Paige Cunningham and I decided to meet on the Washington Street Mall one late afternoon just after she left work. As she walked toward the bench where I was seated, I was preparing to compliment her on the brightly colored jean jacket she was wearing—a jacket that I pretty much […]
“Sit quiet by my side in the shade And not the kind that’s thrown I mean, the kind under where a tree has grown” -Taylor Swift, Paris It’s Saturday, and you’ve made it to Cape May for your summer visit. You stop at your B&B or hotel in just enough […]
If you’re familiar with Cape May, it’s almost difficult not to be familiar with Janet Payne’s work. Whether you’re already a fan of her sea glass jewelry or have seen it displayed at Cape May shops Whale’s Tale or Splash, or even dangling around the neck or from the earlobes […]
When Suzanne and Eric Krebs were looking at Cape May houses in 1978, they found a vacant, rundown house on Beach Avenue that had possibility. It needed lots of work, but it had ocean views and big rooms, so they thought, “Why not?” What the Krebs got when they purchased […]
A Dream that Almost Turned into a Nightmare My grandmother used to say, “Nothing worth doing is easy.” If you have been following the saga that is 1069 Michigan Avenue, you know she was right. Renovating the building was a project that had been estimated to take six months but […]
Tucked on the outskirts of the central shopping district of Cape May sits a quaint antique shop, Out of The Past. The owner and operator of this hidden treasure is Jeanne Hermann, a woman filled with life who cherishes yesterday’s history. It’s amazing how such an unimposing little (24’ by […]
I love to go for walks around the fields in summer, particularly before it gets too hot. The vegetation is always green in summer, and flowers change from week to week. It tends to be quiet, most tourists preferring bed, breakfast or the beach. A stroll to Hidden Valley, The […]
In an area once known as the center of a flourishing African American community, anchored by its landowners, and further developed by its business owners, a building stands as a poignant reminder of a significant time in our nation’s history. The Franklin Street School, built in 1927, was constructed as […]
Allison Valtri, of Valtri Interiors, has been in the design business a long time, and she goes deeper than simple interior design. She makes sure that the lifestyle of her clients is addressed before going into a project, and that includes permanent pieces like built-in features. “I’m the second generation […]
Cape May has come to be known as a gastronomic destination and for good reason. We are blessed with a plethora of extraordinary dining concepts, an abundance of fresh seafood, and access to local farms who supply the freshest produce. Each year we lament the closing of one or more […]
To the uninitiated, the invitation to dine at a fixed hour in an airport hangar may not be all that appealing. Imagine having 700 people, mostly adults, show up at the same time to dine together in one very large room. The idea may have echoes of a campus dining […]
The official first greeting when we visited the sylvan Fishing Creek location of Cape Island Woodworks came not from owner John Hassay, but from shop dog Gracie. We heard her excited bark before we saw her, then spotted her wagging tail as she bounded through the grass, John behind her. […]
I find it fascinating how landscapes of my youth have had a profound influence on my preferences as an adult. For instance, some of my favorite places can be found within Florida’s Everglades National Park, where slight variations in elevation result in drastic changes in vegetation. As I sit at […]
If it were not already taken, A Tale of Two Cities might be a perfect title for the life story of West Cape May resident Barbara Freels. Born in Harlem in 1923, Barbara spent her childhood between Manhattan and Cape May, often returning to the city during the summer months when […]
It’s summertime on Howard Street, and the evening sky casts a dusky shadow on the crowded lawn of The Chalfonte Hotel. The block buzzes with the melodic funky fusion sounds of The Ramble, beckoning the community to truly unwind on any given Thursday, from a week before Memorial Day until […]
A photo essay on board the Conquest, a day boat whose main catch is conch.
Deep inside the main house at Winterthur, visitors will find a make-believe cityscape, complete with slate and cobblestone pathways, exterior building facades, wrought-iron lamps, and even trees. Each slat, stone, brick, and windowpane were taken from a historic home or tavern, then transferred to the Delaware home of Henry Francis […]
For an authentic European experience in small-town South Jersey, there’s no place like the Peninsula Hotel in Cape May Court House. Walk through these doors, and you’ll be transported from the corner of Main and Mechanic streets to the Cote d’Azur, with cuisine that could rival any on the French […]
As home to one of the largest commercial fishing ports on the East Coast, Cape May is no stranger to all things nautical. From fresh-off-the-boat seafood and plenty of places to dock-and-dine, to maritime décor and artwork, Cape May is a hub for the sea-inspired lifestyle. Which is why it’s […]
The year was 1907. Anna visited the quaint seaside town of Cape May, presumably not from too far away considering the lack of access back then. To set the stage a bit, horse-drawn carriages were still parading up and down dirt roads like the ones displayed in the pictures, when […]
What’s there to say about The Lookout at Ferry Park? Plenty. Spectacular views from its second-floor location, a coastal mood, and free parking! Wait, there’s more! The Lookout has an excellent international menu, comfy seating, and it’s a great spot for people watching and sunset watching. Really, all the things. […]
Bungalow architecture became a predominant and preferred building style at the beginning of the 20th century. The design was imported from India and other Asian countries in 1880, where its distinctive low-pitched roofs with wide overhangs and porches protected the building and kept insides cool against the blazing sun. The […]
I always tell people who are thinking about birds to get a plan on how to look at them, so you don’t skip straight to color and miss all the important stuff: Size, shape, behavior, probability and then patterns of color. Today, let’s look at the Sanderling using these characteristics. […]
