Call it a Day

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Sylvie August spends the day Downtown on Asbury Avenue

I 1 T’S THERE for you on a hot day, it’s there for you on a cloudy day. It’s there when you’re hungry, thirsty, or too sunburnt to sit on the beach. It changes often, but the memories never leave. It’s often busy, sometimes crazy, but it’s a cute, homey community of its own.

It’s Asbury Avenue, of course.

There are over 100 stores, restaurants, and businesses on Asbury Avenue between 6th and 14th streets. You can spend an entire day on Asbury where you can keep a healthy distance and have a great time with friends, family, or even on your own.

I like to start off my day trip with a large vanilla oat milk iced latte from the Ocean City Coffee Company at 917 Asbury. If parallel parking among the bikers and pedestrians isn’t your strongest skill, this location has a parking lot next to it with a three-hour parking limit. The harmonious combination of smooth milk, rich espresso, and sweet vanilla syrup keeps me feeling cool and energized for the rest of the day. An iced coffee in the summertime is truly the soft serve ice cream cone of the morning: can you drink it before it melts?

Next up, I’m ready to hit the shops. Shore shopping is special, it’s near and dear to my heart, because many stores on Asbury cannot be found anywhere else. Many of them are small, locally owned, family businesses.

The system at Island Gypsy at 760 Asbury was particularly efficient. Island Gypsy placed a maximum capacity on their store and closed their dressing rooms in order to keep their customers and employees safe, so I approached the store and waited in line for about five minutes until I was able to enter the store. I was ultimately grateful for the line outside because it made the store significantly less crowded. Racks of clothing were spaced out accordingly, and the staff left a large open space in the center of

City Hall at 861 Asbury Ave

2the store. The environment was light, breathable, and controlled. “We have awesome customers, and they couldn’t wait for us to get back. It’s like we never skipped a beat,” says Linda from Island Gypsy. Island Gypsy offers shopping by private appointment during the time in the morning before the store opens in order to give all of her customers an experience suited to their comfort level.

After heading in and out of few shops, it’s time for a classic brunch moment. With its outdoor dining porch right on the avenue, Yianni’s Cafe is a great place to go to get a bagel, wrap, 3 sandwich, or salad. “Everything is fresh delivered every day,” said owner Yianni Siganos. My favorite lunch at Yianni’s is their buffalo chicken wrap with a big pile of crispy, golden fries next to it and a sweet, cold glass of cranberry juice. Yianni’s has even transitioned their website to offer online ordering, so you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner from Yianni’s at your own house.

a day!

If your favorite necklace breaks on the beach, or you want to unleash your crafty side and create your own earrings, Potomac

Bead Company at 944 Asbury is the perfect place to pop in.

The store has plenty of space to look around, and I love to see the jewelry repairs at work. The diligent work of the employees represents significant care and attention to detail, which is exactly 4 what I look for in jewelry. Even more so, the store’s colorful arrangement fosters an aesthetic of “organized chaos” that pleases the eye. The natural light keeps the room bright and makes the beads sparkle like a wall full of little stars. Here you can assemble your own charm bracelet in-store, or you can gather materials for an at-home project. Their selection of wires, beads, and designs is huge, so I picked up two necklaces (pre-made) that caught my eye.

Just a block down, some colorful masks caught my eye outside Ta-Dah! At 1026 Asbury, Ta-Dah! is a fan favorite… when you spend the day cruising down the Ave, you’ll see plenty of people walking with their signature purple bags. You can find Ta-Dah! at 925, 952, 1026, 1038, and 1040 Asbury. The store had such a large selection of masks out on a table in the front, I had a difficult choice to make between all of the neat colors and trendy designs. The masks feature designs like flowers, stars, animal print, or just solid colors. You can find new masks like these at many of the boutiques on Asbury and on the Boardwalk as well. After all, they seem to be the top 2020 summer fashion accessory, and if you must wear one, why not wear a cute one?

Finally, before I go home, I have to pick up one more snack. This time, I tried a spot I’ve never been to before: Spoon & Sip at 838 Asbury. I picked the Goin’ Bananas bowl which is described on their menu as “a blend of almond milk, silk vanilla almond milk frozen yogurt, banana, natural peanut butter topped with granola, peanut butter drizzle, nutella drizzle, strawberries and 5 sliced banana.” This bowl is an excellent non-dairy option, and it even has my favorite ingredient: Nutella. I ordered my banana whip bowl inside and ate it outside on their benches adorned with soft pillows. A smoothie bowl with peanut butter provides your body with lots of satisfying protein, and it is the perfect snack for a hot day. The cold banana whip was fresh and tasty, the granola added a perfect crunch, and I loved the berries on top.

A tray of beads from Potomac Bead Company 6 Keep your eyes out for summer events like the weekly Farmers Market at the Tabernacle Grounds every Wednesday from 8am – 1pm, as well as off-season happenings. Have fun planning and spending your day on Asbury. Don’t forget your mask and quarters for parking when you go.