Music, like literature, explores many themes—usually boiling down to love, life, and loss. In this column we discuss the locals that play the music; however, this duo epitomizes potentially the most widely sung-about theme there is. Lelah and Jay Eppenbach’s love story began in the city of romance when Lelah […]
Rachel Shubin is on that l-o-n-g list of people who used to vacation but now lives in Cape May. Raised in Fairfax, Virginia, she spent annual summer vacations here as a child, and knew she wanted to move here after college. “I was always sad when we left Cape May, […]
“The painting shows a young boy talking to a giant wolf, symbolizing an escape from reality. This magical scene represents a journey into a fantasy world where the boy finds freedom and adventure, leaving behind the constraints of everyday life.” Prodigious Lycanthropy Oil on canvas20” x 24”
Summer often reminds us of carefree days with fun houses, boardwalk games, prizes, and carnivals. Long ago, a fanciful novelty in luminescent glass became the coveted prize at these venues. When Carnival Glass is held up to the light and rotated, a wave of colors and distortions appear like a […]
Beginning on Decoration Day and ending on Labor Day, everyone in Victorian America in the late 1800s held picnics. It was summertime, and getting outside, spreading a cloth or blanket, and enjoying the fresh air, fresh food, and sunshine was good for the mind and body. Family and group picnics […]
Roz Johnson welcomed me into her home with an excitement reserved for a best friend’s long-awaited return. This was not someone who had agreed to an interview to tell her story, but someone who had agreed to an interview to share her passion for life with others. Freshly baked orange […]
In a resort town like Cape May, souvenirs are ubiquitous, running from sweatshirts and tees to saltwater taffy and mugs. But a Molly Bernstein mug looks less like something you’d pick up at a souvenir shop and more like something you’d find in a gallery. The West Cape May native […]
Looking Up at the Lighthouse II16” x 12”Acrylic on canvas “This is my favorite view of the lighthouse, from the little side parking lot as you enter the grounds. I like the texture details in this piece, the solid brickwork surrounded by a cloudy sky and soft trees below.”
When people say, “They don’t make music like they used to,” they aren’t talking about Fat Mezz. And if you hear someone say that you should tell them about Fat Mezz. This up-and-coming band of gifted musicians caught the eyes and ears of the community when they arrived on the […]
When Laurie Milligan was a child, she didn’t have visions of being an artist when she grew up. “I wanted to be Snow White,” she told us. “I had black hair, and I wanted a prince to kiss me. Joe eventually did.” That Joe is her husband, fellow creative and […]
There’s a Craftsman library table waiting for you at Treehouse Antiques in Lower Township. It’s constructed of quarter-sawn oak with cutout detailing and square drawer knobs. Although not a Gustave Stickley piece, it contains many of the same elements. Oak wood, machine carved detail, wooden drawer dowels instead of machine-made […]
Looking Up 14” x 24” Acrylic “I’m usually gazing at the horizon and enjoying the beauty of the ocean as I walk along the beach. This late summer day, the clouds above the dunes caught my attention, and I then noticed the houses nestled behind the dunes and grasses. Looking up: an […]
I had hoped to meet Cape May historian Harry Bellangy over coffee or to sit on a park bench. Instead, Harry insisted on meeting at the home of the Greater Cape May Historical Society. It’s the building commonly known as Colonial House and was built in 1730 to operate as […]
The presence of music was always there for Hannah Stone, and she has continuously made it more her own. From growing up singing with her church for years to attending the Los Angeles School of Music and touring with original songs, she harnessed the courage and ambition to carve her […]
Whether it’s 1870 or 2024, the English language evolves. Words and phrases come into popular use and stay a while, living their lives in conversation on the streets, in houses and theaters, written in books and newspapers, shared on Instagram or TikTok. Others disappear along with their usefulness. Some expressions […]
Victorians adored ice cream. At the beginning of the 1800s, ice cream was an elite and expensive dish, in flavors like Parmigiano and asparagus. I have tasted homemade ice cream in such flavors as asparagus, spinach, and orange blossom, and I can tell you with 21st-century experience that these flavors […]
Steve Gatier wears many hats: husband, father, proprietor, barista, and retainer of information. As the owner of Magic Brain Café in the Carpenters Square Mall for well over a decade, you’ll often find him hustling behind the coffee bar, a benevolent overlord to his crew of busy baristas. He chats […]
Adages may be trite, but they exist for a reason. Peter Henderer is a living, breathing example of this one: “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Here’s a guy who makes a living creating mostly nautical/fish-related artwork from…recycled wood. Or, as he puts it, “Yes, I am still dumpster […]
Like the ocean, Cape May holds much more substance below the surface. The deeper you dive, the more there is to discover in this town’s pool of creatives. You’ll also find that they are all interconnected one way or another. While some were born and bred here, others chose to […]
Art Nouveau draws inspiration from the natural world with its organic, graceful style. It speaks of birth and renewal as sure as the first signs of spring. It was a compelling, energetic style in the art world from the 1890s to 1914 and the start of World War I. And […]
American Victorian bathroom facilities were modernizing as the 19th century turned into the first decades of the 20th, and they also reflected a clear divide in comfort and convenience between the rich and the less well off. Most Americans of the 19th century did not have a dedicated bathroom and […]
At this time of year, at least here in the coastal mid-Atlantic region, the weather vacillates from not quite dead-of-winter to damp-but-not-quite-warm. The quickest way to warm up—and to look stylish doing it—is to toss on a scarf or shawl. Just ask Kathy Mahon, proprietor and head crocheter of Hook […]
In a political landscape where convictions vary drastically and the mere mention of an elected official’s name can spark discord, residents of West Cape May speak of their mayor, Carol Sabo, with fondness and respect. Her years of education and work in the fields of sociology and advocacy have made […]
Cape May is filled with hidden gems. Its relaxed, beachy outward appearance is humble–but don’t be fooled. We have many talented and impressive players along our coast. One player, pianist Kenneth Richardson, has made some significant sonic waves throughout his career. The tides of his musical journey eventually docked him […]