Your Night in Venice Guide

Last week we asked what your favorite part of this newsletter was.

The answers!

Poor tide updates. Fun fact: That is the single most useful thing in the newsletter for me. Literally every day on the beach I open the email which I wrote to check when high tide is. It shall remain.

This week we will concentrate largely on Night in Venice festivities, with the results of our MUCH-ANTICIPATED blind pizza taste test to be unveiled next week.

In the email today:

📆 Upcoming events

🚤 Night in Venice information

🐋 Windmill updates

🏠 Real estate update

👨‍💼 We’re hiring

🌊 Weather and tides

📆 Upcoming Events in (and around) Ocean City

• July 28

  • Night of Philly Soul Featuring The Trammps

    • When: 7:30 p.m.

    • Where: Music Pier

    • Description: Some Philly soul, baby. Get tickets here.

  • Beach Concert— Gary US Bonds and The Roadhouse Rockers + The Hilarious Rev Billy C. Wurtz (Somers Point)

    • When: 7:00 p.m.

    • Where: William Morrow Beach

    • Description: I am entirely too young to understand what this is, but you may enjoy it.

• July 29

  • Night in Venice 5K and One-Mile Walk

    • When: Registration at 8:00 a.m.

    • Where: Ocean City Intermediate School (18th and Bay)

    • Description: All ages welcome. Prizes awarded for all age groups. Register here— registration ends at 8:00 p.m. Friday.

  • Night in Venice

    • When: 6:00 p.m.

    • Where: The Bay

    • Description: Ocean City’s 68th annual Night in Venice will celebrate all things Philadelphia. Retired Action News anchor Jim Gardner will serve as grand marshal, and this year’s theme will be “It’s a Philly Thing.” The optional theme provides a chance to celebrate the rich history and culture of the Philadelphia region in sports, music, food, education, government and more. Presenting sponsors for 2023 Night in Venice are ACME Markets and the Jet Drive Exchange Boat Club. The City’s annual boat parade is one of the largest in the world. Starts at the Longport Bridge to Tennessee Ave. along the bay. See more in our first main section of the newsletter.

  • Somers Point Farmers Market (Somers Point)

    • When: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

    • Where: Somers Mansion, 1000 Shore Rd.

    • Description: It’s a farmer’s market, folks.

  • Concert Under The Stars— Neil Diamond Tribute (Sea Isle)

    • When: 7:30 p.m.

    • Where: Excursion Park

    • Description: Free outdoor concert. Neil Diamond tribute band.

• July 30

  • Michael James Scott Performing with the Ocean City Pops

    • When: 7:30 p.m.

    • Where: Music Pier

    • Description: Disney’s Aladdin on Broadway performs with the Ocean City Pops. Get tickets here.

  • Stone Harbor Farmers Market (Stone Harbor)

    • When: 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

    • Where: 95th Street and Second Ave.

    • Description: Farmer’s market.

  • Phillies Youth Home Run Derby (Sea Isle)

    • When: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

    • Where: Dealy Field (61st and Central)

    • Description: Boys ages 7-8 and 9-10 at 10:00 a.m., girls ages 7-12 and boys ages 11-12 at 12:00 p.m., register starting at 9:00 a.m.

• July 31

  • Somers Point Kid’s Concert Series (Somers Point)

    • When: 6:30 p.m.

    • Where: William Morrow Beach

    • Description: A concert for kids!

  • Family Fun Night — Minion Mayhem (Sea Isle)

    • When: 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

    • Where: Excursion Park

    • Description: Minion dancing. Stage show begins at 7:30 p.m.

• August 1

• August 1 is National Night Out for local communities. Many local towns have events. Use the links at the end of this section for details.

  • Funtastic Tuesdays

    • When: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

    • Where: Downtown Asbury

    • Description: Entertainment, face painters, balloon sculptors.

  • Ocean City Theatre Company Presents Rapunzel

    • When: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

    • Where: Music Pier

    • Description: Long hair.

  • Mummers Night

    • When: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

    • Where: Boardwalk

    • Description: Mummers strut the Boards.

  • Beach Movie — Sing 2 (Avalon)

    • When: Dusk (figure around 8:30 p.m.)

    • Where: 30th Street Beach

    • Description: Movie on the beach.

  • The Wizard of Oz Presented by the Ocean City Pops and The Ocean City Theatre Company

    • When: 7:30 p.m.

    • Where: Music Pier

    • Description: Get tickets here.

• August 2

  • Farmers Market

    • When: 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

    • Where: Tabernacle Grounds at 6th and Asbury

    • Description: Farmers market.

  • Wacky Wednesday — Donut on a String

    • When: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

    • Where: Music Pier

    • Description: Participants will need to eat an entire donut, no hands, without letting it fall off a string.

  • Twins Contest

    • When: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

    • Where: Music Pier

    • Description: Registration is free and begins at 5:30 p.m. Required: a sibling.

  • Crafty Wednesday (Avalon)

    • When: 10:00 a.m.

    • Where: Avalon Free Public Library

    • Description: Join Miss Paige for a fun arts and crafts project. Kids of all ages welcome.

  • Movie Under The Stars — DC League of Super Pets (Sea Isle)

    • When: 8:30 p.m.

    • Where: Excursion Park

    • Description: Outdoor movie.

  • The Wizard of Oz Presented by the Ocean City Pops and The Ocean City Theatre Company

    • When: 7:30 p.m.

    • Where: Music Pier

    • Description: Get tickets here.

• August 3

  • Market Days

    • When: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

    • Where: Downtown Asbury

    • Description: Entertainment, face painters, balloon sculptors.

  • The 22nd Annual Art of Surfing

    • When: All day

    • Where: Music Pier

    • Description: It is a free family event featuring original art from surfing’s biggest names, live music, and a chance to meet artists from across the country. Runs August 3-5.

  • LEGO Thursday (Avalon)

    • When: 10:00 a.m.

    • Where: Avalon Free Public Library

    • Description: Calling all LEGO fans! The library will supply the LEGOS, you supply the imagination. All ages.

  • Family Night

    • When: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

    • Where: Boardwalk

    • Description: Family-friendly entertainment on the Boardwalk.

  • Thrilling Thursday (Margate)

    • When: 6:30 p.m., movie at 7:30 p.m.

    • Where: Granville Ave. Beach

    • Description: Corn hole, Wawa giveaways, followed by Lilo and Stitch, no rain date.

Also note the Ocean City Library has many events for adults and kids alike on their calendar, which can be viewed here.

You can see the full list of events in all nearby Shore towns with the following links: Ocean City | Sea Isle | Margate | Avalon | Stone Harbor | Somers Point | Wildwood | Cape May | Ventnor

Other events to look forward to: 60th Annual Boardwalk Art Show (August 4-6), Don McLean (August 7)

🤳 News Bits

Night in Venice Information 🚤

Before we get to it, what happens if it rains?

Ocean City officials say they plan to move forward with the event if there is just “rain.” But if there are thunderstorms, then they may have to cancel or postpone the event, including the fireworks.

They are monitoring the situation and plan to make a call by 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Friend of the ‘letter Nor’Easter Nick posted the following message on Facebook today:

You can stay dialed in to his Facebook page for the latest updates.

All details you need to know for Night in Venice:

• ⏱️ Start: 6:00 p.m. near the Ocean City-Longport Bridge

• 🗺️ Route: The parade begins near the Ocean City-Longport toll bridge and travels along the bay to Tennessee Avenue, looping in and out of lagoons along the way

• 🥖 Theme: It’s a Philly Thing

• 👔 Grand Marshal: Jim Gardner

  • Also joining: Comcast Spectacor CEO Dan Hilferty and Philly mascots the Phanatic, Gritty, Swoop, and Fang.

    • Interesting subplot: In the Mayor’s update last week, he said the city still hasn’t procured Franklin from the Sixers. “We’re still holding out hope that the 76ers’ mascot Franklin will join us – then we’ll have a full house of Philly mascots in the boat parade,” he said. One has to wonder if the ongoing pissing match between the Sixers and Comcast Spectacor is the reason why Franklin hasn’t yet agreed to participate. That would be petty.

• 🕶️ Viewing

  • 🏟️ Grandstands on the street ends of the following streets (free, first-come, first-serve)

    • Battersea

    • North

    • 1st

    • 6th

    • 7th

    • 11th

    • 13th

    • 15th

    • 16th

    • Tennessee

  • 🪑 Chairs may be set up along any other public street end or at Bayside Park on 2nd St.

  • 🌉 Bridge viewing is also allowed

    • Must remain in bike path on shoulder

    • No chairs allowed on bridge

    • May not block others from walking or biking

    • No alcoholic beverages permitted on the bridge

    • Persons are not permitted to walk along the bridge with motor vehicle traffic— police will be present to monitor

  • 👩‍🎤 Special VIP viewing area at Bayside Center is sold out

• 💸 Cost: Free everywhere except sold out Bayside Center

• 🚗 Parking: Good luck! (jk)

  • 🚐 Parking and shuttle service will run starting at 4:00 p.m. from the following locations and drop viewers off at street end viewing areas and Bayside Center, and then return to lots, running until 10:00 p.m.:

    • Ocean City Municipal Airport: 25th Street and Bay Avenue

    • Soccer Field at Tennessee Avenue: Off Shelter Road

    • Ocean City Community Center: 1735 Simpson Avenue

  • ⛔️ Parking restrictions begin at midnight on Friday night and run through midnight Saturday night at the following locations— expect to be ticketed or towed:

    • Both sides of Bay Avenue between 16th Street and 24th Street

    • The east side of Bay Avenue between 14th Street and 16th Street

    • West 16th Street, West 17th Street and West 18th Street will have parking restrictions in place

• 🎆 Fireworks

  • Start time between 9:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., depending on when the parade ends

  • Set off from a barge off the 9th Street Bridge

  • Can best be viewed from street ends or Bayfront between Ocean City-Longport bridge and 16th Street

• 🤷‍♂️ How to participate

  • Online registration for boats is closed, but you can stop by the Information Center at City Hall to register and pick up your number and mug

    • Numbers are mugs are not given out until the Captain’s Meeting

• ❌ Things to not do

  • Do not swim in the bay during the parade

  • Paddleboards and kayaks are not part of the parade

    • Standup paddleboarders who go it on their own must wear life jackets and carry whistles

  • Do not enter or cross the parade route with a boat or craft or else, I would imagine, you’ll have a 4-star swat team after you like in Grand Theft Auto

  • The last boat in the parade will have a flashing yellow light while the start of the parade will be signaled by the flyover of a Coast Guard helicopter

  • Do not anchor in any channel during the fireworks

  • 🏆 Results will be announced on ocnj.us and oceancityvacation.com by noon Sunday, July 30, and awards can be picked up starting at 1 p.m. July 30 from the City Hall Welcome Center

     

Here’s a boat safety video courtesy of the Phillie Phanatic:

Thanks, and enjoy the ballgame! Er, parade.

Windmill Update 🐋

As shown at the top of the email, a good number of people care deeply about these updates, so we will continue to bring them.

This week, no hard news on Ocean Wind 1, the offshore windmill project off our coast, but there is a trend of negative national articles about the viability of wind energy.

Here’s an excerpt from a piece in Politico:

The first paragraph refers, at least in part, to the massive tax credit Governor Murphy and New Jersey lawmakers decided to pass along to Orsted, the Danish offshore windmill manufacturer building the 98 windmills off our coast… a tax credit that was supposed to go to consumers.

In quasi-related news: The PJM Interconnection electrical grid - which includes New Jersey and Pennsylvania - has posted a Level 1 alert this weekend thanks to the heat that “may cause capacity problems”. Ironically, PJM has straddled both sides of the power-generation fence. This winter, they issued a study that blamed the rapid retirement of fossil fuels as one reason for why they may struggle to keep up with demand. But they have also worked closely with New Jersey to develop large-scale offshore wind energy.

Their conclusion was that in the absence of rapid and sustained development of offshore wind energy, which looks increasingly unlikely, wind power will do little to help with rising power demand on their grid.

News Links 🔗

• Wildwood enacted a new teenage curfew 🎃

• Ocean City has some of New Jersey’s cleanest air 💨

• 5 breakfast sports in Ocean City to try 🍳

🍕 Ocean City Pizza: The Ultimate Blind Taste Test (Coming Soon)

We told you about this last week, and we are putting the finishing touches on the video. Expect a dedicated newsletter on our blind pizza taste test next week.

We tested five leading pizzas - including Manco, Prep’s, Mario’s, Bennie’s, and Express - served up to more than 20 people randomly for the ultimate, unbiased pizza review.

We are terrible on camera, so we brought along friend of the ‘letter, and the only weatherman in South Jersey, NorEaster Nick, to host the event.

We should have the results tallied and video ready by next week, but for now, here’s what I can tell you— in no particular order:

• Pizza 1 was well received

• Pizza 2 was said to have “soggy crust”

• Pizza 3 was lauded for being different and unique

• Pizza 4 received no first-place votes

• Pizza 5 was a sleeper that convinced one participant to switch pizza allegiance

So who won? You may be shocked to find out.

Subscribe to our Instagram page (@walkingtheboards), Facebook page, or TikTok for highlights.

🏠 Real Estate Update

Did you know Walking The Boards has a newsletter dedicated to Ocean City Real Estate?

If you would like to opt-in, just click the subscribe button right here:

👨‍💼 We’re Hiring!

Love Ocean City? Love the Shore? Good a social media? Have a passion for real estate?

We’re hiring a real estate writer:

Real Estate Writer

Looking for someone with professional experience in digital media, journalism, or anything where you have to hold the attention of an audience.

You will report on all aspects of the real estate industry, including residential, commercial, and development sectors, providing insights to our readers, with a unique focus on the local market trends and narratives.

If you are interested, either respond to this email or email me at [email protected].

🌊 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. You can also download his app.

Tides (9th Street):

• Friday (7/28)

  • High 3:58 AM

  • Low 10:09 AM

  • High 4:46 PM

  • Low 11:26 PM

  Saturday (7/29)

  • High 5:06 AM

  • Low 11:10 AM

  • High 5:45 PM

  Sunday (7/30)

  • Low 12:25 AM

  • High 6:09 AM

  • Low 12:10 PM

  • High 6:42 PM

  Monday (7/31)

  • Low 1:20 AM

  • High 7:08 AM

  • Low 1:08 PM

  • High 7:36 PM

  Tuesday (8/1)

  • Low 2:13 AM

  • High 8:04 AM

  • Low 2:05 PM

  • High 8:29 PM

  Wednesday (8/2)

  • Low 3:03 AM

  • High 8:57 AM

  • Low 3:01 PM

  • High 9:20 PM

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