Newsletter - April 14: Boardwalk Movie Theater Update

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The Big Story this week is Jim Gardner and his pristine, ever-consistent mustache coming to Ocean City this summer to serve as Grand Marshal for the Night In Venice Parade on July 29. The theme this year will be “It’s a Philly Thing.”

In the email today:

📆 Upcoming events

🎞 Boardwalk movie theater update

🚗 Parking meter increases

🔗 News links

🎟 Tickets and discounts

🌊 Weather and tides

📆 Upcoming Events in Ocean City This Weekend

• April 15th

  • Doo Dah Parade

    • When: Noon

    • Where: Asbury Ave. from 6th Street to 12th Street, then up to the Boardwalk ending at 6th & Boardwalk

    • Description: Welcome in the Spring season with this comedy parade complete with over 300 basset hounds. Phillies Legend Mickey Morandini will be the Grand Marshal of Doo Dah Parade. Morandini will be available for autographs and pictures at the Ocean City Music Pier for an hour after the parade.

  • Beach Plum Planting

    • When: 9:30 a.m.

    • Where: 58th Street Beach

    • Description: Plant beach plums on the dunes. The plants dig roots deep into the sand to help stabilize the dunes. Anyone can attend, but wear weather appropriate clothes, bring gloves, and wear hard-soled shoes. Attendees are also requested to bring shovels to dig holes and buckets for top soil.

  • MindfulWays Workshop

    • When: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

    • Where: Ocean City Free Public Library

    • Description: Guided meditation, gratitude sharing, group discussion, interactive exercise.

Other events to look forward to: Sports Memorabilia Show (April 29, Music Pier), Boardwalk and Downtown Merchant Table Sales (April 29, 6th to 14th Street on Asbury and The Boardwalk)

🤳 News Bits

Boardwalk Movie Theater Update 🎞

Town Square Entertainment, which owns and operates theaters in Stone Harbor, Northfield and, soon, Rio Grande, will be renovating the old Moorlyn movie theater across from the Music Pier on the Boardwalk.

Here are the details:

• Town Square is currently focused on completing the Rio Grande theater outside Cape May

• They will then turn their attention to Ocean City

• The theater won’t be open by the end of the summer, but the goal is to be open by Thanksgiving

• Town Square will be adding a new roof to Moorlyn along with improved decor and a live events space for live performances, meetings and movies.

Town Square’s Clint Bunting spoke with Shore Local News about the project:

Could really bring things full-circle if they show BET’s So Fly Christmas, which is currently being shot in Ocean City and surrounding areas.

Parking Fees Going Up 🚗

City council unanimously approved an ordinance to raise parking fees for the first time since 2015.

The details:

• Maximum daily parking fee for municipal lots increases from $20 to $25 during peak summer season.

• Boardwalk and beach zone parking meters' rate goes from $1.50 to $2 per hour.

• Downtown zone rate doubles from 25 cents to 50 cents per hour.

• Parking meters on Asbury Avenue between 6th and 14th streets will operate year-round, with hours of operation subject to change before October.

• City Council promises to revisit year-round parking meters proposal before October based on feedback from downtown merchants.

• Increased parking fees are expected to generate an additional $500,000 in annual revenue for the 2023 municipal budget.

A pretty reasonable and modest uptick.

News Links 🔗

• Actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth will join the OC Pops at Music Pier on June 25 🎭

• Local woman publishes first book of a series on African American history in Ocean City 📗

🎟 Tickets and Discounts

• Get $30 seasonal beach tags before the city updates to $35 on June 1. There is a $5 shipping fee on each order, but you can order up to 10 tags at once. Get them here.

• Playland Castaway Cove is offering 50% off ride tickets (50 for $25) right here. You can also get steep discounts on Mini Golf and Seaside Go Kart Speedway at that link.

• Wonderland Pier is also offering 50% off ride tickets. Same deal as Playland. Get them right here.

• Get 20% off assorted mini golf, Frenchy’s and Escape Room right here.

• Same deal at Jilly’s Arcade— get 50% off gift cards right here.

🌊 Weather and Tides

As always, we recommend getting up-to-date forecasts from THE GOAT of South Jersey weather, NorEaster Nick, directly on his Facebook page.

Tides (9th Street):

• Friday (4/14)

  • High: 3:11 AM

  • Low: 9:56 AM

  • High: 3:57 PM

  • Low: 10:00 PM

• Saturday (4/15)

  • High: 4:22 AM

  • Low: 10:58 AM

  • High: 5:05 PM

  • Low: 11:10 PM

• Sunday (4/16)

  • High: 5:26 AM

  • Low: 11:53 AM

  • High: 6:02 PM

• Monday (4/17)

  • High: 6:22 AM

  • Low: 12:12 AM

  • High: 6:53 PM

  • Low: 12:43 PM

• Tuesday (4/18)

  • High: 7:13 AM

  • Low: 1:08 AM

  • High: 7:40 PM

  • Low: 1:29 PM

• Wednesday (4/19)

  • High: 8:01 AM

  • Low: 2:00 AM

  • High: 8:24 PM

  • Low: 2:13 PM

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Thanks! Enjoy the weekend.