Summer at the Shore…in February

Thursday’s unseasonably warm weather was also a stark reminder of what a difference a few miles can make.

I left work around 3pm and my wife and I decided to take a fitness walk on the boardwalk.  It was 73 degrees in Toms River but once we approached the bridge the temperature began dropping and when I parked my car in Seaside Park it was 58 degrees with a strong, cool breeze out of the south.

For those who have not been to the boardwalk recently there is a major change taking place on the south end in Seaside Park which was destroyed by fire in 2013.

Crews are building more than a dozen structures on both sides of the boardwalk which will include a pizza restaurant, games and stores, new bathrooms and more.  In addition just across from the Sawmill on the sand an outdoor tiki bar is being built that should prove to be popular during the summer months.

The owners of the Funtown Pier have been stymied in their rebuilding efforts but it’s nice to see some activity on the south end which has been fairly quiet in recent years.

I’ve been seeing a lot of Facebook posts recently for Burger 25 on Route 37 East in Toms River so we decided to grab something to eat following our brisk walk on the boardwalk.  I had only been there once before but I’ll be back very soon after thoroughly enjoying a quick dinner last night.

The biggest dilemma was which of the 25 burgers to order but I eventually went with the Philly burger which is an Angus burger topped with Philly cheesesteak and sautéed onions.  All I can say is if you like burgers then give this place a shot. And don’t forget the fries and onion straws.

Our Shore Sports Network will broadcast the championship games of the Shore Conference Basketball Tournament Saturday  from the OceanFirst Bank Center at Monmouth University.  The girls final at 5:30 matches St. John Vianney against St. Rose with the boys game to follow as Mater Dei Prep takes on Marlboro.

Both games can be heard on Beach Radio 1160 & 1310 and will stream live at shoresportsnetwork.com.  Clayton Masonry Centers and Surf Taco are sponsoring our broadcast coverage.