 Am I the only person who associates certain foods with summer?  Maybe we can form a support group!
Anyway…Springer’s Ice Cream in Stone Harbor opened today- I know this because I was disappointed to read the sign on their door last night when we walked into town craving ice cream.Â
Kohler’s Bakery in Avalon also opened today.  The 2 block walk from my office does not justify the cream donut…oh well…will work through it with the support group 😉
Avalon– Borough wide yard sale. Pay a little today…or wait until the items are put to the curb tomorrow for bulk trash! Looks like many home owners are participating.  Also, stop by the 30th Street Fire House for their annual flower and hoagie sale.
Stone Harbor– The Garden Club’s annual flower sale on 96th Street.
As of this weekend, plenty of food options.Â
Just saw the banner outside of  Kohler’s Bakery http://www.kohlersbakery.com/ – “Celebrating 60 years in Avalon”. Opening Mother’s Day weekend-  I will be there!
Nemo’s Pizza from Avalon opened an additional restaurant in Stone Harbor- 98th and Third Avenue;  Mack’s Pizza at 83rd Street re-opens on May 15th for the season; and Circle Pizza in Avalon is back open after major renovations, too.
Quahogs on 97th Street was open last weekend- indoor and sheltered patio dining; and on the opposite corner, Black Fish (in the Henny’s location) is freshly painted and ready for their Mother’s Day weekend grand opening.
 Looks better in person- we haven’t seen sun for a few days :(  so the gray exterior just fades into the sky.  The owners are smart- they set the tables and left the interior lights on last weekend for people like me to snoop in the windows!
 Also hearing good things about Fuze- the new restaurant at 79th and Ocean Drive.Â
Can you tell we are ready for the season to begin??
Save the date: bulk trash pick up is scheduled in Avalon and Stone Harbor for Monday, May 11th. Homeowners are permitted to put items to the curb the weekend prior.
Two ways to enjoy this event- 1) sitting in your house watching others make their selections (fun to guess what they will take); or 2) going out and searching for treasures yourself (best at dark so your neighbors can’t see you!).  This is an earth friendly event- fewer items for the landfill by the time the trucks drive around for the final collection.
I will clean out our storage space…to make room for the “new to us” bicycles that are bound to find their way to our home  🙂
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/181/story/448732.html
Article in today’s Press regarding the north end beaches of Avalon. Sand will be delivered by trucks to 10th, 12th, and 15th Streets, and spread by heavy machinery from 9th through 18th Streets. All in time for the 2009 beach season.
 No word yet about the pending Stone Harbor beach fill project (between 98th and 111th Streets). Survey markers are in place near the dune line, but no other activity to date.
The re-construction of the Avalon boardwalk is partially complete.
Nice, smooth boards for early morning bike rides or evening walks.Â
The light wood will eventually darken from the elements-  ice cream drips and spilled soda!
 Avalon and Stone Harbor beach tags are available for pre-season order through each municipality. Tags are reciprocal between the two towns, and the cost is the same as last year- $19 if purchased prior to May 31st.Â
For more information:
 January 1st through today:  49 properties posted as sold or under contract in the Cape May County Multiple Listing Service for Avalon and Stone Harbor.  16 of those are the converted condos at 79th and Dune Drive called Ocean View (selling $350,000 to $400,000 range). The highest price for a sale pending is $5 million. The average is $1,085,000.
Interest rates continue to be in the 5% range for conforming loans; 6% for loans over $417,000.  Just like the “old days”, lenders want to see income to qualify for the loan,  and good credit- what a concept!
If you are interested in purchasing a summer home, send me an e-mail with your wish list.  You might be pleasantly surprised with the options available.
I appreciate the opportunity to help 🙂
The locals and seasonal residents appreciate the additional dining options on the weekends: Marabella’s in Stone Harbor has been open the past few weekends; The Concord Cafe will be open as of March 27th, and The Windrift (newly renovated) will be open next weekend.  Peeked in the windows of Henny’s- the carpet has been ripped up and the restaurant is empty- heard a rumor last fall that an Avalon restaurant will be moving in this summer.   P.S. Just read a post on Jen Miller’s Blog confirming that Black Fish from Avalon will be moving to the Henny’s location- grand opening on May 8th.
http://thelatestdish.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/chef-chip-roman-to-open-blackfish-stone-harbor/
Open for Business– a sign of spring at the shore!
Not real estate or shore related, just sharing an opinion: watched the HBO movie “Taking Chance” over the weekend. When I am still thinking about a movie a few days later, I know it was worthwhile. Dover, Delaware and Philadelphia are an important part of the storyline- another reason the movie has a strong emotional pull.