Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Positively 4th Street!


What better name for a secret gem of a coffee klatch/Cafe in Ocean City, New Jersey.

 It's a year-round establishment located at 4th Street and Atlantic Avenue. Offering  specialty coffee concoctions as well as regular drip, this place is amaZing! Also offering a sandwich board of breakfast sandwiches and bagels and smoothies, you simply can't go away hungry. 

Yesterday, (my first ever visit) I ordered the special butterscotch chocolate chip scone and a medium regular drip coffee with oat milk. Tasty! Today, I went for the Godfather Bagel sandwich, toasted, open-faced with cream cheese, veggie and basil with slight oil dressing. Amazing. I walked back up to the counter to order a fresh baked corn muffin, a classic from their case. Words chosen by my server and I agree. Yesterday, I saw a different array of pastry offerings including the Vegan Carrot muffin.

 Actually, I went back this second day in a row with the muffin on "my hit list". The cafe itself features the cool laid-back beach vibe of tables and benches inside and out. The colorful tile work of the furniture and some wall boards gave us the total California vibe we miss visiting family in Encinitas, just north of San Diego.

  No music is playing but a cool acoustic guitar hangs from the wall as part of the artsy decor. The atmosphere offers a comfy haven for both young and old alike. I saw one older generation customer all decked out in her Philadelphia Phillies wear, reading her Atlantic City Press newspaper  A lovely young lady seated to our left gazing into her Laptop with appearing to be an iced-mocha drink in hand. Dogs welcome inside for orders and outside for more space and comfort in the outdoor canopy seating area!

 I see a selection of merchandise along a back wall. I bought a very cool T-shirt from the rack (limited supply). A full assortment of crew neck sweatshirts and hoodies are also on the shelf for the low affordable price of $34.00!

 A Place like this makes South Jersey the premier getaway spot for many of us! As a year-round resident and a 9th Street Bridge walker from Somers Point to Ocean City almost daily, I have found my new target destination for my 17,000 steps (6.5 miles) of calorie burning! I DON'T want to annoy the lovely servers with my weather beaten face every day BUT how can I not.  TRY it!

Positively 4th Street on 4th St and Ocean Avenue is open year-round and 7 days a week! 

Sunday, September 22, 2024

Concert Review: Jeff Lynne's ELO


September 20, 2024: The Wells Fargo Center opened it's doors to a rock and roll cross-generational legend, and we gladly entered. Jeff Lynne's ELO rocked a full house crowd to 50-years of hits. I was transported back in time white knuckled-style to an era when I had a helluva lot more hair and all the hits of the night on original vinyl. What a night! ALL the hits of youth brought to my ear drums in ageless fashion by 76-year old Jeff Lynne. Two cellos and a violin allowed for an orchestral event that really did warrant a two-night engagement in the city of brotherly love!

 Rockaria was my favorite orchestral arrangement for sure! Hits like Do YA, Can't Get It Out of My Head and Don't Bring Me Down allowed my 17-year old self come out of the genie bottle for the next hour and 23 'minutes. My favorite women made their presence known: The Evil Woman and Sweet Talkin Woman made me wish for (way) younger single days! Shine A Little Love' would ya? They did and finishing with a RoCKIN encore of Mr. Blue Sky! 
Bucket list check-off for me! LOVE that band! Still powerful and relevant after all these years! 

I refuse to believe this farewell tour is Jeff Lynne's swansong. He just provides too much escape and enjoyment for millions of us and commands the respect of an enduring rock music brand!  
Grade: A+