“More boring by a mile?” That was the assessment of one Facebook user after Avalon shut down a live music gig at Gully’s by the band Three and One, shortly after 8 p.m. on July 17.
Someone complained about the noise, and Avalon police arrived on Dune Drive outside Gully’s, the lively new bar and restaurant that serves a Craig LaBan-approved “clothesline of candied bacon that dangles over a tasty plate of grits.”
There was a flurry of outrage on Facebook and at a recent council meeting, along with despair over the state of the upscale town’s vibe, echoing last year’s angst over the Union League’s purchase of the Whitebrier.
Neighbors on 27th Street, meanwhile, tried to explain they weren’t against Gully’s — or even live music — but that the noise from the outdoor patio, either from live bands or amplified games like the Monday minnow races, were a “disruptive intrusion,” up and down the block.
It turns out that all of Avalon’s liquor licenses contain a special condition that permits outdoor music between noon and 8 p.m. Gully’s is now appealing that restriction through the state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, arguing that it’s arbitrary and capricious, and an abuse of Avalon’s discretion. The town has indicated it wants to be reasonable and figure out a solution. One council member spoke of his love for Gully’s and said, “We do appreciate your business and what you’ve done there.”
I wrote about the Gully’s vs. Avalon controversy here.
Have a listen to Three and One here, or check them out again this Friday at Gully’s, with a new daytime slot: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
📮 Do you think it’s reasonable for Avalon to limit outdoor music at bars to between noon and 8 p.m.? Or should businesses be given more leeway to thrive during the summer? How much say should people who live near commercial establishments have, especially during the summer? Let me know what you think by replying to this email, and I’ll include your most interesting responses in a future newsletter.
Have ideas or news tips, memories or pet peeves about the Shore? Send them to me here.
🫨 It’s been another crazy week of storms, but the weekend looks decent.
— Amy S. Rosenberg (Follow me @amysrosenberg, on Instagram at @amysrosenberg. 📧 Email me here.)
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Shore talk
🔥 A fire and flooding at Ocean Casino shut down gambling operations for a day.
💃🏼 Shakira closed out her World Cup Tour in Atlantic City.
👑 LeBron James merch is already available down the Shore.
🏄🏻♀️ Dept. of History: How surfing came to the Jersey Shore.
⚾ We miss Splash, the mascot. A look back at Surf Stadium.
🚨 Wildwood Crest lifeguard’s vehicle hits beachgoer.
🇮🇪 Derry Girls creator’s next project will be about a group of Irish girls who come to Wildwood.
What to eat/What to do
🎨 The 25th annual Art of Surfing is Saturday on the Ocean City boardwalk.
🎭 Pretty Woman: The Musical is at Surflight Theatre on Long Beach Island.
🎡 The St. Francis Festival of the Sea is on Brant Beach.
📖 Reed’s Farm is hosting a book group Saturday morning. The book is The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston.
👩🏻🍳 Why cook? Hire Instagram-famous private chef Keegan McManus. Or order delicious meal prep from Ventnor’s Chef G.
🎥 Check out The Odyssey on the A.C. Boardwalk at Tropicana’s IMAX Theatre.
Shore snapshot
🧠 Trivia time
Lots of love for the Bongo Room, which was the Avalon bar that closed 39 years ago this summer and featured the Greaseband on Sunday nights. Betsy Strittmatter was first with the answer.
This week:
This legendary Ventnor ice cream and water ice shop’s recipes — particularly its black cherry water ice — continue on in another location, the North Beach Creamery.
Are the recipes originally from:
A. Custard’s Last Stand
B. Springer’s
C. Willow’s Way
D. Mento’s
If you think you know the answer, email us here. First one gets a shout-out.
More of your thoughts on: Sea Isle and the changing Shore
In response to my story about changes and upscaling in Sea Isle City, Down the Shore reader Nancy Bucher came to the Shore town’s defense.
As a retiree I find it magical to live here year round. Sea Isle truly is a City for All Seasons! Yes, people sold their quaint cottages and they are now replaced by 6 bedroom homes. But is that so bad? Large extended families get to enjoy a taste of beach life for a week or two, families get to bond, cousins get to play together and we all happily co-exist. Yes, some people have beautiful multimillion dollar homes …. but is that so bad? Our restaurants and shops stay prosperous and our town is thriving. Sure, we need more parking, but if people are honest, it is mainly in the busy summer season. We need more trees? Look around people, there are new young trees planted every year and right now the Crepe myrtles are blooming beautifully. Personally I applaud the growth and embrace the change and credit our community leaders for keeping our shoreline pristine and our beaches replenished!
Reader Joseph Higgins brings us back down to earth.
All of the shore towns are out pricing blue collar workers. My parents bought a trailer for $30,000 in 2000 outside of Wildwood Crest in Shawcrest. The land rental fees have climbed from $3,000 to $7,900 per year. The trailer next door is currently listed for $275,000 with land rental fees of $11,400. The working man’s shore vacation spot is quickly disappearing.
Ask Down the Shore:
We put the dress code question to our Shore Line text group (still time to join us here). There was a deluge of responses!
Here’s a quick sample:
“Down the shore everything’s alright.” Sure it’s OK to wear beach attire (not sandy though, and do brush ur hair 😉)"
“I don’t care how much money you have. Make an effort, for the sake of the restaurant staff and other guests, to put on clean shorts and a polo for men and a cute cover up/sundress for women. If you can’t do that, then there’s always takeout.”
“Some people, when they come to the beach, lose or abandon their sense of propriety. Decent, casual attire respects the restaurant and other diners.”
Your Shore memory
My sampling of Ocean City pizza triggered this memory from Susan Carlbaugh.
As a Roxborough girl who lives in Baltimore now, reading your tribute to pizza on Ocean City’s boardwalk hit every nostalgia button possible! In my teen years, our friend ran the rides in Wonderland and that saved our cash for the rest of the night including the slice of pizza. Life was good!
We knew it as “Mack” & Manco’s and it was always a stop on our night on the boardwalk. After waiting for my Grandma to get out of the Music Pier’s nightly performance, and before we left the ‘boards, it included a nightcap of fresh-squeezed orange juice from Litterer’s!
Alex’s was our Roxborough home pizza shop. I can smell all of them right now. You are bringing tears to my eyes!
Thanks Susan! You never know what will trigger a touching memory. There’s still time to send us your Shore memory, pizza or otherwise! Tell us how the Shore taps into something deep for you, and we will publish them in this space.
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