Cape Island, the extended area south of
Cape May canal that includes the city of Cape May, West Cape May, Cape May Point
and parts of Lower Township, is an ancient and storied destination spot that has
served as a playground for travelers grand and humble for hundreds of years.
And like any respectable and venerable metropolis, the island is slow
to reveal its secrets. Always the virtuous Victorian, Cape Island doesn’t just
peel back her petticoats for every shiny carload of sun worshippers that passes
by. Ask any of the locals – they’re not always so easy to spot – and they’ll
probably tell you that Cape May is a city of secrets. Of course when the
population drops to around 4,000 souls in mid-January, and there’s not much to
do except sit around and talk about other people’s secrets, well, secrets don’t
stay secrets for too long.
It never hurts to have a little help finding things.
So I checked with some of the most fashionable, frugal, and fresh-faced
locals in the area for their ideas on where to go for everything from a butcher
and a baker to a candlestick maker. I asked them to reveal some secrets and here
are a few they let loose. Check it out.
First, not sure where everything is? Grab a free copy of The Friends of
Cape Island’s fabulous map/route guide entitled Car Free/Care Free on Cape May
Island, NJ. It’s a biking, walking and birding map and it’s quite helpful, so
grab it and get familiar. The map is available at various spots around town
(including Whale’s
Tale on the
Washington Street Mall – my wife loves that store, yours will too – grab a
quick brew at the world-famous Ugly Mug just up the street while she shops). The
map is also available at the Welcome/Transportation Center on Lafayette Street.
Now, waddya need first? Haircut? Yeah, we know that deal.
Your best bud’s getting married at “the cove” tomorrow and bridezilla
told you not to show up unless you get that mop cropped, right? Try John’s
Barber and Style Shop, 1352 Washington Street. “A nice neighborhood barber,”
John is famous for his “drive-in haircut” and you can get a shave there too.
And you girls? Be you bride or bridesmaid or just a girl who needs
a new ‘do, Heather at Heather’s Hair Salon, also on Washington Street, is the
perfect stop and convenient too. Heather’s technique is particularly great for
you curly-headed gals or the gal who wants her hair color exactly like Julianne
Moore’s.
Plan ahead though. Heather’s appointment calendar books up quickly.
Feel like venturing off the island? Well before you do, pop over to West Cape
May and give Artizan Salon & Spa on Park Blvd. or Accent on Beauty on Sunset
Blvd a try. Now off the island, the fashionista in the “your best bud’s
getting married at the cove” bunch agreed to give up one of her favorite secrets
for the sake of this article. Her recommendation? Hair Cuttery in the Bayshore
Mall, North Cape May! Sean is your man, she claims. Now before you roll in there
for a Mrs. Physick cut (visit
capemaymac.org for that
reference), know that Sean sports a blue mohawk, tattoos and plenty of
piercings, but according to our fashionista, “he cuts hair likes nobody’s
business.” Plus Hair Cuttery only charges $15 (so leave a nice tip).
We may as well stick with the wedding theme seeing as Cape May is one of
the top three spots in the country to tie the knot. If you don’t know where to
take your vows, well I can’t help you – call the mayor – but for a relaxing
massage before you take the leap, call
Touch and Go Massage.
Certified massage therapist Kathy Kint will come to you, where ever you may be.
Kathy also has a studio on Clearwater Drive in North Cape May.
Cape May Day Spa,
with locations in Congress Hall and on Franklin Street, is luxurious and worth
the price.
Now if you need some party supplies for that wedding… oh, OK enough of
the wedding. How ‘bout party supplies for a party happening, say, after one of
the fabulous productions at
Cape May Stage on
Lafayette Street (best theater within 100 miles, along with the American
classics of East
Lynne Theater). Head to Swain’s Hardware. Swain’s? Really now, must I go on?
Center of town, sorta, and a true institution. Yes, it is a hardware store. It
is also the best-kept secret in town. You can get everything at Swain’s from a
grill to elegant outdoor dining ware to party lights to tiki torches. Your stop
for party hats, fancy themed paper plates and streamers is that old standby, the
chain drugstore. There is a CVS on Myrtle Avenue in West Cape May. If it’s party
balloons you need, Dellas General Store
has an assortment of Mylar balloons, plus the helium to go with them.
While you’re in that section of town, Cape May’s best packaged goods
store is, drum roll, Collier’s. On the Beach front, the Promenade Restaurant
located at the Montreal
Hotel on Beach Avenue also has quite a nice liquor store. If you’re out in
North Cape May, it’s Gorman’s in Bayshore Mall, on Bayshore Road next to the
Acme Grocery Store.
Back to the butcher, baker and candlestick maker. Westside Market on
Broadway in West Cape May has what you need. Westside is straight out of the old
Andy Griffith Show. Wooden floors and a staff that’ll remember what you’re
having after a few orders. Westside has cold cuts and party trays and is known
as a fine caterer. Drop by, hang around outside a bit and greet the West Cape
Mayans as they saunter in.
Baker? Well there are a three. A Ca Mia Bakery on the Mall is a French
bakery with a great reputation. They have a great selection, but their bread is
what keeps the locals happy. It’s simply authentic. There's the Bakers Shoppe on
Broadway, a new kid on the block, and Cape May Bakers on Perry
Street across from Wilbraham Park is a local favorite with great fresh-baked
selections. Get there early. But they don’t make donuts in the winter. I’ve been
dying to say something about that. I mean what’s up? Locals don’t get donuts in
winter? Wawa is pretty good for donuts. In fact, Wawa is pretty good for a lot
of things, with locations on Bank Street and Texas Avenue.
And for a candlestick maker, one of Cape Island’s favorite haunts for
candles is Good Scents on
the Carpenter’s Lane side of the Mall on Jackson (close to the ghosts). Neatly
tucked behind the mall, simply fabulous and still unspoiled, Good Scents has a
great vibe inside and quality merchandise including fashionable and well-priced
jewelry, candles, books, cool stuff, and music. Music choices include CDs from
local favorite Bluebone. Don’t know Bluebone? Mayers Tavern off Route 109 just
this side of the Cape May bridge on Saturdays. Great food at Mayers too. The
crowd is a lot of locals and fishermen, but don’t be intimidated.
Man, after all that I could go for a steaming cup of java. I, as well as
a bunch of other locals, recommend one place – Magic Brain in Carpenter’s Square
Mall on Congress Street. It’s one of my favorite spots on the island. A few
months back, I needed to access my email quickly. I simply cruised into Magic
Brain, ordered the house Nantucket blend (I‘m a straight-up coffee guy but owner
Drew Robinson has a great and varied menu and plenty of great munchies), then I
bought some internet time, logged on and accessed my email. Drew also has a
wireless connection if you bring your own laptop.
How ‘bout just a few miscellaneous items like, oh I don’t know,
pet grooming. In West Cape May, there’s Kasey’s Canine Castle on Park Boulevard.
For an upscale pooch pampering, Boche the Bichon recommends Carriage House
Grooming on Seashore Road in Cold Spring. And our contributing paison recommends
A Place for Pets on Bayshore Road in Villas. “Great team there,” he said. “My
dog loves ‘em.”
Speaking of pets we also recommend Cape May Veterinary Hospital just
across the canal on Petticoat Creek Lane. D.V.M.s Bob Panaccio and Bob Moffat
are true pros who care about their patients. And Bob Moffat throws a heck of a
party. He helped organize the Guinness Book of World Record’s longest dinner
table during a 125th anniversary celebration in the Borough of Cape May Point.
Dry cleaners and laundry service, Model Cleaners on Texas Avenue; crib
rental, Wildwood Crib Rental on Pacific in Wildwood; optician, Arlene Gorny-Hughes,
OD, on Columbia Avenue; jewelry repair,
Victorious Antiques
in Congress Hall and Pat Jackson on Bank Street.
Need a good mechanic? Me too, let me know. I guess a good mechanic is
hard to find and the locals are not giving up that bit of info. Either that or
they all ride bikes. Speaking of bikes, try
Cape Island
Bikes at Howard and Beach as well as at Sunset Blvd, heading out to the
point. Also try Village Bike Shop on Lafayette next to Depot Market (they’re
friendly) and Shields on Gurney.
For boating supplies try Sea Gear on Route 109, accessible by driving
under the bridge; cleaning service, Gophers in Wildwood (“gawd I wish I could
afford one”).
A tan? Nobody I know does the fake kind, so try Queen Street for the
hip crowd, Poverty Beach for more mellow and “the cove” after 5 pm if you’re a
local. Of course, you could go out to Higbee Beach on New England Road to avoid
the crowds.
Beach umbrella, beach chair, beach toys are all available from Steger's
Beach Service located on various beaches throughout Cape May. Otherwise try
Swain’s Ace hardware.
For groceries there’s an Acme on the corner of Lafayette and Ocean and
for everything else – suntan lotion, digital camera supplies, after-sun lotion –
there’s the CVS in WCM.
For more info go to CapeMay.com and if you can’t find it there, just drop
the nice folks there an email; they’re pretty knowledgeable and they’ll get back
to you before summer.
If you need anything else, ask a local. |
