Best of the Shore 2010
Boardwalk at hundreds of miles per hour, sometimes just 50 feet above the water, oftentimes spiraling in feats typically reserved for action movies. Go early to score parking. Better yet, park the car in Ventnor, ride bikes in, and make a day of it. Just remember to pack the earplugs. August 25th, Atlantic City Boardwalk.
SPA DAY Nothing tops the service from a chaise lounge on the Water Club’s 32nd floor. Nothing. Except the view from the chaise after a quick dip in Immersion’s sky-high lap pool. Or the view while you wait for an Egyptian milk-and-honey cocoon float treatment. And eat cold grapes. 1 Renaissance Way, the Water Club at Borgata, 800-800-8817, thewaterclubhotel.com.
SIMPLE CARB FIX We’ll never turn down a taffy spree at James’s or Fralinger’s, but for the sheer penny-candy-gone-wild, Technicolor buzz of it, the Pier-anchoring It’Sugar sweet shop is easily the highlight of any trip to A.C.’s boards. Promise your kid a make-your-own candy bar or a you-mix-it bag of M&Ms, and Junior will behave like an angel as you shop Gucci, the Apple store, Janie & Jack, Scoop NYC. … The Pier Shops at Caesars, 1 Atlantic Ocean, 609-289-4200, itsugar.com.
SALAD A few reasons why Seablue’s super-fresh, now-classic DIY concoctions taste so summer: 1. With options like Asian pears, 24-month parmesan, sultanas and crispy sunchokes, this is a control freak’s fresh dream—with a wine list to match. 2. When restaurants are in charge of the mix, you always resort to plucking out one ingredient. 3. It’s bikini season, and salad is all you eat anyway. The Borgata, 1 Borgata Way, 609-317-1000, theborgata.com.
Downbeach
SUSHI Fast, fresh, fairly economical and thoroughly unfancy, BYOB Yama is a rare find for raw fish basics (spicy tuna, salmon maki). 5305 Atlantic Avenue, Ventnor, 609-822-8007.
WORKOUT The only way we’ll be wearing that tiny Missoni string number to the Greenhouse this summer: multiple hour-long sessions on Breathe Studio’s reformer with Pilates babe Marlena Baylinson, whose sunny demeanor makes that dastardly 100 feel like half that. 8005 Atlantic Avenue, Margate, 609-822-8088.
TEEN BOUTIQUE Let’s face it: In these days of downsized summer vacations, you’re not buying her any more beach -cover-ups from Knit Wit. Stocking up on super-easy sundresses at Heavenly Couture will set you back about $20 a pop, which leaves just enough allowance for her billionth pair of Havaianas. 9600 Ventnor Avenue, Margate, 609-822-4634, and 1356 Boardwalk, Ocean City, 609-399-0034.
BAGELS Your traditional plain, egg, pumpernickel and onion varieties, along with a cornucopia of oddball others (a trail mix bagel?), are all served fresh, warm and chewy at the appropriately named Hot Bagels & More. And don’t forget to take home a tub of schmear. There’s a reason every Jew from Atlantic City to Longport is here every morning, people. Follow the leaders. 7807 Ventnor Avenue, Margate, 609-823-4144.
