Check this sneaky little guy out.

An e-mail featuring our feathered friend here recently made the rounds, touting him as Point Pleasant Beach native who robbed a local convenience store. It popped up in my inbox a couple weeks ago and made me chuckle (OK, more like full-on guffaw, but when you’re trapped in an office it’s the little things that count). I forwarded it to my co-workers, friends and family and was all pleased with myself for coming across it.

Supposedly, this crafty seagull sneaks into front door of the store and pulls a bag of Doritos – always Nacho Cheese – off a shelf with his beak, walks out with it and digs in. People have found this so hilarious that they come stand outside and watch. The proprietor is happy because the charlatan’s audience pays for his snack and probably pick up a few things for themselves.

Well, I had to know where in Point this happened so I could see him in action for myself. I hit Google and typed in “seagull stealing chips” and discovered, courtesy of urban legend site Snopes.com, that this happens in Scotland, not here at the Shore.

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South Seaside Park barrel | June 2009 (Photo: Justin Auciello)

Are you ready for Surf Weekend?

No, the Governor has not issued a proclamation. At Live for Jersey Shore, we’re dubbing it Surf Weekend, because today and tomorrow will feature two fun surf related events.

I’ve mapped it out for you.

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Beachgoers get way too close for comfort, so let's try to get along. (gratefully borrowed from nj.com via Google images)

In light of the Seaside Heights beach smoking ban, the Star-Ledger’s NJ.com asked readers what else should be banned from our fine beaches. As someone who supplemented her tips from waitressing throughout all five years of college by badge checking, let me be the first to tell you: plenty. There aren’t enough hours in the day for me to tell you Shore restaurant etiquette, so we’ll just stick to the beach for now.

Bart Brooks makes some quality points, but I’m going to have to disagree with his Nos. 3 and 4. Jellyfish and seaweed? Sorry Bart, they are nuisances but can’t we all get along? We’re invading their turf, not the other way around. Yes, I know eutrophication is causing a major influx in jellies in the bay, but I haven’t seen too many on the beach this summer. Then again, I haven’t seen too much of the beach this summer. And who doesn’t love a good clear jellyfish fight? No? Just me?

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Been having a renewed love affair with my Nikon-D80, and among the 200-or-so pictures of friends and family taken over the weekend, I liked this image from Monday — a girl with an ankle brace being helped down to the water. There was an ankle brace involved, I swear. A spectacular day on the beach, sorry to those of you who sat in traffic, but it was the only real winner of a day all weekend. Read the rest of this entry »

Sunset Manor Beach in Lavallette in May

For the second year running, the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium/New Jersey Sea Grant and Stevens Institute of Technology used scientific data and online votes to rank the Shore’s top 10 beaches but Ledger Live host Brian Donohue asked the experts a question none of them wanted to answer: What are the Garden State’s worst spots for sunning and swimming?

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