Glynis Rickard and Louise Hudson recently revisited Cape May from Ireland after 50 years to reminisce on their summers abroad working in America in the early 1970s. Typical of a storybook journey, these Irish girls faced the unknown head-on in search of experience and exploration. They received kindness and guidance […]
Sitting by the fireplace in Exit Zero Filling Station to talk with Jack Wright was indeed an interview long overdue. I am one of many who have admired the work and contributions he has made to Cape May in the 23 years he has called it his home. Born in […]
As I sit here typing, I’m still bundled in flannel pajama pants and thick merino wool socks. The thermometer reads just above freezing, and the wind outside cuts through my light sweater with ease. It’s still winter, but there are signs of spring. The Baltimore Orioles visiting my jelly feeder […]
In winter they form small flocks, often hanging out in grassy or bare earth fields, marshes, or even car parks. They are tough, handling the coldest weather, huddled up in loose groups always facing into the wind. In summer, they separate into pairs, breeding in lots of places that you […]
When was the last time you wanted something but didn’t buy it because you couldn’t afford it? And how many of us who might raise their hand in the affirmative here would decide to just make that thing instead? Kate McKiernan would. “I first started making jewelry in college, as […]
Rainbow LakeMixed media with watercolor and gouache paints on watercolor paper18” x 24” “I painted this by using a wet-on-wet technique. To begin with, literally pouring the paints onto the paper and then working in the details as the painting started drying. Once completely dried, I was able to paint […]
I have spent most of my adult life living and working in resort towns, primarily in two locales: the ski areas of Colorado and beach towns up and down the Jersey shore. Many resort areas have great restaurants, and some like Cape May are great restaurant towns that entice foodies […]
People familiar with Cape May already are well aware of the many World War II structures that were built here to protect the entrance to the Delaware Bay. In 1942, a series of 15 observation towers, designed to direct gunfire, stretched from Wildwood to Bethany Beach. One of the few […]
It’s that time of year. No, not Christmas, the time of year when some of us are chomping at the bit for any sign of spring. We’ve scoured the catalogs, designed our summer gardens and planned our annual pilgrimage to the Philadelphia Flower Show—now what? How about a trip to […]
Although American Brilliant cut glass had its heyday from the 1870s to the early 1900s, there has been a resurgence of collectors acquiring a few antique pieces for use in the home. It might be due to shows like Downton Abbey or The Gilded Age that shined a spotlight on […]
When you drive out of town on Broadway and cross the bridge over the canal that separates Cape Island from the rest of the Jersey Cape, Broadway becomes Seashore Road. Go another mile and you’ll come upon Historic Cold Spring Village. The Village’s sylvan setting and its arrangement of more […]
Nestled along the serene shore of Cape May, the Montreal Beach Resort has been a beloved destination for generations of beachgoers. Its reputation for classic seaside charm has anchored its place in this coastal community for over 55 years. Now, under new ownership, the resort is undergoing a transformation—one that […]
Recipe courtesy of The Washington Inn This cocktail, which takes its striking red color from Campari, originated in Florence, Italy in the early 1900s. “[The Negroni] stands tall in its simplicity and sophistication,” says the Washington Inn. “Perfectly balanced with a touch of bitterness, it’s a flawless choice for anyone […]
We can learn a great deal about the journey of a person’s life from a yard sale. I came to this conclusion one late summer Saturday afternoon as I walked through the vast yard sale of a Cape May legend. The experience was, to say the least, bittersweet. Harry “Buzz” […]
With this issue, our Grape & Grain column enters its second year of spotlighting the impressive array of breweries, wineries, and distilleries that populate our beloved Jersey Cape. It is a remarkable and expanding assortment of fun-filled venues where locals and visitors can immerse themselves in the vibrant Jersey Shore […]
This New Year, we’re celebrating by reviewing the “Cape May Classics.” These are the restaurants that are the essence of Cape May, known casually as the culinary capital of New Jersey. On the top of any list is the esteemed and globally revered Lobster House. Situated on Schellenger’s Landing Road […]
From February 11 to February 14, 1899, Cape May, Wildwood, the state of New Jersey, the rest of the continental United States—and Cuba—suffered through what came to be called The Great Valentine’s Day Blizzard of 1899 and the Great Arctic Outbreak of February 1899, among other names. According to the […]
If you think Cape May traffic is terrible today, try to imagine what it was like in the 1960s when only two roads led into the city, both with frequently opened drawbridges allowing boat travel between Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Both roads – one down the seaside and […]
The Windsor Hotel was built in 1879 and earned a reputation as the “Queen of the Cape May hotels,” because of its quintessential Cape May look. Most of these cards are stamped from over a century ago, when the establishment was very active. This queen had been visited by Hollywood […]
In the heart of Cape May, situated among the historic storefronts of the Washington Street Mall, you’ll find something unexpected: an 18-foot great white shark suspended from the ceiling. It looms over customers, silently observing as they browse through t-shirts that range from quirky to clever, shot glasses with local […]
They say a mother’s voice is the first one we hear, and in many cases, her taste in music is our very first impression of rhythm and song. For Toni Teschner, her mother’s record collection acted as an early guide to music, offering direction for where it would bring her […]
An intern’s experience with the Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center
Isaiah Zagar once described his art as “a spider web,” designed to “trap people and change how they look, feel and dream.” His web—his masterwork—can be found at Philly’s Magic Gardens, a floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall, indoor-outdoor labyrinth of mosaic art in the heart of Philadelphia. The attraction, created over several decades, […]
