News & Press Releases

We have a new ambassador! In the recent “Fall Getaways” issue of NJ Monthly’s “Only in New Jersey” with Steve Adubato, Secretary of State, Nina Wells, shares in a short interview about NJ Tourism, Asbury Park is “coming back.” The Secretary made a special visit to Asbury Park in May and we made sure she got the “tour.” Huge! Also, in the magazine’s Eat & Drink section, Tim McLoone’s Supper Club was singled out.

I finally got over to take a tour of Asbury Park’s newest and coolest offering: Hotel Tides Restaurant & Spa. I was blown away. This has been a long time coming, but well worth the wait. Robert Doran, Director, Art Curator showed me around and I’m still reeling! I have attempted many times to describe the rooms, lobby, restaurant (not yet open) and grounds including a pool, but would not do it justice. This is Asbury Park’s first boutique hotel and it has raised the bar very high. You need to check it out. Go to www.hoteltides.com for a peek. Huge!

A very special fundraiser is taking place this weekend to benefit Friends of Deal Lake Special Projects. A group of homeowners, including my favorite “merry maker,” Mark Fleming of Premiere Theater fame has crafted this fun event. Cocktails start at 5 PM and include a regatta and boat parade flowed by dinner at various lakeside homes with a “Light up the Lake” event. Minimum contribution $30. To attend RSVP to Mark at 848.459.2580 MFLEMING61@yahoo.com or Tony at 732.865.6471, MACEMMERT@aol.com. Only on the banks of Deal Lake!

On Wednesday night I attended the Gay Pride Business Network meeting at Moonstruck. Carol Heller, President of this very active group invited me a number of times but Wednesday nights are difficult for me. I immediately met many people and was introduced to two new and very exciting businesses that are coming to Asbury Park. This group meets every 2^nd and 4^th Wednesday from 6 to 8 Pm at Moonstruck. Stay tuned!

This weekend:
Thursday, Sept. 25^th: Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce Business Card Exchange (and just one good time) at the Langosta Lounge, 1000 Ocean Avenue starting at 5:30 PM. Please enter from the Ocean Avenue entrance. Be there!
ArtsCAP Wine Tastings Presents Photographer Jason Meehan, 7 PM at Mattison Park.
“Lovely” Starring Kelly Briggs & Jerry Christakos 8 PM - Tim McLoone’s Supper Club
Friday, Sept. 26^th: Paranormal Books & Curiosities - Psychic Readings 6- 10 PM. Also, Saturday and Sunday. Check www.paranormalbooksnj.com for details.
Laura Warshauer at Twisted Tree Café - 8 PM, $5 admission.
Status Green at The Saint - 8 PM
School of Rock/ Music of the 80’s - Wonder Bar.
Documentary film, “Snake Hill” at The Stephen Crane House - 7 PM $10 Saturday, Sept. 27^th: Main Street Farmers’ Market 8 AM to 1 PM.
Community Vendors Market at City Hall’s Parking Lot 10 AM to 4 PM.
Chess Fest! Free for children grades K - 12. -10 AM to 2 PM in Convention Hall - www.asburyparkchess.com for details.
Boardwalk Relay Against Hunger.to benefit NJ Federation of Foodbanks. Go to www.boardwalkrelay.org for info.
Bowlarama 2: the bowling Pin Art show at Asbury lanes - 8 PM
Sunday, Sept 28^th: Giants bye weekend. Go Jets!
Empower the Youth - Police Athletic League celebration - Asbury Park beach
Twisted Covers - Johnny Cash tribute at Twisted Tree Café at 5 PM, admission is free.

Stay tuned:
October 4^th: First Saturday
NJ Gay Men’s Choir at Restaurant Plan B
Three Little Kittens Annual “All Holiday” Attic and Bake Sale Fundraiser
October 5^th: “Good Times” Birthday.
October 10^th: Susan Pelligrini’s multimedia performance: Beyond Words Love in Translation at the Berkeley Hotel.

The Saint has opened a very cool merchandise store on the their web site: www.thesaintnj.com. Check it out!

It is so exciting that new businesses are still coming to Asbury Park. Can you name another city in New Jersey that can make that boast? And in one of the worst real estate markets in eighteen years, and certainly the most confusing one, residential real estate is selling. When you think about it, it shouldn’t surprise you. This is the place to be on the Jersey Shore. Stay tuned!

Wishes for a wonderful and safe weekend.

Tom Gilmour
Director of Commerce and Good Times

If you know anyone who would like to receive these weekly email updates, they may go to the city’s web site, www.cityofasburypark.com and subscribe.

Tom Gilmour serves as the Director of Commerce for the City of Asbury Park and is responsible for economic development, the APUEZ (Asbury Park Urban Enterprise Zone Program), special events, and the city’s employment initiative; “Asbury Works.”

ArtsCAP, the Asbury Park Historical Society and the Asbury Park Urban Enterprise Zone Program are launching a new street banner program. Since this is Asbury Park, this will not be your typical generic banner program, but a citywide arts exhibit. Local artists are invited to submit designs for our “Imagine Asbury Park” banner contest. Artists may submit up to three designs for the banners by Monday, Nov 3, 2008. We expect to select 14 winners. Artists can go to www.artscap.org/bannerprogram. for entry information. This will be a very high profile event and sponsorships are limited, so contact Sonja O’Brien at 917.881.9508 or at sonjaobrien@ivyhill-cinram.com. for sponsorship information. Only in Asbury Park! Stay tuned!

Perry Garfinkel, acclaimed journalist who included Asbury Park in that great article he wrote for AARP Magazine, will be making a guest appearance at Marilyn Schlossbach’s newest restaurant, Langosta Lounge on Friday, September 19^th at 8 PM. Perry is the author of “Buddha or Bust.” The event will focus on Buddha’s Message: The Ultimate Pampering of the Mind and Perry will explore how to use simple practices to cope with life’s Little (and big) stresses.
Marilyn will be hosting an opening party on Saturday night and . . . .
The Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce will present another of its terrific business networking events at the Langosta Lounge on Thursday, September 25^th at 5:30 PM. As I have mentioned many times, if you want to or are doing business in Asbury Park, you need to join the AP chamber. Why not come out and join us and check out Asbury Park’s newest restaurant. Quite Large!

Just a few of the great happenings in the city this weekend:

Thursday & Friday: “Sunrise, Sunset or Breakfast with Julia” (A Mother’s Alzheimer’s, A Daughter’s Survival Kit) a new play written and performed by Julia Sandra Rand and presented by the Black Box will be performed at the Berkeley Hotel. Thursday at 8 PM and Friday at 7 PM. $20 for adults and $10 for students & seniors. Call 732.455.3060.
Saturday: Main Street Farmer’s Market, Main & Sunset, 8 AM to 1 PM.
Asbury Jukes Keyboardist, Jeff Kazee, will perform at the Rocktography by John Cavanaugh at the Asbury Galleria on the boardwalk at 8 Pm. $10.
Yard Dog Roads Show, a hobo cabaret of vaudeville and rock and roll, at Asbury Lanes at 9:30 PM.
Roller Derby-Convention Hall: Jersey Shore Roller Girls All Stars vs. Wall Street Traitors 7 PM.
Paramount Theatre - Bouncing Souls
Rachael Yamagata at the Wonder Bar
Sunday: Giants (2-0) vs. Cincinnati
Bob Egan’s “Open-Mic” Night - Moonstruck, 517 Lake Avenue

Paradise recently announced a new menu of weekday events:
Wednesdays: “Wind Back Wednesday Retro Night”
Thursdays: Fuego Latino Night
Fridays: Drink Specials, Drink Specials, Drink Specials
And don’t forget to check out paradise’s new restaurant, Ketchup.

Next Week: Prevention First’s 9^th Annual Chess Fest and the Boardwalk Relay Against Hunger. Stay tuned!

I got an email from Ellie Stoneley from Cambridge England who shared she is getting married this Saturday. Ellie and Roy were visiting Asbury Park during the 4^th of July 2007 and got engaged. I wonder how many thousands of others got engaged in Asbury Park? We all know the city is very seductive. On behalf of the over four thousand subscribers to this email, we all wish you the very best and a marriage full of “Good Times.” Yes, this too is HUGE! Congratulations!

And less we forget, next week is birthday week at the Gilmour’s. Monday is father-in-law, Bob Ayling’s big day, followed by Patti’s birthday on Tuesday. Unfortunately, Patti has open house at her school on Tuesday, so we will be celebrating on another night in Asbury Park. Stay tuned!

This past weekend, I witnessed something I imagined and wished for a very long time. Large crowds of visitors and residents mixing it up and just enjoying all Asbury Park has to offer. I am so proud to be part of this, so proud of all our businesses, so proud to work with so many talented and dedicated people, and certainly, so proud of all of you who never gave up on this great little city by the sea. We truly are blessed. Stay tuned!

Wishes for a wonderful and safe weekend.

Tom Gilmour
Director of Commerce and Good Times

If you know anyone who would like to receive these weekly email updates, they may go to the city’s web site, www.cityofasburypark.com and subscribe.

Tom Gilmour serves as the Director of Commerce for the City of Asbury Park and is responsible for economic development, the APUEZ (Asbury Park Urban Enterprise Zone Program), special events, and the city’s employment initiative; “Asbury Works.”

Just when you think things might be slowing down a bit, this weekend might be one of our biggest in a very long time. Jillian Rhys is at Mattison Park Friday night at 9 PM. The Copa Beach Soccer Tournament (rescheduled from last weekend) takes place on Saturday at the First Avenue beach. The ever popular Mayor’s Ball rocks on Saturday night at the Berkeley Hotel. This is Mayor Sanders’ fundraiser to provide scholarships for Asbury Park High School students. “The Children Are Our Future.”

Sunday brings us the long awaited, much anticipated Guinness Oyster Festival. I’m predicting that this AP Chamber sponsored event will draw record crowds to the downtown. If ever there was an event created for Gilmour, this is it. Two of my favorite bands, Black 47 and DeSol will be performing on the Cookman Avenue stage. For those of you slackers who haven’t been back to the city and for some strange reason were finally looking for a reason to join the rest of us who so enjoy Asbury Park’s Jersey Shore urban life, this is it. Kudos to our event planner, Ruthann Harrison who has spent the last six months planning and raising money to make this happen. HUGE! Be there!
And if you haven’t had enough by the end of the day, Mattison Park will be hosting a Guinness Oyster Festival After Party featuring Status Green at 8 PM.

I am hoping that you all get a chance to stop by one of the downtown’s newest businesses, Paranormal Books & Curiosities located at 627 Cookman Avenue. This unique shop has quickly established itself as a destination in itself. Besides all the great books and merchandise, owner Kathy Kelly conducts ghost tours throughout the city. She is launching a “Scary Movie Night” this Friday with a viewing of “1408″ starring John Cusack and Samuel Jackson (adults only). Kathy is beginning to share some of her ideas for Halloween and the holiday season and we are all in for a treat. Stay tuned!

Magazine, NJ CEO (yes, I do read these things) featured an article on the benefits of being associated with a Chamber of Commerce. Well of the 230 chambers in the state, nine were highlighted and yes, the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce was one of them. We were singled out for our business outreach and networking opportunities. Congratulations to Cindi D’Onofrio our office manager and Dan DiBenedetto our President, and the Board of Directors for all their hard work. Six years ago, we had about 60 members and if we got 10 people out to an event we were quite happy. Now, we have 248 members and average at least 100 at most of our get togethers. If you are looking to do business in Asbury Park, you need to join APCC. Very LARGE! Stay tuned!

Speaking of the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce . . . the APCC will be hosting their next business networking event at Langosta (Lobster in Spanish) Lounge on the boardwalk. This is Marilyn Schlossbach’s newest offering which is intermingled with her husband Scott’s new surf shop, Lightly Salted, and Pop’s Garage, a great taco and light fare restaurant. One of the great things about the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce is we always get to party at the new businesses that are smart enough to move into the city. Definitely, “Good Times.”

My favorite florist, Southside Florist located at 725 Bangs Avenue is celebrating its seventh anniversary next Saturday. This is one of Asbury Park’s best kept secrets. Southside is the place to go in the city when you need something very special for that very special occasion or you screwed up, and need significant extra credit. Patti’s loves white tulips and somehow, someway, they are able to get them when I need them the most. Congratulations Barbara, Lorna, and the rest of the staff! HUGE!

Main Street Farmers Market, 8 AM to 1 PM.

Sunset Lake Clean Up this Saturday from 10 AM to Noon.

The Asbury Park Historical Society hosted a press conference at Tim McLoone’s Supper Club on Monday to announce plans for their Morro Castle 75^th Anniversary celebration planned for September 2009. Trustee Don Stine who is heading up this wonderful and exciting event, shared some details of this historic and mysterious tragedy that prompted significant changes in maritime law. APHS’s President, Johna Karpinski indicated that Monmouth University and Monmouth County’s Department of Tourism will be partners in creating a week-long dedication to all those who died and all those who assisted in the rescue. A special memorial will be created and placed in Asbury Park. The committee is looking for memorabilia and memories (photographs, old movies, artifacts, etc) for the event. Please contact Don Stine at 732.774.4590 or sales@antichay.com or Eileen Chapman at 732.571.3512 or echapman@monmouth.edu for additional information or to donate. APHS is also looking for sponsors to help underwrite this celebration. Also, check out www.asburyparklibrary.org. One little known fact “Good Times” was quick to point out: the beaching of the Morro Castle attracted large crowds to the waterfront and required the city to create one way traffic north on Ocean Avenue and south on Kingsley Street to handle the traffic. This was the origination of Asbury Park’s famed circuit, which to this day, many thousands still hold near and dear to their hearts. This is going to be another great time in the city and yes, HUGE! Get involved!

Asbury Park is full of Good Times and this weekend is just another example of why this city is so great. Hope to see you on the beach, at the Farmer’s Market, Mayor’s Ball or full of oysters at the Guinness Oyster Festival.

Wishes for a wonderful and safe weekend.

Tom Gilmour
Director of Commerce and Good Times

If you know anyone who would like to receive these weekly email updates, they may go to the city’s web site, www.cityofasburypark.com and subscribe.

Tom Gilmour serves as the Director of Commerce for the City of Asbury Park and is responsible for economic development, the APUEZ (Asbury Park Urban Enterprise Zone Program), special events, and the city’s employment initiative; “Asbury Works.”

Speaking of boardwalk merchants, I owe a big apology to the Mayfair Boardwalk Grille. A couple of weeks ago, I unintentionally mentioned their business in not so complementary terms. Thankfully, a reader pointed this out to me. I am truly sorry for this mistake and apologize. The Mayfair is the icon business on the boardwalk that represents all of the good from the past and all of the greatest yet to come. Their burgers and dogs are part of the fabric that keeps bringing thousands back to the Asbury Park beach.

So, it’s First Saturday and so the downtown will be rockin’ on Saturday night! This month our theme is “Labor of Love, Building an Educational Foundation for the Future.”

We will be selling bricks and all donations will be used to purchase school supplies for the upcoming school year. Call the AP Chamber at 732.775.7676 for info. This is a great time to rediscover our downtown shopping and dining district. The Bangs Avenue parking garage will be open for free parking. Great merchandise, great food, great music and great fun!

In conjunction with the City’s First Saturday’s event, ArtsCAP will be hosting an opening night reception for artist Olympia Hostler’s “Liquid Life” Art Show from 6 to 9 PM at Core Restore at 630 Mattison Avenue. A portion of the proceeds will benefit ArtsCAP. The Garden Marketplace, 519 Bangs Avenue will be hosting a book signing and wine tasting from 7 to 10 PM. International Author and Wine enthusiast, Gary Vaynerchuk star of Winelibrarytv.com will be signing copies of his new book, 101 Wines Guaranteed to Inspire, Delight and Bring Thunder to Your World. eZENtial, 658 Cookman Avenue (Shoppes at the Arcade - upper level) will be presenting an in-store poetry reading and book signing, “Summer Love in Bergen Norway,” featuring Lourdes Lozano Lauber at 6 PM.

This weekend:
Thursday, September 4^th: A. J Swearingen & Jonathan Beedle will be perfoming “The Music of Simon & Garfunkel” at 8 PM at Tim McLoone’s Supper Club.
Friday, September 5^th: Jillian Rhys at Madison Park.
Saturday, September 6^th: Main Street Farmers Market - 8 AM to 1 PM at Firemans Park, Main Street between Fifth and Sunset Avenues.
Back to School Block Party 1 AM to 3 PM at the Bangs Avenue Elementary and Middle School Playground. Rain date: Sept. 7^th. Volunteers needed. Call Lori Ross for info at 732.502.5727.
First Saturday Downtown, “Labor of Love” - 6 to 10 PM.
Beach Concert, 5^th Avenue beach, Hang Daddy and fireworks at 8:30 PM.
Sunday, September 7^th: another great beach Sunday!

Still time to sign up for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Atonement’s Golf Tournament to be held on Monday, September 8^th. Call 732.776.5727 or Don Brockel at 732.531.0912.

Today is my little brother David’s birthday!

A great story on hurricanes appeared in the New Jersey section of last Sunday’s NY Times. A very cool and scary picture of the Asbury Park boardwalk taken during Hurricane Carol (August 31, 1954,100 mile per hour winds) introduced the article.

Football season kicks off tonight when the Super Bowl Champion Giants host Councilman Ed Johnson’s Washington Redskins. Since I met Ed nine years ago, I think the Giants record against Washington is 16-3. Councilman, it looks like it’s going to be another long season. Stay tuned!

Do I need to remind anyone that next Sunday, September 14th is the Guinness Oyster Fest? We tried this event four years ago and it was a big success. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Ruthanne Harrison of RUE Events and the support of the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce this year’s Guinness Oyster Festival is bigger and better than ever! The festival takes place in the downtown on Cookman Avenue from 12-6 PM. Black 47 will headline the event and DeSol, Joe Hurley and Rogues March, Deni Bonet and the Mayors Players will provide a great afternoon of great music. Six Flags will provide musical entertainment for the younger set. Admission is FREE! Patti and I will be manning one of the food and drink tickets tables so stop by and say hello. This is one Asbury park event you don’t want to miss! More details to come next week. Stay tuned! HUGE!

As most of you know, the next two months are probably the best time to enjoy the Jersey Shore. In the tourism industry it is referred to as the “shoulder season.” In Asbury Park it’s just referred to as downright beautiful. So, where will you be spending your weekend? Hope to see you in the Park.

Wishes for a wonderful and safe weekend.

Tom Gilmour
Director of Commerce and Good Times

If you know anyone who would like to receive these weekly email updates, they may go to the city’s web site, www.cityofasburypark.com and subscribe.

Tom Gilmour serves as the Director of Commerce for the City of Asbury Park and is responsible for economic development, the APUEZ (Asbury Park Urban Enterprise Zone Program), special events, and the city’s employment initiative; “Asbury Works.”