WELCOME TO THE OG! Thanks to the kindness of friends, I'm sometimes able to get away from the city and spend a little time in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. Located just south of Asbury Park on the Jersey Shore, this peaceful enclave was developed as a site for Christian camp meetings more than a century ago. Still a "dry" town, The OG today consists largely of Victorian cottages, but people continue to spend warm months living in dozens of tents there.





















The tents are clustered by the Great Auditorium, a grand structure used for religious gatherings as well as concerts and other cultural events. The acoustics in the Great Auditorium are outstanding.





















One night I strolled to the Great Auditorium for a screening of the Clara Bow vehicle It (1927). (What a scandal to screen such a naughty movie in a house of worship!) Organist Don Kinnier gave great accompaniment, at times cleverly foreshadowing scenes (very unusual in my experience). Before and after the screening, he and his wife led the audience in singalongs, too.

One can play miniature golf on the boardwalk, but a few of us drove inland to Swingtime in Howell to putt around on a more elaborate course. The blue water splashing over the artificial falls resembled a cocktail a friend had imbibed the previous night, but we refrained from quaffing. Later, in the game room, we played some skeeball but got our major rush playing a video game that simulates a kayak ride (right).

We thought of taking some swings in the batting cage, too, but didn't get around to that.


Photos: David Marc Fischer