B&B Lavallette ladies' location...aka the source of a solid third of my summer wardrobe.

B&B, beloved local department store chain, will quite literally roll out its wares this Wednesday for one of three summer sidewalk sales at its men’s and women’s Lavallette locations on Grand Central Avenue starting at 9 a.m.

Sidewalk sales usually require some digging so bring your patience, but it usually pays off. I’ve walked out of the B with tons of great finds. I can’t speak for the men’s department, but the junior’s section is rife with fun skirts and tops for going out, nice sundresses and great beach coverups at prices that don’t make your wallet wince. It’s like a Forever 21 by the sea, if you will. (Word of advice – last summer at the Ship Bottom store’s sidewalk sale, you had to purchase the clothes you wanted to try on with cash and could return whatever didn’t fit for a full refund.)

If you can’t make it this week, sidewalk sales return on July 28 and Aug. 11.

The greatest baked good known to humanity.

It’s our pleasure to announce that Colonial Bakery opened its doors at 6:30 this morning and plans to do so every single day from now until September. You may now commence eating Ninja Turtle cookies for breakfast lunch and dinner. That is all. (Big ups to @Suz8 for this awesome cookie shot from her blog. We wholeheartedly endorse her plan to serve these guys at her wedding instead of cake.)

A majority of us flock to the Shore for the sand, sun and waves.  When the pesky jelly fish is spotted or the scattered shells get in the way of our soft sand, many of us forget that we are imposing on their territory…not the other way around.  It is important as New Jersey residents to be aware of the ecosystem and work together to keep both us and our friends in the deep blue sea happy. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’ve ever read the Star-Ledger from Memorial Day to Labor Day, you know Pete Genovese, commander of the venerable Munchmobile and all-around Garden State snack sherpa. At the beginning of the summer season, he named his favorite breakfast, pizza and ice cream at the Shore, and frankly, I’d like to respectfully disagree on his breakfast selection. Read the rest of this entry »

The tastiest harbinger of summer we know

As I drove home from a dreary Monday at work, all sorts of grouchy because it was my first day back after a lovely Caribbean vacation, a sheer-joy-inducing banner greeted me as I turned onto my street. Yes, my friends, Colonial Bakery, most delicious place on Earth, will start baking crumb cake, Turtle cookies, Key lime pie tarts and the greatest doughnuts known to man on May 15.

Who’s excited?!? (PS. Can we get some more Yelp reviews up? Colonial needs some loving on the interwebs.)