No lie… It’s July! July 2024 Ocean City Magazine is out now

This is my summer of nostalgia. Our oldest son is entering his senior year of high school and our youngest – her last year of elementary. As these thresholds approach, it feels like someone changed the playback speed on life to at least 1.5 times. After I mentioned this to my friend (and lovely former OC Mag cover artist) Lauren, on an early morning back in mid-June, she was also in the grips of the feels, and wrote back a phrase she learned from author Andy J Pizza. “It’s like the ‘ghosts of gratitude,’” she said.
It took me a minute to grasp what that meant but once I did, it washed over me like a cool wave of comfort. The feels (at least in part) is from the appreciation for the journey, and gratitude is always a good thing, even as it leaves these little feeling “ghosts” behind.

This sort of explains the nostalgia we have for Ocean City, New Jersey. It’s the gratitude for the good times we’ve had on her shores, the waves we’ve caught, the family bonds we’ve strengthened and the friends we’ve made. Returning to these shores summer after summer brings comfort in waves. And for that, I’m grateful. Because it’s finally… Full. Blown. Summer. Buckle up, friends, here we go.
This month in Ocean City Magazine, we list of a dozen ways to make your summer days on the island shine, walk you through OCNJ’s history with Kristen Dowd’s story on the OCHM’s new self-guided walking tours, and hit the stage with OC High School librarian (and Broadway star!) Sara Maimone.
If you’ve been on the Boardwalk, chances are you’ve been to Oves Restaurant. We head in the kitchen of this landmark eatery serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and hot donuts with a side of magnificent beach views. Read their story on page 10. We also met up with the owner of Gnarly Barnacles, talked shopping with B & B Department Store and learned the latest spa trends courtesy of local esthetician Deanna Curran.
Our columnists killed it this month with spot of fishing advice courtesy of Brandon Smith, a delish summer recipe by Sunday Girl Eats’ Amy Mahon, wellness advice from Peak Mobility’s Lauren Deckard and a drink recipe to wash it all down with by radio host and blogger Linda Arceo. Plus, we have a new name on the masthead this month! Photographer (and high school sophomore) Kai Calisi has joined our team. See his pics of life in OCNJ on page 18. See you on the beach!