Liquid Lines
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•October 8, 2014
A Fantastic Combo Swell and A Challenge to Anyone Still Stuck on Plastic Bags
Last week, California voted to ban single-use plastic bags from all grocery and convenience stores. By summer of 2016,it will be the first state to completely phase out plastic bags, and there is…
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•October 2, 2014
Locals Stand Up for Action at Climate Change March
There are some weeks when I sit down to write this column and a debate rages in my head. And let me tell you, the debates that happen inside my skull can be some brutal, knock-down brawls.
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•September 25, 2014
A Tale of Three September Swells: Hurricanes, Windswell and Marketing Autumn
Let me start this week by congratulating autumn’s marketing department. The first official day of fall was Tuesday, but they were way ahead of the curve this year. Do we really need orange and black…
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•September 18, 2014
So Far, Not a September to Remember, But That’s About to Change
I have a feeling my viewpoint this week won’t be a very popular one, but here goes.
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•September 11, 2014
September Week Feels Like August; a Look at Recent SUP and Bodyboard Bans
So this is it? September? That magical month that everyone yammers on and on about, the month of endless swell and cool nights?
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•September 4, 2014
Hurricane Cristobal Gave Us Groundswell; Plus, the Age-Old Debate Over Who Is 'the Localest of Them All'
Well, it’s September. For some, the party is over. For others, that was just the appetizer. I have long been a firm believer that Labor Day through the winter holidays is just the best time of the…
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•August 27, 2014
Wrapping Up a Summer of Waves, Work, Weather; Dealing With Yelpers
From Trip Advisor, Aug. 18: “Maybe I missed something but it wasn’t all that. The food was nothing special. It felt like more of a fast food place with one step up. The Reuben was greasy n the fries…
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•August 21, 2014
The Best Summer Swell Ever; Prepping for Upcoming Longboard Classic
I’m going to throw you for a loop here. I’m going to lead into this week’s Liquid Lines talking about a particular day of surf. But it’s not the particular day of surf you’re thinking of.
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•August 14, 2014
Bertha Was Swell, as Shuttling About LBI Can Be
Let me guess. The plumber never showed up last Wednesday?
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•August 7, 2014
Checking In With the Water Women of LBI
Last weekend, 48 females surfed the Jetty Coquina Jam in Beach Haven (more on that below). The previous weekend, there were almost 100 girls and women at the Island Surf & Sail Ladies Paddle…
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•July 31, 2014
If There’s One Thing We Know in New Jersey, It’s Quick
People always rag on New Jersey. I will defend it to the death. From our beaches to our pizza, our drinking water to our attitudes, we know what the hell is up.
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•July 24, 2014
Seems Like Summer Had a Late Start This Year, But the Past Week Was Just Epic
I ducked out of work for a slice of pizza last Thursday and remembered what a good summer day is like around here. It all just kind of hit at once. Somewhere between the hubbub of really fun waves…
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•July 17, 2014
Cold Water With Cool Weather, Cool Moons and Even Cooler Events
Well, I guess we have to have “the talk.”
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•July 10, 2014
Recap, Anecdotes and Photos of the Wildest Fourth of July Ever, Plus Shop Happenings and the Busy Month Ahead
Well, that was one of the more memorable Fourth of July weekends we’ve had on LBI. From lightning storms and softcore rappers to windfall business days, an eight-alarm fire and hurricane warnings, it…
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•July 3, 2014
Summer Longboarding, Tropical Activity and After-Hours Swimming Warnings Grab Attention
How about some of these surf reports lately?
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•June 26, 2014
Badges, We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ … Towns Keeping Control of Beaches, Previewing the Artists’ Open Studio Tour and Dissecting a Flat Spell
When I was about 14, my friends and I used to play this game. It didn’t have a name, but in court it would probably get the legal moniker of “Impersonating a Badge Checker.” We would wear a plain…
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•June 19, 2014
Breaking Down the Most Anticipated 2-Foot Swell Ever
A simple change from blue to green and everyone goes nuts. Saturday was a full-on surf frenzy.
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•June 12, 2014
Sandbars, Warming Water, Gnats: Must Be ‘The Season’
I know the unofficial start of summer was a few weeks ago, theofficial start is a few weeks off, and the months of the year are all screwy lately, but it finally feels like what we call “the season”…
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•June 5, 2014
Perfect Weather, Unreal Events and Firing Waves Usher in a Great Time of Year
So the last few weeks my drivel has been geared around hyper-local happenings. This week I’m taking it to the national political level. You may have heard that the Democratic Party made a huge late…
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•May 29, 2014
Summer Neighbors: Some Tourists Ain’t So Bad Once You Get to Know ‘Em
Man, was I was happy to see all my neighbors down last weekend. There are only two other families who live on our block year round, but every house was full for the big, three-day summer kick-off.
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•May 22, 2014
Welcome Back – Plus Waves for Days and Paddle Action on the Bay
Oh, you’re back. Sorry, I didn’t see you there. How was your winter?
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•May 15, 2014
Smoke and Mirrors on the Beach; Warmth Bringing End to Waves
So, I’ve waited a few weeks to weigh in on this because I was hoping there’d be a few more people around before we discuss. And from the looks of Holgate beaches, summer home owners airing out their…
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•May 1, 2014
Handcrafted, Homegrown and Locally Made Is a Movement, Not a Trend; Surprise Swells
In a few months, the Boulevard is going to be jam packed with people walking in neon sneakers toting latte “art” with the image of Old Barney drawn in cream. And they won’t even have to snap a photo.…
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•April 17, 2014
Barrel Banter and a Whole Lot of Taco Talk
So, the big news this week aside from all those mind-bending barrels: The Port Hole now has fish tacos.
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•April 3, 2014
The Superstorm That Snuck Past Us and More Jokes About ‘Springtime’
Guess it’s a matter of perspective. The East Coast just had another Superstorm, but fortunately we don’t have to gut houses. We don’t have to plan any new fundraisers or support groups.
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•March 20, 2014
Weather Forecasters As Punching Bags, Old Man Winter Has Been Hard on Us, But Mother Ocean Delivered
This has been a hell of a year to be a weather forecaster. Really, it’s a pretty thankless job. Aside from the whole “Weathertainment” circus that has become the Weather Channel, it can’t be all that…
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•March 6, 2014
Best Way to Deal With Winter Is an Airline Ticket; Let's Talk Travel, New ASP World Tour, Spring Hype and Seismic Testing
In the spirit of full disclosure, I have a confession to make. For the past few weeks, I have been writing Liquid Lines (and a few other pieces for The SandPaper) from somewhere else. Yes, I have…
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•February 20, 2014
Recent Central American Voyage a Pivotal Point in the Hardworking History of Jetty
Jeremy DeFilippis, a local to the LBI area his entire life, was in Nicaragua, sitting across from me on the other side of the “panga,” an open, versatile, shallow draft boat commonly used all over…
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•February 20, 2014
Lazy?! Some Local Millennials Seem Pretty Motivated to Take on All Conditions
I guess some folks call them Generation Y. Others might refer to them as “little bastards.” Apparently they’re official name is Millennials.
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•February 6, 2014
Winter 2014; Things Just Got ‘Real’
Think about how much smarter you are than this time two years ago. Back in early 2012, we were just naïve locals living on an idyllic spit of sand with a nice healthy bridge connecting us to a happy…
