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Sweet
LOUISA’S CHOCOLATE BAR
Open from 11am Tuesday-Sunday
609-884-5519 • 106 Jackson Street
Vacation in a box!
The EXIT ZERO
Discount Deck
4/30: Bridal Shower For Lauren Day
At La Mer Beachfront Resort
PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALEKSEY MORYAKOV
Elda, Logan, Val, Jill
Shirley, Lindsey, grandmom Ann, Darleen
The best souvenirs add a little sparkle
to your memories. Take home some
Cape May diamonds.
The idea that “we do not remember
days, we remember moments” is a
comfort to families on vacation. Sometimes, a
day at the beach is not a day at the beach. There
may be tears. There may be rain. Someone
may use the red shovel when you specifically
called dibs. And then, when you’re tired and
cranky, there’s a line for the hot dog truck.
Those meltdowns tend to fade from memory.
Instead, we remember when the kite soared,
the boogie board delivered a great ride, or the
toddler squealed with delight as the waves hit
his toes. Cape May diamonds are the perfect
souvenir for these sparkling memories.
Cape May diamonds are not precious in
terms of dollars — a carat is probably worth
about $5 — but these bits of quartz, tumbled
to a shine by their journey down the Delaware
River, have been treasured for centuries. The
Kechemeche people, a Lenni Lenape tribe,
have gathered and gifted these stones as
The Activity Column
Catherine Dugan’s guide to getting out there... this week, hunt for seaglass!
tokens of friendship since the pre-Columbian
era. Some legends imbue the stones with the
power to bring good luck. Tourists continue to
value them as markers of magic days. Couples
who meet on the beach use Cape May diamonds
in their wedding rings. Families collect
them on walks — I’m looking at a baby food
jar, half-full, that my daughters gathered when
they were young. Crafters incorporate them in
jewelry, picture frames, and hair clips. Others
purchase jewelry from Sunset Beach Gifts —
there’s a pretty choker that’s like a Cape May
version of puka shells.
The hunt is part of the magic, and it’s a
great activity for rainy days. Though quartz
is one of the world’s most common minerals,
it can be a challenge to spot the diamonds
among other beach pebbles. You’re likely to
have the most luck at Sunset Beach after a
storm, and preferably not at sunset, when that
beach is crowded. Bring a sand sifter from the
toy box or a mesh strainer from the kitchen.
Scoop down past the top crust of sand to look
for the bits of translucent stone. You won’t
always find them — they blend with the other
stones on the beach. (Some genius parents
allegedly purchase a small bag of diamonds
to seed the beach, but I will deny this if challenged.)
They look like jellybean-shaped sea
glass with a frosted surface. Every stone gains
some shine with a good cleaning with mild
soap, but if you’re looking for real sparkle, try
a rock tumbler — even toy versions work well.
Then, display your diamonds as you see fit.
Hats Tees Tanks Sweatshirts Hoodies Zip-Ups Masks Art
FLYING FISH STUDIO
$15 from each shirt sold goes to World Central Kitchen,
One million meals served as #ChefsForUkraine relief effort grows
SAVE over $400 on 50 of Cape May’s finest
restaurants, stores, salons & activities.
Only $20! Buy at Collier’s, Pedego,
Trinkets, Cape May Honey Farm
or online at www.exitzero.store
Page 42 EXIT ZERO May 19, 2022
Kathy, Jen, Lina
Open Every Day from 10am & Online Anytime!
130 Park Boulevard • 609-884-2760 • theflyingfishstudio.com
May 19, 2022 EXIT ZERO Page 43