And the winner is........................................................

Vintage Design – Circa the 1970's, this vintage OC logo proudly displays our famous White Marlin. If this design looks familiar, it's because it's located on our water tower.

Details on how you can get your official Maryland State Ocean City License Plate will be posted on www.ococean.com soon

Results:

1.   Vintage Design             3463 Votes

2.   The Ocean City Flag    1481 Votes

3.   Current OC Logo          2399 Votes

Total Votes:                        7343 Votes

I was reading an article online tonight and ran across this great article written by an anthropologist.  The secret of our attraction to the ocean is finally revealed!  :)

History

Hit the Beach: Why Humans Love Water

By Meredith F. Small, LiveScience's Human Nature Columnist

Ocean City needs your help!

Good news for Maryland Drivers and Ocean City Enthusiasts…

Soon, you will be able to proudly display your love of OC everyday with an official Maryland State Ocean City license plate. That's right, Ocean City is getting its very own specialty plate, but we need you (our biggest fans and advocates) to help pick the design. Please participate in the selection process by voting for your favorite OC logo design in the below "Pick the Plate Poll."

Voting will take place now through October 10. The winning logo will be announced on www.ococean.com.

The three logos are:

1. Vintage Design – Circa the 1970's, this vintage OC logo proudly displays our famous White Marlin. If this design looks familiar, it's because it's located on our water tower.

3. Current Ocean City Logo – Probably the most recognizable Ocean City logo, this design appears throughout our website and advertisements.

Vote by clicking the link below and by choosing 1-3 as the design that you'd like to proudly display on your license plate! Only 1 vote per computer.

http://www.ococean.com/survey/

When: September 18th - 21st, 2008

Where: Ocean City Inlet area

Ocean City, one of the best resort towns on the Atlantic coast, hosts its annual Sunfest, celebrating the start of the fall season with four days of fun, food, arts and crafts and music.

Top musical entertainment, hay rides on the beach, scarecrow-making, pumpkin carving, sand art, face painting and colouring contests are just a few of the autumnal offerings at the event. Musicians who have graced the stage in recent years include Aussie rocker Rick Springfield and country dreamboat and ex-college football lineman Trace Adkins.big part of the party. Sunfest visitors can enjoy everything from traditional Eastern Shore seafood to German, Italian, Chinese and good-old American cuisine. As the eastern seaboard is known for its shellfish, you'll also get crab cakes and oyster fritters which taste better than anywhere else in the country.

The Special Events Division of the Ocean City Department of Recreation and Parks each Fall creates an event filled with great live entertainment, delicious food, arts and crafts exhibits, and fun for the entire family. OC has been hosting this fun-filled family weekend every fall for more than 30 years.

The Arts and Crafts Show is ranked as the Number 3 show of this type in the United States. You can tell by the crowds of attendees that it must be so...

Sunfest marks the beginning of Ocean City's Fall Season. Yes, there are plenty of fun things to do at the beach in the fall (and all year). Other events include Winefest on the Beach, Endless Summer Crusing Weekend, Corvette Weekend, Annual Fly-In at the OC airport, and more.

for more information, check out: http://www.ococean.com/sunfest.html

for Ocean City inside information, check out:  www.insideoceancity.com

I posted some of these before.  Some of you are year round locals and some of you are summer locals.  Some of you come down enough to relax that you are almost a local and some of you are tourists.  But all of us share something in common.  We all love Ocean City Maryland!  You know you are or were an Ocean City Local if:

* Baseball's opening day is a little less important than Fish Tales and MR Duck's opening day.

* You've ever had a drink at the Harbor Inn

* You always look for your name and/or picture in the Coconut Times.

* You can stretch the season for wearing shorts to almost 10 months.

* You own a coat and tie, but you've only used it for weddings, funerals, and court appearances.

* You're a bit embarrassed about the very small amount of time you've actually spent laying on the beach.

* You ask bartenders to put on the Weather Channel.

* On most summer nights, a bike or motor scooter is your transportation of choice.

* You participate in at least one Bar Crawl each season.

* You've heard the ex-Mayor sing at a bar.

* Except for fundraisers, you've never even seen the new Mayor at a bar.

* You know at least 15 people that work at Seacrets.

* Before you bang it back, you tap your shot glass on the bar when having a "social" with friends.

* You just smile when a "summer local" talks about actually getting their seasonal condo rental security deposit back.

* You have 5 favorite bars... For 5 different reasons.

* You think that sitting on a stool on Wicomico Street, having an A-Stand cheeseburger & fries on a warm summer afternoon, is just as good an experience as dining in any four-star restaurant.

* You know what "The Pennsylvania Navy" is, and where the fleet is docked.

* You don't take for granted the quality of the local entertainment in town.

* The bartender asks you, "start a tab?", instead of "I need a credit card."

* You overtip servers.

* You've worked at a few, but have never been a spectator at a bikini contest.

* You go to at least five fundraisers and benefits every year.

* You have local friends from The Ukraine, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Russia, Nepal, and a few other countries that you can't even pronounce.

* You never wait in line, or pay cover charges.

* You have more "VIP Cards" to different clubs than credit cards.

* You've never been on the Boardwalk Tram, but plan on maybe doing it someday.

* The length of time you've been in OC is counted in "summers", not "years".

* You spend more time Bayside than Oceanside.

* You only sit at the original bar at Fish Tales, but you've heard rumors that there is a big, fancy, new one in the back.

* There's a WinterFest of Lights?

* You have a favorite place for crabs and crabcakes.

* A night on the 'Boards isn't complete without at least one drink at The Cork, The Clam, or The Moose.

* More people know your dog's name than your name.

* You've had at least 10 different jobs in town since you were a kid.

* You know which is the Raven's Bar, the Steeler's Bar, and the Redskins' bar in town.

* You know which bars not to drive home from - even if you've only had one drink.

* Classic Taxi is your local cab company of choice.

* You've only used it once or twice, but you still have a very old mug hanging from the ceiling at The Turtle.

* You can remember at least three other names of the bar at the location that is now called Buxy's Salty Dog.

* You love holidays. But just for the extra money they bring into town.

* When nothing brings back childhood memories of the Boardwalk more than the combined aroma of Coppertone, creosote, and Fisher's Popcorn.

How many you can relate to??

Just a blog for pictures this week:

A few pictures and comics for everyone's enjoyment:

a beach in China:

How about that tan?  Gotta love that leather look

Guido and friend

Cute:

Not so cute:

definately not so cute:

All right, how many guys relate to this one?

..

one of the reasons we don't allow cars on the beach in OC:

This is my story, or I wish it was my story!

We had such an overwhelming response to our last poll that we are going to break it up into two parts.  We asked what are the top three things you must do while in OC and to give us one of your favorite memories.  If you didn't get a chance to respond to this poll, don't worry.  You can post them below in the comment section.

What is it about the beach?  We stress ourselves out playing the game of life called the rat race and we start dreaming of the beach.  A Jimmy Buffet song might be on the radio and for a brief moment in time, we imagine ourself on a hot sunny beach cooling off with a cold drink, great views, cool mist from the ocean's waves and totally at peace.  If you come to OC via the Bay Bridge, you can start to feel the stress melt away as soon as you are over the bay and continue to relax more and more till the climax of sitting on a beach chair with your feet buried in the sand watching the waves crash on the sand in front of you.  Well besides the beach there are so many other things in Ocean City that just make us happy:

Here is Part 2:

Lisa Marie, 40 from Carlisle, PA:

1: When in Ocean City, what are the top three things (other than the beach)you must do to have a complete vacation. 1 Has to be EAT CRABS! 2 Hit the Cork Bar 3 Visit everyone at Harborside...
2: If you have one to share, what is your favorite Ocean City memory(s)? Growing up there. Can't pinpoint just one thing...it was great

Kyle, 17 from Saint Mary's PA:

1: walk the boardwalk repeatedly
2: meeting that special someone

Mammom, 51 from Darlington, MD:

1: When in Ocean City, what are the top three things (other than the beach)you must do to have a complete vacation.
Have an Orange Crush at Harborside
2: If you have one to share, what is your favorite Ocean City memory(s)?
The Mermaid Saloon

Ann, 26 from Salisbury, MD:

1: Fishers Popcorn
Thrashers French Fries
Beer!

Teri, 30 from Barclay, MD:

1.) Must go to the firemans convention.
2.) Must play games and ride the rides.
3.) Must eat at Happy Jacks. WOW they have good food!

Heather, 24 from Essex, MD:

1st question, I have to other then the beach get Dumser's Icecream, Get Scopes, go to Souvenir City
2nd question, my favorite memory which is 2 but they go along the same line was that I was engaged on the beach and then a year and a half later i was married in that same spot on the beach

Just Beachy, 42 fromState College, PA:

1: must have crabs at Higgins
    must walk the bay side & take photos of the sunset
    must have pizza at 15th street pizza shop (on the boardwalk)
2: my best year ever was 6 years ago when my then ex-bf surprised me by showing up in OC professing his love for me, we've been together ever since!

Sami, 25 from Lancaster, PA

ride the drunk bus and go to seacrets!! and stay in a hotel or motel with mold is a must!!! well since most of them send u home with a rash and a head cold hahaha sorry been in OC way to much this year I'm so tired of being sick!!!

Melissa, 36 from Boonsboro, MD:

I was just there in June, I have to go to the boardwalk at night, I have to eat at the Dough Roller, and I have to eat at Waterman's.

Charlene, 53 from North Myrtle Beach, SC:

The 3 most things i do when i visit Ocean City other than the beach;
Thrashers French Fries
BJ's Seafood Skins
Seacrets

Shannon, 26 from Glen Burnie, MD:

cannot leave oc without
1- complete family photo
2- saltwater taffy from the candy kitchen
3- 1 stroll up the board walk
4- in my case i have 3 small ones (7/3/2) so 4 is an exception an authentic boardwalk hermit crab! lol
the best memories you have of ocean city are all the new ones you make while you go year after year watching your kids get bigger there the best for me !

Fran, 61 from Virginia Beach, VA:

When in ocean city we must have Fractured Prune donuts at least twice - been doing that since my kids were toddlers and it was called Josh's. Must sit on the boardwalk and people watch I love it, love it, love it. Have to have a funnel cake too!
I have so many wonderful memories of Ocean City I can't pick just one!

Cassie, 27 from MD:

Top 3 things to make the vacation complete, well to name just three....
riding the haunted house, fishers popcorn, going on the boardwalk.....there are far too many to limit though!
**My favorite OC memory was summer of 2002, living with 4 other girls at the beach. A few of us worked at Paul Revere on the boardwalk and it was the most fun I've ever had in a summer. We went out to the bars at night and layed out at the beach until it was time for work. Definitely best summer ever!

Sambuka, 48 from OC MD:

We have to get Thrashers fries, take the grandkids to the boardwalk rides and of course a night at Seacrets.

Lindsay, 27 from Westminster, MD:

1: When in Ocean City, what are the top three things (other than the beach)you must do to have a complete vacation.
~~~Before I leave Ocean City, I have to have dinner at the Angler with the FREE boat cruise, play putt-putt at the Temple of Dragons on 23rd street, and drink the night away at the Purple Moose!
2: If you have one to share, what is your favorite Ocean City memory(s)?
~~~Senior Week 1999... some of the best times I vaguely remember :)

Adam, 29 from Tampa, FL:

1. Go to Secrets for dinner and drinks.
2. The summer of 97' Working at the Ocean City Fishing Center...Family and Friends!

DJE, 24 from Maryland:

1) Jolly Roger Splash Mountain!!!! wahoooooo
2) Lunch at Mackys!!!
3) Fagers Island on a sunday night!

We had such an overwhelming response to our last poll that we are going to break it up into two parts.  We asked what are the top three things you must do while in OC and to give us one of your favorite memories.  If you didn't get a chance to respond to this poll, don't worry.  You can post them  below in the comment section.

Here is Part 1:

Christy, 40 +/- Sykesville MD

Top three things to do:
Go the the board walk
Walk to Bagels and Buns in the morning
Go to Board Walk Joes and get a Gyro
Fav OC memory: Tough one....Probably any of the numerous times I would just go down without and plans what so ever....I would have no money and I would just sleep in my hatchback or find a house on the bay side that looked like nobody was staying at for the weekend and sleep on their deck furniture. I would also use their outside shower to get ready to go out. As long as Fagers or the Paddock didn't have a cover... guys would buy us drinks and munchies. Needless to say these were my college days. KK & P and others would head down with me!

Sheri, 34 Dover, PA

That's easy since I don't really like being on the beach so much lol
First of all I must have a Room oceanfront with a direct view so I can sit and enjoy the ocean and watch the sunrise = ]
Another must is: going on the SeaRocket.  That has been a tradition now for the past 4 yrs.
Last but not least is Dough Rollers Yum yum yum lol I have to eat there at least um lets say 3 times a visit
OcMd ROCKS take it from me. I go there any free moment I get = ]

Erin, 23 Parkville, MD

For my friends and family its all about the food! We have to get Tommy's subs, Thrashers fries and Big Peckers! We also have a tradition of scopes on the beach and photo booth pics on the boardwalk!
So far I cant think of one favorite memory, they are all good memories!

Kevin, 35 Oswego NY

1. top three things to do in OC
1. EAT BLUE CRABS!!
2. Visit the Boardwalk!!
3. Do Something on the Water!! Fishing, Crabbing, Boating, jet skiing, Boat Tour, Sea Rocket, etc...
2. Favorite Memory
Coming to Ocean City as a early teen with my family and boogie Boarding for hours and then walking the boardwalk for hours and then eating all you can eat Crabs at Hoopers!!!

Kim, 36 Aston PA

Top 3:
Visit Assateague Island
Walk the boardwalk at night
Eat crabs
My best memory is pretty much my whole childhood. My family used to have a place on the bay in West OC. Every summer until I was 30 was spent in OC... there is no vacation spot like it.

Lin, 39 Fairmont WV

The one thing you have to do is parasailing!!! It's pricey but so worth it!!!
All of my memories of OC are my favorite :)

Scott, 30 West Chester, PA

When in Ocean City, what are the top three things (other than the beach)you must do to have a complete vacation:
Go out to Macky's, Finigan's, Fish Tales etc (night life)
Boardwalk
have a nice room to relax and watch dvds/play wii

Star, 28 Lancaster, PA

1. Spend time in the Kite Loft & Souvenir City
2. Eat Thrashers fries & some Love's funnel Cake
3. Walk out to the fishing pier off the boardwalk at least once, preferably at night.

Mikelxa, 26 Chadds Ford , PA

1) a. Stop in at K-Coast Surf Shop
b. Go to Philip's for Dinner
c. Seacrets
2) First Place where I learned how to surf.

Ajillg, 40 Bethesda, MD

I HAVE to eat Thrasher's french fries.
I HAVE to eat Bull on the Beach.
I HAVE to go to Seacrets.
Not necessarily in that order.

Val, 16 currently OC MD!

Top Three Things To Have A Complete Vacation:
1. Go To Seacrets/Fagers Island/Party Block/Or H20 If Under 21.
2. Ride The Drunk Bus.
3. Go To A Famous Restaurant Down There. Ex. Dumsers. Dough Roller. Bon Fire. Etc.
&♥;

Ashleigh, 24 Harford Co MD

Answer to number 1.
Go to Candy Kitchen to buy fudge and taffy!
Dance the night away at Seacrets and OWN the video camera
Enjoy a frozen drink at Fishtails in the awesome hammock chairs
Answer to number 2.
One of the best...
Winning the bikini contest at the Paddock and having the manager (while paying my winnings) recognize me as someone who tried to get in underage with a fake ID the year before. Score!

Shore Girl, 37 Eastern Shore of MD

top three: go to SEACRETS!...THRASHERS FRIES...
TUBBIES ICE CREAM and must buy a key ring, I have oodles of them.

Kaila, 16 White Marsh, MD

Go to Jolly Rogers, go mini golfing, & Go to Dumser :]

Britt, 23 Havre De Grace, MD

Top 3 things I HAVE TO DO:
1.Eat @ Big Peckers... the food is really good and you have to sit in the swing tables!!!!!
2. Surf Shop Hop... Starting with Quiet Storm then hit Chaunceys, endless summer and k-coast. I did see the new Billabong store but didn't have time to shop.
3. Dumsers ice cream on the board walk... Twist cone w/ rainbow sprinkles!!!!
And my favorite memory.... more or less when I was younger sitting in the sand and my mom fussing that half way through the day we would have to go inside the Holiday Inn (where we stayed) to empty all the sand that was hiding at the bottom of my swim suit !!! Or my dad would some how forget to pack my sand toys so I always got new ones from Edwards!!!
I LOVE THE BEACH!!!!!

TikiGirl, 33 Boredomville, Ohio

Top three things:
1 - Eat at Paul Revere's!
2 - Ride at least one of the rides on the Pier!
3 - Visit the Christmas Shoppe!
Best memory:
When I was 15 and on vacation with my family I met a boy, David, at the beach. I surfed with him all day, and I went on my first date with him that night on the boardwalk. I even got my first kiss in the stairwell of the Dunes Manor hotel. I cried all the way back to Ohio because I wanted to stay in OC forever! OC is a fantastic memory for a first kiss.

Brandon, 16 Roaring Spring PA

Go mini golfing at Old Pro Golf  ..hit up H2O..and walk the beach late at night
My favorite memory would have to be the whole experience of being in Ocean City..every minute their is something u can do..being their is a memory that u can never forget and u will want to relive it every summer.

Dar, 28 Smithburg, MD

Arcades, the 94th street mall, and if it is still there, the Game Loft. (it was above an ice cream store?)

From Mexico City Mexico, the band SweetLeaf  myspace.com/thesweetleaf

Walk on the boardwalk, get an iron-on t-shirt with my name on it, eat salt water taffy.
I remember riding the waves on a boogie board, then eating a roast beef sandwich and sprinkling vinegar on my french fries that were served in a cup, then walking on the boardwalk.

Tim, 42 Seaford, DE

1. looking at the sand sculptures and listening to the musicians on the boardwalk.
2. 3 of my children and I ate dinner in a pizza place, at the south end of the boardwalk, before leaving O.C. on hot summer day. Our waitress was kind enough to bring us some funky masks and sun glasses. My children asked for one for me and talked me into wearing it for the rest of our day. All the way to the car at the park and ride on 50 even, lol. They wanted me to ride home with it but I couldn't see to drive, so I told them I would were it on stage that night and take pics for them. I still have the glasses and still wear them from time to time at my gigs.

My friend Tara from OC and I will leave her age blank!

Let me see! 1. is an easy one! You have to eat Thrashers French Fries, Fisher's Carmel Corn and go for a ride on the Carousel.
2. My favorite memory of Ocean City was just last week, watching the sunrise in peace.

Kathy, 37 Chester County, PA

Buy Fisher's popcorn
Go to the boardwalk
Eat at Phillips
Favorite Memory: Since I grew up there, there are too many to name

My favorite answer for the poll was submitted by:

El Capi Tano, 31 Pittsburgh, PA

1: When in Ocean City, what are the top three things (other than the beach)you must do to have a complete vacation.
Well… Aside from the obvious Thrashers fries, and Dumsers ice cream… 3 things I NEED to do are:
1: Need to go deep sea fishing. Usually on the Ocean Princess, but the Judith M will do!!!
2: I need to walk the length of the boardwalk, but I NEED to see the tiger shark at the end! Something I always looked forward to!
3: These days, I need to go to the pier/fishing area on Chicago Ave between n 2nd & 3rd. Me, my mom and my dad used to go there to fish. It was kind of a tradition we started 5 or 6 years ago. Last year, we spread some of my dad's ashes right there in the water. So it's kind of a real special place for me. I like to go right before dusk and sit quietly…

2: If you have one to share, what is your favorite Ocean City memory(s)?
WAY to many family memories to share (thankfully)!!! And MUCH too long to type! I will say, though, every time I drive into OC to start a vacation, as soon as I hit the Coastal Highway… I roll down the windows to smell the salty air… And I always look towards the ocean side, between streets… Even though you can't see the beach, you just know the ocean is right on that horizon! That's just one of my favorite things in the world, and no matter how old I am… I STILL get excited!!!

Thanks to all again.  We hope you enjoyed this blog and we will be posting part 2 very soon

A new video for all to enjoy!