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Victorian Spiritualism

The average life expectancy in 1900 was just 47 years. Is it any wonder Victorians were obsessed with the passage from life to death (or, on another topic entirely, with productivity)? Spiritualism—a religion that attempted to bridge the gap between the living and the dead—rose to prominence during the Victorian […]

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Cool Cape May

“Enjoying the cool ocean breeze and salt water – has a definite relaxing effect” wrote Peggy in 1961.  Every year people come to Cape May to cool off and they’ve been doing it for generations. The moniker “Cool Cape May” dates back over 100 years into the town’s history. It […]

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Wingnutz Nut Haus

As a tourist destination, Cape May is home to plenty of retail establishments, from gift and souvenir shops to apparel stores and beach supply venues. And while quite a few of them have some degree of specialization, very few are as categorically distinct as those under the Cape Island Foods […]

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The Inn of Cape May

In this high-tech, post-pandemic age, many hotels have transitioned to digital check-in, electronic keys, and touchless everything. So imagine my surprise to arrive at the Inn of Cape May and 1.) be greeted by a doorman, 2.) assisted by a porter, and 3.) registered by a front desk clerk, who […]

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Jersey Shore Alpacas

To succeed in business, you need a good idea, a good plan, and, in the case of Jersey Shore Alpacas, a little divine intervention. In 2005, looking ahead to retirement, Tish and Jim Carpinelli were intrigued by alpaca farming, a cottage industry then at its height. Hoping to spend their […]

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Marnie & Nate 

Acoustic duos demonstrate how simplicity can offer abundance. Coming up on 25 years of experience playing together, Marnie & Nate possess the talent and tools to entertain, endure, and expand. Between Marnie Lengle’s impressive vocals, Nate Kennedy’s guitar skills, and an overarching passion for music, Marnie & Nate give incredible […]

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Pastor Nicole Wilkinson 

Originally from Ohio, Pastor Nicole Wilkinson arrived in Cape May when she came to lead the Presbyterian Church on Hughes Street in 2017. The most recent in a 125-year-long line of church leaders here, she holds a PhD in New Testament, has authored several books, and has lived in Turkey, […]

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Fall Again

I don’t know how it was for you, but this summer seemed to creep up on me, with a cool start that favored spinach and lettuce plantings (which I totally missed because of previous experiences with hot-as-Hades springs of late), followed by the blast furnace of July into August. It […]

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Song Sparrow 

I have a problem remembering yesterday, yet I remember the first time coming to Cape May and America like it was yesterday and, yes, it was a long time ago. Bright, sunny, vibrant beaches and the sound of Laughing Gulls are the images that come up right away. There was […]

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Gail Pfeifer – Laughing Gull Pottery

“I am a Jersey girl—born and bred,” says Gail Pfeifer, the face—and talented hands—behind Laughing Gull Pottery. She started life further north in the Garden State, but her present life in Stone Harbor is reflected in her hand-thrown pottery pieces, their soothing colors representative of the sand, sea, and sky.  […]

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Bruleed Banana Boulvardier

This cocktail recipe is courtesy of Ocean 7 at the Inn of Cape May How to make it In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine bourbon, Campari, banana liquor and sherry. Stir to chill. Strain over rocks in a rocks glass. Next, build your garnish: Slide the banana slice […]

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1042 Shunpike Road: Red Knot Farm

“A local guy told me this house was the only house on the street when he was growing up,” said Jeff Weigel, who with his wife Kristina owns the Red Knot Farm at 1042 Shunpike Road in West Cape May. “All of these homes around us were fields supporting this […]

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1069 Michigan Avenue: The Grounds (Part Two)

Designing for myself is an impossible task, especially for this house. This is supposed to be the last house I will build—in other words, my forever garden. We’ll see about that. However, that fact created tremendous pressure to get it right, especially considering this property is one quarter the size […]

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TreeHouse Antiques

TreeHouse Antiques on Seashore Road, covering 3000 square feet, is an essential stop for every Cape May antique hunter. The sunny yellow structure was built in the early 1900s, and when you enter, you’ll receive a warm greeting from the owners, Susan and Wayne Stewart. They are antique dealers from […]

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The Southern Mansion: 720 Washington Street

One of few remaining bona fide manor buildings in Cape May, the Southern Mansion is an architectural gem. Though it occupies a site only a quarter the size of the Emlen Physick Estate, the building and grounds evoke the same sense of opulence and stateliness. The home was originally constructed […]

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Designing Outside

We’ve all seen them: glorious outside spaces that are both inspiring and utilitarian, with plenty of options for cooking, gathering, and entertaining. They’re the spaces we dream about, that we see in magazines, and that we wish—and sometimes manage—to have in our own backyards. And whether your version includes a […]

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Mussel Beach

Being the Jersey girl and foodie that I am, I was surprised by how much I didn’t know about mussels before researching this article. Given how many restaurants have mussels on their menus (including every pizzeria in north Jersey) and the fact that New Jersey is one of the leading […]

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Key West Tacos

On a breezy Sunday evening, my dining pal Edna and I took a stroll over to Key West Tacos, which is nestled in a humble little building on the edge of West Cape May. It’s located adjacent to Barrier Island Books and Art—part used bookstore and art studio with live […]

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