LBI Chowderfest 2012

CHOWDER FEST Sept. 29-30      rent Beach House Retreats in Beach Haven Crest, NJ

  I will tell you a little about Chowder Fest if you have never been before. 

All the restaurants compete for the best Red and White Chowder.  They decorate their booths to reflect their business or style or personalities they want to get across, and cook all Sat.night. into the Sun.morning preparing for the thousands that come to taste it and judge it.   You get to vote on each soup, which is the best, and on their booths.  It is amazing how the soups taste so different, and how some stand out to be so much better, you wonder what the others were thinking!!  There are Bands, Beer Trucks, and the Bay Village Stores are hopping with their wares, and discounts. Local real estate agencies giving away bags, pens, magnet, chip clips etc., my kids enjoy gathering these free items.   If you are brave try the clam fudge at the fudge shop! :)  The Bakery's are clearing shelves too!

 It is great fun for adults, my kids enjoy it, but small kids it is tough on due to being so small and strollers are not permitted in soup tent areas, back packed kids are a solid solution.  There is a playground on the bayside of the tents to let the kiddies run loose on when they get the urge to run wild.

The day before tasting on Sat. local shops discount their stock, it is a shoppers dream, cheap tees, sandals, jewelery,sweats, sweaters, and more.  Having the holidays rifght around the corner it is a easy way to "git-r-done"!   The Mod Hatter is a great place to pick up some funny, awesome, costumes for Halloween at a great price, and they sell hats that are a hoot (that show up at night Nardi's and some other local bars).The local bars that close for the season usually have great specials on drinks and food.  The best bands are playing this weekend at the bars, and at the festival.

It is kind of the last hurrah on the Island, traffic lights may be off already, all the stores are pushing Holiday Seashore Type Gifts at great prices, and the weather is usually still in the mid 70's or so.  We have been in the ocean until Nov. some years.  There are no guards, but the ocean can be calm, warm and inviting for bathers and surfing.  I am down the street from the Brighton Beach Surf Shop and they are still giving surf lessons during this time.  It also a nice time to rent bikes, which is at the Acme Surf and Skate at the end of the street .  The Beach Theater next to the Acme is ten blocks and is still open I believe if you want to walk over to see a movie.  And the Ice cream shops are also pushing out ice cream to clear out for the winter. 

This time of year the Monarch Butterflies are hitting the sky in force passing through the Island to get home.  It is a beautiful sight, and some years the dunes are filled with the Halloween Colored Wings of Flight. 

Bring your cameras for the butterfly flights, the sunrises and sunsets are to die for, and the moonrise is really grand after watching the sun do it's tricks...  The ocean  is very picturesque, and it is a nice time to snap off some shots for your Holiday Cards drop them at CVS and be a head of the game.

It is a nice time to get together with friends, and family to share in the tasting experience, grab some bargains, and enjoy the last signs of summer.  For a great place to stay look me up: http://www.lbi-vacation.com
 

Home Schoolers Love to Learn on LBI, NJ

This is a great time for Home Schooled Families to take a break from their house of learning and come to LBI to our house of learning. There are many things to learn about on or around our barrier island, Long Beach Island. Here are some suggestions that may interest your little scholars.

Learn about the ‘Re-Clamming the Bay Project’ see how important the benefits of shellfish filtering and feeding help clean our estuary. Schedule a class for your group. http://www.reclamthebay.org/about.html

, http://www.reclamthebay.org/edu.html

Get a Clam Trail Map to find the Giant Clams throughout the Island, and Mainland, learn about map skills or GPS.

http://www.reclamthebay.org/clamtrail/index.html

Visit Tuckerton Seaport and check out the history of the area. See maritime traditions of past and present exhibits and hands on activities. http://www.tuckertonseaport.org/aboutus.html

Tuckerton Seaports Carving demonstrations or take a class:

http://www.tuckertonseaport.org/demonstrationschedule.html

Visit the Edwin b. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge- Holgate Unit Bird Sanctuary: http://www.njaudubon.org/SectionIBBA/IBBASiteGuide.aspx?sk=3161

Climb the 217 steps of the Barnegat Lighthouse, take a nature trail hike or the paved trail along the inlet, you can fish here so bring a pole if you like:

http://www.longbeachislandjournal.com/attractions/barnegat-lighthouse

Take a tour of Viking Village and learn all about the fishing industry, and the perfect storm story:

http://www.vikingvillage.net/about_us.html

Here are some ideas to entertain the little folks while visiting:

Explore one of the 5 large playgrounds on the island (playground hopping).

Take a seine net to the bay and see what you pull up ( the small sea life is amazing to kids and adults).

Bring your camera a stage a beautiful, Goofy, Coordinated Holiday picture to send out this year.

Teach the kids to fish either surf fishing or dock fishing on the bayside, then cook it!

Take a bike ride safely down Beach Ave. and enjoy the fresh air, while enjoying the scenery.

Bring your own school work or projects and come to ‘Beach House Retreats’ to change your setting, and for a change of pace, mini vacation.



House sleeps up to 16, 5 bedrooms, TV’s in living rooms only, living room and bathroom on 1st and 2nd floor, laundry room with utility sink, 4th floor rooftop deck with amazing panoramic views with hot tub to rest your weary bones at night when you get the kids to bed J Discounted rates for home school families, a 2 night minimum, does not have to be a weekend, but activities at certain locations may only be open during the weekends, check websites during off season months.

Full House $750 per night 16 person max.

Half House $500 per night 8 person max.

For more info on the house, area and pictures go to: www.LBI-Vacation.com or call 609-947-1377

We Want You to join us at the LBI 8th Annual Dune Grass Planting (Long Beach Island, NJ) Sat. Oct. 13, 2012

Last year we had 150 volunteers who planted 10,000 pieces of dune grass in  Oct. 2011 , it made a real difference on LBI Beaches, Thank You. We are hoping to double that number at least this year. Every year our beaches are savagely torn apart during storms.
You’ve seen some of the dunes on LBI, they are in serious trouble. Pictured

Here are our dunes on 85th St. beach in Beach Haven Crest. We were wiped out in the 2009 storms, lost all our fencing, and some of the trees on the one side, and we have hardly any grass to speak of. We had the ocean come down our street 5 times during one storm, it was a nightmare come true. Luckily we had no damage. We went to 5:00 mass at St. Francis, because I couldn’t just sit in the house and watch it, prayed our heads off, and the storm calmed down, and the ocean receded. Thank the Lord!

If anyone is in need of community service, here is a great way to earn some time and have fun doing it. Two hours of your time can help save homes. We are inviting Boy Scouts and Girls Scout Troops that are looking for some camping time to join in and get service time also. Troops may sleep on the beach Friday night. Youth Groups, Geocachers, High School Kids, Church Groups, come and join in the fun, the more the Merrier! All are welcome to this event.

Why not bring your friends and family down for a nice weekend on LBI? Be a part of restoring the dunes on the island you all love to visit in the summer. The island has many stores and restaurants open, and are having great end of season sales, take home a LBI souvenir, or start your holiday shopping. Motels are open, bands are playing on weekends, and the weather is still quite nice in Oct. usually. This is a nice time to take a candid shot for your holiday card, plan ahead and bring pirate costumes, Santa hats, or matching attire, whatever you want to make your card POP this year. Plan a nice getaway to LBI on this weekend if you have nothing going on. Come in Friday night, go out to dinner, catch a band, see a play at Surflight ( An Evening with Lucille Ball is playing that weekend), or check out a movie. I am sure many will find many things to do the rest of the weekend. It’s a great time of year to learn how to surf, take a kayak out in the bay, do some surf fishing, playground hopping, or just do some old fashion beachcombing. Enjoy a low key weekend with the kids, and help LBI stay intact preparing for Mother Nature’s Winters Escapades.
Go to www.Lorrysmotel.com  to learn more and to fill in the MANDATORY Sign Up (lets us know ASAP how much dune grass to get). Please note, in comments section of sign up, if you are a troop so we can get in touch with you about camping details, cut off is by Oct. 1 to sign up to camp. Check in on Oct. 13th is from 9-11:30 am, at the Wildlife Preserve at the end of the island in Holgate. You will receive your assigned beach, then you can grab breakfast is needed, and planting is from 12 until 2pm. Afterwards at 3pm there is a Free BBQ down in Holgate at Lorry’s Motel (a great place to stay, if you need a room for the weekend). Call after you sign up online to confirm regitration.  Bill Hutson at 609-492-6363 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting FREE 609-492-6363 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

If you have a group and are looking for a large house to stay in instead of a motel, please take a look at coming to ‘Beach House Retreats’ house. We sleep 16, with 5 bedrooms, 2 baths, and hot tub on rooftop deck. For more info go to: www.LBI-Vacation.com or call 609-947-1377

Are You Ready For Some Football?

Do you love football? Don’t you just want to get out during football season and throw the ball around with some friends? Maybe your yard isn’t big enough, and the park is just too far away. Here’s an idea - why not plan your perfect fall weekend getaway with some friends? Grab your sweats, coolers, fishing gear, and come down to sunny LBI. Kick back, fish in the morning and watch some games in the afternoon. In between games hit the beach for a quick pick up game of touch football! If you like to cook, the gourmet kitchen has all you need to prepare your catch for dinner. When you need a spot to relax from it all, take a dip in the hot tub, located on the 4th floor rooftop deck. The amazing panoramic views and the ocean’s lullaby will melt your troubles away along with any aches you picked up from playing football J. If you enjoy watching the games from home, you’ll love the radiant heated floors, gas fireplace, and comfortable setting for a toasty weekend at’ Beach House Retreats’. Enjoy the surround sound 42 inch TV downstairs that sounds like you are right at the game. If you prefer a big screen TV watch in the upstairs living room on the 60 inch TV screen.

If the bar atmosphere is what you like while watching the games, there are many choices on LBI. With many games televised and specials on food and drinks, this is a must for many football fans. If you choose a place that has weekend bands, stay into the night to hear some great music. Guys and Gals alike will enjoy a getaway to ‘Beach House Retreats’.

Why not reunite with some old classmates for a fun, relaxing sports weekend. It could be what the doctors ordered! Go to: www.LBI-Vacation.com for more info on house and area. Fall weekend Special: $850 per night, 2 night minimum, and house sleeps up to 16, that’s $106.25 per person for 2 nights! Can’t touch that!

A Culinary Escape Weekend on LBI, NJ

A Culinary Escape Weekend on LBI, NJ
Come enjoy a fun filled diversion from your daily life with a weekend of French Cuisine Cooking with reknowned French Chef, Francis Pons. Francis is an Executive French Chef and Pastry Chef, classically trained in France. He studied at Elysse Professional Culinaire Gastronomic in France, similar to Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. He also trained in Munich Mansion, a private cooking school in Bavaria, Germany learning the art of patisserie (pastry) making. Francis' culinary experience includes: Chef de Cuisine at Hotel La Grotte, a Michelin star hotel in Lourdes, France and Chef de Cuisine, at La Cote Basque, in New York City. In addition, he interned under Master Chef, Alain Ducasse, at the Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo, France and was the Sous Chef at Le Chateau, in North Salem, NY.

Your time spent with Francis will give new appreciation to the thought and care that goes into creating a fabulous meal. After you prepare the meal with supervision by Francis you will then enjoy your masterpiece, and have the rest of your stay to do what you like. Feel free to bring your favorite wines or drinks to complement the meal. Depending on class booked, you may do some of the prep at Francis’s shop, “A Little Bite of Italy” in Surf City, or complete the whole course on the site of Beach House Retreats. The meal will be served in the home. Please bring your notebook, camera, and apron for the class. If your group would like any of Francis’s gourmet pastries for breakfast they can be ordered before the weekend to ensure your order. Order must have 24 hour notice minimum.

Long Beach Island is a sleepy barrier island on the NJ coast. It is the true definition of peace and quiet in the off season. You would never know there are nearly 8,000 year round residents tucked in their homes. The beaches are wide open spaces with the majestic Atlantic Ocean luring you down. Feel the mist, collect the oceans treasure of shells left at your feet, and take a photo moment for a keepsake while down. “LBI” in the fall, winter and spring is a great place to spend time with loved ones learning something new, or just reconnecting. Plan your next get together on LBI at a unique spot ,” Beach House Retreats”.
While staying at Beach House Retreats you’ll have ocean views from all floors, you can enjoy walks on the beach, or cozy reading by the fireplace. Suit up and grab your robe and enjoy the hot tub on the roof top deck with amazing panoramic views with a hot chocolate or glass of wine. The house is very inviting with sun beaming in the living rooms, a great open floor plan downstairs in the kitchen / living room area for multi-tasking groups. The kitchen is fully stocked with all the cooking / baking needs. With radiant floor heat and the fireplaces flames dancing you will stay toasty on a wintery stay. Enjoying a storm rolling in from the second floor living room will allow you to see Mother Nature at her best. The cloud formations and the oceans fury are very dramatic from the bird’s eye view.
The house can accommodate 16 people. There are 5 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 living rooms, laundry room, outdoor living areas in the backyard and fourth floor rooftop deck, and outside shower weather permitting. To fit your groups size the house can be rented in two ways, both including rooftop deck:
1. First floor only, sleeping 8 with 1st bedroom with queen bed,2nd bedroom with ocean views and queen bed, and 3rd bedroom with bunk beds and ocean views, and queen pullout in living room, with laundry room , and bath with shower stall with handicapped rails.
2. Second floor added for total of sleeping 8 additional people with 4th bedroom with queen bed, 5th bedroom with King Bed and ocean views, another queen pullout, and full futon in living room, with a full bathroom.
Lodging costs:
Sept., May
Full House $850 per night 16 person max.
Half house $600 per night 8 max.
Oct., April
Full House $800 per night 16 person max.
Half House $550 per night 8 person max.
Nov.-March
Full House $750 per night 16 person max.
Half House $500 per night 8 person max.
FRENCH CUISINE COOKING WITH CHEF FRANCIS PONS
Chocolate Ecstasy Tuition: $135 pp
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Italian Festival Tuition: $150 pp
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Fishermen’s Delight Tuition: $165 pp
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Parisienne Sojourn Tuition $165 pp
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Spouses are welcome if there is room also charged for tuition due to eating the meal.

For more details on how to book, house, area and pictures go to:
www.LBI-Vacation.com