By TIM KELLY
OK, people, this is Ocean City, and we all know how to do weekends.
Fully realizing we’re preaching to the choir here of O.C. devotees, it still bears repeating. If weekend warrior-ing is an art form, then Ocean City’s art is museum-grade.
Case in point, best buds Ari Arnone of Cherry Hill and Natacha Falcon of Linwood were doing the Asbury Avenue shopping thing with daughters Eva, 8, and Victoria, 9. While they were at it, they coined their own weekend theme.
“Forget Valentine’s Day, this is GALentine’s Day!” Arnone exclaimed on Saturday. “We just had lunch and we just made some pottery at (a local studio). Now we’re hitting the stores.”
When you can give your weekend activities a theme with a newly minted name, you’re not doing too badly.
And what of the traditional Valentine’s Day, the Friday front bookend of a long weekend climaxed by Presidents Day on Monday? More on that later. Our first investigation checked in with the action set.
Two singles games were unfolding on the tennis courts adjacent to Ocean City High school, and a two-on-two halfcourt hoops game raged on the court outside the Ocean City Civic Center.
Small and very occasional waves didn’t stop a group of five surfers from going out on the Fourth Street beach, where a family of four got busy with their buckets and shovels.
At the Ocean City Skate Park, kids and a few parents were enjoying the sun, the crisp air and the bowls and half pipes on Saturday despite a temperature reading barely hitting 30 degrees.
“Not coming out today was never a consideration,” said Michael McElwee, 12, of Churchville, Pa., whose parents own a vacation home near the skate park.
“I’m here every weekend,” Michael said. “I skate over here from the house. It’s fun here and the people are nice.”
He was showing off some moves with buddies Mark Groves, 16, of Upper Township, and Paul Woodring, 14, of Estell Manor, both OCHS students.
Mark and Paul sported shorts and high socks despite the air’s chill and Michael had on a couple of thin layers.
“Once you get moving around in here, you’re warm,” Michael said.
Gloves were not an option for this trio of skaters, who would rather have chilly digits than something restricting their board-handling.
Things were active on the Boardwalk as well, where a surprising number of stores were open and a decent number of strollers enjoyed being out and about.
Among them were Lisa and Dan Currie of Royersford, Pa., and their son, 12-year old Alex.
The young family was all smiles after killing it at Jilly’s Arcade.
“I beat (Alex) in air hockey,” announced Dan, who added, just as proudly, “He beat me in Skee-Ball.”
Getting back to Valentine’s Day, Trista Ambs and fiancé Andy Kirchner, both of Lancaster, Pa., were showing how it’s done.
“We planned to come here to celebrate (Valentine’s Day),” said Andy, who has been visiting O.C. “forever.”
“My dad hooked me on this place,” he continued. “When he was a kid, his goal was to get to the Boardwalk and to eat as many hot dogs as possible. Me? I always liked the old shooting gallery (a former attraction on Wonderland Pier).”
Trista is a relative newcomer, but fell right in line with the O.C. laid-back mentality.
“I’ve only been coming here for five years, since we met,” Trista said. “But we love coffee drinks and there are some great places here for that, and we like walking.”
“Coffee and walking. That’s what we like,” she said grinning.
And being with her future spouse doesn’t hurt either, Trista added.
“He really did a great job with the Valentine’s Day planning,” she said, as Andy chimed in, “And we just set the date! June 20.”
Heading back to the car, we made one more stop, at the Flanders Hotel, where Patrick Burns of Northfield was playing the piano on the mezzanine level, beneath the painting of “Emily,” a ghostly presence said to make herself known some nights inside the historic hotel.
Burns played a couple jazzy tunes as he awaited members of his family following a baby shower for his wife, Bri.
The couple are expecting to become parents for the first time on May 14, Burns said.
And if that weren’t exciting enough: “We’re expecting twin boys,” he said with a wide grin.
Now that’s the type of news that really makes for a memorable holiday weekend at the shore.
