Greetings from Asbury Park:
It was certainly an extraordinary 4th of July in Asbury Park last weekend. Mother Nature drove thousands to NJ’s best beach. It all kicked off at the Southside Johnny Concert on the Stone Pony Summer Stage, where Mayor Ed Johnson announced the city’s initiative to create a year-long celebration to recognize and embrace all of Asbury Park’s rich and growing musical heritage: Asbury Park – Where Music Lives. It was pretty cool being up their on the Stone Pony stage with the Mayor and all those great fans. Check out the pic on the city’s web site: www.cityofasburypark.com. We set records for beach attendance over the three day weekend. As predicted, our fireworks show was the best on the Jersey Shore! “Little Eden” was hailin’ like never before. Synergy Productions filmed the show from a boat offshore. Hope to have the video up on the city’s web site next week. Stay tuned! Patti and I spent a wonderful day on the beach on Monday but I neglected to put enough sunscreen on my chest and created my own new shade of bright pink! It was a great weekend for visitors, our merchants, and the city! Only in Asbury Park!
So, the big news this weekend, and it’s sort of personal, is my son Tom and his business partner, Nick Strickland are opening their new venture, BDC or Bull Dog Clip Productions, a photography, video and interactive production facility at 611 Bangs Avenue. In addition to those services, they will be offering photography classes, workshops, and product demos. Nick and Tom were formally associated with Primal Stare Studios. The BDC is a state of the art rental/video studio which includes a lounge, gallery, reception area and private hair and makeup stations (including a vintage barber chair). Their Grand Opening Mega-Fest will take place this Saturday, July 10th from 7 to 10:30 pm. The evening will include a gallery show featuring photography from Mike McLaughlin, Mark Weiss, John Vigg, Sarah Smith, Tom Gilmour and Nick Stickland and many more top photographers from the area. So, come out and welcome Nick Strickland and the “other” Tom Gilmour to our very cool business community. Proud Dad!
A very important event that starts tonight, July 8th in Asbury Park – It’s Revision Theatre’s launch of their production of The Who’s TOMMY. The show takes place in the historic Carousel Building on the boardwalk right next to the First Avenue Pavilion. The show runs Wednesdays through Saturday at 8 pm and on Sundays at 7 pm concluding on July 25th. Call 732.455.3059 or go to www.RevisionTheatre.org. for info. Check it out!
Speaking of photography, Madison Marquette launched a very exciting exhibition last weekend of the exclusive collection of 20 large prints of famous subjects in the arts and entertainment field who all hail from New Jersey. The exhibit is housed in the 5th Avenue Pavilion on the boardwalk. This exhibit was created by celebrity photographer and NJ native, Timothy White, to benefit the New Jersey Hall of Fame. Mr. White is an internationally recognized photographer and proudly curated “The Wall of Fame” exhibit. Only in Asbury Park!
The Arts Coalition of Asbury Park (ArtsCAP) will be hosting their Annual Event at Chico’s House of Jazz at 631 Lake Avenue next Wednesday, July 14th starting at 7PM. Hisani Dubose, a filmmaker, singer, dancer and author of the recently published “Do I Have To Be A Starving Artist In the 21st Century” will be the featured speaker. Admission is free. This is a great time to check out ArtsCAP and all the wonderful things they are doing in the city, come meet all the creative members, and consider joining this truly great organization. Only in Asbury Park!
Congratulations to Jeff Bassett who became the new President of the Asbury Park Rotary and a big thank you to Matt Taylor, the former President, for a great year! Yours truly, is the membership chair, so if you are interested, let me know. Chek out the AP Rotary at www.asburyparkrotary.org.
It’s really hot, so let’s cool things off by starting our weekend NOW!
Thursday, July 8
Farmers’ Market at First & Ocean, 10 am-1 pm
Dinner and a Movie: Plan b Restaurant at 6pm and Ajami at The ShowRoom at 8:15 pm
Asbury Park Municipal Band at the boardwalk and Fifth Ave., 7-8:30 pm
Chris Murray of King Apparatus, Vic Ruggiero of the Slackers, The Forthrights at Asbury Lanes, 7 pm, all ages
Quincy Mumford, Like Trains & Taxis, Rachel Platten, Matt Wade at The Stone Pony, 7:30 pm, all ages
Phanphest.com presents “Asbury Rising” featuring Karmic Juggernaut at The Saint, 8 pm
Film: Where the Wild Things Are on the beach in front of Langosta Lounge, boardwalk & Second Ave., 8:30 pm, presented by the Asbury Park Film Initiative
Killing Legends at Langosta Lounge, 9 pm
Friday, July 9
Jersey Shore Film Festival: Collection of short films at Tim McLoone’s Supper Club, 1 pm & 3 pm
Mayor’s Chill-Out Music Series featuring Karen Lee (one of my favorites) at the AP Train Station 5-8 PM.
Trixter, Jersey Syndicate, 100 to One at The Stone Pony, 7 pm, all ages
Nelson Rangell at Chico’s House of Jazz, 631 Lake Ave., 7:30 & 9:30 pm
Fuzz the World reunion show, Readymade Breakup, Shawn Mars, Big Baby Ernie at The Saint, 8 pm
Mod Fun,The Brixton Riot, Dr Void & the Death Machines at Asbury Lanes, 8 pm
Sunny Daze at Langosta Lounge, 10 pm
Saturday, July 10
Farmers’ Market at Fireman’s Park, Main St. between 5th & Sunset 8 to 1pm
Predator Dub Assassins at Langosta Lounge, 1 pm
Runaway (Bon Jovi tribute) at The Stone Pony, 2 pm, all ages, free admission
Reception for artists participating in the “Summer Lights” seasonal exhibition at the Shore Women’s Abstract Gallery, Shoppes at the Arcade No. 6, 658 Cookman Ave., 6-9 pm
Nelson Rangell at Chico’s House of Jazz, 631 Lake Ave., 7:30 & 9:30 pm
Antigone Rising at The Stone Pony, 7:30 pm, all ages
Long Gone Day, The Dirty Stayouts at The Saint, 8 pm
Sunday, July 11
Jersey Shore Film Festival: Earthwork, The Other Side of Tomorrow, Jimmy Time at the Showroom, 1 pm & Buzzkill, Animal Drill, Strussel Games at the Showroom, 3:30 pm
Jim Pelligrino Trio at Langosta Lounge, 1 pm
Jerseyshows.com All-Ages Matinee featuring To Kill A Coward, The Eyes of March, Nights of Malice, Jade at The Saint, 1 pm
The Black Jesuses, Only Living Boy at Asbury Lanes, 5 pm, all ages (admission includes screening of Ring of Fire 2 bodyboarding documentary at 9 pm)
Film: Ring of Fire 2 (bodyboarding documentary) at Asbury Lanes, 9 pm, all ages (admission includes live performances by The Black Jesuses and Only Living Boy from 6-8 pm)
Monday, July12
Jersey Shore Film Festival: Seducing Charlie Barker, The Scientist, Me, Myself & Your Husband at the Showroom, 7 pm
Joe Harvard’s Long Weekend at Synaxis, 9 pm
My sister Pam and her fiancée Gary are visiting from Baltimore, so you know where we will be partying. Hope to see you at the Bull Dog Clip Productions opening, on the beach, and/or at many of the great restaurants, shops and clubs. In the summer, there’s no better place to be! Only in Asbury Park! Where Music Lives!
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 film permitting.
Copyright © 2007 City of Asbury Park, All Rights Reserved.
