Ocean City MD Blogger

Hurricane Earl

2010-09-02T23:52:00.002-04:00

As of 10:00 PM Thursday.

From weather.com

.. TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT... ... HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT...

... PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

ANY HURRICANE PREPARATIONS SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY NOW.

... PROBABILITY OF TROPICAL STORM/HURRICANE CONDITIONS... THE CHANCE FOR HURRICANE CONDITIONS AT THIS TIME IS VERY SMALL. ALSO... THE CHANCE FOR TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS AT THIS TIME IS 64 PERCENT. THIS REPRESENTS A GENERAL STEADY TREND SINCE THE LAST FORECAST.

... WINDS... AS HURRICANE EARL APPROACHES... SUSTAINED TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN FRIDAY MORNING... AND CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON. MAXIMUM WINDS ARE FORECAST TO BE IN THE 30 TO 40 MPH RANGE WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH.

MINOR DAMAGE MAY OCCUR TO OLDER MOBILE HOMES. RESIDENTS SHOULD MOVE LOOSE ITEMS INDOORS... SUCH AS GARBAGE CANS AND OUTDOOR FURNITURE... AS THEY WILL BE BLOWN AROUND. NEWLY PLANTED OR YOUNG TREES AND SHRUBS MAY BE UPROOTED IF NOT SECURED PROPERLY. ISOLATED POWER OUTAGES WILL BE POSSIBLE.

... STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE... ALTHOUGH THE CORE OF HURRICANE EARL IS NOT CURRENTLY FORECAST TO MOVE ACROSS COASTAL SECTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA AT THIS TIME... THERE IS STILL A CHANCE FOR STORM SURGES BETWEEN 1 AND 2 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL... WHICH WOULD RESULT IN A MAXIMUM STORM TIDE BETWEEN 3 TO 4 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL. THIS WOULD REPRESENT MINOR TO AREAS OF MODERATE COASTAL FLOODING. THE GREATEST RISK OF COASTAL FLOODING AS A RESULT WILL BE DURING THE HIGH TIDE CYCLES EARLY FRIDAY MORNING AND AFTERNOON.

... COASTAL HAZARDS... SIGNIFICANT SWELLS WILL BRING AN HIGH RISK OF DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY. LARGE BREAKING WAVES WILL ALSO LIKELY PEAK BETWEEN 10 AND 15 FEET ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST FROM LATE THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY AFTERNOON. THE ANTICIPATED STORM SURGE COMBINED WITH THE HIGH SURF WILL CAUSE SIGNIFICANT BEACH EROSION AND OVERWASH ISSUES ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST.

Bootlegged Merchandise At the Boardwalk Crackdown?

2010-08-27T20:38:00.000-04:00

     Reports are coming in that boardwalk shops that are selling bootlegged goods are getting caught, and being penalized. Many are being forced to leave the area after companies have caught them selling fake goods. More than you think...13 Boardwalk stores have been filed suit by Coach Inc recently, and there are more stores out there that are selling fake goods that have not been caught yet.

     This comes after a long string of police crackdowns on Ocean City. Such enforcement has recently been on saliva (a once legal drug) that was often sold at the boardwalk. It seems that the city has been enforcing things that have seemed shady but they have allowed in the past. This comes after another law suit filed and police watch over laser pointers. A man was almost blinded on the boardwalk from a wandering laser pointer.

     To read more: Visit here.

Upcoming Events in Ocean City

2010-08-07T16:42:00.001-04:00

August 7 - Dub Custom Car Show - www.occarshow.com – Showcasing the hottest lowriders, bikes, luxury, trucks and SUVs at the Ocean City convention center. From 10:00AM to 6:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday.

August 14 – Kids Crab Round Up – Crabbing and learning about the blue crab. Kids 12 years and younger with an adult at the Northside Park at 9 a.m.

Family Olympics On the Beach

Every Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the beach at 27th street. Some of the events have included sand castle contests, tug-of-war, relays and more.

August 11 - Green Drinks – Green drink specials and green conversation at the The Shark on the Harbour. www.ocshark.com

A Mystery In Ocean City's Waters - Dolphin 56 Comes Out to Play

2010-08-01T17:52:00.004-04:00

A national mystery has been spotted in the waters around Ocean City. It goes by 56.

No, it's not a secret agent, but something that leaves spotters just as baffled.

It's Dolphin 56, which got it's name from the number "56" placed on its dorsal fin.

"Dolphin 56" is a bottlenose dolphin that was released from research by marine biologists from Hubs-SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida. At the time, he was 10-12 years old.

Since then, Dolphin 56 has been spotted all along the East Coast. Sightings describe a dolphin who is more playful than others. The researchers described 56's behavior as being more solitary than normal. It was spotted hundreds of times coming up to fisherman and begging for food. Usually getting what it wanted with it's elaborate displays of aquatic acrobats.

Dolphin 56 has been roaming the East Coast for over 30 years now. His reputation has preceded himself, and now he even has his own facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dolphin-56/102451231888).

In April, 2010, Dolphin 56 was spotted along Ocean City by Stephen Decatur Highschool seniors, and the spotting was confirmed by several locals and families who saw the dolphin playing.

Since then, there has been lots of of reports of 56 in New Jersey, but researchers are saying that 56 will once again head south towards Ocean City.

"My Oceanography class had 56 swim right up to our boats and beg on Friday, March 26, 2010. He seemed to be in good spirits, jumping and hamming it up for some fish. His jaw seemed to have been hurt at some point, maybe from a boating accident and he had typical scarring on his dorsal fin, but otherwise he was great. What a cutie! " - Courney Edith Ray

" My father saw dolphin 56 on Tuesday, Nov10 in Townsends Inlet, too! He didn't like squid, but was very friendly. They touched him after he banged the side of the boat!" - Lorin Sprangler

Let us know if you find him, or if he finds you first!

Best Ocean City Maryland Pictures of the Week

2010-07-26T16:56:00.007-04:00

Robinzeggs Great Start to the New Year

M Zappano's OC Pier

royal 65's pier clouds and sky

Week of July 26, 2010

Thank you! Have any pictures you'd like to share? Please do!

Trimper's Haunted House at the Boardwalk

2010-07-26T15:36:00.002-04:00

courtesy of laffinthedark.com

A favorite of locals and tourists alike is the haunted ride located at Trimper’s Rides. Expanding ever since it was built, the ride begins with passengers sitting in a wooden “coffin”. The ride features some old fashioned frights along with some more modern ones. It has been visited by hundreds of dark ride enthusiasts from around the world.

courtesy doublecomplie

Many remember taking a ride on Trimper's Haunted House in Ocean City, clutching their lover's hand, closing their eyes as they drive past one of the many frights in their coffin seat, but what they might not realize as they're holding on for dear life is how much history the place has.

The Haunted House has actually been running since 1964. Think about all of the generations that have passed through the doors, taking that long climb up the haunted house's spinning tunnel, thinking that they would be pulled inside and never to return.

The tunnel is actually an optical illusion created by Bill Tracy, the mastermind behind many "dark rides". Someone who these dark ride enthusiasts would call a genius of the craft.

Billy Tracy, before there was computer screens, or graphics, or even computer programs to create these intricate illusions of architecture, created these works into reality from only one thing, his mind.

Just think about how the spinning tunnel works in the ride. It works by having an identical replica of the cart your in on the opposite end. The replica spins in sync with the tunnel spinning around you, while other objects in the room such as the spinning grade spins with that.

That gives the illusion that you're being sucked into what seems like Hell. But you might as well just be going up stairs.

Been on the ride recently? Or remember it from years past?

What's your favorite part? Could it be the man in the electric chair? Many people say that they couldn't watch that part...they had to close their eyes. In fact, the owners had to replace him because he shook so violently that the prop's skin fell off!

The haunted ride is filled with tons of home made haunted gags. Each one seems like it would have taken hundreds of hours to produce.

But here they stand, an amazing accomplishment that thousands of people still go to see.

Save on your trip to Ocean City, MD! Use hotels.com.

2010-07-25T12:19:00.003-04:00

Ocean City Maryland's weather for today: High of 94 degrees. Chance of Precipitation: 40%. Tonight: Scattered Thunderstorms with a low of 75 degrees.

The high summer temperatures are still here, along with scattered thunderstorms. The afternoon will be hot but cooling off in the night with scattered thunders

Ocean City's Surf: Knee to thigh SE medium swell

The pictures you should see today:

Royal 19's Assateague Island pictures

Special Events Today: Northside Park Sundaes' in the Park. Begins at 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

What we recommend: Heading to the beach in the afternoon, then coming back in as it rains for some dinner.

Sunday Dinner: Why not try Crabcake Factory, USA? Some of the best crabcakes around. Named one of the top three crabcake shipper by Coastal Living Magazine 2010.

What deals we recommend: Hotels.com cashback coupon for when you book your hotel in Ocean City, MD. Save some cash!

Thank you! Let us know how your Sunday in Ocean City is going! Stay cool today.

Saturday, July 10, 2010 - News, Events, and Weather for Ocean City, MD

2010-07-24T11:42:00.006-04:00

Ocean City Maryland's weather for today: High of 96 degrees. Chance of Precipitation: 10%. Tonight: Partly Cloudy with a low of 81 degrees.

The high summer temperatures continue today with some much needed rain coming tomorrow. (Depending on who you ask).

Ocean City's Surf: Knee high SE medium swell for the morning with occasional thigh.

The deal we think you should go for today: 5.99 lunch specials at The Shark on the Harbor from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. http://www.ocshark.com/

Special Events Today: Ocean City's Farmer Market: Phillips Restaurant parking lot, 142nd Street. 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

What we recommend: If you're going to the beach, bring an umbrella.

Night Life: The usual recommendations this Saturday!

The Greene Turtle
116th St. & Coastal Highway
410-723-2120

The Party Block
The Big Kahuna, The Paddock, Rush, The Oasis
17th St. & Coastal Highway, Ocean City
Phone: 410-289-6331

H2O Under 21 Dance Club
Boardwalk & Worcester St.
Phone: 410-289-6313

Seacrets
117 49th Street
Ocean City, MD 21842
(410) 524-4900

Thank you! Let us know how your Saturday in Ocean City is going! Stay cool today.

2010-07-23T14:58:00.004-04:00

You can only choose one...What do you chose?

Here are the competitors...

All longtime favorites of Ocean City.

The first...announcing, Thrasher's Fries.

If you’re going to try any food at the boardwalk, you have to try some of Thrasher’s fries. They’re located near the beginning of boardwalk (Don’t worry, you’ll see a long line for them). Thrashers has been making French fries since 1929, and wow, do they know how to make fries! What makes the fries so great is a secret that the creator of Thrasher’s does not want to divulge, and for good reason. What he has told us is that the potatoes typically come right from Idaho, and that they are sliced at their location. You get thrasher’s fries in a huge tub. Some locals get them in a box. Looking at the huge tub filled with thrashers fries, you might ask yourself how anyone could eat them, but minutes later, you won’t be surprised you did!

The second...announcing, Fisher's Popcorn.

Yet more delicious food! If you’re a lover of popcorn, this one is for you, or if you don’t know how anyone could eat a whole tub of popcorn in one sitting, try Fisher’s Popcorn, which has been serving Ocean City since 1937 and is now world famous. The popcorn is made in copper kettles and poured out fresh and hot into a tub that can be kept and used after you’re done gorging yourself to get more at a lower price. You can find a location at the boardwalk and at Talbot Street. Try some popcorn that will melt in your mouth! Hundreds of people are ordering online, but now you can get it fresh from the kettle at Ocean City!

The third...Dumser's Dairyland Ice Cream.

Yet another OC staple is Dumser's Ice Cream. You can find it right at the boardwalk too.

Dumser's started back in 1939, yet another old time favorite that has survived countless years and countless competitors. The ice cream is delicious, with tons of flavors to chose from. It's home made ice cream that's made fresh. That's right, home made. A lot of people are saying they are serving the best home made traditional ice cream, and with a ton of unique flavors and combinations.

Write a comment below on what your favorite is, and we'll tally up the votes to see what wins. Or if you have a suggestion for the next competition post below.

Old Pro Golf - And When It Rains

2010-07-23T14:12:00.003-04:00

One of our favorite miniature golf courses in Ocean City is having a ribbon cutting ceremony this afternoon at 3 p.m. The ribbon cutting ceremony is in celebration of their new indoor mini golf additions. We are all really excited for the new indoor area, since as we all know here, when it rains in Ocean City, it can rain hard. The rain brings everyone indoors or to other activities not focused on the beach: shopping, the movies, for a bite to eat, but really, mainly shopping.

Ocean City has needed to focus more and more on activities that people can do all year round, no matter the weather, and this is one step in the right direction. The indoor area is found at Old Pro Golf's 68th street location. Old Pro Golf is a family owned business founded in 1965 by Herbert J. and Aileen 'Deany' Schoellkopf.

Herb has built over 150 courses and his career has spanned over 40 years. Congratulations to Old Pro Golf!

http://www.oldprogolf.com/

While we are on the topic, what are some of your favorite things to do in Ocean City when it rains? Do you think that Ocean City should plan more indoor activities to do in times of bad weather, or is it fine how it is?

Greek Festival

2010-07-23T13:36:00.003-04:00

Greek Festival - July 29/31/ & August 1

Ocean City Maryland will be hosting it's annual Greek Festival! This year it is located at the Ocean City Conventional Center on July 29, 30, 31 and August 1. Festivities start at 12:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Some of the festivities will include Greek dancing, food, and shopping. One of our favorite deserts will be served, made by professional chefs: Baklava, a sweet Greek pastry made of layers of nuts and honey. There is an admission price.