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Last Thursday, Mother Nature sent us some of the best winter surf we have seen in years. Since I have aged into a “fair weather surfer,” I was content to watch from the shore. It was awesome! Although it still remains cold, it hasn’t stopped visitors from coming to enjoy our great shops, restaurants, clubs and the boardwalk. The activity on the boardwalk this winter has been the best we have seen in the past twenty years. I was talking with Eddie Catalano the owner of Confetti’s Ice Cream at the Fifth Avenue Pavilion and the recently opened Boardwalk Bagels (great roast beef sandwiches) in the First Avenue Pavilion about how he is fairing during the off season. “Weekdays are slow but the weekends have been great!” There are very few cities that can make that claim. We are holding our own. If you are parting with those hard earn dollars, you want to be in a place where you can really enjoy yourself – whether it’s for dining, shopping or just having a lot of fun. How great is this summer going to be? Only in Asbury Park!
OK, the business community will gather tonight at Langosta Lounge to blow off some steam and check out one of Asbury Park’s newest offerings. Monmouth Ocean Development Council and the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce have joined forces to take a break from all the doom and gloom forecasts and enjoy some great food with the best of networking. $10 admission and $20 for non-members. If you want to mingle with those who are succeeding in this crazy market and check out how Asbury Park is slugging it out, be there!
If you have been in the city this week, I hope you have checked out the city’s new street banner program. Thanks to ArtsCAP and the Asbury Park Historical Society, the city is proudly displaying a new and very unique art exhibit hanging from telephone poles and light posts. We invited artists to submit art that we could use to develop street banners. We selected 14 winners and now their art is on exhibit throughout the city. A special thanks to our sponsors and the Asbury Park Urban Enterprise Zone program for making this happen. Very cool!
I am launching a new program called “AP Ambassadors.” Every week, I will recognize a resident, business person, city employee, visitor, or friend who has who has gone “beyond” to help promote all the great things that are going on in the city. Now, I will accept nominations but the selection will be very subjective. We all know, there will never be a lack of candidates. Each recipient will receive a very special Asbury Park pin. This week’s AP Ambassabor is Sonja O’Brien. Sonja is a resident and very involved in Asbury Park especially with the Asbury Park Historical Society. She sold all the sponsorships for our new banner program and then spent a whole day with the banner installers making sure the exhibit was displayed just right. Sonja represents why Asbury Park is the place to be. She is an important part of the Asbury Park community. Congratulations Sonja! Only in Asbury Park!
Hot Sand on the boardwalk is offering some very good deals on glass blowing classes. Call Tom Stevens at 732.927.5475 for details.
Jeffrey from Plan B notified me that NJ Monthly 26th Annual Readers’ choice Restaurant Poll is out. Let’s make sure the rest of the world knows how great Asbury Park restaurants are. Go to www.njmonthly.com and click on restaurant poll to participate. Thank you. Only in Asbury Park!
This Weekend:
Thursday, Feb. 26th: The Jack, Dub Proof – The Saint at 8 PM.
Friday, Feb. 27th: AP’s 10th Annual Black History Luncheon – Noon to 3 PM Call 732.502.5759
Shabbat Dinner at Plan B. Dinner starts at 7:30 PM. Call 732.807.4710 for reservations
Finally ladies: Tom Jones at the Paramount Theatre (I really don’t have any tickets!)
Black 47 at the Stone Pony
Saturday, Feb. 28th: Comic Book Expo – Grand Arcade at Convention Hall
Clean Ocean Action’s 25th Anniversary at Langosta Lounge
Scott Gurney Band at McLoone’s Supper Club
Sunday, Mar. 1st: All Age’s Matinee at The Saint – 1 PM
The Letters of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg at Plan B starting at 5 PM
Bob Egan’s Piano Bar is back at Moonstruck 6:30 to 10 PM
Monday, Mar. 2nd: My daughter Linnea’s birthday
Black Box Theatre – Monthly Short Film Forum with Susan Pellegrini – Steven Crane House at 7:30 P
Thursday, Mar. 5th: Son Tom’s birthday
Down the Road:
3/7: First Saturday – St. Patrick’s Day
3/8: AP Fishing Club 17th Annual Fishing Flea Market
3/13: Daryl Hall & John Oates at Paramount Theatre
3/14: St. Pat’s at Paradise
3/21: “The Pace Of Youth” A film produced by Asbury Park High School Students
Paradise’s Spring Fling Gold Party
3/28: Cheech & Chong at Paramount Theatre
4/2 to 4/5: Garden State Film Festival
4/4: First Saturday
4/26: Taste of Asbury
5/15 to5/17: TriCity Arts Tour
So, let me ask you, have you “Bought In?” to Asbury Park? In a few weeks, we will finally be launching our new marketing campaign that is targeted at getting you connected with this great city. We will be recruiting you to join us who have already “Bought In!” Stay tuned!
Wishes for another great and safe weekend in Asbury Park,
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.”
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