Greetings From Asbury Park......

Asbury Park, NJ was once the jewel in the crown of the Jersey Shore. It was the home to 5 or 6 lavish vaudeville palaces, later turned into movie theatres, now victims of the wrecking ball. Enrico Caruso was a frequent performer. The 7 Presidents who summered in Long Branch were frequent visitors. And I think there was a ferry from NYC.

I remember Asbury Park, as the best place, as a teen, to take a date. The Palace Amusement Park with a ferris wheel, a merry go round with hand carved horses, lions and chariots, most of which moved up and down was classic. As a child we would ride for hours, we, the neighbourhood kids were a group of ten plus our parents; one of us would always catch the gold ring. “Mom, Dad may we go again”. And the fun house, “The Tunnel of Love”, we knew every turn in its dark maze. It was always creepy….

There was/is The Lake between Asbury Park and Ocean Grove. Swan & row boats, (think Thomas Eakins), and foot powered paddlewheel boats. The Casino still stands, a skeleton of the “glory days” over looking the once majestic lake. I remember the bumbler cars, the arcade games, and lots of stained glass. Now the view from the Casino is of townhouses, unsold on the former site of the Palace Amusement Park. Most of Asbury Park’s classic features/jewels are gone.

Most of the original board walk is also gone.. Oh the happy times playing miniature golf, fhe rides, salt water taffey and bad hot dogs on a summer night. But oddly we never went to the beach, just the amusements.

Today, Asbury Park is attempting to gentrify. Condos, wonderful restaurants, a restored Paramount Theatre, and board walk are welcome changes from halfway houses and seedy motels. With luck the present economic slump will not drastically affect its rebirth..again.

Beach badges a NJ tradition..............

Langosta Lounge
http://www.langostalounge.com/

McLoone's Salt Water Beach Cafe
www.saltwaterbeachcafenj.com/

Tiki Beach Bar & Grill

Our favorate........

They serve a wonderful caprese salad with buffalo mozzarella, heirloom tomatoes and baby arugula….Brooklyn Beer on tap……
stellamarinarestaurant.com

Just.......

Toooooo......

Much fun........

A skeleton of the past….

An Asbury land mark…….

Every boardwalk needs horses…..

A Walk In The Park..............

Wednesday two friends and I went on a New York City adventure. We started in Penn Station………

took the C train to The Museum Of Natural History …….

walked over to Shake Shack for lunch. Nothing fancy here. Almost self service, limited tables, great burgers, hot dogs, a different ice cream flavour every day, and a great place to people watch. I ordered their Shack Stack (a cheese burger topped with a deep fat fried breaded portabella burger), fries with cheese and a beer. Nothing healthy there. All for under $20.
http://www.shakeshacknyc.com/

http://aht.seriouseats.com/archives/2009/08/shack-stack-cheeseburger-shroom-burger-shake-shack-nyc.html

My fellow adventures.......

Rausheem

Shaun

After lunch we walked over to Central Park…….
http://www.centralpark.com/

To Strawberry Fields……

Bow Bridge......stretches sixty feet over the lake, is made of cast iron and offers some of the most breathtaking views of the park and the lake. It also provides an easy transition between the carefully designed Cherry Hill, the lower park and the natural jumble of the Ramble.

How inventive, through out the park there are small green signs. They are part of an audio tour. Dial the number, enter the extension and receive an audio tour on your cell phone.
The Lake is the largest lake in the park, all of which are man made. It wanders from the Boat House, past Bethesda Fountain, under Bow Bridge and up into the Ramble. Rent a row boat at the Boat House and explore…….