ole!

In 1862, the underdog Mexican army whooped the French army’s butt in the Battle of Puebla. In 2010, American corporations still use the holiday – now virtually meaningless in Mexico – as an excuse to promote overconsumption of beer and nachos. Such utter blatant manipulation of a military victory for commercial gain can be depressing, but it’s nothing a Corona can’t fix, right? Read the rest of this entry »

Finding parking at the Jersey Shore is a war zone.

Summer 2010 is rapidly approaching and New Jersey natives are counting down the days until Memorial Day weekend. This highly anticipated unofficial start of summer means you can break out your summer white (a rule I never quite followed), head to the beach, and much to my dismay drive up and down tiny one way blocks for an exorbitant amount of time in search of the holy grail of parking spots.

As someone who has to endure a 20 minute speed race down Route 18 in order to reach my favorite coast, I am often greeted with a battle royale against soccer moms, teens, locals, and the dreaded guidos for my primo spot.  I kid you not, last summer as my friend and I took a break
from melting in the sun at Pier Village and walked to the long line of
shops for lunch, we stopped in our tracks as we heard a loud altercation
brewing. Read the rest of this entry »

There's no one here yet, but in a few weeks we'll be packed tighter than sardines and hopefully not getting on each other's nerves.

I was paging through old Live For Jersey Shore posts and came across this gem from last August on beach etiquette. With May just around the corner and summer inching ever closer after that, I thought it would be a good time to dust off the old ocean-side manners list that I had such a good time coming up with. Read the rest of this entry »

Hemingway’s Cafe, the only Seaside Heights nightlife giant to deny entry to Snooki & Co, will bestow VIP cards on all very important people who can make it Thursday night to their giveaway party. Since Hem’s is just a few years old, they haven’t really hit a rhythm yet with these annual giveaways. Last year’s was in June, the year before, July. This year, Big Baby Ernie – really awesome band whose originals are just as sick as their covers – will entertain the VIPs.

Hem’s own website cautions you to “get here early” but offers no specific time. Last year, cards weren’t given out until after midnight so be prepared to hang around. Be sure to figure out where the line is going to form and try to get in the front to make sure you’re not waiting too long. In years past, everyone gets a ticket for a free drink and servers pass complimentary hors d’oeuvres, making for a rather swanky time. The bar’s website touts Thursdays as Ladies’ Night with half-priced drinks for the fairer sex but no word yet that the promo will be in effect for the special event.

While Hemingway’s doesn’t charge cover on Friday, having this dandy little card will allow you to forgo the $10 charge to get in on Saturdays all summer long and to skip the line of would-be partiers that can sometimes wind around the corner.

Hemingway’s Cafe is located at 612 Boulevard, Seaside Heights. For more information, visit them online at www.hemingwaysnj.com or call 732-830-1255.

Yeah it feels like bathwater in the summer, but Barnegat Bay is a little chillier than we'd like. Photo courtesy of our dear friend, veteran lifeguard and dedicated Shore videographer Dave. Thanks!

 As we continue to get pummeled by the harshest winter at the Shore in recent memory, it’s hard to imagine a time when the snow will melt and we’ll shed our boots for flipflops, but fear not, Jerseyans – Memorial Day Weekend is 102 days away. (Photo We may not be out of the woods yet (thanks a whole lot, Phil), but we’re a whole lot closer than we were when that Dec. 19 storm dashed procrastinating shoppers dreams and ruined a certain someone’s birthday celebration (what? you say you think I’m still bitter over that? no way!).

 For more snow-tos, visit the APP’s reader galleryfrom the Feb. 6-7 and 9-10 storms. These snowy Shore shots range from beautifully artistic to downright zany – like the snow sculpture of a Camaro and a snapshot of three brave kids plopped into beach chairs wearing their bathing suits.

Before we know it, the sunlight will stretch later into the evening, our favorite seasonal businesses will reopen (anyone else been craving a Colonial Bakery jelly doughnut since October?) and the Barrier Island will reawaken with all the sights, smells and sounds that make summer at the Jersey Shore so sweet.

Until then, here’s a few fun events to keep you motivated as Old Man Winter plans to further assault our summer spirits:

• Mardi Gras Super Saturdayat Jenk’s on Feb. 20. Doors open at 9 p.m., $5 cover after 10. $1 drafts all night and $2 vodka specials from 9-11 p.m. The Nerds will play and the holder of the most beads at the end of the night wins an HDTV. What you must do for said beads was not specified.
• D’Jais Halfway to Summer Party at the Pool at Harrah’s in Atlantic City on Feb. 27. Billed as “the biggest pool party in the middle of winter,” we can’t figure out why this is neither at D’Jais nor at the actual halfway to summer mark, but if you’re into paying $35 to get in and trekking to AC, we’re not going to judge. Full disclosure: I’ve never been to D’Jais and think the Pool smells like, well, a pool.
• Seaside Heights Polar Bear Plunge to raise money for the N.J. Special Olympics on Feb. 27. Those pondering a run into the Atlantic Ocean in February can find some liquid courage and warm sustenance at the Sawmill Cafe with a $3 breakfast buffet and $2 mimosas, bloody Mary’s, screwdrivers and Miller Lite specials from 10-1. A post-plunge party starts at 2 p.m. with music from The VooDudes. If you’re not crazy enough to hop into the frigid sea but want to contribute to the cause, fret not because the Sawmill is donating proceeds to the Specials Olympics.