June 25- July 2
This isn’t your usual tourist map. It’s a living, breathing social guide from someone who’s actually out there and loves joyous summer—bicycle bestie Wawa runs, espresso martini ratings, and catching drama in real time. Think of me like your plugged-in bestie who always knows where to be Thursday night through Sunday.
The Social Soundtrack
Here’s your handpicked Local Playlist featuring artists you’ll catch on the Island this week:
🎶 On the mix:
- Chevy Lopez
- Skip Winters
- Des & The Swagmatics
- Rob Connolly
- Zinnia Moon
🎶 Press Play 2 Jam While You Read 🎶
Thursday
June 26th
☀️ Get your weekend started early, let’s make it count!
- AM:
- Every Day Free Yoga at 8:30 AM on the beach—26th Street in Spray Beach. Exercise, ocean dip, and hydrate to get ahead of the cocktail crawl I have lined up for you!
- Midday- Late Night Cocktail Crawl:
- Joe Pop’s: All-day happy hour in Ship Bottom—perfect for a chilled pre-party.
- The Sea Shell: Opening night for their Martini Bar—head there for some fancy cocktails.
Bird’s: First Live Band Karaoke of the season at 9 PM.
⏰ Pro Tip: Get there early to snag a spot! Karaoke is a blast, but be prepared for some fun chaos.
-Secret Pajama party June 26th @ The Shell’s Thunder Thursday
Friday
June 27th
🌺 Let’s kick off the weekend vibes!
- AM–Midday:\
- Every Day Free Yoga at 8:30 AM on the beach—26th Street in Spray Beach. Go do some yoga, then grab an iced coffee from the boys @ Fratello’s.
- Fire Pit Fridays:
- 68th St. Beach (Long Beach Twp.): Live music by the fire, 7–9 PM.Live music will be playing, so grab your beach blanket and relax!
- 68th St. Beach (Long Beach Twp.): Live music by the fire, 7–9 PM.Live music will be playing, so grab your beach blanket and relax!
The Sea Shell: Catch the first leg of the DaNsTeRs featured double-header this weekend at the Beach Stage for Fire pit fridays for a high-energy night! $5 Coronas, $4 Gummi Bear Shots
⏰ Pro Tip: Bring a blanket for the beach and a friend to join in on the fire pit fun.
Saturday
June 28th
🌊 Celebrate Island Weather & Summer — forecast says rain and high 70’s all day. I’ve got the perfect day mapped out rain or shine.
- Midday: Go for a Beach Haven Bar Crawl
With intermittent clouds and sun today, let’s go inside then outside.
Pro Tip: ask every other bar for their Mocktail Menu.
Tuckers Tavern
At the rooftop Buoy Bar — they have so many fresh juice and herb options for crossing over many featured drinks into Mocktails. Maybe spot your summer crush from above.
Buckalew’s
In- Buck’s. Casual-dining tavern comfort. Great- wings, soup, sushi. The energy here gets rowdy fast with night time music.
The Sea Shell
Inside and Out, we dive into peak beach bar mode. Great- frozen, martinis, sushi, sliders, fish tacos. Live music, toes-in-the-sand energy. Try the Mini Tiki Bar first then the Martini Bar after 5pm.
The Hudson House
Finally, if you’re still vertical, make your way to The Hud. Cash only, no nonsense. Pool Table is open. This is the gritty little heartbeat of the Island bar crawl — where the floors are sticky but the friendships are forever (or at least until Labor Day).
- Night:
If you’re still standing- Barnegat Lighthouse Night Climb @ 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Every Day Free Yoga at 8:30 AM on the beach—26th Street in Spray Beach.
Sunday
June 29th
🕊 Laid-back Sunday vibes
- AM–Midday:
- Every Day Free Yoga at 8:30 AM on the beach—26th Street in Spray Beach.
- Joe Pop’s Cornhole Tournament—Come show up and show out, Locals! 2pm. Let’s make sure we take home those prizes this time!
Midday – Bird’s has the orange crush bar open 2-8PM upstairs inside. After you get your prizes from Joe Pops go see our bartender Bubba for a crusher!
- Every Day Free Yoga at 8:30 AM on the beach—26th Street in Spray Beach.
- Evening:
Holiday Snack Bar: Don’t miss one of my top treats- their Angel Food Cake with whipped cream and strawberries—perfect pre-closure treat before they close at 8 PM.
Monday
Monday, June 30th
🎶 Let’s keep the weekend vibes going with local music!
- Night:
Surf Night at Bird & Betty’s: 9 PM with the DaNkStErS—dance to some sea shanties and enjoy sponsored giveaways from Farias Surf & Sport. Every drink you buy gets you a raffle ticket for a chance to win!
⏰ Pro Tip: Pace yourself and buy your friends cheap beers to earn tickets for the giveaways—it’s easy to get caught up in the fun!
🍻 Drink rec: Go for a Hot & Dirty martini — before the specials kick in, it’s pepperoncini, and blue cheese olive basically doubles as eating a Dirty Hand Salad.
Tuesday
Tuesday, July 1st
🎤 Catch me out and about for some local tunes!
- On the Deck with Skip Winters: 6 PM – glide into a amazing music night starting with some surf folk by Tim over a sunset.
- Betty Original Tuesday’s:
The Talking Dreads with Mystic Bowie—perfectly and accidentally programmed for celebrating International Reggae Day! This reggae Talking Heads cover band will have you moving all night. I’ll be there, come find me and Spill The Tea for next week!
⏰ Pro Tip: These shows get packed, so get there early to grab a good spot and soak in the vibes.
Local Girl Logs: Ghosted, But Still Out
So this week, all my interviews dropped like seagulls chasing a fallen french fry. It happens. But don’t worry — I still went out, hit the beach, pedaled, sipped, still spotted a few things that deserve a shout.
I rode my bike with my bestie after a long day of swimming in the gorgeous ocean yesterday. It was everything- the perfect sandbar, water was refreshing and Caribbean clear- the only reason I left the beach was because I was so sunburnt. (The problem I face when I bring a chair to the beach- I forget to flip.)
We went home, a few steps walk to the outside shower, where they rinsed off and I grabbed a shaker cup- Ice, Pineapple, Coconut cream- the dream team after an Island ocean day. I handed her the apparatus and traded- She shakes and I’ll rinse.
The fresh flavors of a Pina Colada go so well with sunburn.
We decided we were famished, the kind that leaves you in need of shucked oysters.
It was between 3 places, The OC, Black Whale, The Arlington. We were already in agreement; by bicycle is the obvious choice.
I wandered into The Arlington for Happy Hour for some oysters, and blown away by how clean, well shucked, and amazing they are. Usually 1$ oysters look like they fell off the marsh onto your plate. These shiny shells and perfectly scraped muscles were impressive. Additionally, really keen attention for the flavor of the oyster itself, and not just dousing it with horseradish or cocktail sauce- They side it with sweet tomato and a dropper of vinegar. Really fantastic.
So no interviews this week, but the vibes came through anyway.
If you’ve got something to say — a story, a sighting, a mystery crush, a spicy tale from a salty night out — submit to the Anonymous Tea Hotline and you might just be next week’s star.
Until then: wear sunscreen, flip onto your towel even when you bring your chair, and don’t sleep on a good Quality oyster deal.
No tea this week… unless you’re sitting on some sandy, salty treasure.
I’m opening up the Anonymous Tea Hotline — your chance to share a lil LBI drama completely anonymously.
Seen something wild? Got a crush story? A friend group fallout? A mysterious beach date?
Each friend in your group has a funny one-liner from Last night I’m sure.
About Me
Hey, I’m LG—a year-round Ship Bottom local, motorcycle riding, dog walking, friendly neighborhood fun specialist. You’ll usually spot me cruising the island with my pup Sylvie or chatting with someone about where to catch live music, the best beach for a sunset, or which local spot has the freshest tacos this week. I have watched the LBI evolution to predict the trends like a tide. You might even see me out there enjoying this beautiful and precious gem that is LBI.
To me, everyone who lands on LBI is just another kid at summer camp—and I’m here to be your counselor. This is The Social Local, and I’m sharing the magic one guide at a time! Peace and love, see you there!