Seaside Heights Boradwalk

There are signs of economic recovery, and according to a Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey Poll released on May 27, tourism at the Jersey Shore may not take a hit to the extent that had been originally predicted at the peak of the economic turmoil in the winter.

Among the findings of the poll:

• 6 out of 10 New Jersey residents are planning on visiting the Shore area during the summer months;
• 21 percent will vacation for a week or more; and,
• 38 percent are planning visits shorter than a week.

The “length of stay” numbers indicate that the economy is limiting overall tourism vacation days, which may have an impact on shore merchants. However, according a report in the Asbury Park Press, Patrick Murray, the Monmouth University polling director, says “the economic mix will be different from last year, which may actually benefit Shore merchants.”

Perhaps Shore merchants will be forced to become more innovative in their sales approach this year?

We’re looking forward to tracking tourism trends and merchant activities over the course of this summer. If you notice any creative promotions, please drop us a line!

The Osprey in Manasquan has mandated Tivas, hackey sack not required

Manasquan night-life staple The Osprey has outlawed flip-flops beginning tonight, according to an APP staff report. I’m pretty sure this is patently absurd because who doesn’t wear flips in the summer?? I’ve only been to Osprey once and aside from the $10 cover and $7 Bud Lights, it was a pretty good time. But, guess what I was wearing – oh yes, FLIP-FLOPS. So was everyone else I was with and probably 98% of the people there.

Apparently some chick was injured and now any shoes worn into the bar must feature some type of strap to include the back of your foot. You could go mid-90s style and wear these:

Angry Osprey patrons have taken to Facebook – the college quad for protestors of the digital age — to show their disappointment and brainstorm a solution to their plight. One creative poster suggested that the ‘Sprey regulars show up in “the most inappropriate foot wear possible. I am going to wear ski boots i suggest soccer cleats motorcycle boots cowboy boots flippers…you get the idea.” Hats off to you, Jamie Annese of Central Jersey, for getting original, but for your own sake please don’t wear ski boots to the bar – ouch! Other posters suggested bunny slippers and rain boots. I love my Rainbows to death but personally, if it was socially acceptable to wear my L.L. Bean slippers out in public, I totally would.

Can you imagine waiting in the line that snakes from the Ospreys door and around the block only to reach the front and be told that your footwear precludes you from entering? Yikes. I’m not terribly well-versed in Manasquan watering holes but I would imagine Leggett’s and The Parker House are about to get much, much busier.

When the going gets tough...

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.

This picture is largely unremarkable save for the fact that it’s only May!

Other than reminiscing about the weekend, this week we’ll be:

-Wishing the best for all those involved in the boat accident on the Manasquan River on Friday (via NJ.com).

-Thinking about laying out the $67.50 to check out Bobby Dylan at the Blue Claws stadium in Lakewood - tix on sale Saturday, show is July 23 (via Metromix).

-Wondering where all the 30-somethings have gone (via APP)

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?

If you ask me, there’s no such thing as a bad beach, per se, but some certainly stand out over others. The beach near the house my brother, a Monmouth U. student, lived in this year in Deal left much to be desired. A steep cliff giving way to a tiny sliver of coarse, grainy sand? No thank you. The glorious, sweeping sand-scape rolling down to the ocean near my house on the Barrier Island? Yes please. However, my beach is operated and maintained by a private homeowners association and while it’s not technically “private,” it’s not where you would want to set up shop if you came down the Shore for the day. No public bathrooms, limited parking, $8 day badges.

This is one of the Shore’s perennial problems and Donohue touches on it in his vodcast. Many limited-access beaches, like those on Long Beach Island, are guarded by oceanfront mansions with little or no way to get on without trespassing. Yet, their beaches are usually bolstered with government-funded replenishment projects, which cost us all more than the price of a badge.

Ocean City takes the top honors and, like last year, South Jersey beaches dominate the top 10, with just 3 entries from Monmouth and Ocean counties. Unlike 2008 when just Beach Haven was entered and came in 9th, LBI presented a united front and was named 2nd best beach in the Jerz and the best spot for family vacations – a title I’d like to see Lavallette win next year. Then again, I could be biased.

- Philly.com article about celebs at the Jersey Shore, but it turns out to be a bit of a slight, saying that they’re really non-celebs, which is BS, as anyone who has ever seen James Gandolfini eating ice cream at Salty’s can tell you.

Most offending quote “Despite the Shore’s plebeian roots, it does at times attract celebrities to more than Atlantic City casinos.” So, apparently those A.C. high-rollers (please) do deign themselves to visit our shores on occasion. The only thing they article gets right is… in a quote from someone else who knows what they’re talking about… “If they want to wear sweatsuits and sandals and hang out with everybody else, they come to the Shore.” Damn straight!

Fortunately, people like this medial waste dumping dentist don’t make their way up our isle. I digress…

AP article on NJ.com about the tax increase shit show. How property values are declining and the justification for a major property tax increase came about during the Great Depression 2.0 will remain a mystery unexplained not unlike our Jersey Devil. More bad news, of course, it all comes back to further screw the tax payer in the end. “Lakewood has already spent about $3 million to settle some of the 4,500 appeals. Township tax coordinator Cassandra Johnson said it is a ‘nightmare.’” No joke!

In this seriously under-reported piece of journalism, unnamed “state, local and tourism industry officials across New Jersey” – none are quoted, are “aware that economic concerns will likely keep many area residents closer to home again this summer”.

Rest assured, the officials have done their math, because they know “about 30 million people live within 300 miles of the shore area and they’re looking for new things to do and places to go”. What does that all mean? Maybe a lot people potentially walking our beaches with high top sneakers and jean shorts if said officials can get the word out about the abundance of fun awaiting them at our shoreline.

Liveforjerseyshore will be bringing any breaking news developments on the summer of menza-menz.