John C. Conover Agency News & Press Releases

Greetings from Asbury Park - Tom Gilmour Director of Commerce + Good Times 9/7/08

betsy — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:35:42 +0000

Greetings from Asbury Park:

Myth: Labor Day marks the end of summer. As we all know in Asbury Park, the best part of summer is just beginning. This past weekend, Asbury Park WAS the place to be! On Sunday, Patti and I arrived at the beach around 1 PM. I almost started crying. The beach was packed. The boardwalk was packed. Our favorite spot on the beach was packed. This is what we have all been working for. There is no turning back. It was very much like the beach I remembered from my youth. Garret Giberson, our Director of Public Works who oversees the city’s beachfront operation shared that Sunday set a new beach record and our beach revenues are the best they have been in over 20 years!
A very special thanks to the DPW and our beach staff that keeps our beach one of the cleanest and safest on the Jersey Shore. And a big thanks to all the boardwalk merchants and Madison Marquette who somehow, someway, got it done and brought the boardwalk back to life. This has been a great summer so far and we are looking forward to many more great summer days. Yes, very, very HUGE!

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.”

Greetings from Asbury Park - Tom Gilmour Director of Commerce + Good Times 8/28/08

betsy — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:55:48 +0000

Greetings from Asbury Park:

Another great weekend and another one to follow. Hard to believe it’s Labor Day Weekend which means after I send this, I will be getting hundreds of “out of the office” replies cause everyone has already bagged work and is starting the weekend. But for the few of you who are still checking email this is another great weekend to be in Asbury Park. I checked with the weather gurus and they have shared with me that the threat of Hurricane Fay will pass to the west sparing us the rain but in turn, creating great surf. So, there’s no better place to be this weekend than in the best little city on the Jersey Shore: Only in Asbury Park!

So, last night Patti and I attended the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce business card exchange at Paradise. This is one of Asbury Park’s great venues that is hooked up with the Empress Hotel and now, the new restaurant Ketchup. These monthly events are the place to be. If you are in business and not part of this; oh well. Shep Pettibone, the owner, proprietor, and host welcomed the group and even was in the kitchen cooking. What a great way to ease into the weekend. A great time, great food and great people, with a little business on the side. So, Patti and I are leaving and Billy Idol is on the outdoor stage at the Stone Pony and of course, he is playing “White Wedding.” Only in Asbury Park!

I’m going to try to make this short so here’s some highlights of what’s going on this weekend in the city:

Thursday, August 28^th: Asbury Park Concert Band, Salute to the Armed Forces (children’s concert) 7 PM, Convention Hall Grand Arcade.
Doggie Happy Hour - Wonder Bar 5-8 PM.
Concert photographer, John Cavanaugh hosts S.O.A.P. (Sounds Of Asbury Park) Meet & Greet at Rocktography photo exhibit at Asbury Galleria, 1000 Ocean Avenue on the boardwalk.
Wilk in Ma’Plej at Stephen Crane House (508 4^th) www.wilkmusic.com
“Simply Barbara” with Steven Brinberg, 8 PM at McLoone’s Supper Club.

Friday, August 29^th: Mayor’s “Chill-Out” Jazz Series, 6 PM at the Transportation Center: Vel Johnson.
The Creators of S.O.A.P. - Stone Pony
Jullian Rhys at Mattison Park, 9 PM

Saturday, August 30^th: Main Street Farmers Market, Fireman’s Park, 8 AM to 1 PM.
DAD (Drums and Disabilities) fundraiser, 7 PM -Stone Pony. www.dadprogram.org
Virago - Twisted Tree Café - 7 PM
Keith Calmes at Plan B - 7 PM.

Sunday, August 31^st: Jazz Mass, St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church at 9 AM
Asbury Galleria is hosting a special “end of summer” (I don’t think so) event with our favorite author Helen Pike from 2 to 4 PM.
Twisted Covers: 80’s legend, the Replacements and other artists at Twisted Tree Café - 5 PM.
Jazz Lobsters, 6 PM at McLoone’s Supper Club.
Beach Fireworks at 9 PM

Monday, September 1^st: Labor Day - don’t go to work! Municipal offices closed including mine.
The Jersey Shore’s best beach - all day

Tuesday, September 2^nd: School starts and the state’s best kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Gilmour welcomes a new class and nurtures an educational journey like no other. Only Mrs. Gilmour!

Old Man Rafferty’s celebrates its first year anniversary today. Congratulations to owner Mark Jakuboski and his staff. We are grateful for your presence in our downtown. HUGE!

Confession time: Last weekend I spent four days outside the city limits. My only athletic prowess outside of my surfing fame was my participation as a senior member of New England’s greatest high school lacrosse team. Our coach, Bill Labelle finally retired from teaching after 50 years and team member and friend Bill Shattuck hosted a surprise party at his magnificent home in South Dartmouth, Mass. Some of these guys who attended, I have not seen since high school and Patti got some very interesting insights into my wayward youth (I denied it all). We took a wonderful side trip to Martha’s Vineyard and as we are walking down the main street in Oaks Bluff, who do we run into but Kay Harris from Asbury Galleria - you can never hide! It was a fun weekend and it was great to recharge.

Next weekend, is First Saturday and our Labor of Love fundraiser to raise funds to purchase back to school supplies for Asbury Park youth. Call the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce at 732.775.7676 for information.

City management is extending this great beach season and keeping the guarded beaches open one more weekend, next Saturday, September 6^th and Sunday, September 7^th (weather permitting). Stay tuned!

Where will you be spending your weekend? Only in Asbury 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.

Greetings from Asbury Park - Tom Gilmour Director of Commerce + Good Times 8/21/08

betsy — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:08:49 +0000

Greetings from ASbury Park:

And what a weekend it was. As I mentioned last week, I was going to take Friday and Monday off. What I didn’t know was that Patti and I were going to experience one great Asbury Park weekend. Friday, we spent most of the day downtown shopping and checking out some of the new stores. Stopped by Brickwall for our favorite burger and fish and chips and then off to “Hair” (more about that later). Saturday, we stopped by the Farmers Market and the Clearwater Festival. Had lunch at the Mayfair Grill on the boardwalk, and then to the beach, so I could check out my new boogey board. Went home for a quick change and then off to the Stone Pony to catch “It was Forty Years Ago Today” with Todd Rundgren, Christopher Cross and Denny Lane. The Beatle tribute was really cool but I have to admit Rundgren’s rendition of my favorite “I don’t want to work, I just want to bang on the drum all day” really rocked the house. Sunday brought early morning church and a beeline to the beach. We discovered a very different but very enjoyable morning beach non-crowd. At noon we headed home to get ready for Patti’s God-daughter, Lauren Ganley’s wedding. Over the weekend, we also booked a room at Mikell Towery’s Big House. This is a very special B & B. Our plan was to sleep late, grab a cup of coffee and head to the beach. When we came down stairs in the morning, Mikell was preparing a breakfast like no other. We met a great couple who were teachers in Brooklyn, sampled Mikell’s great cooking and shared some fun stories. Then, off to the beach to soak in another great beach day. I’ve been to many great places and many great beaches but let me ask you, where can you go to experience so many fun and cultural events, great food, meet terrific and fun people, buy very cool stuff and chill on the Jersey Shore’s best beach? Yes, Only in Asbury Park! Quite HUGE!

I want to apologize to all our web site fans for the malfunctioning web cam that sits on top of the Berkeley Hotel. I believe it is finally fixed and I encourage all of you to check it out at www.cityofasburypark.com. The minute the cam goes down; I get hundreds of emails from all over the world begging me to get it fixed. Mother Nature has not been kind to our cam. The salt air breezes do a job on its operation. I just ordered the third new housing for unit for the cam. Hopefully, it will continue to please so many of you and bring back those fond memories. Panoramic! Enjoy!

Our local newspaper, The Coaster celebrated its 25^th Anniversary, Wednesday evening at the Wonder Bar. Kudos to the Carroll family and Michael Booth for keeping us all informed and smart. It was a great Asbury Park party. Only in Asbury Park!

Asbury Shorts New York comes to the Paramount Theatre this Saturday, August 23^rd at 7:30 PM. This is a unique evening of the world’s best short films. The event is sponsored by Jose Cuervo and will feature special guest Vincent Pastore of the Sopranos. Tickets are $12.00. To reserve tickets in advance email your request to dougleclaire54@yahoo.com. Call 718.510.6929 for all show information. Only in Asbury Park!

Concert Photographer, John Cavanaugh will host a meet & greet at his Rocktography photo exhibit Thursday, August 28th at the Asbury Galleria, 1000 Ocean Avenue in honor of those who laid the foundation for what would be known worldwide as the sound of Asbury Park: S.O.A.P. John Cafferty will make a special appearance at 7:30 PM. For additional information visit www.Rocktography.info or call John Cavanaugh at 732.364.7444. Huge!

Also this weekend:

Thursday, August 21^th: the Asbury Park Summer Concert Series continues with “More Broadway.” The music starts at 7 PM in the Grand Arcade at Convention Hall.
Rocktography photo exhibit at Asbury Galleria
ArtsCAP fundraiser at Mattison Park - Atlanta composer, poet and novelist, Dr. Larry Corse.

Friday, August 22th: the Mayor’s “Chill-Out Jazz Series at the Asbury Park Transportation Center. Starting at 6 PM, this week’s featured artist is local favorite, Laranah Phipps.
J420 - America’ Cup, 633 Cookman Ave.
Slightly Stupid - Stone Pony

Saturday, August 23^th: Main Street Farmers Market 8 AM to 1 PM, Fireman’s Park.
Vendors Market Fair, City Hall parking lot, 10 AM to 4 PM
Asbury Shorts New York Film Festival- Paramount Theatre
Black Out Party - Paradise
Sally - America’s Cup
People in Planes - The Saint
John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band - Stone Pony

Sunday, August 24^th: the greatest beach on the Jersey Shore!

Kudos to the Revision Theatre and their spectacular production of “HAIR.” Asbury Park is full of talented and creative professionals but the group at Revision has quickly established Asbury Park as the “place.” If you haven’t seen this production, make sure you do. Staged in the historic Carousel building, is a once in a lifetime treat. Visit info@ReVisiontheatre.org for information. Aquarius!

WOR radio star, Joan Hamburg, was in Asbury Park (for the second year in a row) on Wednesday to tape another show. This time her show was staged at Tim McLoone’s Supper Club and will be broadcast today. Quite Huge!

Still time to sign up for Mercy Center’s 6^th Annual Golf Outing, September 6, 2008. Call Tiffany at 732.774.9397 x, 14 or visit www.mercycenternj.org for more information.

Dates to mark:

Wednesday, August 27th: Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce business card exchange at the Empress Hotel - Paradise - Ketchup, 101 Asbury Avenue. These monthly networking opportunities are not to be missed. Members $10 - Non-Members $20. Call the chamber office at 732.775.7676 or go to www.asburyparkchamber.com for additional information Pre-registration is suggested and appreciated. Bring plenty of business cards. Also, beach fireworks.

Sunday, September 14^th:Guinness Oyster Festival - Noon to 6 PM. Stay tuned!

I always pay the price when I take some time off and Tuesday was just a bear in baggies. This has been one great summer. Sunday we broke a record for beach badge sales. Having said all that, I’m willing to suffer the consequences on Tuesday, so I’m going to again take Friday and Monday and you know what, I think I’ll add Thursday. Many of you experience great times in the city. If you have an Asbury story that you want to share, send it along and if it passes the test, I’ll share it here. Where will you spend you weekend?

Wishes for a wonderful and safe weekend.

Tom Gilmour
Director of Commerce and Good Times

Greetings from Asbury Park - Tom Gilmour Director of Commerce + Good Times 8/14/08

betsy — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:06:47 +0000

Greetings from Asbury Park:

We had another great weekend even though Mother Nature threw in some pretty heavy rain on Sunday. The AP 5K was a very cool success and we finally passed the thousand mark, with 1,100 participants for the first time. My sister Pam traveled from Maryland to run and finished third in her age group. Local favorite, Rich Karpinski finished second in his age group but we are all still trying to figure out what age group that really was? It was a great day for the race and a great day for Asbury Park. Special thanks to Phil Hinck, our race director and the Jersey Shore Running Club for all their hard work the past four years. To finish on the boardwalk makes this race very unique and a favorite of many runners. The AP 5K has arrived . . . just another reason Asbury Park is the place to be. Huge!

There is so much going on this weekend, it is difficult to determine where to start, but I think Revision Theatre’s production of “Hair” will define the weekend. This is one AP event you don’t want to miss. The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical promises to be so unique being performed in the historic Carousel House in the Casino building. This legendary show will have a Revision “twist” that you will only find in Asbury Park. The NY Times did a feature last weekend on Revision and this very special production. “Hair” opens Friday night at 8 PM with performances Thursdays & Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 7 PM & 10:30 PM and Sundays at 7 PM thru August 31^st. So, Asbury Park! Aquarius!

Another, great event this weekend is the Asbury Park Historical Society’s Third Annual Art on the Boardwalk show. This wonderful display takes place on Sunday from 11 AM to 4 PM on the boardwalk between Sunset & 5^th Avenues.

And . . . The Clearwater Festival is rocking in Sunset Park on Saturday and Sunday. This is the fifth year Clearwater has been in Asbury Park and it just keeps growing. Check out the many environmental groups, unique merchandise and of course great music: The Mayor’s Players, The Sensational Soul Cruisers and Glen Burtnik. Go to www.mcclearwater.org for information. Go Green!

Also this weekend:

Thursday, August 14^th: the Asbury Park Summer Concert Series continues with “More Broadway.” The music starts at 7 PM in the Grand Arcade at Convention Hall.
ArtsCAP fundraiser at Mattison Park presents artist Chris Hartsgrove. Tax Deductible Donation: $20. For reservations call 732.807.3435

Friday, August 15th: the Mayor’s “Chill-Out Jazz Series at the Asbury Park Transportation Center. Starting at 6 PM, this week’s featured artist is Cynthia Holiday.
Sharon McNight at Tim McLoone’s Supper Club, 8 PM.
I love the 80’s party! - Paradise - 732.988.6663

Saturday, August 16^th: Main Street Farmers Market 8 AM to 1 PM, Fireman’s Park.
“It Was Forty Years Ago Today” at the Stone Pony. St. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band starring Todd Rundgren, Denny Laine and Christopher Cross accompanied by the Classical Hits Symphony.
Paramore at Convention Hall
Raiders of the Lost Ark: the Adaptation: Asbury Lanes 8 PM. Cost: $15 (portion to benefit ArtsCAP).

Sunday, August 17^th:
Art on the Boradwalk - 11 AM to 4 PM.

I had to borrow my Mom’s issue of AARP (World’s Largest Circulation Magazine) to check out an article “Journeys” that featured Perry Garfinkel’s recent trip the Jersey Shore. Garfinkel is the author of national bestseller “Buddha or bust: In Search of Truth, Meaning, Happiness and the Man who Found Them All” (www.BuddhaorBust.com). I was lucky to get a heads-up that Perry was in town, tracked him down, and gave him the mandatory “Gilmour-Tour.” He commented that “Asbury Park was my favorite destination down the shore. I found my Jersey “truth” there. It’s a fascinating multi-diverse place with a rich history and very promising future.” His article also included a quote from one the of the city’s great ambassadors, Marilyn Schlossbach: “Asbury Park is essential Jersey: we’re black, we’re white, we’re gay, we’re straight, we’re Latino, we’re old and we’re young - we’re Everyman. We may have been held back, but we won’t be held down.” Truth! Only in Asbury Park!

The Jersey Shore Running Club is staging the Tuesday Evening Summer Series running event on the boardwalk every Tuesday in August. Check out www.jsrc.com for details.

The Sunset Lake Clean-Up will take place this Saturday from 10 AM to Noon. Meet at the Emory Foot Bridge. Help us clean up the lake and then head over to Clearwater.

Mark your calendars for the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce’s next Business Card Exchange on Wednesday, August 27^th at 5:30 to 8:30 PM to be held at Paradise, Ketchup and the Empress Hotel. This is always one of our most popular venues. Be there!

And the businesses just keep coming! The Baker Boys, a wonderful bakery located in Ocean Grove has opened another location in the Grand Arcade at Convention Hall. Their cupcakes are “off the charts.” Make sure you make this a stop on your next visit.

Shelter Home a new home furnishing, gift shop just opened at XXX Cookman Avenue (former home of Be Gallery). A quick visit (without Patti) revealed significant great and unique merchandise. Also, a must stop. Only in Asbury Park!

Check out Market in the Middle’s Paws for Life event in support of the Monmouth County SPCA and the Asbury Rockin Cats. The fundraiser begins at 4 PM on Saturday, August 16^th at the Wonder Bar with a doggy fashion show. The festivities then move to Market in the Middle for a wine and cheese reception. For more info, call 732.776.8886.

The city’s new pay-to-park system at the beach becomes fully operational on Friday, August 15^th and will be officially enforced.

On Tuesday, the Asbury Park Urban Enterprise Program held their annual retreat at Restaurant Plan B. Under the leadership of our Chairman, Malcolm Navias, we completed another successful year even though we faced a tough economy and continued state over- regulation. We celebrated with a great lunch but immediately turned our focus on next year. We will be researching the creation of a wayfaring signage program, updating our design guidelines to include “green” elements, designing and implementing a “Buy Local” campaign, and the possibility of purchasing a trolley for the city. Stay tuned!

The weather gurus are predicting another great beach weekend. Where do you want to spend your weekend?

Think about it - is there any city like Asbury Park?

Tom Gilmour
Director of Commerce and Good Times

Conover Agent Susan McCarthy Helps Cabaret on City Boardwalk

betsy — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:33:51 +0000

Piano man Bob Egan of Asbury Park performs

REPRINTED BY PERMISSION OF THE COASTER NEWSPAPER August 14, 2008

By ED SALVAS

Planning a special occasion or corporate event and want to liven it up with entertainment? Call Bob Egan.

As the owner of Bob Egan Entertainment, a company he founded 21 years ago in New Hope, Pa., Egan has been booking speciality acts for all types of events and has a Rolodex filled with the names of singers, pianists, violin players, bagpipers, a harpist and even an Elvis Impersonator. His clients work throughout New Jersey, as well as in the New York area and Philadelphia.

Since 2004, Egan has owned a condo in Asbury Park and now divides his time between the city and his headquarters in New Hope.

Asbury Park resident Bob Egan is well known at Moonstruck in Asbury Park where he performs regularly. He also performs at Tim McLoone’s Supper Club on the boardwalk.

Since 2005 he’s been playing the piano and hosting a Sunday open mic show twice a month at Moonstruck in Asbury Park. He recently signed on to handle bookings and host a monthly “Cabaret Night” at Tim McLoone’s Supper Club on the boardwalk.

Egan, a native of Bucks County, Pa., was playing the piano at clubs in that area and was frequently asked to recommend someone for a special event, wedding or party. He soon realized that people were making money thanks to his referral, so he decided to cut himself in and founded Bob Egan Entertainment.

“I find them and Rolodex them,” is how he describes the business.

In 1987, Egan started what would become a fixture in the tri-state area, the Cabaret at Odette’s, a restaurant and club in New Hope. His regular Cabaret shows at Odette’s soon attracted a large following among both the public and Cabaret performers. Odette’s closed its doors for good in June of 2006 after being flooded by the Delaware River for the third time in 20 months. Egan says plans are underway to resurrect Odette’s at a new, higher location in New Hope, and he hopes it will reopen in 2010.

During its nearly 20-year run, Odette’s featured many of the top Cabaret performers in the country, according to Egan. The list of performers appearing at Odette’s reads like a “who’s who” of Cabaret.

“Nancy LaMott, Carol Lawrence, Rosalyn Kind, Sam Harris, Morgana King, Hildegarde, Maureen McGovern, Karen Akers, Margaret Whiting, Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway,” Egan says. “It was such a great time. I had all the best and favorites of mine there. If I could have added Barbara Cook to the list, I could die and go to heaven, but that one was always a dream.”

Egan is hoping to continue the tradition at Tim McLoone’s Supper Club which recently opened on the boardwalk in Asbury Park in the space above the former Howard Johnson’s. After buying his Asbury Park condo in 2004, Egan says he would frequently walk the boardwalk and point to the HoJo’s and say “that’s the perfect place for a cabaret.”

His real estate agent, Susan McCarthy of the Conover Agency, heard about McLoone’s plans and suggested the two men meet.

Egan says when he and McLoone finally did meet, McLoone told him that many people in the business had told him to “talk to Bob Egan.”

The cabaret as an entertainment form has been around for decades and is typically a variety show featuring a mix of Broadway show tunes, popular standards, jazz, classical and even opera.

A recent cabaret night at McLoone’s featured entertainers from throughout central New Jersey and Philadelphia, and some local artists, including Amanda Conn-Levin of Tinton Falls, Tom Chiola, whose family lives in Neptune, and 22 year old jazz singer Chelsea Palermo of Rumson. Three talented members of the club’s wait staff formed an act called the “Supper Club Serenaders.” Julie Stanford, Jenny McDowell and Reuben Nagy, opened the show and also performed individually during the evening.

Bob Egan has recorded three solo piano CD’s. “On My Own,” and “Circle of Friends” feature Broadway show tunes, songs from the movies and popular standards, and “12/25,” is an album of Holiday favorites. He says the Supper Club Cabaret as been very well received and he’s excited about the city’s future now that redevelopment is well underway, and says there’s room for all types of entertainment. He notes that on a recent Saturday night, there was a cabaret show at the Supper Club, a performance of the opera “Carmen” by the Metro Lyric Opera at the Paramount Theater, and a group performing Beatles songs on the beach. For non-music lovers, there was also Roller Derby at Convention Hall.

In addition to his Asbury Park shows, Egan can be found every Monday at the Stockton Inn in Stockton, at the Bernards Inn in Bernardsville on Wednesday, and at Bowman’s Tavern in New Hope, Pa. on Friday.

Greetings from Asbury Park - Tom Gilmour Director of Commerce + Good Times 8/6/08

betsy — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:58:30 +0000

Greetings from Asbury Park:

Did I pick the right weekend to take off Friday and Monday? Huge! Sunday and Monday were some of the best beach days ever. I think the other thousand ocean revelers agreed. The Kite Festival, AP Volley Ball Tournament and beach baptism separated us from all the other shore towns. Madison Marquette will be treating us to fireworks every Wednesday night during the month of August. I think we have been discovered. Oh well, it was only a matter of time. We truly, have the best beach on the Jersey Shore! Only in Asbury Park!This weekend brings us the Asbury Park 5-K. This is truly one of the great competitive and fun races on the shore. The AP5K is a unique 2 lap spectator-friendly tour of the revitalized city. The race starts on Fifth Avenue right in front of the Wonder Bar and the finish line is on the boardwalk right before the historic Convention Hall. Each participant is also given a free beach for a day on our great beaches. Kids races will follow the main event in Bradley Park across from the Convention Hall. Many of you probably don’t know that Asbury Park was the site of one of NJ’s original road races, the Asbury Park 10-K. This great road running event is sponsored by the Asbury Park Urban Enterprise Zone Program and proceeds benefit the Boys and Girls Club.One great local comedian, Mike Marino will be doing his thing at the Paramount Theatre on Saturday night at 8 PM. Patti and I caught Mike two years ago when he was filming an HBO special at the Paramount. Patti gave me the DVD for Christmas and we just watched it again, a couple of weeks ago. Besides lots of laughs, there are some great shots of the beautiful Paramount Theatre. Be there!

HE’ E NALU Surf Art Show at the Shoppes at the Arcade. Opening night Friday starting at 7 PM. Exhibit continues Saturday & Sunday.

This weekend:

Thursday, August 7^th: the Asbury Park Summer Concert Series continues with a children’s concert, “Tour of the United States.” The music starts at 7 PM and this concert series has now been moved into the Grand Arcade at Convention Hall.
Friday, 08-08-08: the Mayor’s “Chill-Out Jazz Series at the Asbury Park Transportation Center. Starting at 6 PM, this week’s featured artist is our own Dorian Perreott. Cool!
TNA Wrestling - 7 PM at Convention Hall
New Riders of the Purple Sage - Stone Pony
Saturday, August 9^th: Asbury Park 5-K.
Mike Marino - Paramount Theatre

The ReVision Theatre will be premiering their production of the hit rock musical “Hair” on Friday, August 15^th in the historic Carousel building. “Let the Sun Shine In.” Ironically, an article in this week’s Time magazine describes “a definitive version of the groundbreaking show has just started a monthlong run in New York City.” The ReVision Theatre has quickly established a reputation for very creative productions, so we are in for a very exciting adaptation for this great show. Madison Marquette and ReVision Theatre have been working to prepare the Carousel building to accommodate this outstanding musical. Kudos to the city’s construction department under the leadership of Russ Corby, who has been diligently providing direction and extra efforts to make sure the building, meets all the requirements for performance space. This is one show you will not want to miss. Stay tuned! Aquarius!

More August “Good Times”:

Every Wednesday, beach fireworks
Every Thursday - Summer Boardwalk Concert Series
Every Friday - Mayor’s “Chill-Out” Jazz Series - AP Transportation Center
August 13^th - Bob Dylan -Convention Hall
August 16^th & 17^th - Clearwater Festival, Sunset Park
August 16^th - Paramore - Paramount Theatre
August 17^th - Art on the Boardwalk - Asbury Park Historical Society
August 23^rd -Short Film Festival, Paramount Theatre
August 23^rd - John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Band - Stone Pony
August 27^th - Billy Idol at the Stone Pony

Last week, I spoke about the new container hut businesses on the boardwalk. Make sure you check out Ralph’s Italian Ice on the boardwalk at 2^nd Avenue. Patti and I sampled some great ices this past weekend. Try the “Orange Crème.” Ralph’s is another great addition to this year’s Asbury Park boardwalk. Only in Asbury Park!

NJ Monthly continues to recognize Asbury Park’s great assets. Their August Best Restaurants issue included Sister Sue’s as one of the best Caribbean restaurants. Bistro Ole was designated as the “Critic’s Choice” in the best Spanish/Portuguese/Tapas category. The APUEZ’s Main Street Farmers’ Market was also mentioned in the Farmers’ Market section. No surprises there! Only in Asbury Park!

It looks like another great weekend in the Park. Maybe, I will have to take another Monday off. Only in Asbury 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.

Historic Asbury Park Postcard Project

betsy — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:23:38 +0000

Click here for street map of postcard installation/locations.

Greetings from Asbury Park - Tom Gilmour Director of Commerce + Good Times 7/31/08

betsy — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:59:28 +0000

Greetings from Asbury Park:

We are blessed! The weather gurus are predicting another great weekend and I’ve decided to take Friday and Monday off: time to recharge. As I’ve mentioned before, I try to get down to the boardwalk at least once a day to check on all the business activity. This year I’ve noticed everyone walking the boards has a big smile on their face. I take that as a sign that we are back! Quite Huge!

It’s the first Saturday in August, so it must be First Saturday, Asbury Park’s monthly celebration of the downtown. This month’s Luau Party promises to be one of our best! Take out your floral shirt, grass skirt or just show up in your trunks. As usual the downtown will be alive with great music, unique shopping, and of course our great restaurants. Make sure you stop by the AP Chamber of Commerce table to enter the drawing for a special gift basket. Only in Asbury Park!

Madison Marquette also presents the 2008 Asbury Park Kite Festival this weekend on Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 6 PM. If you haven’t witnessed this even, you need to come down to the beach. Kites of all shapes and sizes from all over the United States will be on display. Only in Asbury Park!

Plan B, one of our great downtown restaurants celebrates its first anniversary this week. Congratulations John and Jeff. Huge!

Four new businesses have recently opened on the Boardwalk in the container huts. Check out Sea Greens located at Third Avenue on the boardwalk right across the path from Posh Den. This new boardwalk destination offers health and organic beach snacks.

Also this weekend:

Thursday, July 31^st: Summer Boardwalk Concert Series; Songs from the Movies at 7 PM.

Friday, August 1^st: The Mayor’s “Chill-Out” Jazz Series at the AP Transportation Center featuring Madame Pat Tandy.

34^th Annual Newark Black Film Festival finale at the AP High School: The 2008 Paul Robeson Awards starting at 7 PM. Screening of Award Winning films and Q & A with filmmakers and actors.

Saturday, August 2^nd& 3^rd: Asbury Park Volleyball Tournament, 5^th Avenue Beach

Next weekend is one of the city’s great events, the Asbury Park 5K Classic. This is one of the great Jersey Shore Golden Grand Prix races and attracts top class runners and those out for a fun morning sprint at the Shore. My brother David from Little Silver and sister, Pam from Phoenix and Patti will be there to represent the Gilmours. The Asbury Park Rotary will again be manning the Wonder Bar water station. Proceeds from the race will benefit the Boys and Girls Club. Go to www.asburypark.jsrc.org or call 732.571.2162. You can register the day of the event. Be there!

Last night I attended the opening of one our newest businesses in the city, The Passion Group. No, this is not another church, but one of the premiere event marketing companies in the world. This is one very cool organization headed up by owner Richard Tarzian. Having a former career in creating large corporate events and incentive programs, I recognize the value that this company brings to the city. Many of their clients will be visiting Asbury Park and in turn, recognizing what a great city this is. We welcome Richard and his team and look forward to tapping into their expertise to improve out present event offerings and creating some new ones. HUGE! Stay tuned!

On Tuesday, I attended the orientation for a new mentoring program that is taking place at the Asbury Park High School. Under the leadership of principal Tyler Blackmore and Sheldon Sanders, the high school is launching a new program to pair volunteers with freshmen. The idea is to have contact with the students on a regular basis and hopefully it will continue for four yeas until the student graduates. As the Director of Commerce, I get to work with almost all the businesses in town but unless we work with our youth and turn around our school system, the city will still struggle to recover. Tyler mentioned that 66 individuals signed up for the program. I am proud to be part of this very important effort and excited to get started. Stay tuned!

As I take my daily walks through the city, I realize we are on our way. There is so much more to get done, but so much opportunity. People who can make a difference are coming to the city. This is a wonderful and exciting time to be in Asbury Park. We are blessed.

Wishes for a wonderful, cool, 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.

Asbury Park changes are Breathtaking says NJ Secretary of State

betsy — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:48:27 +0000

REPRINTED COURTESY OF THE ASBURY PARK PRESS & GANNETT CO> NEWSPAPERS

July 22, 2008

An official trip to the Shore

By NANCY SHIELDS
COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU “See how nice our beaches are?” city Commerce Director Thomas Gilmour asked New Jersey’s Secretary of State.“Spotless, absolutely spotless,” Nina Wells answered.

Take her at her word. Wells said she came to the city Monday because it had been a few years since she was in Asbury Park and wanted to see for herself what people are talking about.

Gilmour took Wells and Nancy Byrne, executive director of the New Jersey Office of Travel and Tourism, on a tour of Madison Marquette’s renovated Convention Hall, Paramount Theatre, boardwalk shops and restaurants, the city’s boardwalk and and its beach, as well as the downtown Cookman Avenue restaurants and stores, The Griffin condominium and office building, and Market in the Middle, where they ate lunch.

“The changes are just breathtaking,” said Wells, a lawyer who lives in Livingston and is responsible for promoting and preserving the history, arts and culture of the state. “A lot of people don’t know how great it is.”

“It’s like being in a New York City neighborhood but on the ocean,” said Byrne, who lives in Red Bank and is about to move to Oceanport.

Wells said she is promoting tourism at the shore “and Asbury Park, in particular, because the transformation is incredible.”

Travel and tourism bring $38 billion into the state, she said. One out of nine jobs is travel- and tourism-related.

“I’m encouraging our residents to stay in New Jersey,” Wells said. “You don’t need to go anywhere else when you have all this.”

On a visit to Posh Den, which is showing Timothy White’s celebrity photographs until the store’s artifacts and home furnishings arrive, store partner Ray Werts said he has been in Asbury Park for eight years. He is one of the many members of the gay community who came to Asbury to invest in the city and help to rebuild it.

The past weekend featured a large gay and lesbian presence with the seventh annual Road Trip parties, he said, but at the same time, he saw a strong family presence on the boardwalk, which gave him great satisfaction.

“Seeing the families come down — that’s a sign the gay community did what it was supposed to do,” Werts said.

“We tried to create buzz the last five years, but this is our summer,” Gilmour told Wells.

“It’s one of the most special boardwalks, I think, in all of New Jersey,” Wells said.

Downtown, Marianne Schell, a real estate agent with the John C. Conover Agency, gave the state visitors a tour of the the Griffin building, which has 21 residences on Cookman starting at $449,000. The building, owned by RDR Properties, also will house the first new bank in the city in decades. Rumson-Fair Haven Bank and Trust Co. soon will move in new furniture for Community Bank of Asbury Park.

“It’s great to have someone with such a wide perspective get so excited about Asbury Park,” Schell said of Wells’ visit. “I think she was totally genuine.”

ASBURY PARK: Reborn and rediscovered

betsy — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:16:01 +0000

REPRINTED WITH PERMISSON OF THE ASBURY PARK PRESS - A GANNETT PUBLICATION

July 6, 2008

ASBURY PARK BOARDWALK SPRINGING TO LIFE

By SHANNON MULLEN
STAFF WRITER

There’s a real buzz these days about a new show featuring a group of imaginative designers and swarms of construction workers racing against the clock.

Call it “Extreme Makeover: Boardwalk Edition.”

People have been watching it for months now, ever since the redevelopers of the city’s oceanfront, reacting to the downturn in the real estate market, shifted their focus from luxury condos to a fast-track revitalization of Asbury Park’s famed boardwalk.

“We’ve accelerated probably a three-year project into six months,” said Gary Mottola, managing partner of Madison Asbury Retail, the joint venture between Asbury Partners and marketing firm Madison Marquette that’s spearheading entertainment and retail development along the mile-long boardwalk.

The work is progressing, and new businesses are opening even though the city and the developers have yet to sign a new redeveloper agreement, which was supposed to be in place before the new venues came on line.

While negotiations continue, hard hats are everywhere. Workers are transforming the boardwalk’s dilapidated pavilions into dramatic new spaces to house dozens of upscale restaurants, bars, boutiques and other year-round businesses. They’re striping new, freshly paved parking lots throughout the oceanfront area, and rolling out the green carpet for a new miniature golf course at Third Avenue that opens this weekend. They’re digging up and replacing old pipes and utility lines, bulldozing blighted buildings near the boardwalk and restoring the copper ships, plaster mermaids and sea monsters adorning the Convention Hall-Paramount Theatre complex, part of an ongoing, multimillion dollar upgrade of the long-neglected historic landmark.

“It’s gorgeous,” said Janice Cunningham of Philadelphia as she took in the view of the building’s exterior from the outdoor balcony on the second floor of the Paramount Theatre, prior to a sold-out concert by Tony Bennett June 28. Surveying the bustling boardwalk panorama below her, she said that after years of eyeing a condo here, “I’m ready to invest.”

For years, backers of the city’s ambitious redevelopment plans have hung their hopes on the adage, “If you build it, they will come.” They’re encouraged that even while the hammering, sawing, painting and digging is still going on, lots of people are coming to the boardwalk.

“As each business opens, it’s just getting busier and busier,” said Greg LaPlaca, a potter, who opened his 2,600-square-foot gallery and workshop, called LaPlaca Pottery Works, in the renovated Fifth Avenue Pavilion on June 20. The next day, he was still doing a brisk business at 1 a.m. when he decided to call it a night. “I was just tired,” he said.

Business is also heating up next door at Hot Sand, a glass-blowing studio now in its second summer on the boardwalk. The night of June 28, a dozen or more people gathered in the studio to watch as co-owner Paul Elyseev heated a blob of molten glass to 2,100 degrees, then carefully poured the flaming liquid into a sand impression of the handprints of sisters Margaux, Stephanie and Julia Winchock, ages 10, 7, and 4, of Bridgewater.

“Oh, man, you see the parking lot? It’s unbelievable,” Elyseev, his brow beaded in sweat, said afterward, gesturing toward crowded Ocean Avenue. “And the cars? It’s all high-end luxury cars.”

To be sure, at least a few hundred of those luxury cars belonged to ticket-holders to the Tony Bennett concert, which benefited the Boys & Girls Club of Monmouth County. The presence of such an iconic entertainer here, though, testified to the marketing muscle that Madison Marquette has brought to the redevelopment effort. (The next big act: Bob Dylan, coming to Convention Hall Aug. 13.) And even after Bennett took the stage, shortly after 8 p.m., the boardwalk remained crowded.

Bennett’s show wasn’t the only attraction that night. A few blocks away, The Stone Pony nightclub was jammed for a big outdoor rock concert, and a weekend jazz festival was just letting out across town — emblematic of the diverse, multivenue synergy the city and its developers hope to sustain year-round, not just during the summer months.

Gradually, the number of nightlife options is expanding along the boardwalk, though not as rapidly as some would like.

That Saturday night, shoppers browsed the not-quite unpacked Asbury Galleria in the Third Avenue Pavilion and sought relief from the heat at the new Eddie Confetti ice-cream shop in the renovated Fifth Avenue Pavilion. Next door, diners had to wait for an outdoor table at the Salt Water Beach Cafe, which occupies the former home of New Jersey’s last Howard Johnson’s restaurant. Upstairs, Tim McLoone’s Supper Club, an upscale nightclub, was celebrating its opening night, and O’Toole’s Irish Pub, a new bar inside the arcade area between the Paramount Theatre and Convention Hall, where Biggie’s Clam Bar, the Baker Boys bakery and several other businesses have yet to open, was coming to life.

At The Beach Bar, a trendy open-air lounge on the veranda along the south side of Convention Hall, Brian and Maureen Madigan of Verona, who were renting a house in Bradley Beach, were enjoying cocktails as their three young daughters played nearby on a bed-like cushioned platform.

“I love it; it’s great,” their father said of the atmosphere. On the beach nearby, a group of young men tossed a football and several spirited volleyball matches were under way.

Meanwhile, the city’s two mounted police officers were posted at the southeast corner of Bradley Park, opposite the Convention Hall complex, and other officers quietly patroled the boardwalk.

“Everyone was cool; there were no incidents,” City Manager Terence Reidy, who visited the boardwalk that night, said afterward.

The boardwalk has seen large crowds in recent summers, Reidy noted, but the expectations are higher this year. One positive indicator: Beach badge sales are up about 25 percent, he said.

“Of course we’d like to see more things open sooner, but they’re coming along,” Reidy said of the progress on the boardwalk. “We’ve had inspectors out every day making sure businesses can open up as soon as they’re ready.”

So far, because of the absence of a new redeveloper agreement, the city has granted only temporary certificates of occupancy to the new boardwalk businesses that will allow them to stay open through Sept. 15. Other recent openings include Brielle Cyclery, the Style Rocket fashion boutique and the Shore Fitness gym.

Biggie’s Clam Bar, which was still under construction this past week, was trying to open this weekend, too, but Reidy wasn’t sure its operators could get their approvals in time. On the southern end of the boardwalk, a few of the retail shops in the First Avenue Pavilion, which is still being renovated, could open in the coming days, as well, Reidy said, but the upscale nightclub and restaurant that will anchor the pavilion, designed by well-known architect David Rockwell, aren’t finished.

Rockwell also designed the white “pods,” constructed from corrugated steel shipping containers, that have sprouted along the boardwalk this summer to house smaller businesses such as Renzo’s Cookie Pie.

Talk about fast track: Owner Chris Renzo, whose signature product is a quarter-pound oatmeal cookie “stuffed with all kinds of fun fillings,” only began painting the interior of his then-empty pod on Tuesday, but he hoped to be up and running this weekend, adding one more flavor to the boardwalk’s evolving batter.