Bartender's Best
Bourbon Arnold Palmer
Looking for something to help cool off? Shake up a Bourbon Arnold Palmer with this cocktail recipe from the Pier House
Spring 2025
Inside the issue: Showcasing a Cape May covered with flowers. A story of two Irishwomen and their Cape May connection. The evolution of Sea Grove to Cape May Point. The dos and don’ts of illuminating the night. The USS Jacob Jones: Remembering a World War II ship and its survivors. And more!
Try This at Home
The Seafood Paradox
Of course, we need a pair of docks for all the fishing boats. Of course I went for the cheap pun. Unfortunately, there really is a seafood paradox in Cape May.
It's a Cape May Thing
Sky Watching
Sky watching isn’t unique to Cape May; but for locals and visitors alike it’s a Cape May thing year round. Our beaches are accessible and you can avoid much of the light pollution that our writer talks about on page 60 of this issue. It’s not like watching the stars […]
Design in Bloom
The Grass is Always Greener: Part Two
You may remember that last fall we started a discussion about lawns: their past, their present, and their future. We talked about what types of turf grasses work well for various situations and covered the debate regarding sod vs. seed. Just in case you missed it, the article is available […]
Antiquing Around Town
Hurricane Lamps
Thousands of years ago, lamps were made of pottery, carved shells, and other materials. They contained oil derived from animal fat or plants. A fiber, linen, or papyrus wick floated in the oil, providing longer periods of light. In 1780 Aime Argand developed an oil lamp that contained a wick […]
Architectural Observations
Hangar No. 1 at U.S. Naval Air Station Wildwood
As the lookout tower and bunker were of critical importance to coastal defense, Hangar No. 1 at United States Naval Air Station Wildwood (NASW) was of critical importance to air supremacy in the Pacific theater.
Interior Motives
Home Décor Selection with Thomas Matthew Designs
Walking into a home designed by Thomas Matthew Designs isn’t just about seeing beautiful interiors—it’s about experiencing a carefully crafted environment where every detail matters. Founded by Matthew Wetzel and Donald Thomas, the firm has earned a reputation for creating interiors that reflect the personalities and lifestyles of the homeowners […]
Grape & Grain
From Farm to Bottle: Nauti Spirits
Except for the molasses needed for rum production, all of Nauti’s liquors are grown, ground, mashed, fermented, distilled, and bottled on site.
Prime Selections
2025 Restaurant Scene
Each spring we devote this column to what’s new on the restaurant scene for the upcoming season. This year there are no new restaurants opening on the island (that we know of at this writing) but exciting news none-the-less. As you know, Carl Messick, the famous chef of Peter Shields […]
Dining Out
The Mad Batter
In our continuing series of “Cape May Classics,” The Mad Batter Restaurant and Bar is surely ensconced on the “absolutely must include” list. I’ve been frequenting this spot for 30 years and it never disappoints. When my dining companion Reginald and I decide to step out for a bite and […]
Feature
The USS Jacob Jones
Remembering a ship and its survivors, torpedoed off Cape May during World War II
Wish You Were Here
The Corinthian Yacht Club
The Corinthian Yacht Club of Cape May was founded only two years prior to the oldest card in this batch being sent out. Located on Cape May’s harbor since 1913, countless members and sailors have enjoyed all the club has to offer. There are many subjects among these cards: requesting […]
Victorian Vignette
Tattoos: Modern Expression & Ancient Art
“A sailor without a tattoo is like a ship without grog: not seaworthy.” -Samuel O’Reilly, tattooist, 1854–1909 For millennia, humans have tattooed their bodies to express their individuality, chronicling loves, losses, beliefs, victories, affiliations, hopes, and dreams. The oldest human discovered—5,300 years old— had 60 tattoos, and his contemporaries, from […]
Featured Shop
Cape May Trading Post at Dellas
For nearly a century, Dellas has been a staple of Cape May’s Washington Street Mall, a place where generations of families have stopped for everything from beach essentials to nostalgic keepsakes. Now, under the ownership of retail powerhouse Karen Thompson, Dellas has been reimagined as the Cape May Trading Post […]
Sound Waves
Geno White
An artist that epitomizes the term local legend, whose name is within six degrees of separation from not just any musician in the area but many of the greatest rock & roll guitarists of all time: meet Geno White—or get to know him a bit better. From Silence to Sound […]
Field Trip
Bucks County Playhouse
A rustic mill-turned-theater must fend off bankruptcy, developers, and other perils to ensure the show goes on. Sounds like the plot of an old Hollywood movie, right? But with a few changes, this could be the story of the historic Bucks County Playhouse, in New Hope. The rambling, barnlike structure […]
Feature
50 Summers Later
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 […]
The Islander
Jack Wright
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 […]
Nature
The Secret Lives of Fireflies
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 […]
Brit's Eye View
Killdeer
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 […]
Artisans Corner
Kate McKiernan
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 […]
Artist in Residence
Doug Axmann
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 […]