come here often? And the worst pickup line: Come here often? Best thing about Cape May: The choice of restaurants and bars. One thing you would change about Cape May: Parking. Toughest cocktail to make: Anything frozen. Ever served a celebrity: No. Biggest tip you’ve ever received: $650. Favorite beach in Cape May: Trenton. Dream job? Bartending at Aleathea’s!
20 June 2013
KICK BACK and RELAX... with good food and fun drinks
Open Daily • Lunch • Dinner • Late Night Daily Happy Hour 4-7pm • Live Music
Chestnut & Olde NJ Aves • North Wildwood 609.435.5691 • www.northendamericangrill.com
Seafood • Steak • Ribs • Gourmet Burgers • Great Apps exit zero
21 June 2013
Cape May cocktails: The a to z guide... Pt 1 } axelsson’s blue claw
Modern American cuisine with a cool and casual vibe...
1 Sunset Boulevard, Cape May (609) 898-0100 • www.blackduckonsunset.com
A family place A first-date place A dinner-and-a-movie place A perfect place for any occasion.
godmother’s
broadway & west perry street cape may (609) 884-4543 .godmothersrestaurant.com
exit zero
The bartender: Shannon Luthe. The signature cocktail: Sunshine Boy. The ingredients: Beefeater gin, chilled, straight up, in and out dry vermouth, garnished with olive stuffed with blue cheese. How long you’ve worked here: Twenty-eight years. Your own drink of choice: Stoli orange and club. Worst thing a customer can do at a bar: When a large party puts an order in one at a time. Best pickup line you’ve heard: Can I buy you a car? And the worst: Is your dad a thief? Because he he stole the stars from the sky and put them in your eyes. Best thing about Cape May: The beach, strolling through the streets, and popping in for dinner at a great restaurant. One thing you’d change about Cape May: Parking. Ever served a celebrity? Bernie Perant, the Flyers goalie. And Elkie Summers. Best tip you’ve ever received: $150.
22 June 2013
st a
ww
rtin g
4 decade 2... just right
U
w. h o t s y m dogtom
m o .c
jackson at beach avenue, cape may
(609) 884-8388 exit zero
23 June 2013
Open Daily • Dinner from 5pm Late Night, Desserts & Cocktails 3 Course Menu • $30 Anytime • New Extended Bar & Menu • 9510 Pacific Avenue • Wildwood Crest, NJ reservations recomended 609.522.5425 www.marienicoles.com exit zero
24 June 2013
Cape May cocktails: The a to z guide... Pt 1 } the brown room “Exquisite cuisine served in a charming 19th century setting makes LaVerandah one of Cape May’s finest restaurants. Elegant dining is offered on the outdoor verandah or in a high-ceiling room cooled by sea breezes flowing through French doors opening to the porch... remarkable cuisine... and sophistication...”
— Philadelphia Inquirer, John V.R. Bull “Golden Fork Award” and “Best of the Shore” for 2010 & 2011 by South Jersey Magazine!
(609) 884-5868 107-113 Grant Street, Cape May NJ 08204 www.hotelalcott.com
Available for weddings & banquets
Seaside Cheese Co. Over 100 Imported Cheeses & Meats... Gourmet Olives & Dipping Oils... C a v i a r, E s c a r g o t & G o u r m e t I t e m s . . . P r i v a t e Ta s t i n g s A v a i l a b l e ! The bartender: Stephen Augustine. The signature cocktail: A strawberry and mint Caipiranha. The ingredients: Muddled strawberries and mint, cachaca, lime, club soda. How long you’ve worked here: Nine years. Your own drink of choice: I’m finally outgrowing Captain and Coke and moving towards Scotch. Worst pickup line you’ve heard: My wife is upstairs in the room. Favorite thing about Cape May: Its diversity and small-town personality. Ever served a celebrity? Calista Flockhart. Biggest tip: $100 and concert tickets. Favorite beach in Cape May: Just to the right of Congress Hall. One thing you’d change about Cape May: Move it closer to the equator so we can have 12 months of summer. Dream job: Herding pigs at Beach Plum Farm. exit zero
600 PARK BOULEVARD WEST CAPE MAY • 884-8700
25 June 2013
Great food, great drinks and great music...
Cape May cocktails: The a to z guide... Pt 1 } cabanas
...are always guaranteed.
106 Decatur Street @ Columbia Avenue Cape May (609) 884-8363 www.merioninn.com
exit zero
The bartender: Matt Reeves, West Cape May. The signature cocktail: The Cabanas 429. The ingredients: Citrus vodka, pomegranate schnapps, splash of cranberry, and sour. How long you’ve worked here: Three years. Your own drink of choice: Either an IPA that’s hoppy as hell or Johnny Walker Black, neat with a splash of water. Worst thing a customer can do at the bar: Be indecisive. Best pickup line you’ve heard: You’re cute; we should touch each other (and it worked!). And the worst pickup line: Hey girl, let’s get some BBQ and get busy. Best thing about Cape May: Everything is within biking distance. Most annoying drink to make? Anything that has to be muddled. One thing you would change about it? There are too many rules! Ever served a celebrity: John Cooke! Best tip you’ve ever received: Upwards of 80%. Dream job: I don’t have just one, but I’m very happy at the moment.
26 June 2013
exit zero
27 June 2013
cold beer in frosted mugs, great Tavern food and great value! eight flat-screen HDTVs kids welcome!
Monday - Rib Night Tuesday - Tavern Pizza Night Wednesday - Wing Night Thursday - $2 Slider Night
C-View Inn
Voted “Best Casual Eats” Best of the Shore 2012 South Jersey Magazine
Texas Avenue & Washington Street Cape May • (609) 884-4712 exit zero
28 June 2013
The Ultimate Cape May Food & Drink Chart What you need to know about the food and the vibe
Meals served
Price range of entrées
Bar or BYOB?
Should I book?
Food for kids?
Other details
FULL BAR
YES
YES
ub HU
Aleathea’s 7 Ocean Street, Cape May (609) 884-5555, Ext. 226 www.innofcapemay.com
Offers superb food in a graceful setting at the glorious old Inn of Cape May. Plus, there’s a cozy-but-elegant bar with access to the oceanfront patio. Check out the antique-filled lobby first.
B, L, D
$15-$45 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
Avalon coffee 7 Gurney St, Cape May, 898-8088 & 3823 Bayshore Road, North Cape May (609) 846-0040
Superior coffee that’s always fresh, and healthy food that’s perfect for breakfast and lunch. First-class wraps, sandwiches and bagels, along with a good range of smoothies and cold drinks.
B, L
$3-$8 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
N/A
NO
YES
b H
Axelsson’s Blue Claw 991 Ocean Drive, Cape May (609) 884-5878 www.blueclawrestaurant.com
Enjoy fine dining near the harbor — just go over the quaint old drawbridge. There is an elegant dining room, a cozy fireplace, and the classic Clipper Ship Pub.
D
$24-$30 Cards: V, MC, D
FULL BAR
YES
YES
u b H
backstreet 600 Park Blvd, West Cape May (609) 884-7660 www.backstreetcapemaynj.com
Downhome cooking, a laidback vibe and superior desserts in this gem of a place, a few minutes from Cape May. They have plenty of free parking and delicious nightly specials.
B, D
$13-$29 Cards: V, MC, AE
BYOB
YES
YES
u b H
BELLA VIDA CAFÉ 406 N. Broadway, West Cape May (609) 884-6322 www.bellavidacafe.com
“The local café with a wholesome aroma” is what they call it... and that’s how we describe it. You can tell that everything is home cooked here. Always fresh, always delicious.
B, L, D
$5-$25 Cards: V, MC, D
BYOB
NO
YES
u H
ben and jerry’s 414 Washington St. Mall, Cape May (609) 884-3040 www.benjerry.com
There’s ice cream, and then there’s Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Centrally-located on the mall, it’s a great spot to take a break from shopping and people-watch for a spell.
Ice Cream
$3-$7 Cards: V, MC, D
N/A
NO
YES
u b H
The Black Duck 1 Sunset Boulevard, West Cape May (609) 898-0100 www.blackduckonsunset.com
A chic interior and stylish Modern American cuisine from acclaimed chef (and owner) Chris Hubert, but the ambience is anything but pretentious. There’s a nice laidback vibe.
D
$15-$28 Cards: V, MC
BYOB
YES
NO
u b H
The Blue Pig Tavern 251 Beach Avenue, Cape May (609) 884-8422 www.congresshall.com
Congress Hall’s restaurant is better than ever... and so many of its menu items are coming from the local Beach Plum Farm. The Pig serves classic tavern food with quite a a twist or two along the way.
B, L, D
$12-$36 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
FULL BAR
YES
YES
u b H
cape may bakers 482 W. Perry Street, Cape May (609) 884-7454 www.capemaybakers.com
At the same location since 1979, Cape May Bakers serves fresh coffee, fine pastries, gourmet desserts and cakes for all occasions. Plus great daily specials, too!
B, L
$2-$12
N/A
NO
YES
b H
Cape May brewing co. 1288 Hornet Road, Rio Grande (609) 849-9933 www.capemaybrewery.com
It’s the first microbrewery at ther Jersey shore, and it’s creating quite the buzz... they won Best IPA at the 2012 Atlantic City Beer Fest. Check out the new tasting room.
Brewery
$5-$11 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
Bar
NO
NO
u b H
Cape May Honey Farm 135 Sunset Boulevard West Cape May (609) 425-6434
Cape May Honey Farm offers local raw honey, imported honey, and home and beauty products that have been homemade using beeswax.
Honey
$7-$35 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
N/A
N/A
YES
u b H
SYMBOLS KEY
u Onsite parking
Handicap accessible exit zero
H
29 June 2013
Takeout available
U Dog-friendly patio
Cape May cocktails: The a to z guide... Pt 1
LITTLE ITALY II RISTORANTE
Home-cooked food that will satisfy you, your family, AND your wallet.
} carney’s
PIZZA • VONGOLE ALLA CASINO • PENNE ALLA GIOVANNI SHRIMP FRA DIAVOLO • FLOUNDER MEDITERRANEAN VEAL ALLA VINCENZO • CHICKEN SALTIMBOCCA ALLA ROMANA
3704 Bayshore Road, North Cape May (Cape Plaza Shopping Center) • 889-6610
The ONLY place for Southwestern cuisine. At the heart of the Historic District.
Open Daily for Lunch and Dinner!
The bartender: Michael Carney, Wayne, PA. Signature cocktail: Orange crush. The ingredients: Smirnoff vodka, triple sec, fresh orange juice, and a splash of Sprite. How long you’ve worked here: Ten years. Worst thing a customer can do at the bar: Asks to taste a wine and then sits there for five minutes smelling it. Best pickup line you’ve heard: Wanna make out? And the worse pickup line: Are you an angel? Because you look like you just fell from heaven. Best thing about Cape May: Working for Carney’s. And the women. One thing you would change about it: I’d like to see a better boardwalk. Toughest cocktail to make: A Red Devil. Ever served a celebrity? No, but I saw Anne Hathaway here a few times. Best tip you’ve ever received: $150. Favorite beach in Cape May: Steger’s Dream job: To own my own restaurant.
carpenter’s square mall cape may • (609) 898-7750
exit zero
30 June 2013
The Ultimate Cape May Food & Drink Chart What you need to know about the food and the vibe
Meals served
Price range of entrées
Bar or BYOB?
Should I book?
Food for kids?
Other details
Olive Oils and more
$3-$60 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
N/A
N/A
NO
b H
L
$12-$19 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
BYOB
YES
YES
u b
Cape May olive oil co. 324 Carpenter’s Lane Cape May 800-584-1887
This spot features 20 different varieties of olive oils and balsamic vinegars, pastas, spreads, jams, mustards, infused salts and sugars, and much more.
THE Carriage House 1048 Washington Street At the Emlen Physick Estate (609) 884-5111
The Carriage House offers everything from hearty wraps, salads, quiche and paninis to classic teas. Best of all is the location — the gorgeous Emlen Physick Estate.
cocktails at the cape (609) 898-7390 cocktailsatthecape.com
Cocktails at the Cape provides customized dining tours, pub crawls, and signature cocktail sampling tours, to take out all the guesswork!
Cocktail Tour
Please call for more info
N/A
YES
NO
corinthian yacht club 1819 Delaware Avenue (609) 884-8000 www.cyccm.com
For a truly unforgettable wedding experience — or any big event, for that matter, check out the Corinthian Yacht Club. Harbor view plus excellent cuisine equals obvious choice.
Special Event Venue
Please call for more info
N/A
YES
N/A
u b
crab house Two Mile Landing, Ocean Dr. Wildwood Crest (609) 522-1341, thecrabhouse.com
Owned by a commercial fishing family, the Crab House serves only the freshest of seafood. The waterfront views and live entertainment are just really great bonuses.
L, D
$6-$32 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
BAR
YES
YES
u b H
Cucina Rosa 301 Washington Street Mall (609) 898-9800 www.cucinarosa.com
Nicely located at the beginning of the mall, on the Congress Hall side, this Italian restaurant is a must-visit. Simply superb food in classy-butcasual surroundings.
D
$12-$29 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
BYOB
YES
YES
b H
C-View inn Texas & Washington Avenues Cape May (609) 884-4712
A locals’ favorite, this is the oldest and friendliest tavern in town with great wings, excellent pub fare and cold beer. And these days they accept credit cards, too!
L, D
$4-$18 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
BAR
NO
YES
u H
depot market cafÉ 409 Elmira Street Cape May (609) 884-8030
Owners Chris and Lisa Shriver are keeping the old favorites at this much-loved café AND adding new specials. Cape May’s movers and shakers often eat lunch here.
B, L, D
$6-$14 Cash Only
BYOB
NO
YES
u b H
The Ebbitt Room 25 Jackson Street, (609) 884-5700 www. virginiahotel.com
Enjoy your meal on the Ebbitt Room porch, overlooking tree-lined Jackson Street, or enjoy the simple beauty of this dining room.
D
$26-$33 V, MC, AE, D
BAR
YES
NO
u
ellie’s bakery 301 North Broadway, West Cape May (609) 884-4007
A from-scratch, small-batch bakery that uses only real and fresh ingredients in all their decadent baked goods, Ellie’s is a sweet tooth’s best friend.
Bakery
$1-$30 Cards: V, MC
N/A
NO
YES
fish and fancy 2406 Bayshore Road, Villas (609) 886-8760 www.fishandfancy.com
Expect superb seafood however you like it — fried, broiled, grilled, blackened or sautéed — and great salads, too. Eat in (there’s an outdoor patio) or take away.
L, D
$5-$19 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
BYOB
YES
YES
u b H
410 Bank Street 410 Bank Street, Cape May (609) 884-2127 www.410bankstreet.com
After more than 25 years, 410 still one of Cape May’s finest restaurants, serving food that’s as brilliant and inventive as ever.
D
$25-$37 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
BYOB
YES
YES
u
SYMBOLS KEY
u Onsite parking
Handicap accessible exit zero
H
31 June 2013
u
Takeout available
H
U Dog-friendly patio
Cape May cocktails: The a to z guide... Pt 1 } chalfonte’s king edward bar
The absolute freshest blue claw crabs Local seafood Live entertainment Great for the whole family
Fish Dock Road Wildwood Crest NJ (at the base of the Wildwood Crest Bridge)
609.522.1341 thecrabhouse.com
exit zero
The bartender: Justine Malloy, Narberth, PA. Signature cocktail: The Henry Sawyer. The ingredients: Bourbon, fresh mint from the “secret garden”, Chalfonte’s homemade simple syrup (a special recipe), and lots of fresh lime...muddled, shaken, and served straight up How long you’ve worked here: Three years. Your own drink of choice: A good glass of wine. Worst thing a customer can do at the bar: Wave you down when the bar is super-busy and then not know what they want. Best pickup line you’ve heard: Pssst. And the worse pickup line: Do you like raisins? How about a date? Best thing about Cape May: The beaches, the people, the Chalfonte! One thing you would change about it: Make it summer year-round. Toughest cocktail to make: Anything for a very picky customer is always a good challenge. Ever served a celebrity? Anne Hathaway. Best tip you’ve ever received: $100 for one drink. Favorite beach in Cape May: Howard Street.
32 June 2013
The Ultimate Cape May Food & Drink Chart What you need to know about the food and the vibe
Meals served
Price range of entrées
Bar or BYOB?
Should I book?
Food for kids?
Other details
L, D
$6-$20 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
BAR
YES
YES
u b H U
5 West Pub 3729 Bayshore Road, North Cape May (609) 889-7000, 5westpub.com
This sure-to-be hotspot is a gastropub coming to you from the owners of Tisha’s. Expect the same high-quality food and high-quality service, in an at-the-beach atmosphere.
Gecko’S Carpenter’s Square Mall Cape May (609) 898-7750
On a balmy summer night, there’s nothing quite like Gecko’s in Cape May. Serving superb southwestern food, including great vegeterian options, on a tropical-vibed patio.
L, D
$8-$24 Cards: V, MC
BYOB
YES
YES
b H
GODMOTHER’S Broadway & Sunset (609) 884-4543 www.godmothersrestaurant.com
Excellent downhome Italian food, just like your mama, or your grandma, or your great aunt Roberta would make. Reasonably priced and great for a family dinner.
D
$12-$28 Cards: V, MC
BYOB
YES
YES
u H
green street market 3167 Route 9 South, Rio Grande (609) 463-0606 www.greenstreetmarket.com
It’s a family-owned and operated organic market, committed to providing healthy and fair trade cerftified foods and products. Check out their rewards program.
Health Food Store
Varies Cards: V, MC, D
N/A
N/A
YES
u b
harbor view 954 Ocean Drive (609) 884-5444 www.harborviewcapemay.com
A locals’ favorite for a reason. There’s a Key West vibe, good food, regular entertainment, and the views are spectacular. Spend the day — or night. Enjoy sushi on their beautiful deck!
B, L, D
$6-$30 Cards: V, MC
BAR
NO
YES
ub H
HARPooN HENRY’S Beach Drive and Browning (609) 886-5529 www.harpoonhenrys.net
It’s become famous for its sunsets. Sip on a cold beer or a funky iced cocktail, listen to fun live music, and watch a beautiful day slip away.
L, D
$10-$21 Cards: V, MC, D
BAR
NO
YES
u b H
harry’s Ocean Bar & Grille Madison & Beach Avenue (609) 884-6113 www.harryscapemay.com
The Hirsch family relaunched their restaurant at the Montreal Inn. It successfully mixes a friendly, family feel with a stylish oceanfront vibe. And there is indoor AND outdoor bars.
B, L, D
$8-$24 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
BAR
YES
YES
u b H
la verandah 107-113 Grant Street, Cape May (609) 884-5868 www.hotelalcott.com
The ambience at this restaurant in the Hotel Alcott may be High Victorian, but the fare is delicious, contemporary American. A superb, three-star restaurant with an attentive staff.
D
$19-$32 Cards: V, MC, AE
BYOB
YES
YES
hotdog Tommy’S Jackson Street @ Beach (609) 884-8388 www.hotdogtommys.com
If there are better dogs at the Shore, we’ve yet to hear. Tommy and Mary Snyder are hot dog jedi warriors. Their menu is creative and as healthy as hot dogs get!
L, D
$1.40-$4 Cash Only
N/A
NO
YES
b H
Island Grill 311 Mansion Street Cape May (609) 884-0200
The interior design and menu concoctions are similar — Caribbean-influenced and very, very colorful. The sauces and combinations are creative and delectable.
L, D
$13-$26 Cash Only
BYOB
YES
YES
u b H
the lobster house Fisherman’s Wharf, (609) 884-8296 www.thelobsterhouse.com
Take-out, fish market, restaurant, raw bar, breakfast, dinner... The Lobster House has it all. Drinks on the Schooner American, watching the boats before dinner, is a lovely experience.
B, L, D
$5-$48.50 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
BAR
NO
YES
u b HU
louisa’s chocolate bar 108 Jackson Street Cape May (609) 884-5519
Have a sweet tooth? This is the place for you. The chocolate is of the highest quality... in both familiar and adventurous flavors. Plus chcocolate is good for your soul!
Chocolates
$2 - ? Cards: V, MC, AE, D
N/A
NO
YES
H
SYMBOLS KEY
u Onsite parking
Handicap accessible exit zero
H
33 June 2013
Takeout available
b
U Dog-friendly patio
Cape May cocktails: The a to z guide... Pt 1
Uncle Bill’s
} cview inn
& FAMILY RESTAURANT Open every day!
Outdoor seating! BEACH AVENUE & PERRY STREET, CAPE MAY (609) 884-7199
Thanks to You! for a successful first year.
Open Daily • Phone 609-435-5052 Beer • Wine • Spirits Ice • Snacks • Free Parking
exit zero
The bartender: Dan Oliver, Cape May Court House. Signature cocktail: Summer Blast. The ingredients: Stoli Raz, peach schnapps, 7-Up, cranberry, lemonade. How long you’ve worked here: Fourteen years. Your own drink of choice: Tito’s and club soda. Worst thing a customer can do at the bar: Order one drink at a time. Best pickup line you’ve heard: There isn’t one unless you feed them shots. And the worse pickup line: Do you wash your clothes in Windex because I can see myself in your pants. Best thing about Cape May: Beautiful town and great people. One thing you would change about it: Make the beaches free. Toughest cocktail to make: An Old-Fashioned is a pain in the ass. Ever served a celebrity? Philip Seymour Hoffman. Best tip you’ve ever received: $200. Favorite beach in Cape May: Madison, because Harry’s is right there. Dream job: To own my own bar.
34 June 2013
The Ultimate Cape May Food & Drink Chart What you need to know about the food and the vibe
Meals served
Price range of entrées
Bar or BYOB?
Should I book?
Food for kids?
Other details
B, L, D
$19-$30 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
BAR
YES
YES
b H u b
mad batter 19 Jackson Street (609) 884-5970 www.madbatter.com
It’s the original fine dining restaurant in Cape May and still one of the best. The food is always creative and the breakfasts and brunches, hard to beat — hence the lines.
maRIE NICOLE’S 9510 Pacific, Wildwood Crest Diamond Beach (609) 522-5425, marienicoles.com
This award-winning restaurant serves modern American cuisine in a cozy, relaxed atmosphere. Savor summer nights on the terrace with a hand-crafted cocktail.
D
$19-$44 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
BAR
YES
NO
martini beach 429 Beach Avenue Cape May (609) 884-1925
A lively nightspot with a friendly vibe, great Mediterranean dishes, and a panoramic ocean view. It’s also the place that brought tapas to Cape May — the food is even better shared!
D
$15-$30 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
BAR
YES
YES
merion inn 106 Decatur Street, (609) 884-8363 www.merion inn.com
The dim, amber lighting, dark wooden bar, period fittings and classy staff give this place a special ambience. Great food, great cocktails, and great music!
D
$18/Mrkt Cards: V, MC, AE, D
BAR
YES
YES
ub HU
Montreal Liquor Store Beach Ave and Madison Cape May (609) 884-6114
Grab a bottle of your favorite vino on your way to a BYOB, or stock up on beer and spirits for your next party.
Spirits
$5-$25 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
Liquor Store
NO
NO
u b H
north end american grill 206 Olde New Jersey Avenue North Wildwood, (609) 435-5691 northendamericangrill.com
A premier destination for food and fun in North Wildwood. Casual family dining offering upscale barfood and American cuisine. Experience a laid back California vibe at the shore.
L,D
$7-$25 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
BAR
NO
YES
ub H
ocean view Beach & Grant Avenues (609) 884-3772 www.oceanviewrestaurant.com
At this oceanfront staple, expect a large menu, full of classic diner food that’s reasonably priced. Locals frequent it, and you know that is always a good sign.
B, L, D
$9-$30 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
BYOB
NO
YES
u b H
original fudge kitchen Washington Street Mall and on the Promenade, Cape May 800-23-FUDGE • fudgekitchens.com
It’s family-owned and operated, and you can tell. The service AND the fudge are exceptional. And their saltwater taffy? It’s the perfect seashore treat.
Chocolates and candy
$3-$15 V, MC, AE, D
NA
NO
YES
b H
oyster bay 615 Lafayette Street (609) 884-2111 www.oysterbayrestaurantnj.com
A lovely dining room, a beautiful new bar, a new bar menu, great martinis and classic, generous dishes. Check out their happy hour daily from 4-6:30pm.
D
$12-$29 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
BAR
YES
YES
u b H
peter shields 1301 Beach Avenue, (609) 884-9090 www.petershieldsinn.com
The Georgian Revival mansion on Cape May’s beachfront is magnificent, and the creative modern American menu matches it all the way. This is one classy eating experience.
D
$22-$39 Cards: V, MC, D
BYOB
NO
NO
H
THE PILOT HOUSE 142 Decatur Street (609) 884-3449 www.pilothousecapemay.com
A classic pub and restaurant offering great burgers, excellent comfort good and an authentic ambience. The burgers are big favorites among locals.
L, D
$5-$25 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
BAR
YES
YES
H
rio station 3505 Route 9 South Rio Grande (609) 889-2000
While all around it has changed, the Rio Station is still serving excellent food with old-style, friendly service. Their chicken wings are particularly good.
L, D
$13-$29 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
BAR
YES
YES
u b H
SYMBOLS KEY
u Onsite parking
Handicap accessible exit zero
H
35 June 2013
Takeout available
U Dog-friendly patio
A Cape May tradition for over 30 years!
Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner • Cocktails Live Music • Happy Hour Daily 3-6 PM
19 Jackson Street, Cape May (609) 884-5970 • madbatter.com
The trouble with eating Italian food
...is that five or six days later you’re hungry again. — George Miller
Cucina Rosa
898-9800 | 301 Washington Street Mall & Perry Street www.cucinarosa.com
exit zero
36 June 2013
The Ultimate Cape May Food & Drink Chart What you need to know about the food and the vibe
Meals served
Price range of entrées
Bar or BYOB?
Should I book?
Food for kids?
Other details
Seasalt restaurant 1035 Beach Avenue, Cape May (609) 884-7000 capemayoceanclubhotel.com
Black wood and granite tables, mother-of-pearl barfront, river rock decor... the vibe is as cool as the food is delicious. Reserve the chef’s intimate private table for up to 14.
B, L, D
$8-$20 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
BAR
YES
YES
u b H
Seaside Cheese Company 600 Park Boulevard (609) 884-8700 seasidecheesecapemay.com
A huge plus for the area when it opened, and this place, a short walk from downtown Cape May, continues to delight with gourmet treats. Private tasting room is available to reserve.
L, D
$4-$12 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
N/A
N/A
YES
u b H
Sunset Liquors 106 Sunset Boulevard, West Cape May (609) 435-5052
A new liquor store has hit town, conveniently located on Sunset Boulevard. Spirits, wines, beers, ice and snacks — and some of the coolest light fittings you ever saw.
Liquor Store
Please call for info
N/A
N/A
NO
u b H
Tisha’s 322 Washington Street Mall Cape May (609) 884-9119
In case you’re wondering why they’re not at Convention Hall — they moved to the mall, where they are still serving up irresistible concoctions, PLUS breakfast and lunch!
B, L, D
$18-$35 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
BYOB
YES
YES
Turdo vineyards & winery 3911 Bayshore Road, N. Cape May (609) 884-5591 www.turdovineyards.com
Turdo is a family-run, award-winning vineyard and winery, and the only one in New Jersey that is run on 100% solar energy. See what all the buzz is about.
Winery
$15-$31 Cards: V, MC, AE
N/A
NO
NO
u b
The Ugly Mug 426 Washington Street Mall Cape May (609) 884-3459
A Cape May legend, and even better now that they’ve put those wonderful booths in there. Such a treat. It has a classic pub vibe, and always a warm, friendly atmosphere.
L, D
$12-$25 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
BAR
NO
YES
b H
Ukai 1500 Route 47 South, Rio Grande (609) 770-7773 www.sushiukai.com
Enjoy delicious, fresh and nutritious, authentic Chinese, Japanese, Malaysian and Thai cuisine — all homemade!
L, D
$2.25$36.95 Cards: V, MC, AE
BYOB
YES
YES
u b H
Uncle Bill’s Pancakes Beach Avenue & Perry Street Cape May (609) 884-7199
Reliably excellent food; there is a reason why people wait a while to eat here... Excellent breakfasts and brunches at this circular restaurant overlooking the Atlantic.
B, L
$4-$9 Cash Only
BYOB
NO
YES
u b H
union park Beach Avenue & Howard (609) 884-8811 www.unionparkdiningroom.com
Exquisite dining in a classic old hotel, where both the decor and the food are inspired. Voted one of the best restaurants in the state by New Jersey Monthly magazine.
D
$18-$35 Cards: V, MC, AE
BYOB
YES
YES
u b H
vincenzo’s little italy ii 3704 Bayshore Road North Cape May (609) 889-6610
If you want to bring the family for a fine and fun Italian meal, look no further than here! The kids will love it. Excellent pasta dishes, and they’ve recently expanded their pizzeria!
L, D
$8-$20 Cards: V, MC, AE, D
BYOB
YES
YES
u b H
willow creek winery 168 Stevens St., West Cape May (609) 770-8782 willowcreekwinerycapemay.com
Willow Creek is the newest and largest winery in Cape May. Check out the stunning villa, set on this idyllic 50-acre vineyard.
Winery
$6 and up Cards: V, MC, AE, D
N/A
N/A
NO
u b
zoe’s 715 Beach Avenue Cape May (609) 884-1233
Zoe’s has large portions at affordable prices. Plus one of the best vegetarian selections in town. And they have a great patio if the weather is nice... bring Fido!
B, L
$4-$12 Cash Only
BYOB
NO
YES
b HU
SYMBOLS KEY
u Onsite parking
Handicap accessible exit zero
H
37 June 2013
Takeout available
b U
U Dog-friendly patio
will the real hotdog tommy please stand up? to you, he may just be the guy who hawks delicious dogs from a hole in the wall on jackson. but tommy snyder is more than the wiener-wearing proprietor of a wildly popular cape may business. more than the man who loses i5 pounds a summer working i2-hour days that begin before sunup. more than the comedian who, upon seeing tina fey waiting in line for one of his dogs, shouted, “sarah palin is here, and she’s doing a really bad tina fey impression!” tommy is, in short, a cape may legend. along with wife mary, he’s made hot dogs as iconic a summer tradition for cape islanders as mini golf and soft serve. and he cleans up pretty good, too. here, tommy tells us about the loves of his life... interview by diane stopyra exit zero
photography by frank weiss 38 June 2013
exit zero
39 June 2013
I love Cape May. It’s vibrant and active. I love my wife, Mary. She and I were wombmates. Our mothers met when they were each pregnant by accidentally bumping bellies in the supermarket. Then we were born two weeks apart. In sixth grade, Mary was a member of the school’s student bus patrol, and I was one of the guys in the back of the bus causing trouble. We connected on the day she had me arrested by the patrol. In high school, we started dating. She hooked me, and we got married between my junior and senior year of college. After graduation, she and I worked in my family’s potato chip factory together, and then at Juniata College — she in public relations, and me as Director of Admissions. From there, we opened a bed and breakfast in Cape May. The year was 1984, we’d purchased the Manor House on Hughes Street, and we’d gotten in on the b&b wave just as it was starting to swell. But 11 years later, Mary wanted to move out of the Manor House, and I wanted to continue living there. So we did what we always do when our yin and yang isn’t
quite yinging and yanging — we walked away from it altogether and started a new project. We bought the Dry Dock restaurant on Texas Avenue, which we ran for five years. People still talk about Mary’s Dry Dock mashed potatoes. I love coffee ice cream. But I hate coffee. It tastes like mud… but then again, of course it would, if it’s fresh ground. I love Disney World. It’s the place where, after selling the Dry Dock, Mary and I spent our winters, working in ODF (that’s Disney-speak for outdoor foods), and it’s the place where we got to punch a clock, which neither of us had ever done before. I sold popcorn, soda, and snacks, because I was too tall to be Mickey, as they say, and too short for Goofy. It’s a strange place to be behind stage; you might see Cinderella smoking a cigarette. In the summers, we’d head west. I love the smell of a crackling fire. I love the Black Hills of South Dakota. I have a history degree and I would put it to use here as a tour guide through Custer State Park, teaching people in jeeps about
Seafood, Steaks & Cocktails Serving Lunch & Dinner Daily! See Our Full Menu Online at: pilothousecapemay.com
Cape May’s Happiest HAPPY HOUR! m. Sunday thru Friday, 4pm-6p ls Discounted drink specia and our Chef’s famous complimentary munchies!
Patio Dining Kids Menu
Join Us for OPEN MIC NIGHT! Every Friday Night ! The talent has been awesome
OPEN ALL DAY EVERY DAY • 884-3449 • WASHINGTON STREET MALL PILOTHOUSECAPEMAY.COM
exit zero
40 June 2013
exit zero
41 June 2013
“i love a small space. mary and i still live in our 8 x 36-feet rig. if i buy a new t-shirt, i have to throw an old one out.”
Here is how this caption would look in all bold. does it look strange?
herds of buffalo and the Native American story. It’s the place on the planet I feel most at peace. If I could be fortunate enough to know when I’m going to die, I think that’s where I’d want to be in the end. I love The Good Wife. I do NOT love Dancing With the Stars. I’d rather jitterbug myself. I love travel. What does Jimmy Buffett say? Changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes? That’s been our philosophy. Mary and I would move from place to place in a motor coach because being on the road has always been a nice way to… hum. Even today, during our craziest season, our downtime is going from here to Sam’s Club in Atlantic City on the Garden State Parkway. I love a martini. My doctor says I’m not supposed to be drinking them, so it’s a guilty pleasure. There is only one true type — two parts gin, one part vermouth, and an olive. My father-in-law incited my appreciation for the martini, and not just red-cupping it, though I’ve done that, too. I love a small space. Mary and I still live in our 8x36-foot rig. If I buy a new T-shirt, I have to throw an old one out to make room, and that’s a beautiful thing. You only need one box of tissues, because you can reach them from anywhere in the room. I love hot dogs. My mother always said I am a hot dog, because I was born on the hottest day of the year, in July of 1944, in a non-air-conditioned hospital. Then, when I was a kid, I used to go into the city [Reading, PA] for trumpet lessons. My mom would give me a little bit of money, and I would use it to buy a hot dog from a silly little place called Thomas’ Restaurant. Maybe there was something in the name, exit zero
42 June 2013
Tommy Snyder plays out his hot dog fantasy. Photo-illustration by Frank Weiss
exit zero
43 June 2013
“i love seeing kids grow up. children who were just bratty kids when we started this ii years ago are in college now.” because after three years of working in South Dakota, Mary decided it was time for a change. (I always blame these moves on her). We heard that our friend Clark Meyers, the 50-cent hot dog guy, was selling his business on Jackson Street, and we took it over. I love golf. I was the captain of the football team in high school, but you can’t keep that up. I started running and even did a few marathons, and I enjoyed it because it’s something you can do on your own or with a group. Golf is the same — play socially, or go by yourself and notice the birds chirping and different textures and lights you might not otherwise see — plus, it’s one of the few sports you can do forever. I know someone who’s 88 and just shot his age. I love pizza. I once judged a pie contest for the Press of Atlantic City. I love seeing kids grow up. We’ve been doing this for 11 years, so children who were just bratty kids when we started this are in college now. Others are servers and attorneys and cops, and they come back year after year. I love people who are nice to other people. I love attending Jimmy Carter’s Sunday school during the off-seasons when Mary and I move to Georgia for what we call hot dog rehab, which we’ve done for the past seven years. He tells a wonderful story about the time someone he worked with on a mission trip to inner-city New York asked how he is able to do such good in the world. “You have to love the person you’re looking at in the moment, whoever that is,” he explained, “and you’ll get the love right back.”
Tom Snyder photographed in The Brown Room at Congress Hall on May 16. Photo by Frank Weiss
exit zero
44 June 2013
“The Locals’ Favorite” FRESH WEEKLY SPECIALS FRESH HOMEMADE SALADS OUTDOOR PATIO SEATING PARTY TRAYS Open Wednesday thru Sunday (daily from june 17)
2406 Bayshore Road, Villas (next to Robinson & Son’s Produce)
(609) 886-8760 fishandfancy.com
10% Military Discount
exit zero
45 June 2013
A Cape May Love Story
F
or Lola and Laurence Glass, a summer love forged on the sand and streets of Cape May developed into a marriage that’s 60 years in and still going strong. At 83 and 84, respectively (“Good genes, huh?” Lola says) they’re celebrating six decades — and countless Cape May moments — together. “We’ve sat on that promenade and watched all kinds of waves,” Lola told us. “The smooth ones and the rough ones.” And they’ve experienced all of life’s smooth and rough patches together, too. Through it all, they’ve only had eyes for each other… and the little city that’s been part of their story from the start...
Interview by Diane Stopyra exit zero
46 June 2013
exit zero
47 June 2013
From the makers of Tisha’s An exciting new eatery combining a classic pub with a fine restaurant Result? A great time. Every time.
Lola (nee Deibert) in front of the Windsor Hotel, around 1952. She worked there as a waitress the year she met Laurence Glass.
Great food and awesome cocktails...
...in a cool casual pub atmosphere
37 2 9 b a ysh ore ro ad, n o rt h ca p e may ( 6 0 9 ) 8 8 9 - 7 0 0 0 | 5 w e st p u b . c o m
exit zero
What was your first introduction to Cape May? Laurence: In 1921, my grandfather purchased what is now the Mission Inn on New Jersey Avenue. The family named it Gralome, a combination of my grandmother’s name, Grace, and my mother’s name, Salome. I’m from Germantown, Pennsylvania, but I never missed a summer at that house growing up. What kinds of things did you do here as a young boy? Laurence: As a teenager, my friends and I would rent a boat from Roseman’s Boat Yard, then go fishing and crabbing and clamming in the same day. Then we’d take our catch to Johnson’s Fish Market and sell it all for spending money. One day, while the lady was putting our box of fish on a big scale, she asked, “Are these fresh?” Then she saw them all still flopping around in the box. Did you ever cause any mischief in Cape May? Laurence: My friends and I — there was a gang of about six of us — did used to have great mud fights down by the Coast Guard base. Oh gosh, yes. We even built a little cottage down there out of driftwood. So when did you meet Lola? Laurence: I went to Temple University for one year, before entering the Army. I was stationed in Washington and Alaska until, at the age of 23 in 1952, I was discharged. That’s when I decided to spend the summer in Cape May again. I had a great job working behind the desk at the Windsor Hotel. That was my top priority, but you could say I was hoping I might meet the ladies, too. I’d spent four years in the service! Lola: I had just graduated from Bloomsberg University with a degree in elementary education, and I was determined to spend my summer at the Jersey Shore… I’d never been! I’m from Danville, Pennsylvania, so I wasn’t acquainted with the ocean. I put myself on a bus and arrived with my one suitcase at the Windsor Hotel, where I’d gotten a waitressing job for the summer. I’m sure I looked a mess when I arrived. Well, did she? Laurence: I liked her looks from the start, especially her eyes. I’d say it was love at first sight. She was staying
48 June 2013
Beautifully decorated cakes for every special occasion. Organic coffee and tea. Sweet and savory pastries. 482 West Perry Street Cape May 609.884.7454 capemaybakers.com
T U R I S
Turdo Vineyards & Winery 3911 Bayshore Rd., North Cape May, NJ 08204 609-884-5591 - www.turdovineyards.com Open Daily Memorial Day - Labor Day Off Season - Call for Hours
* Wine Tasting - Retail Shop - Private Parties & Tastings Available
Nero D’Avola Sangiovese Barbera Dolcetto Nebbiolo Pinot Noir Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Malbec Persara Rubino Sauvignon Blanc Pinot Grigio Rosato Moscato exit zero
49 June 2013
at the Clinton, and I offered to drive her. It was only two blocks away, but, you know… Lola: He was just a gentleman. When things could have gone faster, shall we say, he was very protective. I wanted to practice my organ playing, so he would accompany me to a nearby church. We have a difference of opinion over which church it was, exactly, but that doesn’t matter. He would sit next to me on the bench, but never touch me. And when he recognized the hymns, I realized he was protestant, which was a good thing! Things just kept adding up. Eventually, he began passing notes to me at work. They said things like, “Had a good time yesterday… would you like to go the beach this afternoon?” Tell us about the first kiss. Lola: We’d been on the beach and walking along the promenade four different times, and we started holding hands, as you do, but he hadn’t even tried to kiss me. So one night, as he was saying goodnight to me at the Clinton, I just kind of leaned in and gave him a kiss. He had said something nice, like, “I think I love you,” and I thought,
Laurence and Lola on the grounds of the old Windsor Hotel, where they first met.
Well, this is different now. Laurence: She ruined my summer! Lola: That’s what he always says, because he didn’t go on other dates. So what happened when the summer ended? Laurence: We were decided by that time that we wanted to be together.
Coincidentally, she had her first teaching job lined up in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, not too far from where I had a job lined up as a window dresser for a department store and, after that, as a production scheduler for Leeds and Northrup, an electrical measuring instrument company. I’d go visit her in her rooming house one weekend, and she’d come visit me the next. Lola: Everything was proper. I slept on a twin bed in his grandmother’s room. And when did you decide to marry? Laurence: That February, I gave her a promise ring… a Cape May diamond. Is that because you couldn’t afford a real diamond yet, or because Cape May was just that special to you? Laurence: Cape May was that special to us. Lola: And also, we weren’t ready for other people to know we were that close. How come? Did your families not approve? Lola: After Laurence’s family sold the Gralome, his mother and grandmother began staying at the Cliveden Inn on Colombia Avenue. I can remember meeting them on the porch there, and talk-
The hardest part is picking your favorite... A Cape May Tradition!
The Original Fudge KitcheN Facebook
728 Beach Avenue & 513 Washington Street Mall 800-23-Fudge • fudgekitchens.com • We ship anywhere! exit zero
50 June 2013
Website
You CAN take it with you....
... but it’s just so darn pretty here.
CARRIAGE HOUSE
SALADS, SOUPS QUICHE, WRAPS SANDWICHES
&
CLASSIC TEA LUNCHEON AFTERNOON TEA
fe a C TEAROOM
1048 Washington St. at the Emlen Physick Estate
CHILDREN’S MENU • TAKE-OUT
Open daily 11am-4pm • 609-884-5111
Your search has ended...
CORINTHIAN YACHT CLUB of CAPE MAY offers you a unique venue overlooking beautiful Cape May Harbor. Our ever-changing water view and exceptional cuisine will lend a distinctive touch to your special day.
Let us make make your wedding, birthday, anniversary, cocktail party, or holiday gathering spectacular!
1819 Delaware Avenue, Cape May, New Jersey 08204 (609) 884-8000 • cyccm.com and capemaybeachwedding.com exit zero
51 June 2013
TheresRioCCFixedEZ2013
5/13/13
6:08 PM
Page 1
There’s Rio Crab Cakes. Then there’s everybody else Laurence’s family once owned what later became The Mission Inn.
Handmade for 26 years in our own kitchen Voted
Best Crab Cakes in South Jersey for two years in a row by SJ Magazine • 2011 & 2012 • Winner of the Wine Spectator
Award of Excellence Three Years in a Row
2010 2011 2012
Rated Top 10 Wine Values in New Jersey
Seafood and Steak House Grande Center Shopping Mall Route 9 • Rio Grande, NJ • 609-889-2000 Visit us at riostation.com
ing with them about my college awards. Sometimes, I’d join when they’d take their meals at the Chalfonte; that’s the word — “take” — we used back then. I always felt comfortable. And my mother and sisters loved him, especially his sense of humor. They liked when he’d make his little mistakes, like eating cinnamon buns right out of the oven. He got a tummy ache because it was hot, fresh dough! But what about your dad? Lola: Dad thought he would not be the one for me, because his family was a city family. And maybe that I should marry a preacher, because I was a church organist. Did he warm up by the time you got married? Lola: There was one point at which he said he would not go to the wedding. But mother said, “I’ll be there with or without you.” He realized he would be in a poor light, so he swallowed his pride, and took me in the car as a father is supposed to do. What was the wedding like? Laurence: We got married the following summer, at a little church in Danville, and it was hot as hell! That is what I remember most. That, and how stunning Lola was. She’s beautiful every day, but my goodness… Was the honeymoon in Cape May? Lola: No, we went to Yellowstone National Park for that in September, but we came back to Cape May when we had our children — Sandra, Beth, and Laurence Clifton, Jr, born in 1955, 1957, and 1959. Laurence: We would stay at The Villa, now the Mooring, and later at the Stockholm, now the Periwinkle Inn. There are so many good memories, it’s hard to pick out just one. Building sandcastles… watching the kids screaming and hollering in the surf… Lola: I remember trying constantly to rid Laurence Jr of sand. He loved crawling around in the surf in his diaper. It’s a passion that grew… he got into scuba-diving and water-skiing later in life. Does the family still come to Cape May together? Lola: We had a huge reunion here in the 90s, and the next generation — Beth’s daughters, one of whom is graduating college this year, and one of whom who is graduating high school — were there. And our daughter Sandi — she’s the one who now wears my Cape May diamond promise ring — loves it so much, this is where she spent her honeymoon. Now, she’s celebrating her 25th anniversary. Speaking of anniversaries, does it feel like it’s been 60 years? both: No! So what’s the secret? Laurence: Stay cool. continued on page 56
exit zero
52 June 2013
Oyster Bay
Coffees • Smoothies Breakfast Sandwiches Specialty Sandwiches Bagels • Baked Goods Cappuccinos • Lattes Gourmet Cream Cheeses
STEAKS SEAFOOD
Dinner Nightly from 5pm Happy Hour Daily • 4:00-6:30pm Check Out Our Fabulous New Bar featuring a New Bar Menu!
7 Gurney Street Cape May (609) 898-8088 3704 Bayshore Road North Cape May (609) 846-0040
(609) 884-2111 • 615 Lafayette St, Cape May
Taste one of our exclusive Cape May home made flavors like Vanilla Caramel, Peanut Butter Softee or Greek Strawberry Cheesecake. Or Try our new Belgian Waffle Sundae! Greek Strawberry Cheesecake
Belgian Waffle Sundae
Peanut Butter Softee Vanilla Caramel
With our new Mash-Up equipment, you can make your own flavor creation from our 30 flavors of ice cream and yogurt mixed with our 25 plus topping choices
exit zero
53 June 2013
Paradise found... Good Food Friendly Atmosphere Waterfront Dining Awesome Sunsets! Serving Lunch & Dinner Daily Live Music Nightly Free Parking
Laurence and Lola celebrate their 60th anniversary in July.
91 Beach Drive, North Cape May
(609) 886-5529 www.harpoonhenrys.net exit zero
Lola: Respect is important. We are kind to each other. And his crazy sense of humor helps. He’s always made me laugh… he can pantomime and imitate me and other people. Who’s your best impression of? Laurence: I can’t think of one on the spot. Just trust me. After all these years, have you figured out how to fight with one another? Lola: I usually hold my tongue until it gets to a point where things should have been talked about sooner. Then, I don’t explode, but I have words. But no disagreement ever lasts, and we’ve never, never used the word divorce. Laurence: Except at those certain times… Lola: WHAT?! Laurence: All in jest, all in jest. After so many years, you know what triggers the other. There are things you learn to bring up and things you know not to bring up… If I get a certain look at a certain time, I know to back off. We try never go to bed angry. Was it sad when you learned about the Windsor burning down in the 70s? Laurence: Yes. We still wonder what caused the fire. What else has changed about Cape May? Laurence: Sometimes, I find myself longing for the time when it wasn’t so built-up, when you could ride your bike through open fields. But nothing stands still, and this city has been so beautifully done and wellmaintained. It’s still an elegant, wonderful place to come. The most beautiful I’ve seen it? Well, that could have been last night. I walked down to the promenade to see the most magnificent sunset. This will always be a very special place for us.
56 June 2013
Left: Laurence and Lola Glass’s three children on the steps of their Cape May cottage in 2011 — Beth, Laurence and Sandra. And, inset, the kids (in the same order) on the steps of The Mooring B&B around 1960.
Open daily from 11:30
609-884-8296 thelobsterhouse.com facebook.com/TheLobsterHouseRestaurant
exit zero
57 June 2013
When you see a restaurant packed with locals, you KNOW you’ve come to the right place.
Serving Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Eat In • Take Out TALK TO US ABOUT PLANNING YOUR NEXT CATERED EVENT!
Cape May’s Premier Touring and Tasting Destination
CALL 609-884-8030 FOR OUR DAILY SPECIALS! 409 Elmira Street, Cape May
Cocktail Tours Daily
(Next to the Train Station)
609-884-8030
Sample signature cocktails at Cape May’s most popular places
UKAI
including Ugly Mug, Mad Batter, Cabanas, Carney’s, Aleathea’s,
A s ia n r e s tau r a n t
Pilot House and Jackson Mountain
Japanese, chinese, Thai, malaysian CUISINE
Professional photographers accompany tours with photos
Lunch | Dinner | Take-out | Reservations Available
We Serve Sushi Too!
available for purchase online Customized Dining Tours and Pub Crawls Available... perfect for weddings, bachelor/bachelorette parties, showers, birthdays, and more!
www.sushiukai.com OPEN 7 DAYS: Mon-Thur 11am-10:30pm Fri & Sat 11am-11pm | Sun 12noon-10pm
Call (609) 898-7390
PH 609-770-7773
Cocktailsatthecape.com
1500 Route 47 South, #E1E2 (next to Dollar Tree) Rio Grande NJ 08242
exit zero
58 June 2013
AROUND THE streets of cool cape may
Sue, Kristina and Pete of Coffee Tyme on Beach and Jackson, next door to the cool new Exit Zero store! Photo by Aleksey Moryakov
Harbor View RESTAURANT, BAR & DECK
Waterfront Bar, Restaurant and Deck 2nd floor dining view of the entire harbor, and an Outside Bar that’s Classic Key West! Enjoy Delicious Sushi by Ko on the Deck
954 ocean drive, cape may • (609) 884-5444 • harborviewcapemay.com exit zero
59 June 2013
Stone Harbor’S all-new luxury boutique Hotel & deStination reSort
opening 6i20i13
Casual elegance with a unique coastal vibe The Reeds offers 37 distinctively designed guest rooms and suites naturally enhanced with fresh seaside breezes and breathtaking sunsets. Designed to exceed the comforts of home, all accommodations are rich in appointments, elegance and coastal design. • Sax at The Reeds An intimate year-round restaurant & cocktail lounge • Water Star Grille Outdoor seasonal dining on The Reeds’ bayfront deck • The Roof Garden Sundeck and covered bayfront veranda for outdoor relaxation • Exquisite wedding & celebration venues for up to 220 guests • Extraordinary bay view event suites • Flexible, cutting edge meeting spaces
accepting guestroom reservations and events for 6/20/13 and beyond call 609.368.0100 or visit reedsatshelterhaven.com
9601 third ave., stone harbor, nJ • 609.368.0100 • reedsatshelterhaven.com
AROUND THE streets of cool cape may
Bachelorette weekend in Cape May on Sunday, May 19: Maggie, Heather, Lisa, Wendy, Abby and Debbie. Photo by Aleksey Moryakov
Freshest Ingredients Fantastic Specials Friendly Atmosphere Reservations Recommended
600 Park Blvd West Cape May
609-884-7660 backstreetcapemaynj.com
exit zero
62 June 2013
exit zero
63 June 2013
exit zero
64 June 2013
The art of Sean Taylor The artist talks about making paintings, wrestling alligators, his love of the ocean and his new show at SOMA this month. Interview by Jack Wright Photography by Aleksey Moryakov
exit zero
65 June 2013
Sean Taylor puts the finishing touches to “Wide View of the Harbor” at his studio, at Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum What’s the title of your new show and from whence did the inspiration come? I’m calling it “Sean Taylor: Still on Vacation — New Paintings from the Off-Season.” I wanted to do a show of expansive, panoramic views of Cape May. During the winter and early spring I can get the perspective I want without a lot of people around. I walk a lot and get most of my landscape inspiration from these daily walks. When it was too cold on the beach I did still-life painting in the studio. The title of the show is a reference to a show I did in Cape May about 10 years ago called “On Vacation.” When did you start prepping for this show? I started with the still-life paintings. The exact date is classified information. Give us a glimpse into an artist’s life. Other than getting ready for your regular SOMA summer show, what else do you get up to for the rest of the year? I work on many projects at once, so the work is always fresh and challenging. I’ve set up a large studio in the old Suite Zero at the Aviation Museum [Exit Zero’s former
offices], so I spend a lot of time over there. Then it’s down to creating, traveling and selling artwork. I do a lot of those last three things. Is there such a thing as a typical day for you? I could be: A) In the mud putting in pilings under our house at Grassy Sound; B) Making a painting of a group of smiling debutantes; or C) At the MOMA in New York. How much of your work is driven by the need to express yourself and the need to sell paintings to make a living? Is it a constant compromise? My ability to express myself is also financed by sales so it’s a symbiotic relationship I’ve come to respect. Luckily my paintings seem to sell eventually no matter what I paint, so there’s not too many left behind. Have you always wanted to be an artist? After a long, somewhat half-assed search for meaning, I realized this whole place is absurd and that making artistic sense of it all suits me perfectly. So far, so good! And what would your OTHER dream exit zero
66 June 2013
job be? Wrestling alligators. Tell us briefly where you grew up and how you came to be in Cape May? I came to this country from England on the SS United States (now rusting across the street from IKEA in South Philly). We settled in Swarthmore, PA and used to come down and stay here occasionally back in the ’70s. I came back to visit in ’97 and just never left! What do you like most about living and working here? I met my wife Peri here so that makes it very special. My father lives here as well, so it’s good to see him as often as I do. And I love being by the sea — the constant but ever-changing nature of the ocean does something subliminal that works for me. What will be the first thing you do after this SOMA show is over? I’m going to Disney World. As an artist, what’s the question you LEAST like to be asked? “How would you compare your work to that of Thomas Kinkade, the Painter of Light?” What’s the best painting you’ve ever done? Time will tell, Jack…
“Wide View of the Harbor” — oil and acrylic on panel, 36 x 80
“Beach Avenue (George’s Place)” — oil on panel, 7 x 15
“Study for Rea’s Farm” — oil on panel, 7 x 15 exit zero
67 June 2013
SPECIAL PROMOTION
how to have fun in cool cape may... and save $460! Presenting the greatest collection of money-saving offers you’ve ever seen... elegantly packaged as a designer deck of cards
exit zero
68 June 2013
exit zero
69 June 2013
the CAPE MAY EXPERIENCE Discount Deck
U
sually, something that seems too good to be true is just that. Well, here’s the exception to that rule! The Cape May Experience Discount Deck, from Exit Zero magazine, really IS everything it appears to be... which is THE best way to enjoy Cape May while saving a lot of money. To be precise, you will save $460 if you use all 52 cards in the elegantly designed pack of cards. And all you pay is $25. Go for dinner at The Peter Shields Inn or Tisha’s, followed by breafkast at The Blue Pig Tavern the next morning and you already got most of your money back! And unlike many other special offers, there are no exceptions or blackout days. These cards are good for every single day, from May 1 this year to April 30, 2014. You can buy The Cape May Experience Discount Deck from the Exit Zero Store and Gallery, 109 Sunset Boulevard, our beachfront store at Beach Avenue and Jackson, online at ezstore.us (with free shipping)or call us on 609-770-8479 and pay by credit card. You will also see it for sale at selected establishments around town.
Savings you can taste! Having dinner at the magnificent Peter Shields Inn, located in a Georgian revival mansion on Beach Avenue, is a can’t-miss Cape May experience. With your Discount Deck, you can save $10 at this great restaurant, with a minimum spend of $50.
exit zero
} participating restaurants
Aleathea’s Save $5 on breakfast/lunch — minimum spend $20. Backstreet Save $10 on dinner — minimum spend $50. Bella Vida cafÉ Save $10 on dinner — minimum spend of $40. Black Duck ON SUNSET Save $10 on dinner — minimum spend of $40. THE Blue Pig TAVERN Save $10 on breakfast — minimum spend of $20. Cabanas Save $10 on B/L/D — minimum spend of $40. CAPE MAY Fish Market Save $10 on a minimum spend of $50. Cucina Rosa Save $10 on dinner — minimum spend $50. THE Ebbitt Room Save $15 on dinner — minimum spend $75. 5 West Pub Save $10 on dinner — minimum spend $30. Frescos Save $10 on dinner — minimum spend $60. Godmother’s Save $10 on dinner — minimum spend $40. Harpoon Henry’s Save $5 on lunch/dinner — minimum spend $25. Harry’s OCEANFRONT BAR AND GRILLE Save $5 on B/L, beach service — minimum spend $15. Island Grill Save $10 on dinner — minimum spend $40. Mad Batter Save $10 on dinner — minimum spend $50. MagicBrain CYBERCAFÉ Save $5 on a minimum spend of $15. Merion Inn Save $15 on dinner — minimum spend $75. Oyster Bay Save $10 on dinner — minimum spend $50. Peter Shields INN Save $10 on dinner — minimum spend $50. Rusty Nail Save $5 on lunch — minimum spend $20. SeaSalt Save $10 on breakfast — minimum spend $30. Tisha’s Save $10 on dinner — minimum spend $30. Ugly Mug Save $10 on lunch, dinner — minimum spend $50. Zoe’s Save $5 on B/L/D — minimum spend $25.
70 June 2013
Cre ati n g y o u r ow n b a c k ya rd h e a ve n? We c a n h e l p.
indoor & outdoor furniture | candles | decorations | cushions | souvenirs
2 0 3 S U N S E T B LV D., W E S T C A P E M A Y (6 0 9) 8 8 4 -18 49 exit zero
71 June 2013
the CAPE MAY EXPERIENCE Discount Deck } participating stores
Savings you can wear!
T
HE best thing about The Cape May Experience Discount Deck? It’s packed with the kind of establishments you already frequent, like the Flying Fish Studio on Park Boulevard, which sells a quirky range of clothing, much of it designed and screen-
printed right here in Cape May. Wherever you choose to go, it won’t take long to get a return on your $25 investment. Wander the mall and buy quality products at Bath Time, A Place on Earth and Good Scents and you could save $25. Or you could spoil yourself with a signature treatment at Cape May Day Spa, or Artizan Salon and Spa. Or maybe you’re feeling a little bit adventurous and in need of some activity during your vacation? In which case, East Coast Parasail would be a great place to start. And for some quality theater, both Cape May Stage and East Lynne are offering $10 off their regular ticket prices. That’s a saving of around a third! Let the fun, and the savings, begin.
exit zero
A Place on Earth Save $5 on a minimum spend of $30. Bath Time Save $10 on a minimum spend of $30. Bird House of cape may Save $10 on a minimum spend of $35. Cape may Olive Oil Co. Save $10 on a minimum spend of $35. Carpenter’s Square Mall Save $10 on a minimum spend of $30. Exit Zero store & gallery Save $15 on a $25 color issues subscription. Flying Fish studio Save $10 on a minimum spend of $40. Good Scents Save $10 on a minimum spend of $50. italian Garden Save $5 on a minimum spend of $40. Louisa’s Chocolate Bar Save $5 on a minimum spend of $15. Red Store Save $5 on a minimum spend of $25. seaside Cheese Save $5 on a minimum spend of $25. tommy’s Folly Save $10 on a minimum spend of $40. Wanderlust Save $10 on a minimum spend of $30. } participating salons & spas
accent on Beauty Save $5 on a minimum spend of $25. Artizan Salon & SPA Save $5 on a minimum spend of $25. Cape may Day Spa Save $10 on any massage or facial Sea Spa at congress hall Save $15 on a minimum spend of $75. } participating activities
Cape May Stage Save $10 on a show ticket. Cape may Whale Watch & research Save $10 on a trip. East Coast Jet Boat, jet Ski & Parasail Save $10 on a trip or rental. East Lynne Theater company Save $10 on a show ticket. Miss Chris Kayak rentals Save $5 on a kayak rental Osprey Cruise Save $5 onany trip.
72 June 2013
AROUND THE streets of cool cape may
CUSTOM BLENDING FRAGRANCE • LOTIONS ROBES • SOAPS
The girls at Uncle Bill’s Pancake House on Beach Avenue, photographed on Sunday, May 18. Photo by Aleksey Moryakov
If you love Italy if you love Italian products if you love unique fragrances and luxurious skin care if you want to look beautiful you must visit Italian Garden.
NEW * NEW * NEW 5 luscious fragrances with scents of ivy, citrus, viola, tahitian flower, and poppy; and several new miraculous skin care products!
OPEN ALL YEAR
italian Garden
318 WASHINGTON ST. MALL
510 Carpenter’s Lane, Cape May (609) 884-2300
CAPE MAY • 609.884.9234 BATHTIMECAPEMAY.COM
exit zero
73 June 2013
Exit Zero Store & Gallery
Visit our beautifully designed store... 2,500 square feet and two floors of ridiculously cool Cape May souvenirs!
And don’t miss our brand-new store on BEACH AVENUE, near corner of Jackson. Open daily from 9am-10pm! A stunning range of gifts and goodies for the home, from sugar bowls to candle sticks, coffee mugs to pillows... and a nautical line of jewelry! exit zero
74 June 2013
109 Sunset Boulevard, Cape May ÂŤ 609-770-8479 Open daily 10-5 [9-9 in summer] ÂŤ Online at ezstore.us
exit zero
75 June 2013
the monster of cape may point
It destroyed trees and damaged cars, but some people still have fond memories of the magnesite plant By Jack Fichter exit zero
76 June 2013
exit zero
77 June 2013
A
djoining the waters of the Delaware Bay and the seaside hamlet of Cape May Point, known for its cottages and pristine beaches, there once stood a factory with a tall smoke stack that belched white dust which killed nearby trees and damaged the paint on cars. The factory employed more than 150 local workers. When it closed, it left behind a site that resembled the surface of the moon more than a beachfront property bordering a wildlife preserve. The factory was known as the Northwest Magnesite Company, a subsidiary of Harbison-Walker Refractories Company of Pittsburgh. The locals called it the magnesite plant. Why build a factory on prime waterfront property in a summer resort area? The fac-
tory needed seawater to produce its product, magnesite, used in making fire bricks for furnaces in the steel industry, particularly needed during wartime. According to Cape May Point resident Joe Jordan in his book Cape May Point: The Illustrated History — 1875 to the Present, wartime naval blockades stopped shipments of magnesite from Austria, the Soviet Union, Turkey and Greece, creating a need for domestic production. Jordan remembers sweeping dust off his porch every day from particulate released from the magnesite plant. In his book, he noted the plant used 32 million gallons of seawater per day, which was pumped into large holding tanks. The factory opened in 1941 and closed in 1983, when demand for magnesite decreased. Long freight trains, which transported limestone and hauled out magnesite, via West Cape May, also ceased running that year. exit exit zero zero
78 78 Jmay une 2013 2013
Lawrence Washington spent a summer following his freshman year of college in 1970 working at the magnesite plant. He said there were only a few summer hires each year. “I was happy to have the job and the money was good,” said Washington. “After 30 days I got to join the union: AFL-CIO Local 110.” He said the production of magnesite was based on chemicals extracted from seawater, mixed with limestone and heated in three rotary kilns, the largest of which was about 300 feet long and eight feet in width. “The slurry goes in one end and then as the kiln rotates over several hours, the stuff dries out and turns into little particles and comes out the other end as the finished product,” he said. The magnesite was packaged in bags heavy enough to be moved with a forklift and the kilns were made of steel and lined
with bricks, like a chimney laid on its side. Occasionally, a brick would loosen in the kiln and a hot red spot would appear on the outside of the kiln, remembers Washington. The kiln, which was heated to 3,000 degrees, took two days to cool before humans could enter it to make repairs. The “brick gang” of six to eight men used jackhammers and other tools to take out several rows of bricks. The repairs to replace several rows of bricks took three to five days, shutting down the kiln and slowing magnesite production. The factory operated 24 hours every day in its prime. During a special production run of magnesite, Washington recalls working 34 days without a day off. Quality control of the magnesite was handled by staff chemists, he said. Some of the chores at the factory were dangerous — Washington was asked to shovel out a small sifter room filled with the
Above: Workers are pictured here outside the main entrance to the plant, which helped many families survive the lean years when tourism had all but dried up in Cape May. Opposite page: Workers paint the enormous holding tanks that were part of the magnesite plant complex in this undated picture Previous page: It’s hard to look at this aerial picture of the plant with its enormous tanks and reconcile it with the scene today. The plant and tanks are all gone now, replaced by wilderness where the land has been cleared and plant life has retaken the area. For perspective, that road in the middle is Sunset Boulevard and at the very bottom of the picture is the Concrete Ship. Photographs courtesy of George Rea
exit zero
79 June 2013
white dust. “The problem was there was a ledge and if you fell off the ledge, nobody would know you were down there,” he said, noting he refused to handle the task. Washington said he wasn’t offered an air pack or other breathing apparatus. “In today’s operation, probably 50 percent of what they did you would not be allowed to do today.” His father, James R. Washington Sr, spent 25 years working at the plant as a laborer, bricklayer and later as a boiler operator. He said the plant paid good wages and workers tended to stay on the job for many years. Lawrence Washington’s grandfather worked at the Cape May Sand Plant that occupied part of the property that would later become the magnesite plant. Railroad tracks from the sand plant still appear near the beach after storm tides. Marvin Hume, proprietor of Sunset
Beach Gift Shop Hume and nationally known for his sunset flag ceremonies that honor veterans, was the closest neighbor to the magnesite plant. His miniature golf course was built on former factory property. Whatever was coming from the plant’s smoke stack apparently was not toxic to humans — Hume is 92 years old. Magnesite has several uses related to steel furnaces. Hume said if a steel plant had a problem with an aging furnace, workers would throw shovelfuls of magnesite into the furnace to seal up small cracks. Magnesite was also sent to a factory in Baltimore where silica was added to make firebricks for new furnaces, he said. “Those bricks sold for about $10 to $12 a piece,” said Hume. When demand for fire bricks dried up, the factory produced magnesium for use in antacids, he said. Former workers told Hume if they had a bellyache they would dip their fingers in the magnesium and suck it off their fingers, providing a quick cure for their stomach ailments. The factory left behind a landscape that
has been described as a moonscape, due to the layers of white magnesite coating the ground. Hume said he took a few friends on a tour of the plant after it closed and the appearance of the plant actually scared them. He said there was talk of filming a movie of an alien invasion on the property. “It was just a big overwhelming place,” said Hume. There were five storage tanks on the site. He recalls a shut-off valve failing on a tank, sending magnesite cascading down Sunset Boulevard. The magnesite was two inches deep around his gift shop building. “It went down to the beach evidently with quite a bit of force because it gouged a V-shaped trough four feet deep and from there it when on into the bay,” said Hume. Factory workers arrived with a bulldozer and cleaned up as much as possible. Wherever it ran, it created a crust over the sand. Years later, a handyman trying to install a post outside the Sunset Beach Gift Shop struck something he mistook for cement. It was magnesite, said Hume.
The interior of the magnesite plant — it left behind an environmental mess that resembled a moonscape.
Now In Stock! Fire Power Super Soaking Fire Hose Set Blast water over 30 feet with just one pump!
Cape May’s source for window coverings since 1973 Family owned and operated for 40 years Fully licensed and insured
The
Open Every Day!
Toy Shop of Cape May
Shutters, blinds, shades, woven woods, draperies Desatnick’s Window Fashions 609-884-2545 desatnicks.com
exit zero
Wildly Imaginative Toys
Fun for the Kids ... and grownups too! 510 Washington Street Mall Cape May (609) 884-0442
80 June 2013
EMPTY BASKETS. PHOTOGRAPH. 2013 FRANK SMITH.
Come Back and Enjoy Some Fine Art Gail Pierson Gallery celebrates the opening of its fifth season! We are now open and welcome you to a calendar of exhibits and events, with plenty of opportunities to find a special piece of original art, meet the artists, hear live jazz, and enjoy good food and conversation.
Save the Date July 6
Art Opening and reception for Judith Anderson Saturday, July 6 - 6-9 pm Returning to Cape May with new work
The Gallery features artists from the region and all over the east coast, via painting, photography, pen and ink, collage, fabric, sculpture, pottery and video. Just to name a few, regularly featured artists include: Matt Lively, Richmond VA; Nancy Tankersley, Easton MD; Judith Anderson, Richmond VA; Jack Bingham, Lancaster PA; Ellen Priest, Wilmington DE; Dressler Smith, Philadelphia PA; Joe Rademan, Sewell NJ; Virginia Parker, Atlanta GA; and Tally Forbes, Boston MA. The gallery is home to talented south Jersey artists Joan D’Avanzo, Peter Ehlinger, Chuck Law, Cynthia O’Connor, Frank Smith, Mike Sperlak, Nancy von Halle, Toni Lee Vosika, and Pat Wenzel. The Gail Pierson Gallery is open all year and welcomes new artists and art lovers from all over to Cape May. June Hours: Friday to Monday Noon to 5 pm.
658 Washington Street | Cape May | 609.884.2585 gailpiersongallery.com | www.facebook/GailPiersonGallery | Twitter @GailPierson exit zero
81 June 2013
The dust from the plant was blamed for killing trees near the plant and in neighboring Cape May Point. Before the factory opened, Sunset Boulevard was flanked by a forest of trees, said Hume. He said dust from the factory killed all the trees along the road. Lawrence Washington said the dead trees gave the appearance of a petrified forest. Some members of the Sportsman’s Club, located next to the factory, found the paint on their cars damaged from whatever it was the plant was spewing into the air, said Hume. The factory paid for the cars to be repainted. An urban legend prevalent in the 1960s tells the story of an unfortunate swimmer who was sucked into the 1,500-foot-long seawater intake pipe of the magnesite plant and drowned. Hume said he was unfamiliar with the tale, though Lawrence Washington said he believed the story was true and was related to damage to the intake pipe during a 1962 nor’easter. In later years, when environmental reg-
The plant’s railroad loading area, looking toward the Delaware Bay.
ulations for air pollution went into effect, scrubbers were installed on the factory’s smoke stack which ended the white dust coating nearby areas, said Hume. After the factory closed, a contractor appeared at Hume’s gift shop, looking for heavy equipment in order to tear down the factory’s tall smoke stack. Hume advised him to look towards Philadelphia for equipment. The contractor told Hume they were not allowed to explode the plant’s tall smoke stack. “One dark night everything was quiet, 2:30 or 3 o’clock in the morning, and all of a sudden the whole stack fell down,” he said. “I talked with a couple of neighbors and they heard a boom and then a big thud so I think they kind of coaxed it down with a little dynamite.” The factory’s water tower remains on the property. Its survival coincided with an effort to sell the property for a new use. Developers offered plans for a six-story exit zero
82 June 2013
hotel, condominiums, a shopping center and a restaurant. Hume said the factory’s owners sent offers to sell the land, more than 100 acres, to more than 50 developers, but nothing came of it. The water tower, which remains today, was left in place so it could provide water pressure. Hume said a meeting was held with Lower Township’s Planning Board with developers providing a “glowing report” of what they hoped to build on the former factory property, including a small marina. He said the Townbank Volunteer Fire Department Chief told the board its response time for fires would be too long and it did not have the equipment to fight a six-story hotel fire. He said another official spoke of the small water main on Sunset Boulevard built only to supply water to tiny Cape May Point. At the meeting, an official from the state Green Acres program said his agency had attempted repeatedly to contact the owners to purchase the property to become a haven for wildlife but had never received a response.
SMELLS GREAT LOOKS TANTALIZING WONDERFUL FOR BODY AND SOUL BOOKS • INCENSE • ACCESSORIES MUSIC • JEWELRY • SKIN CARE AND OTHER UNUSUAL GOODIES
JACKSON STREET & CARPENTER’S LANE, CAPE MAY 800-777-8027 • 609-884-0014 • goodscentscapemay.com
CAROLINE BOUTIQUE CAROLINE BOUTIQUE
for souvenirs as unique as the memories you created
authentic Cape May elements crafted into one of a kind jewelry custom work available select pieces now available at
White
Viviane Rowan Design 605 Hughes Street
MariaLouiseHigh.com
•
on FaceBook as littlebluestudio
exit zero
83 June 2013
• Johnny Was • Chan Luu • Susana Monaco • Velvet • Splendid • Michael Stars
Velvet • James Perse • Ella Moss • Eileen Fisher • Sanctuary • Johnny Was •
Michael Stars • James Perse • Ella Moss • Eileen Fisher • Sanctuary
“The next day Green Acres got a call because there was no way the developers could put money into something and not have a guarantee of water,” said Hume. A remnant of the factory has played a large role in Hume’s life. The flagpole used for his sunset flag ceremonies came from the magnesite factory. The factory told Hume could have the pole if he moved it and Coast Guard volunteers were used to relocate it. In 1999, the site was designated as open space by the state Green Acres program. Magnesite on the grounds of the factory produced soil that was highly alkaline, preventing the growth of native grasses. A four to six-foot layer of dredge spoils was placed over the magnesite waste and grass seeds planted. Grass has grown on the site but only species that tolerate salt from the dredge spoils and the alkalinity of the magnesite. In a few years, the magnesite plant may only exist in the memories of long-time residents and on pages of history books. One year ago, the Cape May Maritime Museum and Education Center, a nonprofit organization, showed conceptual plans to build a replica of an 1876 life-saving station on the site. The original life-saving station was moved from the Philadelphia World’s Fair Exposition in 1877 to Steam Boat Landing, the current Sunset Beach area and destroyed by a storm in 1954, says Kevin Maloney, president of the maritime museum. The cost to build the replica and clean up debris from the magnesite plant is estimated at $900,000, he said. Two state Division of Fish and Wildlife officials have endorsed the project, said Maloney. The last hurdle for the museum is to obtain a land use permit from the DEP for the site. Plans call for removing the remnants of the magnesite plant’s seawater intake pipe, hauling away broken pieces of concrete and jagged steel bulkheads, restoring dunes on the property and expanding an existing parking area. Maloney said he believed the plant’s water tower will be demolished by the state Division of Fish and Wildlife. If all of that is accomplished, the formerly blighted site will consist of fields of grass and a life-saving museum replica as a good neighbor to the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities’ World War II observation tower and the concrete ship.
There are plans to build a replica of this 1876 lifesaving station on the site of the former magnesite plant exit zero
} magnesite memories The following recollections from Cape May natives are excerpted from Ben Miller’s new book Cape May Moments, to be published by Exit Zero next year... GEORGE REA: “In an effort to stay profitable and continue to operate the magnesite plant, management tried an experiment selling the white filter cake to Maalox. It was one of the things used in making magnesite and it was almost the same thing as Maalox. The main difference was that it contained salt, since the baked limestone was slaked with seawater... I have seen some workmen drink a glassful even though it was laced with seawater salt. Actually it didn’t taste bad. Good after a hangover. “As far as pollution of the earth around the plant, there is at least one of almost everything known to man in the dump between the magnesite plant and Davey’s Lake. Oil, mercury, acids, metal, you name it. While the area looks barren now, just 18 inches under the soil is cut-off steel and wooden pilings and pipes. On occasions, someone would go to the lab and get a bottle of mercury, bring it back to the lunch room and rub on to coins to shine them while eating. When done, we would throw out the left over in the trash, which went to the dump. “We used to take bags of asbestos and mix with our hands in a tub, then spread to fill cracks in the kiln burner pipe and other places. After mixing and spreading with our bare hands, we would break for lunch with asbestos under our fingernails, on our hands, and eat lunch. We used an air hose to blow the dust off. “The plant was a very noisy place. There was one pair of ear cups for the whole plant, but they had to be kept in the first aid room. Most of the long-term workers had/have hearing loss. I worked there for 13 years.” ****** Jeanette Dalton: “My father was lucky enough to get in on the actual construction of the magnesite plant, around 1941-1942. He started out as a laborer when it opened and it wasn’t long before he became a foreman. When he died suddenly in 1969 he had been the track foreman for about 10 years, a job he
84 June 2013
The water tower still occupies the spot where the plant operated from 1941-83. Photo by Aleksey Moryakov, courtesy of Paramount Air loved and one that led to a deep passion for the railroad. “And since you have taken me down memory lane, I have to relate the story of my mother and father going for midnight swims (when she picked him up after working the 4-12 shift) in the low-water holding tank on the left of the entrance to the plant. And that catwalk above it is where my dad used to go with his binoculars during the war and tell stories of seeing submarines going up the river. We didn’t believe it then, but have since learned that there were indeed enemy submarines that had gone up as far as Camden or Philadelphia.” ****** Janis Washington White: “I believe my father started at the magnesite plant right after I was born. He worked there for about 23 years. He was a bricklayer and in the late ’60s he got his boiler operator’s license and was a bolier operator until his retirement in 1977. Although my father retired from the plant in 1977, Richard Umfried, one of the managers of the plant, maintained a very close friendship with my dad. Between 2001 and 2002 Mr Umfried maintained a constant visitation routine, stopping by the house, finding my father in the hospital and when he was discharged to the nursing/rehab centers. Mr Umfried was at the hospital with my dad when he passed away in 2002. I think that’s part of the story of the magnesite plant — it not only offered a place to work but it offered positive family morale-building activities and relationships. They sponsored a Christmas party and a picnic every year for the families to enjoy.” ****** Victoria Kelly-Kuhn: “When my father, Gene Daily, Sr died in 1974, he was a foreman at the plant. Very little is written about it, but every year the employees had a Christmas party for the kids and every summer on the Cape May County Airport grounds, off Breakwater Road, they put on an unforgettable family picnic with games, races, prizes and lots of free food. I have many cherished memories of that.” exit zero
85 June 2013
The new guard
Inside Training Center Cape May, where every year the US Coast Guard puts up to 4,000 hopefuls through boot camp. We met six of them. interviews by diane stopyra PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANK WEISS
exit zero
86 June 2013
exit zero
87 June 2013
W
hat did we learn when we visited the US Coast Guard’s Training Center Cape May? Boot camp is everything it’s cracked up to be. “Recruits are constantly being yelled at, pushed to their emotional and physical limits,” said Chief Warrant Officer Donnie Brzuska. “It’s all part of a process where we disassociate them from their prior foundations and values. We replace those values with our own — honor, respect, and devotion to duty.” Eighty-three percent of the Coast Guard’s entire workforce have been “created” like this in Cape May, at the only training facility of its kind in the nation. Only four percent of applicants will be accepted for enlisted duty… the four percent who can make it through eight hours in the classroom and eight workouts a day, on only four to five hours of sleep a night. The six recruits we spoke with were in week seven of eight of their basic training, the time when, according to Donnie, they’re nearly ready for “reintegration” into society. Were we surprised by what they had to say? Sir, yes, sir. And we think you will be, too…
JOSEPH REYES 24, Dallas, Texas
difficult not looking people in the eye. You have to learn how to turn off the things you’ve always been taught.
I sold Direct TV before joining the Coast Guard. I wanted something with more excitement, and more opportunity to help people.
I got my orders and I’m headed to Seattle. I’ve never been that far north or west, but that’s part of the reason I’m doing this. I want to see different parts of the country. I want to venture far and do everything I can. Thankfully, my girlfriend likes the rain.
I’ve always been comfortable in the water. I watched a lot of Baywatch as a kid, and I thought swimming looked easy. So when I was in daycare, they asked who could swim, and I said “Me!” and then I jumped in the pool. I remember moving my arms and my legs and not going anywhere. I had to be rescued, but I was perfectly calm. I figured I’d get there eventually. You constantly have to tell yourself “They’re human, too,” so you don’t get flustered when the company commanders are yelling again.
Pushups are not the problem. I did 76 in a minute the last time they timed us. But it’s the mental part that leaves you questioning whether you can finish. They had us pick up our pens, drop our pens, and pick them up again, over and over for such a long time, I don’t even remember how long it was. On the outside, you’re calm, but that’s the kind of thing that breaks you.
I had a problem with the sense of urgency. I tend to go to la-la land. And it’s been
I took acting lessons before. Super random. I did it for two months, just for exit zero
88 June 2013
something totally out of my element. I like stepping out of the box a little bit. We did a lot of impromptu stuff, a lot of Meisner technique. So I guess in a way I’m used to being out of my comfort zone. I do miss quiet moments to myself, but you find different ways to get that in, like when you’re shining your boots, or working out in the gym. Standing in formation during the first couple of weeks, I’d lock in on the sound of the ocean. Being from Texas, this is something new for me, and it’s helped calm me down. Hidden talent? I sing pretty well in the shower... but I wouldn’t try that here. I think about the letters I get from my family, how proud they are, and the fact that I don’t want to go home and tell them I couldn’t do it. You don’t want to disappoint them or yourself. I’ve learned the harder you push, the better it feels. n
exit zero
89 June 2013
MALIK LARCHER 24, Portland, Oregon I didn’t realize it was possible to fall asleep standing up, until I joined the Coast Guard. There are no stop signs. There are no traffic lights. In a helicopter, you can hover, go backwards, or go sideways. You have to multitask; it takes both hands and feet to fly. I love the challenge of it. When I
finished flight school, I had trouble finding a job in the civilian world, and the Coast Guard allows me to combine both my passions: flying, and helping other people. I lived in Austria for the first 20 years of my life. I do think it’s helped give me a more global perspective that’s important for the military. Six sinks and eight showers for 35 people. That’s it. And everyone has to be ready in 10 to 15 minutes. I realize I once took exit zero
90 June 2013
taking my time for granted. I miss afternoon naps. I never imagined there’d be so many rules. It’s the traffic patterns that are the most stressful. Even just the path for walking to get breakfast in the galley was difficult to understand at the beginning. Now that you mention it, I do miss seeing women in regular clothing. n
ADAM RODRIGUEZ 25, Bay City, Texas I miss laughing... uncontrollably, and without restraint. When I parachute, there’s the adrenaline of knowing you’re doing something humans can’t do. Flying is falling with freedom. It’s seeing the world from a new perspective, and it’s why I’m striving to be an aviation maintenance technician. I will work on the engineering of helicopters, and be able to serve on rescue teams. I want to share with my wife again. Of course there are rough times at boot camp, but we get to do amazing things, like firefighting and marksmanship, and I wish I could express that joy to her. A friend sent me a gallon bag of homemade cookies. That doesn’t go over well at basic training, and I assumed we’d be incentively trained for them, with pushups and sit-ups and squats before
bed. But our company commander was very cool about it. She had me pick five of my shipmates, and then gave us two minutes to finish them all off.
is my best friend, and working to be an inspiration for him has been a big part of my life since he was born. I take the job of being a brother very seriously.
The sooner you can let go of everything you’re used to doing, the sooner you’ll be okay. Those first four weeks of training camp, it’s painful. The lowest point is realizing you need to forget who you are, the lifestyle you had.
Apparently, there are 140-pound coyotes in Cape May.
I am in awe of how big the seagulls are in Cape May.
It’s not about you. If you are strong at something and your shipmate is weak, you help him with that, and he helps you with something else. Humility is a huge factor. Come in with too much pride and you’re going to become humble soon. Much sooner than you think.
There is comic relief built into boot camp, but you have to learn to enjoy it internally. I was eyeing one of the company commanders recently because he was juggling. He saw me —they see everything — and he said, ‘Rodriguez, you think you can juggle?’ Normally, I can, with tennis balls and things, but he wasn’t juggling with normal things, and I failed. I won’t say what he was using. My little brother — he’ll be 21 in June — exit zero
91 June 2013
My faith does sustain me. They tell you from the beginning, if you’re used to going to church, keep going. There’s no excuse for losing that.
I didn’t realize how free we are as Americans. After basic training started, I thought, ‘Wow, we really do live amazing lives.’ The military can help you better that. But first, you have to let go of that. n
JILLIAN JOYNER 20, Seattle, Washington We started with 21 females. Now, we’re down to eight. Some got reverted, some were injured, and some quit. I don’t have a goal, except to do what is needed of me. I miss Vermont extra sharp cheddar cheese. And Bain and Indy, my two dogs. Bain isn’t the brightest. He once ran into a UPS truck in the driveway. People send letters to recruits that say, “Thank you so much for all you do for our country,” but I don’t feel like I’ve done much of anything yet. Some day. How parasites affect the brain, that’s what I’m most interested in. I’ll be applying for the neurobiology major when I return to Washington University as a reservist. Any free time we have on base, we’re studying. Or at least, we better be. I lacked military bearing and had an attitude problem. That’s why I was sent to ramp, which is boot camp inside of boot camp. We had to fill our seabags with all of our belongings, then throw them into rafts and carry the rafts. My shoulders were bruised for a long time. I love how dedicated everyone is. People are here to help out our country; no one is in it for himself. It’s very cool to be a part of that. It is difficult not to smile. The food is so much better than I was expecting. I’ve gained weight here. Slack-lining is like a tight rope you tie between two trees and balance on. That and knitting are things I did at home in Seattle often. There aren’t many similarities between Cape May and Seattle, except when it rains. My group of college friends is very close. When I left for basic training, like on the show Friends, I was living in an apartment complex where the girls are across the hall from the guys. It feels like I’m in a different world when they write me letters, talking about, say, the latest volleyball game on campus. But my spot will still be there when I get back. n exit zero
92 June 2013
exit zero
93 June 2013
LOANNA TORRANCE 32, Live Oak, Florida I expected it to be more difficult, being a female here. There is teamwork. The males jump in to help the women out, to the point where you have to tell them to back off. You need to let them know: “No, I can do this myself.” I am very into gardening at home in Live Oak, Florida. We spend a lot of time outside here, but it’s not exactly about enjoying the sunshine. The toughest part is my age. Thirtytwo isn’t old, except when you’re being compared to 18, 19, and 20-year-olds. You have kids here who can do pushups forever. Put a 32-year-old next to them and it’s a big jump, but company commanders have to judge us the same way. Some of the girls miss wearing makeup or
dresses. What I want is to lounge around in a T-shirt and a pair of sweats again. My husband just started pastoring a church, and it’s difficult being away from one another, but he knows that military is in my blood. My father was in the army, and he inspired me to do more with my life. I joined the Coast Guard because I’d always heard it’s family oriented. We talk about adopting children some day. I thought I had worked out a fair bit before starting basic training. Apparently, I hadn’t worked out hard enough. It’s a misconception. People think we’re only fighting wars, but all the jobs that exist in the civilian world exist in the Coast Guard, too. I have a degree from the Florida Institute of Technology in Marine Biology, and I hope to use it as a Marine Science Tech. We weren’t allowed coffee until everyone passed the fitness test, and that took exit zero
94 June 2013
until week seven for one girl. We were supportive of her but, then again, we really wanted our coffee. Glasses are not easy to exercise in, especially when you’re sweating, but that’s the rule. No contacts — we have to be uniform. I am on my feet every minute of the day, which led to a big problem for me — they swelled inside of my boondockers (those are our boots) — during the first couple of weeks. Then I started pulling my leg muscles. There’s no time to let an injury heal here; you just fight through it. I do think about war. There is always the chance you’ll be sent overseas. But I have a peace of mind about that. I know I’m here for a purpose, and I will fulfill that purpose. I’ll do what I need to do. n
DANIEL KELLAM, 23 Greensboro, North Carolina I was a cheerleader in college. I tried keeping that one from my company commanders as long as possible, but they found out. I was also a bartender. I went from going to bed at 5am to waking up at 5am. It was a bit of an adjustment. My mother felt skeptical. She didn’t want her little boy going off and risking his life, but she tells me through letters how proud she is. I studied business management at East Carolina University in North Carolina, but I always wanted to serve my country, ever since my 15th birthday when I saw Pearl Harbor in the theater. Corny, right? My grandfather was in the Navy, and seeing that film made me aware of the sacrifices he’d made during World War II. It took me a little over a year-and-a-half to get accepted, and I’m really glad I did. I expected Cape May to be as beautiful as it is. Friends called it a great vacation spot,
not that I’m getting to see it that way. I want to push myself to the limits. I used to work as a lifeguard, and I got the chance to save some people. The feeling of going in and knowing you’re the person who you can get them to safety, that’s something else. I’ve been itching to chase that dream ever since, so I’m headed to aviation survival technical school, or rescue swimmer school. There are only 200 rescue swimmers in the entire Coast Guard. It’s an elite brotherhood. I have lost 15 pounds. We stand by each other. Of course there are some recruits you don’t get along with, but for the most part you get along with each other because you have to. We messed up. We were late coming back from the chow hall, and then some recruits said some dumb things. Our lead company commander got pretty fired up, so we did push-ups, crunches, squats, flutter cakes, planks, and the dead coackroch position, which is really painful. Then we read out of the Coast exit zero
95 June 2013
Guard Manual, the section on discipline, at the top of our lungs with our arms outstretched. By the end, we were all drenched. If anyone says they haven’t had moments of doubt, they’re liars. On our dream sheets, we listed four spots. All of mine were along the eastern seaboard, but for the last one, just as a throwaway, I said, “What the heck? How about Kodiak, Alaska?” I got my orders, and that’s where I’m headed after graduation, probably for a two-year stay. My girlfriend? She has another year in school in North Carolina. I am a shy guy. That’s not an option here. You have to put yourself out there. And you have to be loud. We recited a pledge the other night for two-and-a-half hours. At the end, it says we will think about the families of the citizens of the US, and we will treat them with as much respect as we will treat our own. That’s the purpose. If it means giving up your life, it means giving up your life. n
Inspired by Nature, Beautiful Home and Garden Decor for You and the Birds.
109 Sunset Boulevard West Cape May (609) 898-8871 birdhouseofcapemay.com
exit zero
96 June 2013
A fun new farce from Cape May Stage By Catherine Dugan
S
howbusiness, as we often hear, is rumored to be full of spoiled performers who show up late, abuse their castmates and demand outrageous perks, but the actors of Cape May Stage beg to differ. They paint a picture of professionals who work together to create something memorable. The only time they point fingers is to call attention to each other’s talents, and the only perks they seek are found on Cape May’s sandy beaches. When the functional company that is Cape May Stage takes a look at a dysfunctional opera company in Ken Ludwig’s Lend Me a Tenor, which opens June 13, the result is a comic delight. Cape May Stage Artistic Director Roy Steinberg has brought familiar faces to town for Lend Me A Tenor. Veteran Chris Dolman will direct a cast which includes Steinberg and another face familiar to Cape May audi-
Barry Phillips and Lynn Cohen in Cape May Stage’s current production of How To Make A Rope Swing. The theater company’s upcoming show, Lend Me A Tenor, opens June 13.
Happy Baby Baby Boutique Always carrying a stunning variety of antique, estate and designer jewelry; clothing, shoes and accessories.
315 Washington Commons - daily 10-5 Victorious of Congress Hall - daily 10-5 Pink by Victorious at the Pink House - daily 10-5 in The Pink House 33 PERRY ST, CAPE MAY 609.898.1113
AT CONGRESS HALL 251 BEACH AVENUE CAPE MAY
exit zero
Made in the Beautiful Usa • Certified Organic Babiators • Unusual baby items Jelly Cats • Hats of all kinds Handmade Original Wipey Wallets One of a kind • Egyptian Cottons Baby Shower Registry 106 Jackson Street
97 June 2013
|
609-884-5922
ences, actor Scott Greer. The show is a Tony award-winning farce, full of mistaken identities, romantic confusion, doors opening and closing, and actors in their underwear. It’s 1934 when self-involved opera superstar Tito Merelli, known as Il Stupendo, arrives at an Ohio opera house to sing Otello. He is late, and mishaps render him unable to perform. A surprising understudy takes over, and the evening is secure, until Il Stupendo awakes and there are two Otellos running around being mistaken for each other. Merelli reportedly was inspired by the tenor Placido Domingo. Instead of being insulted, Domingo loved the show, but insisted that he identified more with Max, the singing gofer who saves the day — proving that everyone loves the story of the understudy who gets to be a star. Lend Me A Tenor took Broadway by storm when it debuted in 1989, earning multiple awards and instant recognition as a classic farce. Summer is the perfect time for farce, Steinberg notes. “Summer is a time to relax. I wait until fall to begin a Tolstoy novel. The
same is true for the theatre. Farce is pure fun — there is no presumption of weighty intellectual or philosophical treatises — there’s no intention other than a hearty laugh.” Greer agrees: “It makes no sense to do Ibsen in July.” That’s why Cape May Stage will follow Lend Me a Tenor with another farce — when Steinberg and Dolman will trade jobs. Dolman directs Steinberg in Lend Me a Tenor, but their roles will be reversed later in the summer, when Dolman returns to Cape May as an actor for Boeing, Boeing. “I’m directing Roy, and then he’ll get to direct me,” Dolman says. With a relatively large cast of eight, Steinberg says Lend Me a Tenor is “the largest cast we have ever assembled.” The logistical concerns faced by Saunders, the general manager in Lend Me a Tenor, are familiar. Steinberg admits finding housing for the large cast was a challenge, saying, “Part of the reason my wife [actor/director Marlena Lustik] and I are in this play is that we don’t need to find two more bedrooms.” Their resumes probably carried a little weight as well — both are Broadway veterans who
have already impressed Cape May audiences. Dolman says Lend Me a Tenor is an ambitious show for any theater, because it is “high energy, high stakes, fast-paced.” Like Steinberg, Dolman looks forward to the challenge. It’s “going to be wonderful to put all these people together, including some who will experience Cape May Stage for the first time,” he says. It will be “fun to see how we all mesh and form an ensemble.” Forming an ensemble should be easier this year, with so many actors returning. “Every show this season has at least one cast member who has been here before,” says Steinberg. “Talent keeps coming back because they know they will be protected. We surround them with high production values and other artists who are at the top of their game.” And, Steinberg continues, the Cape May audiences are “sophisticated, intelligent and appreciative of good work. The talent has remarked that they love performing here because the town embraces them.“ Director Chris Dolman agrees that the Cape May audience is “generous to the art-
There’s a little bit of heart and soul in everything we make. Beautiful, original tees, clothing and accessories, designed and made here on the island.
130 park boulevard west cape may • 609-884-2760 theflyingfishstudio.com
exit zero
98 June 2013
Weddings by the Sea
THE WEDDING SHOPPE
Beachy Invitations, Favors, Tiaras, Veils, Jewelry, Sand Sets, Accessories
WEDDING PLANNING
The Beach Wedding Experts Catherine J. Walton PBC/ABC Hourly & Wedding Day Services
BEACH CEREMONY RENTALS Chairs, Arbors, Feather Banners, Sand Pour Ceremonies, Decorating
capemayweddingsbythesea.com catherine@weddings-bythesea.com 139 Broadway, West Cape May 609-884-7900 Open All Year
MARCANTHONYPHOTO.COM
Cape May Sports Memorabilia Large selection of high quality vintage sports cards & memorabilia at reasonable prices. Current Stars, Hall of Famers and Rookies Certified Autographed Items Vintage Yearbooks, Programs & Publications
Located in Cape May at Antiques Emporia 405 W. Perry Street Phone: 609-898-3332 email: SprtsCardsRus@aol.com www.capemaysportsmemorabilia.com exit zero
99 June 2013
ists.” Dolman first came to Cape May in the late 1980s, when his good friend and founder of Cape May Stage, the late Michael Laird, told him of his dream to bring an Equity theater to town. Dolman found friends in the Cape May community, and because Cape May is such a “beautiful place, it’s an unbeatable combination.” Dolman, whose resonant voice immediately betrays him as a voiceover artist and actor as well as a director, also teaches acting and audition techniques at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. He has directed Fathers & Sons and Date with a Stranger in New York, as well as shows like Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Talley’s Folley, and The Kathy & Mo Show. As an actor, Dolman, who is often mistaken on the subway for Bill Murray, has worked Off-Broadway and on television and radio. An MFA graduate of the Florida State University/Asolo Conservatory, Dolman credits Cape May Stage with many special moments in his career. As a teacher, he delights in hearing about the roles his students win. Although social media lets him
Scott Greer in the 2011 Philadelphia production of Mistakes Were Made. Photograph by Mark Garvin
keep in touch to some extent, Cape May Stage allowed him to have a front row seat when one student was cast in his first professional role — because he cast him. As director of Red in 2011, Dolman chose RJ Barnett to play opposite Roy Steinberg, and he was proud to see his student go “toe to toe with a professional like Roy.” Although Dolman loves Cape May, he anticipates little downtime to enjoy it while he is directing Lend Me a Tenor, because “we’ll rehearse all day and then I’ll work on technical stuff
like sound design at night.” He plans to get some exercise strolling through town or on the promenade, “just soaking up Cape May, and maybe rollerblading a little.” Scott Greer also looks forward to soaking up Cape May. As Greer recalls, a role in a Cape May Stage production has always been “mutually fortunate,” even in the years before the renovation of the Robert Shackleton Playhouse, when Cape May Stage shared space with the Welcome Center and a tiny office served as the dressing room. These days, he says, it is “pure luxury.” Cape May was a “great place to work when we were a young couple” — Greer’s wife is actor/ writer/director Jennifer Childs — “and now it’s great as a family.” Although Greer hails from Georgia, there’s no trace of a southern accent in his voice, although he says it shows up “after a few bourbons.” Greer studied at Adelphi University and earned an internship at the Walnut Street Theater in Philadelphia. He ”planned to stay in Philly for a year,” but he “kept being cast” in roles, so he never left, and he has been called “one of Philadel-
NEW OILS ON CANVAS AND BOARD. SEASCAPES AND LANDSCAPES.
Contemporary & Estate Jewelry
NOW AVAILABLE. VISIT MY GALLERY OR SEE THEM AT MY SHOWS...
We Buy Diamonds, Gold and Silver!
Upcoming Shows Promenade Art Show July 12-13-14 Art In The Park West Cape May July 20 & August 17 Promenade Craft Show August 10 & 11 Summer Send Off Promenade August 31 & September 1
Patricia Rainey Studios
609-886-4863 | patriciaraineystudios.com exit zero
511 Washington Street Mall, Cape May (next to Fudge K itchen) • (609) 898-8786 Other Location: 15 N. Black Horse Pike, Runnemede • (856) 939-0230
100 June 2013
Learn to capture the essence of the seashore... in summer events with artist Marie Natale. “ LO O K I N G BAC K - M OV I N G F O RWA R D ” O c e a n C i t y i n Wa t e r c o l o r by M a r i e N a t a l e
July 2-30, 9:00am-9:00pm Ocean City Art Center 1735 Simpson Avenue 609.399.7628 Artists Reception July 12 7-8:30pm
” “SUMMER RIDES ON THE BOARDWALK
Marie uses her brush and the beauty of watercolors to create before and after images of iconic Ocean City locations such as the Flanders Hotel and the Ocean City Bridge, both of which have undergone recent changes. In addition, favorite family memories are captured on the beach and boardwalk, covering many generations.
S U M M ER W EEK LY e n P LEI N E A I R WO R KS H O P S 9:30am - 3:30pm Locations change every week. Contact Marie at 609-214-9905 Leave tight, drab, laborious style behind and take your paintings to a new level. Join Marie as she guides you on a journey exploring your inner artist, showing you a fearless method of using the vibrancy of color, and understanding the importance of color theory and the values of contrast, light and shadow in your work.
” “DAPPLED SHADOWS ON WHITE
A signature member of both NJWCS and Philadelphia WCS, Board member of NJWCS, Marie Natale is an award winning and highly recognized artist who says her goal in life is to use her talents to make the world a brighter place while she continues to share with others the joy that art has brought into her life.
phia’s most likable actors.” Although he is drawn to comedy, Greer has tackled a wide range roles, from Lenny in Of Mice and Men, to Mitch in A Streetcar Named Desire, to Thenardier, the sleazy Master of the House in Les Miserables. He looks forward to singing in Lend Me a Tenor, but says his style will be more “square” than in Les Mis, because opera demands the “full, purest sound.” Greer’s wife and their daughter will visit this summer for time on the beach. “It’s like a paid vacation,” he says, though he jokes that it’s “probably against several local ordinances” for him to surf. He looks forward to Cape May’s “great restaurants, walks through West Cape May, visits to the lighthouse and the Nature Center, and picking up ingredients from the farm stands to cook great meals.” Greer will follow Lend Me a Tenor with Parade at the Arden and Big Time for 1812 Productions. While Cape May Stage has evolved into a theater family, the performers lack any sort of sibling rivalry — each is eager to heap praise upon the others. All agree that the bad behavior that adds so much humor to Lend
WHALE’S
TALE
Me a Tenor is rare in the theater community. According to Greer, “you don’t work” if you behave that way. He recalls only one performer in his 20-year career who “refused to go on” and “made the stage manager and the crew cry.” Unlike in the play, it “was not funny at all!” Steinberg says, “I have worked with many stars and most of them have been a delight. Sometimes we deal with demanding artists but once they get here and see how much we care about our product, they relax.” Dolman agrees, saying I “rarely have any trouble with actors” who tend to be “generous, team players” working to “produce their best on opening night.” While the spoiled performer in Lend Me A Tenor does not ring true, Steinberg, Dolman and Greer insist the plot point about a talented backstage worker stepping in is realistic. Theater is “internally multidisciplinary,” Greer says, and encountering hidden talent “happens ALL the time. People are drawn to these jobs because they have a love, and there is a bit of a performer in all of us.” Steinberg agrees, “I’m constantly surprised by the range of talent in behind-the-scenes
theater people. We opened the season with a premier written by one of our set designers.” (Shawn Fisher wrote How to Make a Rope Swing.) Dolman also praised Fisher as he spoke of uncovering hidden talents. Fisher did the sets for Red, which Dolman directed, and he notes that Red introduced him to other talents in the Cape May community, like Cape May artist Victor Grasso, who created the paintings that represented Rothko’s work in the play. Steinberg says, “Several of our stage managers have been singers or actors. Our interns are amazing and all of Cape May will see their talents throughout the season.” Dolman recalls being particularly impressed by one teenage intern working on the Cape May Stage production of The Drawer Boy in 2004. That former intern, Michele Sinacore, is now the professional costume designer who will dress the Lend Me a Tenor cast, and Dolman is thrilled that she’ll be bringing the 1930s to life with her expertise. Lend Me a Tenor opens June 13, and runs Tuesdays through Sundays at 8 through July 26. Visit capemaystage.org for more information.
GALLERY
513 CARPENTER’S L ANE • 609.846.7100 exit zero
102 June 2013
white
Viviane Rowan Design 6 0 5 H u ghe s St r eet C ape M ay N J 0 8 2 0 4 P hone 6 0 9 8 8 4 - 5 0 6 1
Transcend Come
t h e c lu tt e r .
visit our stylish shop
where elegant and unique home furnishings, g i f ts a n d j e w e l ry r es i d e .
exit zero
103 June 2013
East Lynne’s summer blockbuster By Gayle Stahlhuth “Theater should contribute to the spiritual life of a nation.” – Uta Hagen, actress and teacher
O
ne of the most challenging aspects of running a theater company is selecting a season. Even before one production season is launched, I have to think about the next one. I receive more than a hundred scripts a year from playwrights all over the country with varying backgrounds and experience. I read and research American plays written before 1940, still stunned that so many excellent scripts have been neglected; seeking ways to trim a cast size here or there so it is affordable to produce. Living half of the year in Manhattan allows me the opportunity to experience all sorts of theater, from resurrected classics at Metropolitan Playhouse, to new dance pieces at St. Mark’s, to so many companies like La Mama, The Public, Playwrights Horizons, and WorkShop Theater Company, where a variety of new works are first produced. In February, 2012, my husband, Lee O’Connor and I, attended Lost on the Natchez Trace at Abingdon Theatre Company on West 36th Street. Not only did the topic intrigue me, but it was written by Jan Buttram, the company’s Artistic Director, and someone I’ve known for more than thirty years. At the end of the performance, Lee and I looked at each other — we had to bring it to Cape May. In the lobby, Jan was being congratulated by patrons. Not wanting to take her away from the time-honored duty of bidding everyone goodnight, I quickly said, “I’d like to open our 2013 season with your wonderful show. We’ll talk tomorrow.” After Natchez Trace completed its run, receiving good houses and reviews, Jan and
I discussed the show’s future. Although pleased with the recent production, she was eager to revisit her work and thrilled to have the opportunity of another production. So many plays get only one shot, and are never seen again. The Natchez Trace journey began in 2008, when Peter Brouwer, a founding member of Abindgon, gave Jan the idea for a character — an American slave auctioneer. exit zero
104 June 2013
“At first I recoiled in horror,” said Jan, “then I became intrigued by the challenge to create a working-class character who was mired in one of our country’s greatest moral lapses — eighty-nine years of the legal institution of slavery.” After two years of research and writing, she finished her first draft in 2010. With the help of Peter, who portrayed the auctioneer, and director Kate Bushmann, the piece went through a workshop pro-
Have Ellen and Jennifer turn your old fur into a beautiful teddy bear...
... a gift from the heart.
Mother Grimm’s Bears (609) 886-1200 mothergrimmsbears.com
RIDE with MARK Cape May Bike Tours
Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air... ride with Mark! Jan Buttram’s production of Lost on the Natchez Trace is “an emotional inferno,” according to The New York Times. The show opens at East Lynne Theater Company on June 12.
cess, with more revisions. Leopold Lowe was cast as the runaway slave and in 2012 Lost on the Natchez Trace received a full production. The play takes place in 1825 after a major storm in the Natchez Trace, which for nearly thirty years was the route for farmers to get their goods from Kentucky to New Orleans. When steam boats became popular on the Mississippi in the 1820s, travel on the Trace was greatly exit zero
Mark leads a variety of bike tours. Visit us online for tour details, dates & times... or call 609.780.7088. Offering private guided rides as well!
Yoga Meet Up with Mark
Finding your yoga just got easier...
see ridewithmarkcapemay.com for details RidewithMarkcapemay@gmail.com
105 June 2013
Like us on Facebook!
reduced. Today, the Natchez Trace Parkway is a tourist destination but in 1825 it was a ghostly swamp, tangled with vines and rotted trees. At the beginning of the play, slave auctioneer Malcolm Jeters has fallen from his mule, injured and starving. He yells for help and Tom, a runaway slave, appears, offering him a sliver of hope in this vast swampland. The meeting triggers a desperate negotiation for Malcolm’s rescue. “Discovering the play over four years, the modern day parallels have been abundant and continuous,” Jan explained. “Society continues to profit from human suffering. How can we rationalize any form of human bondage? The ordinary citizen’s mindset when faced with choosing good over evil continues to drift.” Due to prior commitments, neither Peter Brouwer nor Leopold Lowe is reprising their roles, but Jan and I are pleased to welcome Tom Byrn, Leon Morgan, and Stephanie Garrett. One of the changes from the New York production is the addition of a woman to the cast.
Tom, playing the auctioneer, is wellknown to ELTC patrons for his performances in It Pays to Advertise, He and She, The Dictator and The Ransom of Red Chief — he has received excellent reviews in The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Wall Street Journal. Also a writer and director, Tom has been working on Historical Spout-Offs, based on letters-to-the-editor in Cape May County newspapers through 1920. ELTC has presented two staged readings of this work to enthusiastic audiences. Tom was in Ohio when I sent him the script for Lost on the Natchez Trace. It didn’t take him long to call to say, “I can’t wait to start working on it.” Leon Morgan had the same reaction when offered the part of the runaway slave. A native New Yorker, he’s a graduate of the William Esper Studio, ranked one of the best professional acting programs in the country. Recently, he performed in Gym Shorts at 777 Theater in NYC, and his work in independent films includes Transatlantic Coffee. Stephanie Garrett, who makes her
home in Philadelphia, Florida, and Cape May, was in ELTC’s Christmas in Black and White, Women and the Vote, and Rain. As a storyteller, she has worked at Historic Cold Spring Village, and is a popular performer for ELTC’s Tales of the Victorians, where company members read short stories on the porches of B&Bs. When she retired as a Sociologist and Human Resources Manager for the Federal Government, she received the Meritorious Service Award, the highest award given by the Department of Navy to a civilian employee. Stephanie and her husband, Rod, have actually explored all of the Natchez Trace Parkway on their motorcycles. When I asked her about the experience, she said, “There are some spooky places you wouldn’t find me spending the night.” Rehearsals began on May 27 in Cape May. Jan had just returned from China where Abingdon’s production of The Last Will, directed by and starring Austin Pendleton was greeted with open arms after its well-reviewed run in Manhattan. Back in the 1970s, Jan and I met when
When was the last time you took a moment for yourself and your health? What would it be like to: • • • • • • •
have more energy? look and feel younger? get rid of mood swings, depression and anxiety? lose that stubborn 5 or 10 last pounds that just won’t come off? eliminate your sugar and carbohydrates addiction and get off the emotional roller-coaster? sort through all the confusing and conflicting information out there? give up “dieting” forever?
Could one conversation change your life? Why not schedule a consultation with me today?
Mary Lou Gartland, R.N., Certified Holistic Health Coach • 609-820-0002 exit zero
106 June 2013
Inspired by the sea, crafted on the premises
RADIANT-CUT DIAMONDS • COLORED GEMSTONES FRESHWATER PEARLS • SEALIFE COLLECTION ON-PREMISES JEWELERS FREE CLEANING AND INSPECTION WHILE YOU WAIT
Patricia Jackson Jewelers 414 BANK STREET, CAPE MAy (609) 884-0323 PATJACKSONJEWELERS.com Friend Us on Facebook!
exit zero
107 June 2013
we were acting in New York’s off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway scene. After graduating from the University of North Texas, she began her professional theater career as an actress with the New Orleans Repertory Theatre under the direction of June Havoc. Touring productions and regional theater took us out of Manhattan; she going one way, and me in another, but we had both started writing. My first major work was produced in 1981 at Pennsylvania Stage Company: a musical based on Walt Whitman titled aptly enough Song of Myself, and then other plays and productions followed. Meanwhile, Jan’s plays found homes in New York at York Theatre, Pulse Ensemble Theatre, Circle Rep Lab, and Lightning Strikes Theatre Company. She received commissions to create works for Capital Rep and Greenbrier Valley Theatre. Her plays include Glory Girls, Zona, The Ghost of Greenbrier, Private Battles, and Phantom Killer. Her short plays are published in several anthologies by Heineman Books and included in Smith and Kraus’ “Best Ten
Jan Buttram has received acclaim for her production of Lost on the Natchez Trace.
Minute Plays of 2011.” A founding member of the not-forprofit Abindgon Theatre Company, dedicated to developing and producing new plays by American playwrights, Jan is entering her twentieth season as the company’s Artistic Director. As Artistic Director of the not-for-
profit East Lynne Theater Company, dedicated to producing American stage classics and American literature and history-based new works, I’m entering my fifteenth year. I couldn’t think of a better way to begin the season than by producing such a terrific, thought-provoking New Jersey premiere, written by a comrade-in-arms. Tickets are $30 general admission, $25 for seniors (ages 62 and over), $15 for full-time students, and anyone ages 12 and under is free. For reservations and information, call ELTC at 609-884-5898 or visit eastlynnetheater.org. Dine at The Washington Inn, 410 Bank Street, Frescos Seafood Trattoria, or Aleathea’s at the Inn of Cape May for ticket-price savings. ELTC, with Cape May Film Society, presents Amazing Grace on June 30 at 8:30pm as part of its Sunday Film Series. This 2006 film, shown to accompany Lost on the Natchez Trace and commemorate the 150th Anniversary of America’s Emancipation Proclamation, is about William Wilberforce’s battle to abolish slavery in England in the late 1700s. Tickets are $10.
} when to see the show
Sun protection clothing to protect you from the harmful rays of the sun 50+ UVA UVB protection... Made in the USA!
Lost on the Natchez Trace runs from June 12 through July 20, with an 8:30pm curtain, and a Wednesday-Saturday schedule, except there is no show on Thursday, July 4, and an added show on Sunday, July 7. On opening night, Wednesday, June 12, there is an after-show party at Pier House Restaurant, 1317 Beach Avenue. It’s a great opportunity to mingle with theater professionals and fellow theater lovers. } special Q&A with the cast and crew
On Friday, June 21, an after-show Q&A will be held with the cast and crew, and the production will be accompanied by an American Sign Language Interpretation. ELTC performs in the historic First Presbyterian Church, 500 Hughes Street, a block off the beach at the corner of Hughes and Decatur in Cape May. } rave reviews for “lost on the natchez trace”
“Buttram gives her characters a moving humanity, and Lost on the Natchez Trace is a cautionary reminder of the inhumanity of which man has been and still is capable.” – Ron Cohen, Back Stage
Colleen Dougherty Bronstein Designer/Artist
“A powerful, carefully-crafted play igniting a debate on what it takes to be a moral person and how far we would go for those values.” – Curtain Up
www.sunthreadz.com colleen@bronsteinartwork.com 215-805-6002
“Talented playwright Jan Buttram has created a richly textured encounter epitomizing the immorality and searing particulars of slavery on a human scale. good and evil... The play is masterfully structured.” – Alix Cohen, Women Around Town exit zero
108 June 2013
Give your Old Man t he Old Man of t he Sea t his Fat her’s Day
This masculine soap has hints of Bay Rum balanced with soothing chamomile tea over a bed of French green clay. Men love it because it’s rich enough for bathing and shaving —and women admit they love it for the same reasons! A Place on Earth 526 Washington Street Mall 609-898-0039 aplaceonearth.com
Bayshore Shopping Plaza 3845 Bayshore Road, North Cape May (near the Acme Market) 609.846.7643 Open Mon thru Sat 10am-5pm (Fri. until 7pm!) 302 N Route 9, CMCH, Hospital Campus 609.465.5553 Open 10am to 4pm
A ll
proceeds benefit
C ape R egional M edical C enter . exit zero
109 June 2013
born
Christina Davis has a dream... she wants to share her love of Cape May and her love of running. Ready to join her merry band of foot soldiers? Interview by Diane Stopyra Photography by Frank Weiss
exit zero
110 June 2013
to run exit zero
111 June 2013
M
aybe you saw them last year, trotting from bar to Cape May bar on their inaugural Mug Run. Or maybe you’ll catch them this summer jogging from bakery to bakery (a sweetsthemed spin around town is on the docket for 2013). Or maybe you’ll be one of the folks who bites the bullet and joins the ranks of Cape Island Runners — the island’s first and only running group. We caught up with the group’s founding member, Christina Davis, for a quick chat about the asphalt kickers of America’s Original Seaside Resort, and why, if you haven’t yet discovered running in Cape May, you’re missing out… Do you remember your first run? I never participated in sports growing up. I’m too uncoordinated! To this day, I’m too scared to play volleyball or throw a Frisbee. But when I was 13, my eighth-grade geography teacher recruited me and all the kids who weren’t involved in something else to the cross-country team. We were supposed to be running on our own all summer. I did once, while visiting
my grandparents in Florida in 100-degree heat. I made it one block. So on the first day of practice, I started running, felt great for the first 10 seconds then had to walk. I thought, ‘What the hell did I get into? This is the worst thing ever.’ But you learned to love it? It got easier. I began to enjoy the feeling that my body could really do something. Junior high is a tough time for kids. I had glasses and big hair, and running was the thing that made me feel empowered. I’ve never stopped. Did you run in college? I went to Stockton, but I didn’t run on their team… I was too nervous a competitor. It wasn’t until after graduation, when I was living in Ocean City, that I began to enjoy racing. I connected with a running group comprised of women who were competitive, but so nurturing. We would train together, but I began to see that the race is against yourself only. Get out there and kick your own ass. If it goes great, that’s wonderful. If not, go home and eat ice cream. And since then, you’ve run… how many marathons? Five full and four half. What’s been your marathon PR? 3:54, in
exit zero
112 June 2013
Philadelphia last fall. I was so happy about the PR, and so bummed at the same time! I was running through a painful leg injury. And you’ve also run an ultra-marathon, right? Tell us about that. An ultra is anything over 26.2 miles — even 26.3! Mine was 50 miles, and I ran it a year ago. I trained for six months, but the problem with training for an ultra in South Jersey, is that most happen in more mountainous areas with lots of hills, and we don’t have many of those, save for the Cape May Bridge! I wanted to finish at Cape May Point State Park — that way, when I finished, I’d know I was home — so I plotted my route and ran one on my own. I started in Cumberland County and asked friends to join me for different parts along the way. They came along in a big caravan and turned it into an all-day party. My friend Scott Whittle ran in front of me with cute animal pictures to distract me when I felt tired. He would hold up his iPad and say, “Look! Bunnies in teacups! Monkeys and puppies!” I finished in 10 hours and 38 minutes, and it was one of the best days of my life. Later, I ordered everything on the Mad Batter’s menu.
Christina Davis (center) powwows with two veteran members of Cape Island Runners — Scott Whittle and Rochelle Sotter — about the day’s route.
ELEGANCE The Best of Cape May Only at Henry’s! FOUR-SIDED BEAD
Fits all bead bracelets!
FREE In-Home Consultation www.budgetblinds.com
609-513-8595
Exclusive HQ for Pandora Jewelry 407 Washington St. Mall, Cape May 609-884-0334 • henryscm.com
Shutters | Blinds | Shades | Draperies Hunter Douglas-Signature Series exit zero
113 June 2013
Delicious
TEAPOTS Steeped in the flavors of Cape May
waiting for you at
The Carriage House Gallery Shop
at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St. Open Daily • (609) 884-5404 • capemaymac.org Also visit
The Cape May Lighthouse Museum Shop in the Lighthouse Oil House at Cape May Point State Park Both shops operated by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC)
exit zero
What is the best post-run spot to grab a bite to eat? I love the Red Store, and I’ll often go for the multi-grain pancakes at Bella Vida. We’ll get to the joys of running in Cape May in a minute, but where’s the craziest place on the planet you’ve run? My sister and I are having a competition to see who can run in all 50 states, and who can run in the most countries. I’m beating her at states — I’ve got 23 — but she’s got more countries; I only have seven. I had a wild experience running in Costa Rican forest… howler monkeys were moving in a pack, and I could hear them getting closer. It was totally freaky! But once I saw them, I calmed down… they don’t look like they sound. New Zealand was wonderful, too. I ran on a cliff overlooking the water. Because of the way the continental shelf is there — it gets so deep so quickly — I was able to see albatross flying by! Normally, you’d have to be a bajillion miles out to sea to spot those. How long have you lived in Cape May Point? I’m originally from Salem County, a little town called Elmer, but I came to the Point via Ocean City in 2011, just before I got married. We’re not going anywhere else. We’ll be squatters if we have to. So how did Cape Island Runners come about? I prefer running down here. Whereas Ocean City is just a linear, developed barrier island, Cape May has a little of everything — trails, beach, and great people-watching in town. But I do miss the running community I had there, so last year, I decided to start my own. The goal was to run an easy three miles every Wednesday, no pressure to perform. How did it go? I get impatient sometimes, because I want there to be an instant running community here, but then I remember the group I slipped into in Ocean City had been training together for 10 or 12 years. It’s going to take a while to build that from the ground up, but we’ll get there. I envision it as being a collection of runners of varying experience levels. The idea can be intimidating, especially for people who’ve never done group running before, but we don’t leave anyone behind. We chit-chat the whole time, and I’ll run back to make sure no one is missing turns. Is it true there are a lot of naturalists in the group? Yes! I’m an endangered species biologist for the state, and we have lots of members who are birders, including my husband. Birding and running go well together. Start to get tired, and you can distract yourself with wildlife. Give us a good tip for beginners. You’re not going to experience a runner’s high right away. Get past the thinking that you can’t do it, though, because you can. If running three miles feels impossible today, then don’t think about that. If you can only run around the block, great; get out there and run around the block. And those endorphins are really worth it? Absolutely. When I’m running, I feel like the person I’m striving to be. I’m calm, not anxious or worried about the future. I try to carry that feeling with me. Describe the most beautiful you’ve ever seen Cape May on a run. Running on the beach at the state park at sunrise or sunset with the lighthouse going, skimmers flying low over water, and dolphins all over the place… that is a gift. Some people are worrying about where their food is coming from today. To have the time to be poking around on the beach, just enjoying life, it’s a gift, and running helps me connect with that. In Cape May, I spend a lot of time being grateful. If you’re interested in joining, contact Christina via the Cape Island Runners Facebook page. See Christina’s five top running routes on next page.
114 June 2013
city like Cape May should NOT be without a book store. Thanks to these guys, it isn’t...
REAL BOOKS for REAL PEOPLE.
Cape Atlantic Book Company 421 washington street mall (609) 846-7688 capeatlanticbookcompany.com exit zero
115 June 2013
Cape Island Runners isn’t just a real-life running community, but a virtual one, too. For more info on the group — or the rave runs described here by Christina Davis — check out her blog at capeislandrunners.com. On this site, you can ask for a customized route as well. Fill out a simple form to let Christina know what’s important to you — mileage, bathrooms, water fountains, scenery — and she’ll find your perfect Cape May course. “I just want everyone to experience all that running can offer,” she said. “It never takes more than it gives.”
North of Canal 6-Miler This low-traffic loop takes advantage of the bike path and quieter roads (Shunpike is a gem). Zone out and enjoy the beauty of the bike path and soak in the sights of Historic Cold Spring Village or use those straightaways to push yourself on tempo runs. Directions: Start at the entrance to the bike path on Sandman, straight on bike path, L on Breakwater, L on Shunpike, L on Sandman. Or, start at Breakwater/Shunpike intersection then treat yourself to a beer at Cape May Brewery! Terrain: Road.
4(-ish) Miler for Beach Junkies Time your run to coincide with low tide and enjoy majestic views of the lighthouse, as birds and dolphins frolick around you. Directions: Start at Nature Conservancy’s South Cape May Meadows Preserve (no entrance fee, but donations are welcome!). Follow the East Trail to the beach and turn right (towards the lighthouse). At the last jetty, exit beach onto Alexander and follow until L on Cape Ave, R on Sunset and back to TNC parking lot. Terrain: Hard-packed trail, soft sand, road.
Speedy 5k Great for speed work since the straight roads allow your momentum to build. Sunset Boulevard features a wide shoulder and Sea Grove is great for getting away from traffic. Time this run to coincide with sunset and soak in the view at Sunset Beach — then turn around and get back to work! Directions: Start at Cape May Point State Park. R on Lighthouse Avenue, R on Sea Grove , L on Sunset. Follow to end U-turn, R on Cape, quick L on Oak, R on Lighthouse and back to park. Terrain: Road.
10-Miler Training for a half-marathon? Looking to build a base for your next marathon? This offers a little bit of everything — farms, quaint downtown, a chance to ogle at the bread lady’s line on Sunset. Directions: Start at the state park, then R on Lighthouse, R on Sunset, L on Stevens, L on Bayshore, R on New England, R on Seashore, L on Grant, L on Beach, L on Howard, R on Columbia, L on Franklin, L on Washington, R on Perry, L on Sunset, L on Sea Grove, L on Lighthouse and DONE! Terrain: Road.
One-Mile One-der A great loop in Cape May Point State Park for newbies! Alternate running and walking among dunes, forest and marsh habitat. Distract yourself from the pain by enjoying the terns plunge-diving on Bunker Pond, the endangered Piping Plover grabbing a nibble to eat on the plover ponds, and an environment bursting with color and life. Directions: Start at CMPSP and make a loop from parking lot past Bunker Pond and then to yellow and blue trails. Terrain: Hard-packed trail and boardwalk.
exit zero
116 June 2013
“When you’re running,” Christina says, “you don’t worry about how you’re going to pay the bills or finish that report at work. It’s just calm.”
exit zero
117 June 2013
GET SET FOR A FEAST OF WORLD-CLASS MUSIC IN COOL CAPE MAYNovember 8-10, 2013. Tickets available June 1 at Cape May Convention Hall Box Office
THE JAZZ exit zero
118 June 2013
Festival Headliners: Convention Hall November 8 / Dianne Reeves November 9 / Eddie Palmieri EXIT0JAZZFEST.COM 609-849-9202
IS BACK exit zero
119 June 2013
Sittin’ Pretty
In Adirondack Chairs – Cape May Forum Style Sit pretty this summer! Cape May Forum is holding a raffle of wooden Adirondack chairs – each one made beautiful & unique by the design and hand-painting of local artists.
The Artists who donated their talents to creating these beautiful chairs are (left to right) - Diane Bauer, Penny Beck, Valerie Bell, Mary Simkins Federici, Lori Fixler, Marcy Hammerschlag, Carol Hood King, Susan Lotozo, Mary Stewart and Amanda Tozer.
THE RAFFLE
The Sittin’ Pretty Chairs will be seen around town all summer – at festivals, street fairs and exhibits, farmers markets, and more. You can also find them on CapeMayForum.org and on Facebook. The Raffle runs through the summer, ending Sunday, August 11th. Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20. Look for Tickets at spots all around town, from our Volunteers, Cape May Forum Board members and at the Cape May Forum office. The Drawing is on Sunday, August 11, Noon at the Cape May Forum, 1636 Delaware Avenue, Cape May. All proceeds from the raffle benefit the educational programs of Cape May Forum, a 501(c)3 organization.
Cape May Forum | 1636 Delaware Avenue | Cape May NJ 08204 | 609-770-2626 exit zero 120 June 2013 CapeMayForum.org | www.facebook.com/CapeMayForum | Twitter @capemayforum
the COOL CAPE MAY to-do list } Kayaking
}surf lesson
Float in the back bays
See what all the fuss is about
WHY: Because it’s a good workout (especially if you paddle board instead) in the serene setting of the wetlands. WHERE: From Aqua Trails at the Nature Center of Cape May, 1600 Delaware Avenue, 609-884-5600, aquatrails.com. WHEN: There are two daily tours of the wetlands, at 9:30am and 1pm, plus sunset tours on Tuesdays and Saturdays. For an extra layer of enchantment, try the full moon tours — makes for a change from the usual date night.
WHY: Because you’re never too old to learn to ride the waves. (Okay, if you’re 96, then maybe you’re too old.) WHERE: Surf anywhere before 10am and after 5:30pm. Otherwise, stick to Poverty or the Cove. WHEN: Why not schedule a lesson with Summer Sun Surf Shop on the Washington Street Mall (609-884-3422), or The Southend Surf Shop on Beach Avenue (609898-0988).
} volleyball
Sweat it out on the beach WHY: Because you get to enjoy the beach AND get a killer workout. WHERE: On the sand, across from Cabanas. WHEN: Hone your skills any time; the nets are up all season long. Or show off your serving prowess at Cabanas Beach Bash Volleyball Tournament on July 14, with divisions for beginners, amateurs, and professionals. See greatamericanvollebyall. com.
} parasailing
} biking
Beat the traffic, enjoy the beauty
Enjoy the best views of the cape WHY: There are few better ways to enjoy an aerial view of Cape May, and it’s super-safe. WHERE: East Coast Parasail, at Utsch’s Marina (609-898-8359); and Atlantic Parasail, at Two Mile Landing on Ocean Drive Highway (609-5221869). WHEN: Mid-may through September, see the early morning light refelcting off the water, or take in a sunset from the air... there’s no bad time.
WHY: Because driving in Cape May during the summer is NOT fun, while biking is a pleasure AND a workout. Randomly explore the island or maybe go on a wine trail (see page 22 for details). WHERE: There are four on the island: Bike Shop at Congress Hall (609-884-8421), Cape Island Bike Rentals (609898-7368), Shields Bike Rental (609-898-1818) and Village Bicycle Shop (609-884-8500). WHEN: That’s up to you! } yoga
Strike a pose on the sand
} PHYSICK ESTATE
Tour the ultimate open house WHY: Because the Emlen Physick Estate is a 19th century masterpiece by famed architect Frank Furness. WHERE: At 1048 Washington Street, next to the tennis courts. WHEN: Call 609-8845404 for the complete schedule... there are a lot of options, including a spooky midnight experience!
WHY: Downward dog is more fun on the beach. WHERE: Balance Pilates and Yoga teaches on Jackson Street; Congress Hall, on the beach across from the hotel; 18-year yogini Karen Manette Bosna, at Cape May Point State Park and on the beach; and Andrea Magda, on paddle boards at Harbor View Marina. WHEN: Use yoga to wake up, or relax before bed.
exit zero
121 June 2013
} tennis
Try courting on your vacation WHY: Because the feeling, and sound, of connecting racket with ball on an aesthetically pleasing tennis court is a satisfying experience. WHERE: The lovely William J. Moore Tennis Center, at 1020 Washington Street, has 16 courts. Call 609-8848986. WHEN: Courts open at 7am. Best to call in the morning to book your game. Private lessons cost $60 per hour. } antiquing
Explore a city full of treasures WHY: Antiquing on an island full of historic buildings is so right. WHERE: West End Garage on Perry; Antiques Emporium on West Perry; Cape May Antique Center at the harbor; Out of the Past on West Myrtle; plus several scattered on Broadway, in West Cape May. WHEN: Any time you want a break from the beach — or when it’s raining.
the COOL CAPE MAY to-do list fishing. Across the road, at South Jersey Marina, join a charter trip or rent a private boat. WHEN: Any time. PS: South Jersey Marina’s Mid-Atalntic $500,000, the world’s richest marlin tournament, takes place August 18-23.
} vintage village
Watch history come to life WHY: Because Historic Cold Spring Village is a wonderful way for the whole family to see how folks lived in the 18th and 19th centuries. WHERE: On 22 beautiful, wooded acres at 720 Route 9, three miles from downtown Cape May. Call 609-898-2300, or visit hcsv.org. WHEN: There are themed weekends all through the season, from antiquing to Civil War weekends. There’s a Community Open House Weekend on June 1-2 when there is free admission.
} fishing
} lighthouse
Catch your own dinner
Take the stairs for an epic view
WHY: Because being on the water is a calming experience... that can end in a very tasty meal. WHERE: Every year, 100,000 people make their way through the Miss Chris Marina, many of them looking to go
WHY: Because skipping this landmark would be like going to New York and cold-shouldering the Empire State Building. It’s beautifully maintained, and the views are stunning. Plus you’ll get a little bit of a workout
from climbing the 199 steps. WHERE: In beautiful Cape May Point State Park. Take Lighthouse Avenue off Sunset Boulevard. WHEN: Open seven days in the season, evenings too. For more information on romantic moonlit climbs, call 609884-5404.
} ferry
Visit Delaware just for the day WHY: Although we don’t encourage you to make a habit of leaving Cape May, taking a trip across the Delaware Bay can be a pretty magical experience, especially if you’re watching a pod of dolpins while sipping a glass of wine on a sundappled evening. WHERE: The Cape MayLewes Ferry terminal is at the end of Ferry Road in North Cape May. WHEN: The ferry runs several times a day during the season. Visit capemaylewesferry.com to check schedules.
the
MUSEUM C M C of
ape
ay
ounty
The Cape May County Historical & Genealogical Society 504 Route 9 North • Cape May Court House NJ 08210 PH 609.465.3535 • FX 609.465.4274 • museum@co.cape-may.nj.us
of
E xperience 500 Y ears C ape M ay C ounty H istory
through beautifully preserved
A ntiques & A rchitecture . exit zero
122 June 2013
a cape may moment
Cousins enjoying mini golf — Ben, Peter, Frederick, Ryan and Donovan. Photograph by Aleksey Moryakov
For the perfect escape... let us pamper you.
Cape May Day Spa | 607 Jefferson Street, Cape May (609) 898-1003 | www.capemaydayspa.com exit zero
123 June 2013
the COOL CAPE MAY to-do list } carriage ride
} county zoo
Travel the streets in grand style
Imagine you’re on the savanna
WHY: It’s such an obviously tourist-type thing to do, but so what? It’s also the best way to see the historic district. And that clip-clopping sound is so good for the soul. WHERE: Pick up your horse from Cape May Carriage Company at Washington Commons, across from the mall. WHEN: Every day during the season, from 10am to 10pm. If you want to layer on the romance (and avoid the heat of the day), twilight is probably your best option.
WHY: Because — ready for this? — Cape May County Park and Zoo was voted the third best zoo in America by TripAdvisor last year. It has more than 200 species on 80 beautiful acres, including an African savanna.
} lookout tower
Experience the wartime cape WHY: For decades, the former World War II lookout tower (used for surveillance on German submarines) was nothing more than an iconic sentinel on the island. In 2008, the Mid-Atlantic
Center for the Arts and Humanities developed a museum there. WHERE: At the end of Sunset Boulevard. WHEN: Open every day during the season. Become a charter member of the Friends of the WWII Lookout Tower, and you’ll get unlimited free admission.
exit zero
124 June 2013
WHERE: Exit 11 on the Garden State Parkway. WHEN: Open every day, 10am-4:45pm. Admission is free, but donations are welcome (and needed!) } eco tour
Get up close with the sea life WHY: Because with the Original Skimmer Salt March Safari, you can explore the area’s normally inaccessible wildlife and plant life. WHERE: On placid inlet waters, where there’s slim chance of a sea-sick safari goer. WHEN: The boat sails seven days a week. Call 609-884-3100.
2013 Yoga on the Beach Only $5 per "Yoga On the Beach" class
at Cape May Point State Park/Lighthouse and on the beach behind Cape May Convention Hall. Beginning Friday, May 24
Atlantic City to Cape May
Plenty of free parking!
Your Premium Child Care Sitting Service
Visit yogacapemay.com for a complete schedule.
Professional & Screened Sitters Since 1998
609-465-0840
Or, for more information, contact Karen at 609.827.8886 or visit yogacapemay.com or call Cape May City Rec. Dept. at 609.884.9565
sittersattheshore.com Owned and operated by a NJ certified Elementary Teacher
exit zero
125 June 2013
the COOL CAPE MAY to-do list } dolphin watching
} mini golf
} 18-hole golf
Cruise with the coolest creatures
Take a silly game very seriously
Play a course you won’t forget
WHY: Because it never gets old seeing these beautiful creatures. And if you’re lucky, you might catch a sight of a humpback whale. WHERE: Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center, at Utsch’s Marina. Call 609-898-0055 or buy tickets at capemaywhalewatch.com. WHEN: There are four tours every day (lasting from two to three hours), starting at 9:30am and ending at 6pm with the Sunset Dolphin Watch, which includes free pizza and hot dogs.
WHY: Because it’s still one of the best ways to give the whole family a laugh (while trying your best to beat them). WHERE: Cape May Miniature Golf on Perry Street (which has the added attraction of Cocomoe’s Ice Cream Parlor); Ocean Putt on Beach and Jackson; Stockton Golf on Beach and Howard; and Sunset Beach, Sunset Boulevard. WHEN: You can be the best judge, but we recommend building up an appetite by playing pre-dinner.
WHY: Because Cape May National Golf Club is a 50-acre sanctuary where you will hear birds singing, waterfowl landing in the lakes, bass leaping, ospreys circling overhead then diving to capture a fish for breakfast. And the course is pretty great, too! It’s been acclaimed by magazines across the country. WHERE: Two miles north of Cape May, on Route 9 at Florence Avenue. Call 609-884-1563 or visit cmngc.com. WHEN: Course is open daily.
} sunset beach
Taste a slice of Americana WHY: Because it has become a Cape May tradition to visit this gem of a site and listen to “God Bless America” by Katie Smith over the tannoy while a veteran’s flag is lowered. Plus,
there is some great shopping, mini golf and a snack bar. WHERE: Aim for the flashing red light at the end of Sunset Boulevard. WHEN: In the morning, shop and grab breakfast; play mini golf in the afternoon; but don’t miss the aforementioned sunset ceremony.
Making your special day even more special.
circle of light H ol i st i c & M assage
We bring massage to you! Offering Therapeutic Massage, Reiki & Sound Healing 6 0 0 Pa r k B o u l e va r d • W e s t Ca p e M ay 609-884-4499 • artizansalonandspa.com
exit zero
Call Terri for an appointment... 609 457 6311 126 June 2013
Blow Dry • Cuts SETS • UPDOS Color Foils • Low Lites Perms • Manicures Pedicures
1400 Texas Avenue Cape May (609) 884-3011
exit zero
127 June 2013
the COOL CAPE MAY to-do list } MOREY’S PIERS
} birding
Enjoy the best rides of your life
See something really amazing
WHY: Because the Cape May Experience isn’t complete without a visit to the iconic Wildwood boardwalk and, particularly, to one of three piers owned by Morey’s. There are more than 100 rides and attractions and two world-class waterparks WHERE: Exit 4A on the Garden State Parkway or, better still, drive via idyllic Ocean Drive. Visit online at moreyspiers. com. WHEN: We favor an early evening on the boardwalk.
WHY: Cape May is the capital of the known birding universe. WHERE: A great birding bonus? Taking in the island’s most beautiful spots... by trail or boat! WHEN: See the Cape May Bird Observatory’s schedule of tours at njaudubon.org. Or call 609-846-3807 for the Young Birders Club.
} aviation museum
Discover a hangar of war planes WHY: Because at Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum you will see a collection of aircraft dating back to the Second World War.
The collection includes an F-14 Tomcat and an AH-1 Cobra helicopter, used in Vietnam. WHERE: In a hangar at Cape May County Airport, on Forrestal Road. Call 609-886-8787, visit usnasw.org. WHEN: Open daily from 9am to 5pm.
} ALPACA FARM
Hang with cute, cuddly animals WHY: Because the animals at Bay Springs Farm are so cute and
Superb technical ability and gentle treatment combine for an experience your mouth will enjoy!
Louis J. Feldman, Dds 741 Washington Street, Cape May (609) 884-4260 drlouisfeldman.com
exit zero
128 June 2013
curious. Your kids will love them. Plus, you can treat yourself to some world-class woven goodies in the alpaca shop. WHERE: A couple miles west of downtown on beautiful, rustic New England Road. Call 609-884-0563, visit bayspringsfarmalpacas. com. WHEN: Only open Friday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm.
Over 6o group exercise classes per week, including:
Shanna McCullen
Age 32, two children one year ago - 249 lbs today - 157 lbs “I love North Beach’s group fitness classes. Without them I never could have lost this weight. I worked hard and I got my body back.”
crossfit yoga ZUMBA boot camp stretch pilates spin boxing & boxercising interval training and more...
DAILY • WEEKLY MONTHLY RATES 3845 Bayshore Road, North Cape May • 609.898.3800 exit zero
129 June 2013
a cape may moment
CAPE MAY
MODEL TRAINS
CMMT.ORG • 609-432-1690
Open Saturdays... June 1, 8, 15, and 22 11am- 5pm. STARTING JUNE 24TH: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm, Monday thru Friday. Saturdays 10:00 am - 4:00 pm and Sundays 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Call for additional hours on days with inclement weather 609-432-1690.
525 Elmira, Cape May
from washington street mall, go left on ocean, cross broad; we are 100 yards on the right. fun for children of all ages! over
25 tracks on 5 layouts.
Featuring Thomas the Tank Engine, Polar Express, Spongebob, Christmas village & More!
Live Well Be Well Stay Well the
center for massage
balanced skin care Facials, wraps & waxing
The Well-Squared
2
at Carpenters Square Mall, Chair massage, table tune-ups & walk-ins
Call, Come In or Shop and Book Appointments Online!
wellmassagecenter.com • 609-884-3177 110 North Broadway, West Cape May
Open Year Round • all major credit cards accepted
Stress is Inevitable... Suffering is Optional! exit zero
Dima Miazhevich and Nadya Chupak, frequent visitors to Cape May, at Cape May Point State Park on May 16. Nadya is expecting a child this summer. Photograph by Aleksey Moryakov
130 June 2013
S L A I C E P S WEEKLY MONDAY Piers and Pizza - $29
Double-the-Fun THURSDAY
Start your week with a slice of Pizza at Jumbo’s or Joe’s Fish Co., a regular soft drink and a spin on ALL THREE PIERS with a ride wristband.
Double your pleasure as the MOR-EZ ticket card goes twice as far on our amusement rides. Ride for only half the tickets until 6pm. Also, look for great Double-the-Fun offers at many of our games and food outlets.
Valid Mondays from 1pm until 6pm. Waterpark admission is not included in this package. Adventure Pier opens at 4pm. Ghost Ship opens at 5pm.
Valid Thursdays from 1pm until 6pm excluding July 4. Adventure Pier open at 4pm. Ghost Ship opens at 5pm.
TUESDAY Special - $24
FRIDAY Splashtacular - $40
Our best deal on Pier Ride Wristbands! Loop, spin and swing until you can’t take it anymore on ALL THREE PIERS.
Splash into the weekend at one of our beachfront waterparks, Raging Waters or Ocean Oasis Waterpark and Beach Club AND go wild on ALL THREE PIERS.
Valid Tuesdays from 1pm until 6pm. Waterpark admission is not included in this package. Adventure Pier opens at 4pm. Ghost Ship opens at 5pm.
Expires at 6pm. Available beginning July 19. Valid Fridays from 9:30am until 6pm. Adventure Pier opens at 4pm. Ghost Ship opens at 5pm.
XTREME Ride WEDNESDAY - $34
Fired Up FRIDAY NIGHTS - $20
Receive a Pier Ride Wristband valid until 6pm PLUS two Xtreme rides of your choice.
Light up your night by riding the rides underneath Coca-Cola’s weekly fantastic fireworks display!
Available beginning June 19. Valid Wednesdays from 1pm until 6pm. Waterpark admission is not included in this package. Xtreme rides open at 1pm. Adventure Pier opens at 4pm. Ghost Ship opens at 5pm.
Valid Fridays from 10:30pm until closing. Fireworks each Friday night at 10pm from June 28 to August 30.
Waterpark Specials Morning Special - $29 Swim and slide from park opening until 12:30pm.
After 3pm Special - $29 Sold after 3pm. Valid until park closes. Closing times and operating hours are subject to change at anytime based on various factors including weather and crowd conditions. All specials are subject to operating hours. Visit www.MoreysPiers.com for up-to-date operating hours and complete details on all of our specials. Some restrictions apply.
Make family memories that will last a lifetime. MOREYSPIERS.COM • 609.522.3900 • WILDWOOD, NJ
exit zero
131 June 2013
The definitive trolley guide If you haven’t seen those cute trolleys rolling through the streets of Cape May then there are one of two explanations: Either you’re really not paying attention, or this is your first time visiting America’s Original Seaside Resort. In any event, here is a handy guide that tells you the what, when and why of trolley tours. For even MORE information, get in touch with the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities, the local cultural behemoth which runs these tours, along with many, many other fun activities. Visit them online at capemaymac.org. Behind the Walls Under the Crawls Where It Goes: Throughout Cape May. How Long It Lasts: 60 minutes. When It Runs: Wednesdays at 2:30pm from June 26. What It Is: See Cape May from a builder’s perspective. Sewage and drains, water supply and heat, structure and foundations. Discover who had toilets and who didn’t! Learn how things really worked on this new, one-hour, guided trolley tour. Who It’s For: You like to tinker with things — your garage or your local hardware store are favorite spots. Children’s Trolley Ride Where It Goes: Through the streets of Cape May. How Long It Lasts: 30 minutes. When It Runs: Sundays through Thursdays beginning June 23 at 4pm (from Washington Street Mall Info Booth). What It Is: Funny, informational, smart-alecky, like your kids. Who It’s For: Ages 3-7, accompanied by a parent or guardian. Parents or guardians accompanied by kids aged 3-7. Anyone of any age who missed the Historic District Trolley Tour and isn’t bothered by loud noises. Ghosts of the Lighthouse Where It Goes: Begins and ends at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth, traveling through parts of West Cape May to the Cape May Lighthouse.
exit zero
132 June 2013
exit zero
133 June 2013
Accent On BEAUTY
} the definitive cape may trolley guide
Try one of our signature pedicures!
Enjoy architectural gems such as the Stockton Row houses on Gurney Street as part of the co o Gaslight l c a p eTrolley m a yTour.
How Long It Runs: One hour. When It Runs: Tuesday, June 25 and Thursday, June 27 at 8:45pm. What It Is: Get spooky stories on the way to the lighthouse, accounts of ghosts at the tower from a costumed guide, and a chance to climb to the top. Who It’s For: People who know what an “orb” is — or would like to find out. Gaslight Where It Goes: Through Cape May’s historic district. How Long It Lasts: About 30 minutes. When It Runs: Fridays and Saturdays through June 15 at 8:45pm Mondays; Wednesdays, and Fridays at 8:30pm; and Sundays at 9 pm beginning June 21. What It Is: Ladies in long dresses and their gallant suitors, tea parties and dances; sweat and stink and tuberculosis and ladies of ill-repute; this was Victorian Cape May. An engaging gaslit trolley tour with local stories and architecture. Who It’s For: Anyone curious how Victorians survived in all that clothing during the summer.
haircare • facials • massage body care • manis & pedis weddings & specials occasions make-up • prego belly painting consistently voted best day spa
609.884.7040 128 sunset blvd. west cape may accentonbeautycapemay.com exit zero
Ghosts of Cape May Where It Goes: Through the streets of Cape May. How Long It Lasts: About 30 minutes. When It Runs: Every evening; hours vary. What It Is: What was that?! That was the undead of Cape May come back to settle their scores. Just be grateful that you’re in a trolley with an experienced guide to tell you about the many hauntings discovered by the Ghost Writer, Craig McManus. Who It’s For: Those who enjoy a good ghost story. Historic District Where It Goes: Through Cape May’s historic district. How Long It Lasts: About 45 minutes. When It Runs: Daily; hours vary. What It Is: It’s beautiful. It’s charming. Cape May — one of the continued on page 138
134 June 2013
exit zero
135 June 2013
Aviation Museum at the Cape May County Airport A Hands-On, Interactive Museum
INSIDE HISTORIC HANGAR #1
R FUN FOTIRE THE ENILY! FAM
HALF PRICE Child Admission
• Climb a real air-traffic control tower! • Sit in the cockpit! • Learn about the aircraft that helped shape our history! • Coast Guard and 9/11 exhibit area
Supported in part by a grant from New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism
Limit two. With paid adult by mentioning this ad. Not valid with any other offer.
OPEN YEAR ROUND RAIN or SHINE (609) 886-8787
N 39° 00.307’ W 074° 54.553’ 500 Forrestal Road Cape May County Airport Rio Grande, NJ 08242
usnasw.org exit zero
136 June 2013
a cape may moment
Coach Bruce and Coach Kate with the Cape May Traveling softball team, on May 20 at Bennett’s Crossing Fields. Photo by Aleksey Moryakov
V Dr. Arlene Hughes Gorny Optometric Physician
We provide old-fashioned, professional, personal service in a quaint setting
NJ#5336
937 Columbia Avenue 898-0800
TO#663
exit zero
137 June 2013
Save the Date!
} the definitive cape may trolley guide
Saturday, September 28 - 8am-12noon Rain Date September 29
On the Promenade Registration near Convention Hall Donation $1 per leg ($2/person, $4/dog) Benefits K-9 Protective Vests for CMC Sheriff’s Dept. & area dog training programs
Sponsored by Cape May County Dog Obedience Training Club
Email CMCDOTC@comcast.net
Kid’s Tennis Programs New USTA Quick Start
SIX-WEEK Session - July 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30 August 1, 6, 8 Pee Wee Clinic- Ages 4-6 4:00pm - 5:00pm $240 Junior Clinic - Ages 7-16 5:00pm - 6:30pm $360
Daily and Weekly Drop-ins are Welcome! Sign up for the full 6-week session and receive a FREE One Love Kids Tennis T-shirt and water bottle! Contact: Matt Gilbert (609) 602-5195-Certified PTR Professional Matthewrgilbert@yahoo.com | Registration: OneLoveKidsTennis.com
HISTORIC CAPE MAY TENNIS CLUB, INC. 1020 Washington Street | P.O. Box 148 Cape May, NJ 08204
exit zero
The Peter Shields Inn is one of many impressive beachfront properties on Cape May’s east end... see Mansions by the Sea tour
few places you can wander through and feel that it’s more than 100 years ago. Tour guides will explain how and why it survived. Who It’s For: Anyone and everyone who finds Cape May charming. Insider Tip: Combine this tour with a guided tour of the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate and save $2. Mansions by the Sea Where It Goes: Along Beach Avenue, through the early 20th century East Cape May development areas How Long It Lasts: About 40 minutes. When It Runs: Daily at 12:45 p.m. through June 20. Hours vary, beginning June 21. What It Is: See how the rich lived in the early 20th century. When $1 million really meant something — before income tax. Also, see new beachfront second homes, which run the gamut from the mere wealthy to the fabulously rich. Who It’s For: Anyone who’s curious how the one percent lives. Tales of Terror Trolley Ride Where It Goes: Along the streets of Cape May. How Long It Lasts: 30 minutes. When It Runs: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7:45pm and Saturdays at 8:30ppm, beginning June 21. What It Is: Scary stories on dark streets lighted by flickering gaslight. Who It’s For: People who are a bit… twisted. Welcome to Cape May Where It Goes: Throughout Cape May. How Long It Lasts: About 45 minutes. When It Runs: Offered daily at 11:45am through June 20. Offered daily at various times beginning June 21. What It Is: This is the best introduction to Cape May for firsttimers. Find the hidden gems and the little known treasures as well as natural and cultural points of interest. Who It’s For: First-timers to Cape May and old-timers who watch too much TV.
138 June 2013
This could be your view...
Historic Hereford Inlet Lighthouse and Gardens ~ 1874 ~
National and State Register of Historic Places • Museum • Gift Shop • Award Winning Gardens • Open Year Round
...and we do days, too.
Please call (609) 522-4520 for days and hours
Stand-Up Paddle Boards!
music
kayak nature tours, sales & rentals
Located at 1st and Central Avenues, North Wildwood www.herefordlighthouse.org
Nature Center, 1600 Delaware Avenue, Cape May (609) 884-5600 • aquatrails.com
...and the night shall be filled with
and the cares that infest the day shall fold their tents....
24th Annual
-- henry WadsWorth longfelloW
Cape May Music Festival May 26-June 13
ClassiCal • Jazz • Country • irish
Presented by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC)
For information, call (800) 275-4278 • (609) 884-5404 or visit
www.capemaymac.org
exit zero
139 June 2013
TICKETS 609
770-8311
Robert Shackleton Playhouse 405 Lafayette Street Cape May, New Jersey CapeMay Stage.org Tickets also available at
Lend Me ATenor by Ken Ludwig
directed by Chris Dolman COMEDY/ FARCE
It’s 1934 and the Grand Opera Company of Cleveland is poised to welcome the world famous tenor, Il Stupendo, for a highly-anticipated onenight-only performance. But when the star arrives late and falls over dead... what then? He must be replaced! The show must go on! Yet, is he really dead? This madcap, door-slamming, plot-twisting screwball comedy of mistaken identities spins out of control and leaves the audience in tears.
June12– July 26, 2013
exit zero
140 June 2013
a cape may moment
A Vietnam Vet Luncheon was held at Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum on May 20. Photograph by Aleksey Moryakov
Victory Custom Products SHOWER ENCLOSURES MIRRORS AND GLASS GLASS RAILINGS AND PARTITIONS SOFT-LITE WINDOWS AND DOORS INTERIOR SHUTTERS WINDOW TREATMENTS SOLARGARD WINDOW FILM CUSTOM CLOSETS AND STORAGE
(609) 408-2005
VICTORYCUSTOMPRODUCTS.COM exit zero
141 June 2013
How to explore Cape May wine country Cape May Winery The Craig family is already well-known among south Jersey foodies... they’re the folks who brought The Pelican Club, Lucky Bones and The Washington Inn to this island. Now, they’re building a reputation within the wine world. The operation — 150 acres strong — has grown quickly over the past two decades. The tasting room, a mere shed in the beginning, has been transformed into a large, year-round, multi-purpose building with meeting rooms for small parties, a second floor deck overlooking the vineyard, a barrel room, and a number of tasting bars. The newest addition? A cedarpaneled great room with 20-foot ceilings and a beautiful fireplace to enjoy while indulging in good drink and good conversation with friends. Be sure to check out Grill Night, happening every Wednesday between June 26 and September 11. Beginning at 6:30pm,
the event includes a buffet provided by the Washington Inn. Cape May Winery is located on 711 Townbank Road in North Cape May. Visit capemaywinery.com, or call 609-884-1169.
The goal at Cape May Winery is to help find a wine for every preference. Why not taste-test from the 20 different styles they produce in front of their new fireplace in the cozy Barrel Tasting Room?
exit zero
142 June 2013
Willow Creek Winery A short bike ride from the center of town, through the rustic, rural streets of West Cape May, will land you in the middle of a stunning plantation estate. No matter where on the Willow Creek property we meandered when we visited, we couldn’t help but grow excited for the breezy, sun-dappled afternoon when we can take advantage of the winery’s spacious red brick patio, an ideal place for savoring the sights and sounds of nearby wetlands and woods... and the tasty snacks, of course. Think cheese from Seaside Cheese and breads by Rea’s Farm. Willow Creek Winery is located at 168 Stevens Street in West Cape May. Visit willowcree-
Your ticket to fun on the water this summer! ! G IN T A O JET B
east coast jet boat adventure
1121 Route 109 @ Utsch’s Marina, Cape May « (609) 898-8754 « • eastcoastjetboat.com
!
G NNIN U WAVER
! G IN L I A PARAS
east coast parasail, jet ski & waverunner 1121 Rte 109 @ Utsch’s Marina, Cape May (609) 898-8754 • eastcoastparasail.com exit zero
143 June 2013
kwinerycapemay.com for more information, or call 609-770-8782. Turdo Winery Turdo is a boutique winery run by Sal Turdo, his wife Sara and their son, Luca. Sal worked in a vineyard in Sicily from age 11 and, after years as an electrical contractor in north Jersey, wanted to get back to his passion. Like many of our area wineries, Turdo has won a batch of awards, but Sal is proudest of the Silver Award given to his Nebbiolo at the San Francisco International Wine Competition. It’s a special product... they only bottle 25 cases per year. So what’s their secret? “We get a very high sugar content in our grapes by growing only one vine per plant, where usually it’s two,” Sal said. Meaning? The plant can pay more attention to caring for the grapes it does have, meaning your wine is full of TLC. Turdo Winery is located at 3911 Bayshore Road in North Cape May. Visit turdovineyards. com, or call 609-884-5591.
Willow Creek Winery now allows you to adopt a vine, so you can get a front-row seat to the growing process. Above: Visitors to Willow Creek get an education while they sip.
Hawk Haven Railroad Avenue, where Hawk Haven is located, starts out as Seashore Road and then, inexplicably, changes names. You’ll want to know this because you don’t want to be late for Sangria Sunday (which is exactly what it sounds like — a lazy day of drinking sangria in a beautiful setting, complete with catering by Cape May Fish Market). Hawk Haven sits on a third generation, former dairy farm owned and operated for the last 15 years by Todd and Kenna Wuerker. Contributing to the transformation of the nine-acre space — from milk to pino, cabernet, and chardonnay over the last 15 years — is a European-style cedar and stone tasting room, complete with Italian tile floors. Although the operation is very 21st century, much of the architecture lends a distinctive going-back-in-time feel. And an outdoor crash pad — the area where grapes would literally have been “crushed” underfoot to release juices in days gone by — is now a site for eating, drinking, being
The Real Estate Market is Alive and Well! Thinking of Signing, Just Call Ryan!
S
D L O
RYAN GRIFFIN, SALESPERSON | CELL: 609.602.5578 EMAIL:rgriffin@desatnickrealestate.com DESATNICK REAL ESTATE, LLC 1001 Lafayette Street, Cape May OFFICE: 609.884.1300 | FAX: 609.884.1304 | desatnickrealestate.com
exit zero
144 June 2013
COOL CAPE MAY The Complete Guide to America’s Original Seaside Resort
Where to Eat!
Where to sho
p!
wher
to play! e r e h w and
e to s tay!
Available at the Exit Zero Store and other fine shops for only $15! 109 Sunset Boulevard, Cape May • (609) 770-8479 exit zero
145 June 2013
plays from 5-9pm. Jesse Creek Winery is located at 1 N orth Route 47, Cape May Court House. Visit jessiecreekwinery.com, or call 609-536-2092.
merry, and enjoying live music. Saturday on the Crush Pad is a popular event which features the sweet and savory offerings of Crespella Gourmet Crepes. Hawk Haven is located at 600 South Railroad Avenue. Visit hawkhavenvineyard.com, or call 609-846-7347. Jessie Creek Winery and Inn The vines here are babies, only having been planted in 2002, but Jesse Creek Winery shares property with an 1800s bed and breakfast and a wedding/event space, all overseen by owner Art Reale. The hall/tasting room is an Amish-built pole barn that sits behind the residence on 10-acres of green lawn and old shade trees. There are four acres of vines just to the side of which Art, a one-time deep sea rescue diver with the US Navy, speaks proudly. There’s a fire burning every night outdoors, so bring your favorite person and share a bottle under the stars. And don’t forget about Fridays from June 21 to Labor Day, when sunsets over the vineyard are the main event, and live entertainment
Hawk Haven owner Todd Wuerker planted his first grapevines, cabernet sauvignon, in 1997, before he was even of the legal drinking age. Now, he consults for two other local vineyards.
Natali’s In addition to more traditional varietals (cabernet, merlot, sauvignon blanc) Natali’s has a robust selection of not-too-sweet, perfectly balanced fruit wines, including blueberry and banana flavors. Tours are offered every day, and don’t be surprised if you come across Al or his partner Ray Pensari working hard in the vineyard. And bring your favorite mutt along... he’s welcome, too. Bocce lovers in the family? There’s a court on site! Other things to look out for include Monday Music in the Vines, from 5-8pm; Wine it Down Wednesdays, from 5-8pm; and tastings and educational sessions on Saturdays from 11am-1pm, in the oh-so-cozy tasting room. Natali’s is located at 221 North Delsea Drive in Cape May Court House. Visit nataliwines.com, or visit 609-465-0075.
A healthy pet has lots to smile about.
TOP NOTCH A TREE CARE B ISA-Certified Arborist Matthew Notch Fully Licensed & Insured Free Estimates | Reasonable Rates
CONSULTING PRUNING & PLANTING CABLING & BRACING REMOVALS
427 James Street, Erma
481-7420 exit zero
Robert Panaccio, VMD Robert Moffatt, VMD Patricia Link, DVM 694 Petticoat Creek Lane, Cape May • 884-1729 • www.capemayvet.com
146 June 2013
Contact Us For All of Your Sale and Rental Real Estate Needs!
Sol Needles Real Estate 512 Washington Street Mall, Cape May, NJ 08204 609-884-8428 1-800-441-8428 www.cbcapemay.com Lynn Gleeson/ William Bezaire, owners
C astline Realty Search Sale & Rental properties online at www.CoastlineRealty.com
217 Alexander Avenue, Cape May Point. 5 BDR, 4 BATH home located directly across from the beach with amazing water views. Gourmet kitchen, elevator, , sauna, and fitness room, garage. $2,595,000
220 Broadway, West Cape May. Delightful well kept 4 bedroom, 2bath cottage with off street parking. Easy walking distance to beaches, restaurants and shopping. Featuring central a/c and natural gas heating. $495,000
829 Stockton Avenue, Unit A. Cape May. Sandcastles. Condominium. Ocean views from every floor in this 3 BDR, 3.5 BATH home just a short block off the beach. Furnished, fireplaces, hardwood floors, parking. $725,000
2909 Shore Drive, Cape May Beach. Bay front beauty!! Nestled directly into the dunes is this 4 Bedrooms, 1.5 Baths, stone fireplace, private decks facing the water, and so much more. $849,000
Call us at 609.884.5005 1400 Texas Avenue, Cape May N.J. 08204
Carol A. Menz, Broker/Owner exit zero
147 June 2013
Experience All Four Seasons in Cape May! Artfully uniting extraordinary properties with extraordinary lives.
Sale and Vacation Rentals
Rent a 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 kitchen, comfortable, welcoming home just 1.5 miles to the beach and town on double tree-filled lot in quiet neighborhood. Perfect for an extended family!
739 Sunset Blvd., West Cape May Lovely and Spacious Home 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths
4068 Bayshore Road, South of the Canal Birder’s Paradise 2 bedrooms, 2 baths
207 Central Avenue, Cape May Point “Riley’s Corner” 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths
516 Pearl Avenue, Cape May Point “Little White Cottage” 2 bedrooms, 1 bath
703 Shore Drive, Townbank Bayfront with Great Room 4 bedrooms, 3 baths
805 Shore Drive, Townbank Bayfront with Open Layout 4 bedrooms, 3 baths
$3,350 for one full week in the summer and one weekend in the fall, winter and spring. For more information call Jana at 845-594-5229.
Theresa Senico
Quality service... with that personal touch
ABR, CRS, GRI, SRES
Apex
Realty, Inc.
Join us: chrisclemanssir.com Christina P. Clemans Licensed Real Estate Broker
2505 bayshore, villas (609) 408-4655 800-894-2739 ext. 103
1159 Washington Street, Cape May NJ 08204 Email: capemay@chrisclemanssir.com
www.jerseyshorehomesbytheresasenico.com exit zero
609.884.3332
148 June 2013
|
Toll free 800.828.9751
Your investment in seashore living is my specialty! Cape May Court House, NJ
Patricia “Patti” Piacentine 609-741-1212 seapatti@comcast.net Realtor
(609) 465-6670 Serving all of South Jersey
Save energy AND money. It’s a win-win.
HomeStead Real Estate Co., LLC 846 Broadway, West Cape May homesteadcapemaysales.com O# 609-884-1888 • f# 609-898-1944
The perfect company for ALL your vacation needs! THE BLAKE HOUSE built circa 1865 640 Hughes Street, Cape May Total of 10 BR, 6 BA, 2 half baths, cac, furnished. $1,390,000
property management Cleaning, landscaping, property inspections, emergency services
A GRAND BEAUTY 1036 Maryland Ave. Cape May 5 BR, 4 BA,dual zone heat/air, in-ground pool. $1,345,999
concierge services child care, pet services, dinner reservations, spa and salon appointments, personal errands, photography
One call does it all! EXCEPTIONAL NEWPORT MANSION STYLE HOME 1624 New York Ave., Cape May 6 BR, 6.5 BA, elevator, too many extras to mention. $3,495,000
Property Management & Concierge Services
BEAUTIFULLY MAINTAINED NEWER HOME 1238 Washington St., Cape May 3 BR, 1BA, cac, h/w fls, garage, beautiful grounds. $549,900
JERSEY CAPE REALTY
1400 Texas Avenue, Unit 2, Cape May (609) 884-8444• www.wkrservices.com
739 Washington Street, Cape May (609) 884-5800 F www.jerseycaperealty.com exit zero
149 June 2013
Now Open in Cape May! Visit our 9th and newest office in the Washington Commons Shopping Center at Ocean & Lafayette Streets The power of the #1 brand in real estate, the #1 agency in Cape May County and the names you trust in Cape May real estate!
At the Shore Contact one of our experienced agents for any of your sales or vacation rental needs! Brian Groetsch, Broker-Manager Christine Rothwell, Broker-Associate Kathy Sigerson, Broker-Associate Brian Giancola, Sales-Associate
Gregg Giancola, Sales-Associate Jill Giancola, Sales-Associate Veronica Giancola, Broker-Associate
315 Ocean Street, Suite #24 | Cape May, NJ 08204 609-884-4242 Of fice | 609-884-4343 Fax | AtTheShoreCapeMay.com exit zero
150 June 2013
ith a flai w t i r... y a S by Air!
Cape May Fire Department 712 Franklin Street, Cape May New Jersey
Buy a Brick Program
Aerial Ads don’t Cost... They Pay!
Makes a Great Gift!
Help The Cape May Fire Department raise money AND own a piece of Cape May history! Personalize your own paver! These pavers are available in 9x9 and 8x4 inches and will make up a new walkway and flagpole courtyard. Memorial bricks.... • • • • • •
Barbara Tomalino
Honor a loved one Support an honorable cause Keep a memory alive Serve as great gifts Commemorate significant dates Preserve our history
609-886-9090
Consider a memorial brick today! Purchases are tax deductible. To learn more or get an order form for your bricks, please call the Cape May Fire Department at (609) 884-9512.
exit zero
www.paramountair.com Part of the Cape May Community since 1945 151 June 2013
capecount Running the numbers on America’s Original Seaside Resort
25 Number of hives maintained by Cape May Honey Farm at four locations in the
150
2100 Number of guests capable of being accommodated by the Mount Vernon Hotel on Cape May beachfront when it was built in 1855. At the time it was the world’s biggest hotel, and the first to offer
348 Number of pounds the winning specimen
ensuite rooms. But it
weighed in at during last year’s South Jersey
Check out their
burned to the ground
Shark Tournament at South Jersey Marina.
cool little shop on
in 1856 before being
This year’s event is being held June 6-9. Prize
Sunset Boulevard.
totally completed.
money will approach $300,000.
Cape May area.
47 Number of miles of electrical wiring used in the most recent renovation of Congress Hall, which was completed in 2002. The contractors also used 11 miles of plumbing pipe, cleaned and reused 158,000 bricks and brushed on 240,000 gallons of paint.
64,000
Number of feet you must keep, by law, between yourself and a stranded seal. The mammals don’t sleep in the water — they head for beaches and docks for some quality nap time, so don’t ruin it for them.
Average number of wieners sold at HotDog Tommy’s every summer at their hole-in-the-wall on Jackson Street. They’re so good you’ll have to wait in line.
24
Number of styles/colors of T-shirt bearing the original Exit Zero logo. You can see some of them at our brand-new store at Beach and Jackson. Ooh, that was a really cheap plug. But it IS our magazine
460 Number of dollars you can save at Cape May establishments by spending $25 on the Cape May Experience Discount Deck, available at local stores.
3,000 Average number of recruits who go through boot camp every year at the US Coast Guard’s Training Center Cape May. 31: Number of years it’s been the Coast Guard’s sole basic training facility in the nation.
74,000,000
Approximate number of dollars worth of fish landed by commercial boats annually at Cape May harbor, making it the fourth-most lucrative port in the country, behind New Bedford, MA; Dutch Harbor, AK; and Kodiak, AK.
950,000 Approximate number of dollars generated annually by parking tickets in Cape May exit zero
152 June 2013
Plans for independent contractors, families, individuals and groups at competitive rates.
610-222-9400 www.millennium-tpa.com
DRAMA... PASSION... EXOTIC SETTINGS... GREAT REVIEWS... FABULOUS FOOD
410 Bank Street
O NE o f A M E R I C A ’ S T O P R E S T A U R A N T S — Z a g a t 2 0 1 3 410 Bank Street Reservations: 609.884.2127 410 Bank Street, Cape May
Frescos
V O T E D B E S T I T A L I A N R E S T A U R A N T i n S O U T H E R N NE W J E R S EY Frescos Reservations: 609.884.0366 412 Bank Street, Cape May
ON BANK STREET... PARKING AVAILABLE... DINNER NIGHTLY FROM 5PM