July 09, 2009

A kazoo is not a toy.


But it sure is fun!

Getting to march in the Ocean Grove 4th of July parade with the now-famous Days Ice Cream Kazoo Band was sort of the cherry on my sundae this past weekend. Who knew waking up early on a Saturday could be so much fun?

In fairness, I'm a seasoned kazooist. I marched in the Staten Island St. Patrick's Day Parade for several years in a kazoo band with my mom. I'm a bit of a natural.

The Ocean Grove band was the brainchild of Heather, who appears in many local theater productions and can be seen tableside on weekends at
The Starving Artist, our favorite local haunt for breakfast (three words: breakfast potato skins. Yum! OK – that’s four words…). The owners also operate the popular Days Ice Cream in the same building, where lines can stretch for miles (or at least several yards) on a hot summer weekend.

Our fearless leader was Heather, capably backed-up by her equally fabulous boyfriend Mike. Here she is, rounding up the troops in the morning:

And here we are, off to the side learning the play list:


Once the march began we really got into it...



In fact, here I am below with a rare triple-chin laugh. That’s quite something.


The beautiful weather (finally!) brought out crowds of happy people...



...and the parade's eye view was also a great way to see the houses of Ocean Grove decked out for the holiday:






I hate to play favorites, but I think my favorite band member was Mister T. Mister T. was very recently saved by a rescue group from a kill shelter in North Carolina. He’s half basset, half black lab. (Try not to think about the logistics of that too much!)


Is he handsome, or what?


The only sour note on an otherwise beautifully orchestrated day was hit as we turned the corner on Main Street. Nagles, which definitely would be considered a competitor to The Starving Artist/Days, decided it would be hilarious to soak our kazoo band. They launched a super-soaker attack from the crowd and from the second floor balcony at Nagles. The act was carried out mostly by teenage employees (as noted by their Nagles’ tee-shirts. Nice touch with the branding.) but also by a couple of pseudo-adults who kind of looked old enough to know better. They hit infants in strollers, people with digital cameras. No one in our group was really spared.

What can we learn from this?

Don’t be a jerk.

And eat at Days.


Days Ice Cream
Ocean Grove, NJ
48 Pitman Avenue
(732) 988-3297

15 comments:

Purple Flowers said...

Next time I'm in Ocean Grove, it's Days Ice Cream for me. I love your photos; they are typical Americana scenes - clean and happy! Good for you Ms. Kazoo!! ;)

s. pearce feldman said...

do love days. also am obsessed (maybe in a healthy way, if that's possible) with the eggplant parm @ starving artists... they should deliver to dc. stat.

thanks for sharing the pics! town looked GREAT! made me miss a jersey shore 4th - there's nothing quite like it!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Laura! That looks like so much fun and love that dog... awwwww! I'm so glad he was saved!

That is rotten about the water attack. Sometimes people don't think.

Love to you...

XO,

Sheila :-)

Maureen said...

I laughed so many times during this post that I started to stress out that I would forget all of the different funny parts before I got to comment! I love the kazoo... seriously, that makes a parade! And that comment about the canine love logistics will make me laugh all weekend.
Happy Summer!

Rue said...

Okay, I *totally* love the kazoo band-- and what a terrific turnout of kazoo-ists!! And, Mister T! Your photo fully explained the logistics of a black lab/basset mix-- what an adorable dog! I think that mix may be the next labradoodle! ;)

ps. You've got to post pictures of your new skirt!

Laura @ Shoot-Scoop said...

LOve the Kazoo! ;-) You are hilarious. Looks so much fun!!! How awesome is THAT?

Tina said...

You are a fun girl living in a fun place. Can't believe the soakers, but looks like much fun was had by all.

Thanks for sharing this. Makes me smile.
T

Sue said...

sure hope I'm back in Jersey next
4th. of July so I can see this parade in person....I cannot believe all the people that came out to blow a kazoo....Only in Jersey!! and that dog is great. the second picture is priceless...the face of a lab and the ass end of a bassett hound....he's adorable....

Jean Martha said...

OMG. I must have that dog. He is sooooooo cute.

Joyce said...

This looks like a lot of fun. I never knew you played the kazoo. I'm glad Mr. T was able to leave Dodge and find a happy home.
Have a golden weekend Laura! xoxo

Anonymous said...

Mister T is fantastic, I think I'm in love!
I'm so glad you shared pictures of the parade...and boo on those water-squirters!
Have a great weekend, Laura!!

black eyed susans kitchen said...

That parade looked like toooo much fun! I will have to consider a ride down there next summer holiday. We love Days, and it occurred to me that my youngest two kids may have never eaten there....I'll let you know when we are in the hood.
♥, Susan

heidi said...

That's not a town, it's a movie set.
Beautiful. xoh

Mary said...

Found your website and love the pics of the parade! I read old posts and was fascinated by the history of the tent houses. I was hoping to see a picture of my friend's guest house - The Sandpiper. They lived here in Michigan and ran the house every summer, now are retired and live there permanently. If you see Jan and Billy Knight tell them the Streeters from Ypsilanti, Mi say hi!

Local Girl said...

Just catching up on my blog reading as I've been away. That's an awesome parade! Made me smile :)