Hollywood returns to film movie in Cape May, NJ

 The quaint, picturesque city of Cape May, New Jersey caught a major buzz in 2024 when Hollywood filmmakers came to shoot scenes for the Bob Dylan Biopic: A Complete Unknown. 

Lead actor Timothy Chalamet, portrayed the Iconic and enigmatic Icon Bob Dylan in his early years as he made his youthful transition from Robert Zimmerman of Duluth, Minnesota to the coffee houses of Greenwich Village in New York City. 

The film featured Dylan's rise to prominence on the folk music stage to transforming the acoustic culture of his heroes, Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger by plugging in at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. Much to the chagrin of the audience, longtime conservative concert organizers and the legend Seeger himself, Bob plugged in his electric guitar and wailed the decibels for Maggie's Farm. 

Scenes to capture the Newport, Rhode Island location were shot exclusively in Cape May.

Local coffee shop owners were delighted when a visiting actor by the name of Edward Norton ordered a Latte in there Washington Street Mall location. Star watching was the preoccupation of the locals and tourists alike! A large segment of the scenes featured the full view of the prominent Congress Hall Hotel and across the street at the Victorian Motel. (renamed the Viking), for your future trivia contests!

So, Hollywood must have given huge props to the on-site experience as a new Hollywood film has confirmed a shooting schedule in our beautiful seaside village. Famed director Stephen Spielberg and Universal Pictures are producing a new UFO-centered script and they will be live and local on location in Cape May! The movie entitled Non-View is set to hit theaters in May, 2026. 

More star gazing? The film will feature top stars including Emily Blunt(Oppenheimer), Colin Firth (The King's Speech), Josh O'Connor(Challengers) and Philadelphia local guy done good' Colman Domingo(Sing Sing).

A local casting call has gone out for extras (background scenes). Filming will be on site beginning March 10th through March 15th. Must be Cape May local. Must be 18 or older.

Are you a Sag-Aftra member?

Do you have your own vehicle for in scene shots with cameras? They need the make and model.

Do you have a non-professional headshot? Is it a recent pose?

To submit your materials: Email njgwcnyc.com with the subject line: Cape May Local   

Good luck and we will look for you in the movies!

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! 

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+