It’s locals’ summer and all is serene on the beach in Sea Bright. It’s time to go walkin’ … after sunrise … lounging … exploring … this slice of life at the beach.
Here’s a glimpse of what it looks like … (And don’t forget to click to enlarge!)
— Elaine Van Develde
It’s that time of the year when the beaches are pretty barren. It’s locals’ summer. Perfect time for serenity and little waterfront trek.
That’s how it was recently on Sea Bright Public Beach — a stroll in solitude accompanied only by the birds, the sea, freshly combed sand and solace.
Walk along and take in the view. It’s not just for the birds, really. (And don’t forget to click to enlarge!)
— Elaine Van Develde
From the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office …
New Jersey State police have released a sketch of the African American female whose body was recovered in Sea Bright recently.
Continue reading Authorities Seek Help in Identifying Woman Found Dead in Sea Bright
There will be a DWI checkpoint in Sea Bright from Friday night into early Saturday morning, Monmouth County DWI Task Force Coordinator Michael Palmer has announced.
What would a Donovan’s Reef reopening be without a spotting of its unofficial, or official, mascot — the iconic guy about town everyone knows as Dizzy Dave?
Well, lots of area folks were there for Sunday’s (delayed from Saturday) grand reopening. And, while it was pretty packed and running into Dave was tantamount to playing a giant game of Where’s Waldo, one devout Donovan’s fan, Gerry Ryan, found him and struck the classic pose.
Ryan’s wife, former Red Bank Councilwoman Grace Cangemi Ryan, grabbed the photo op and shared it with Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect.
Rumson Mayor John Ekdahl told us he was there as well, but, no roving photographers seemed to capture him, either. He said he did not see Dizzy. “It’s surprising that I didn’t,” Ekdahl said on Memorial Day. “He’s pretty hard to miss!”
The new place got a thumbs up from the mayor. The Ryans and all other locals and fans we spoke with gave the new Donovan’s rave reviews.
Now, where’s Dizzy Dave?
It was like a scene out of The Wizard of Oz, with a wicked witch of a storm dropping a house on the spirits of Rumson-Fair Haven area locals. It was the scene of what many might call the Superstorm Sandy crime that devastated the Sea Bright peninsula and wiped out a decades-long iconic spot — Donovan’s Reef.
When the coast was literally clear of the storm’s wrath, locals flocked to the site to see what Sandy had spit out and left behind. They cried, reminisced, meditated on the jetty and gathered tiny scraps of memories made at the longtime RFHers’ hang-out.
The Retro Pic(s) of the Day take us back to Donovan’s in the aftermath of Sandy.
Laying on the ground were decades worth of remnants from a hut by the sea where many milestone memories were made. On the cusp of the iconic spot’s reopening, people wonder if the new and expanded hut by the sea will be a place to DO it again? Time will tell. Locals are poised for the fresh start. But, they always seem to look back on the good ol Donovan’s days.
What is your favorite Donovan’s memory from years gone by?
— Elaine Van Develde
— Photos/Elaine Van Develde
It’s day that many Rumson-Fair Haven area locals have been anticipating since the ravaging dawn of 2012’s Superstorm Sandy — the reopening of the devastated iconic Donovan’s Reef in Sea Bright.
After many fits and starts, that day, save for any unforeseen issues, now appears to be set. It’s Saturday, a Twitter post confirmed, though with a praying hands emoji.
“4+ years ago we were washed away 
? thanks Sandy,” a post on the Donovan’s Facebook page says. “NOW, there is light at the end of the tunnel. You can sit at the inside bar & take in this amazing view! Can’t wait to see you! Hope for no delays and we open MDW!”
Take a look at the progression since Sandy in the below photos …
— Photos/Elaine Van Develde
Call it a classic moment at the convenience store. It’s not every day that you pull into the 7-Eleven parking lot in Sea Bright and get a close-up gander of an old classic — car, that is.
Or, maybe it is. Could be that this car belongs to a local.
There have been quite a few classic sightings in the area intermittently. This one, though, we’ve never seen before.
Being slightly car illiterate, we’re not sure of the make and model of this one.
Anyone know? Know its owner?
Yes, we forgot to just look on the bumper or hood.
The fair-to-great weather held out for fun times to be had by all who attended the Sea Bright Fire Department Carnival over the weekend.
Families and friends were riding with the good times in more ways than one.
Take a look … (Don’t forget to click to enlarge!)
— Elaine Van Develde
Tonight’s the night that a longtime annual area tradition sets the pace for riding into summer. The Sea Bright Fire Department Carnival is all set up and ready for its start at 5 p.m. in the municipal parking lot.
The carnival, or fair, is, as usual, is host to rides, games of chance, classic fair food, and live entertainment, and runs through Sunday.
Here’s the schedule:
• Thursday, May 18, 5 to 11 p.m.
• Friday May 19, 5 p.m. to midnight, featuring The West End Dogs band at 6 p.m.
• Saturday May 20, 5 p.m. to midnight is also Mug Night, featuring The Jukebox Criminals band at 6 p.m.
• Sunday May 21, 2 to 9 p.m.
— Photos/Elaine Van Develde 2016
Call it a rising, a resurrection, or just a not-so-plain old rebirth for Donovan’s Reef in Sea Bright.
Get your dose of sunlight that the doctor ordered (or not) while it’s there to soak up like these folks did on Sea Bright beach Sunday!
The National Weather Service’s forecast calls for lots of the golden stuff in the Rumson-Fair Haven area with temperatures reaching a high of about 75 today.
Tomorrow, though, darker skies loom. There’s a chance of thunderstorms and showers after 10 p.m. tonight followed possibly (30 percent chance) by some precipitation on Wednesday.
Enjoy your sunny daze!
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