‘Jersey Shore’ Articles at Sweetnicks

Visit: Betty’s Ice Box {Asbury Park, New Jersey}

August 12, 2019 · Narrative

Nothing like a trip down the shore for the beach and boardwalk. Let’s visit Betty’s Ice Box for some Hawaiian-style shaved ice!

I have been focusing on doing a weekly Adventure Day with my kids this summer, and each week we head off in a different direction. Our most recent Adventure Day took us to Asbury Park for an afternoon on the boardwalk, and that’s when we discovered Betty’s Ice Box. Although my youngest was on a quest for fried Oreos, which we successfully checked off our list, I was on the hunt for something much colder and more refreshing. It was about 90 degrees that afternoon and when I spied the sign for shaved ice, I knew it was exactly what I wanted.

Tucked right inside the entrance of the Asbury Park Convention Hall, Betty’s is a cute little spot with a varied selection of cool and refreshing treats. There are a few tables right outside their door if you want to stay for a bit, and we took that opportunity to rest while my oldest and his friend checked out the stores nearby.

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Visit: Bahr’s Landing {Highlands, New Jersey}

May 3, 2019 · Narrative, Restaurant Review

A landmark restaurant on the waters of the Jersey shore, let’s visit the historic Bahr’s Landing in Highlands.

My kids and I were down the shore last week for a few days, and we spent one of those days poking around Sandy Hook. On the way back, we were looking for a place to eat lunch on the water and we stumbled upon Bahr’s Landing in Highlands. I had read about it recently, but, surprisingly, despite the fact that it’s been around for ONE HUNDRED AND TWELVE YEARS, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of it until just a few weeks ago.

We popped in on a weekday for a late lunch, and there was no wait for a non-water-view table, but of course we wanted that precious water view! After just about fifteen minutes, we were seated and greeted by our waitress.

Being we were down the shore, I was focused on eating seafood. Since my kids don’t like any kind of fish whatsoever, I take advantage when we’re out and how could I not when we’re eating right on the water? I really debated about what to get because so many things were calling my name, like the whole belly clam sandwiches and the lobster roll, but I ended up going with the Oyster Po’ Boy Sandwich. Instead of a side of fries, I opted for vegetables, which were roasted sliced carrots that day (and a tad heavy on the butter). My daughter went with chicken fingers (natch!), and my son chose a Caesar Salad with Chicken. The food came relatively quickly and although our waitress was more than a little forgetful, the service was reasonable.

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Visit: Concrete Ship “Atlantus” {Sunset Beach, Cape May Point, NJ}

March 28, 2013 · Narrative

During my childhood and teen years, our family spent many, many summers down in Cape May and Cape May Point. Or DTS (down the shore) as Jersey folk sometimes refer to it.

Since we were there so often, we quickly developed a list of favorite haunts. Frozen coke on the boardwalk. Uncle Bill’s Pancakes for breakfast. George’s for the best chicken salad and most gigantic cinnamon rolls known to mankind. A trip to Sunset Beach to find shark’s teeth and “Cape May diamonds.” And a visit to the concrete ship.

When the kids and I took a day trip to Cape May last Spring, I took them to a few of those places. Some, unfortunately, were not open yet for the season. But the concrete ship at Sunset Beach? A must.

The critical shortage of steel during World War I is what prompted the building of twelve concrete ships. Originally launched in 1918, the concrete ship S.S. Atlantus actually *did* float and was used as a coal steamer. Eventually she was pulled out of commission, because her weight made her go really slow. No surprise there.

After she ceased being a “working” ship, she was brought to Cape May to be used as a loading dock for a ferry service, but her moorings broke before she could be properly placed there.

And every year, since she’s made from concrete, the Atlantus sinks deeper and deeper into the sand. It’s amazing to see just how far she’s sunk since we first started going there some 30 years ago. Wish I had pictures from back then!

*what’s left of the concrete ship as of April 2012

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Visit: Jenkinson’s Aquarium, Point Pleasant {Things to Do in New Jersey}

August 3, 2012 · Narrative

When I was planning our Spring Break adventures, I focused on fun. Some things were spontaneous, like the Cape May Zoo (free!), and some were planned (Ripley’s Believe It Or Not museum). Our visit to Jenkinson’s Aquarium was a no-brainer. With two kids that are crazy about animals, and Madeline especially loving anything in the water, I knew they would be tickled with whatever was inside those walls.

If you’re lucky enough to find on-street parking with a meter, grab it. If you get there early enough, there is a very inexpensive parking lot right behind the aquarium for $5. With it being summertime, and the aquarium being located right on the boardwalk, it’s definitely going to be busy though, so plan your visit accordingly.

Although the aquarium itself it a bit small, it is packed with two floors of animal life to discover. The downstairs features a pirate ship and sharks, alligators, penguins, and more. Upstairs, there are the seals, stingrays that you can touch, moon jelly fish (love those!), and more.

The aquarium does feedings of five different animals that were fun to watch, and we were there for all five. Mostly because there was no way the kids were going to let me leave without seeing them all. The seal feeding was our favorite, followed by the little itty bitty penguins. The alligator feeding? Scared me just a little. Because you are super close to where the alligators are, and when we saw how nastily they snapped at the food, well, the sharks were looking better and better every minute.

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Visit: Barnegat Lighthouse

July 23, 2012 · Narrative

When the kids and I were down the shore for Spring Break, I took them to some of my old stomping grounds. Light sightseeing gave way to a stop at the Cape May Point Lighthouse (that picture and its accompanying beautiful sun flare is at the bottom of this post here). Madeline was enamored.

Like love at first sight.

I didn’t know about her infatuation with lighthouses before then.

Otherwise I would have timed it so we arrived there while the lighthouse was still open.

Unfortunately, I didn’t.

And it wasn’t.

And she has reminded me I promised her a lighthouse visit. Politely. Nearly every day since.

And this weekend, I made good on it. Albeit a different lighthouse.

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Joey Tomato’s {Point Pleasant Beach, NJ}: The Best Pizza in New Jersey?

July 11, 2012 · Narrative

When the kids and I were celebrating Spring Break a few months ago, we had all sorts of adventures. There was the Cape May County Zoo, a visit to the Atlantic City Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, and more still-yet-to-be-blogged shenanigans.

And there was pizza. It’s been awhile since we had a pizza review, and as we make plans to head down the shore next weekend (and likely go back here), it was time to share this newest spot with you.

Joey Tomato’s Gourmet Pizza is on the boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach. Which means if you’re heading to the shore yourself this summer, this is a good place to duck into for a bite to eat. Flanked by arcades and cotton candy, how could you go wrong?

We had some time to kill in between getting up close and personal with sting rays and penguins (more on that coming soon), so we asked for a suggestion for a bite to eat. I swear I have Rachael Ray in my head saying, “If you need a food recommendation, ask a local.” She’s, of course, right. Eat where the locals do and you can’t go wrong. We did, and ended up at Joey Tomato’s.

We haven’t visited it in the summer yet, but if the Spring crowd is any indication, it will be crowded and busy. There are some tables inside, and more outside. Better still, place your order and head to the beach. Or a less crazybusy spot. Unless you’re lucky enough to get a table. While we were in line, I spied one open up, and sent Nick and Madeline (still within eye sight) to stake it out. The inside of the restaurant is quite loud, from an acoustic standpoint, so if you have babies in your crew, you might want to scope out a quieter area to chow down.

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Visit: Cape May County Park & Zoo

April 12, 2012 · Narrative

I have loved road trips for as long as I can remember. At least since Junior or Senior year of high school. When I was single (before getting married and divorced, not this time of being single), my girlfriends and I would take road trips to the Jersey Shore. Way before it became known as this Jersey Shore. Road trips to Boston were a frequent occurrence during the summers. The Ex and I even road tripped for our honeymoon, heading to Disney World (for my first time ever). I’ve road tripped with Joanne and Patsy. My mom and sister. With the kids by myself. With Mystic and his kids. And with many of our friends.

What I love most about road trips? That you can stop at any time. For any reason.

When I was making the plans for last week’s Spring Break, although I had a couple specific things I wanted to do with the kids, I also kept our schedule loose so we could succumb to detours. To whimsy. To just because moments.

And hitting the Cape May County Zoo was one such moment. When my sister and I were kids (and even through after my high school years), my parents had a house in Cape May (South Jersey to non-local readers). We spent many, many weekends down there. It holds a special place in my heart, and I loved introducing the area to the kids last week, as one of our stops. Nick was there once when he was a baby, but we haven’t been back since.

Although we spent countless summers in Cape May growing up, I had never been to the zoo there.

Pity that.

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Recipe: Cheesy Chicken Strata

August 11, 2011 · Narrative

Tonight is the recipe for that casserole picture that snuck into last weekend’s Photos in Review post.

It seems that all good casserole or strata recipes start with a can of cream of fill-in-the-blank or condensed something, doesn’t it?

This one is no exception.

Especially when it’s from a cookbook published in 1972, for the steep brand-new price of $2.95.

We are still eating pretty clean these days, but there is something about a dish that includes Campbell’s Soup that screams “comfort food.”

Why is that?

I don’t keep a lot of canned soups in the house. Well, nearly nothing at all except when one of the kids are clamoring for chicken noodle soup and they don’t want to wait for it to be homemade. And by “they,” I mean Nick.

But this recipe? I think it might be a recipe to keep a can of Campbell’s in the pantry.

It was cheesy.

Creamy.

And full of homemade “your Mom loves you” goodness.

The little bits at the bottom of the casserole dish were the best part.

I kept picking at them.

Thank goodness Mom sent us home with some leftovers.

Moms are good like that, aren’t they?

Usually the Thursday night (hello weekend!) post is my last one for the week, but I might sneak one more in tomorrow. We’ll see how it goes. Trying to catch up, but you know what they say about the best laid plans and all. Especially with me and Friday nights.

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