Came to this festival for the first time this year. We arrived when it was opening around 11:00am…read moreon Saturday and we were able to find parking on a nearby side street and then just walk down down Ocean Ave to the festival. Unfortunately in was kind of chilly outside and was windy, cloudy and raining a little bit. Fortunately they were just passing showers. We walked around the lake a bit and checked out the vendors to see what they were selling. There was a lot of jewelry and crafty things and some clothes and toys. For the food of course tons of everything Seafood. After checking out the selections we each decided what we wanted split up to get in line and then met up at the tables they have set up to eat our lunch. I personally decided on an order of crabmeat nachos 10.00 from one vendor and a lobster tail/ peel and eat shrimp combo 14.00 from another. Some other selections we had were a crab leg cluster 8.00 and clams at .75 each. Also a crab cake and fries combo 15.00, and some seafood gumbo (forgot how much that cost). My food was ok it was just hard to enjoy it outside with the wind blowing and since it was cold out the food was instantly cold as well. After we walked around a little more we decided to just pick up some dessert and eat it while walking back to the car. We got a brownie waffle with ice cream 8.00, and I got a regular waffle with cannoli cream 6.00 I thought it was pretty good and something I hadn't seen before. When walking back around 2:00 we noticed it was getting a lot more crowded and there were many cars circling to find a spot. So in all I thought it was a nice quick trip to get something to eat. Typical food vendor prices. I just wish the weather was nicer but that's the luck of the draw with an outdoor event.

Overly crowded and only cash accepted at most places. But pretty good food at most places!read more

Went to see Dark Star on Saturday. Had vip left tickets…read more Parking was easy off of central Ave. Info said no tailgating so didn't bring anything but folks had some chairs and food in the lot If I hit a future show I will pack some snacks and maybe a chair. Inside was well setup with nice portable toilets. Had many places to buy drinks-beer, wine and hard liquor. A blue moon pint was $12.00. Mostly cashless, but I was told one took cash. Had some food trucks on the grounds. Great place to see a show.

This not for the fair but for the parkstage venue that was added this year…read more 1 star is to much. The grounds are poorly maintained. I was recently there. I am disabled with a walker. You have to deal with unnoticeable holes until you almost fall in them. Many uncovered wires to easily trip on. A lawsuit waiting to happen at this place. I will write anywhere I can about my horrible experience with parkstage/count basie theater.

It's great that the town has been able to come back so well after Sandy…read more Every year after Labor Day weekend, the town has Heritage Day. But since that committee disbanded, they now are calling it Founder's Day. All the vendors are from the town instead of having outside businesses come in. Also, instead of being segregated to a beer garden, we were allowed to wander around the entire area, beers in hand. Unfortunately there weren't as many food stands, but that is understandable, considering some businesses may not be open yet or reopening at all. The fire dept. sets up a beer and wine truck, and they also serve hamburgers and hotdogs. All the money goes to the fire squad which is great! We always have a blast at this event. It's like a farewell to summer!

I was born in lavallette at my grandmothers house i no longer live in lava but love going back for…read morevisits and founders day is the best theres so much for the children to do my son was in heaven for hours thank you lavallette

Olde Freehold Day is an annual event that is located on the grounds surrounding Lake Topanemus in…read moreFreehold Twp. This annual fair is for the whole family, yet it must grow and get larger to become better. The entertainment and the food vendors were very good but the other non-food displays were lackluster. The were a few children's workshops and play areas and one could use a paddle boat to navigate the lake under adult supervision. Parking is a problem, but shuttles tried to mitigate it. The area is very pretty in scenic Freehold.

BOTTOM LINE: my tribe & I enjoyed ourselves. I'd do it again…read more TIP/S: free parking with advanced purchase of the event ticket (Grape Adventure Wine Festival) ...WHO: Party of 4 WHY: Novemberfest birthday toast WHAT: (Deets) 3 of my best friends & I attended the Grape Adventure on Day 1 (Saturday Nov. 2.). We arrived to the park at 10:35am and parking was easy and quick. The festival began at 11am. Check in was straight forward. Electronic scan of the ticket bar code on your mobile device was sufficient, so no need to print out (#gogreen). Separate bands delineate who is attending the Wine festival, and who is attending both the wine festival and the safari off-road Adventure. We were also given branded 10th anniversary commemorative glasses for our wine tastings, and a map listing wine varieties, companies & locations. After going through metal detectors & bag checks (no outside food/drink allowed), there was a small almond variety kiosk. Delish samples! I got the raspberry honey, and the garlic was also tasty. We then headed to the village of 4 pavilions. The "lines" were typically 3-4 people deep surrounding the tables. Roughly a 3-5 minute wait for tastings. Roughly a 5-7 minute wait for flights. I prefer off-dry, so My favorite 3 in order: 1. Vida Rosa's Black Bird (though entire off-dry flight was delish) 2. Tomaselle Winery's Huckleberry Moscato (their Cranberry Moscato deserves honorable mention) 3. Chestnut Run Farm's Asian Pear Wine On to the safari portion... Outside the Wine Festival area, just before the preferred parking section, there is a bus stop. There, a tiger-striped or yellow bus will pick you up and take you to the official safari vehicle (no alcohol consumption on this ride, but bringing your glass is permitted). We passed through labeled lands, such as the Serengheti in Afrika and parts of Australia. It was amazing to see these animals up close & personal. Halfway through, we made a pit stop to my HIGHLIGHT, feed the giraffes ($7 per person), purchase souvenirs,and taste more wine. From there we completed the safari and were dropped back off to the "bus", and bus stop, respectively. We had a fantastic safari guide, Joseph, who was knowledgeable, funny (he did impressions), and environmentally conscious. Special thanks and kudos to him! WHEN: Saturday Nov. 2, 2019 WHERE: take away HOW: car BATHROOM: multi-stall, separate gender WIFI: did not use DRESS CODE: as you like SERVICE: service varied per vendor. But most folks were generally pleasant and eager to serve

The beach and boardwalk are amazing! Will definitely be back! Came from NY park was about $30 for 9…read morehours (better get there early) beach was $15 per adult I think children under 12 were free. Lot's of food and games, rides etc to do on the boardwalk.

I had been eager to get back to the Jenkinson's Boardwalk, a place I had not visited since I was a…read morechild. It was not quite as elaborate as I had remembered, but I suppose everything seems grander when you are a kid! The boardwalk had loads of indoor arcades, interactive outdoor games, fast food spots, rides, mini-golf courses, an aquarium, the famed and bustling Martell's Tiki Bar, and much more. I did not go on the actual beach this time, but it looked beautiful and pristine. There was also a huge volleyball space on the northern end that offered a load of courts to add some excitement to your beach afternoon. The boardwalk was not too crowded and was very well-kept. In terms of parking, there were several lots trying to charge you $30 for the day, but, if you were not planning to be there for long, I would recommend paying the meter for municipal parking ($2.50-$3.25 per hour, depending on the day). While it might not have been as long or exciting as I had remembered, the Jenkinson's Boardwalk was still a fun place to enjoy on a summer day.

The Secret Behind the Magic of The Stone Pony is Community…read more There is something about The Stone Pony that goes beyond music. What made the venue legendary was never the walls, the bar, or even the stage lights. It was the community. In the 1970s and 1980s, Asbury Park became a kind of laboratory for musicians. Night after night, artists gathered in clubs along the Jersey Shore to play, experiment, collaborate, and refine their craft in front of real audiences. The Stone Pony became one of the central meeting points for this growing creative ecosystem. Musicians sat in with each other's bands, traded ideas, tested new songs, and sometimes performed several nights a week. Instead of guarding their talent, they shared it. Instead of competing, they elevated one another. Out of that environment emerged artists who would later become internationally known, including Bruce Springsteen, Southside Johnny, and Steven Van Zandt. They were shaped by thousands of hours playing together in small rooms filled with passionate listeners. The sound that developed in Asbury Park reflected this collaboration. It blended rock, soul, rhythm and blues, and big-band horn arrangements into what many came to call the Jersey Shore sound. Part of what made this ecosystem so special was the geography. Within just a few walkable blocks were other gathering places where musicians and fans flowed throughout the night, including Asbury Lanes, Tim McLoone's Supper Club, and the legendary Wonder Bar, all just steps from the Atlantic Ocean and the Asbury Park boardwalk. Music, ocean air, and a close-knit creative community blended together in a vibrant hub where musicians could play one venue and then wander down the block to hear another band. My curiosity about this history grew from a personal place. Over the past year my son, Chris Renner, a young guitar player who has only been playing for two years, has had the opportunity to perform rock cover songs on stages throughout Asbury Park. Chris's playing has reminded many listeners of the legendary precision and melodic passion of Randy Rhoads. His style focuses on melodic solos and phrasing influenced by classical music rather than typical head-banging metal. Because of the NJ music community, Chris has already had the opportunity to perform as lead guitarist on stages including The Stone Pony, Asbury Lanes, Tim McLoone's, Wonder Bar, and even the Ozzy Osbourne Tribute Show at the Cutting Room in Manhattan. Watching him step onto those stages sparked a deeper interest in the story behind the NJ music scene and the culture that continues to nurture musicians today. One of the most interesting aspects of the Asbury Park scene is how cover music and original music live side by side. Many bands begin by performing well-known songs while gradually introducing their own material. The cover band scene plays an important role. It allows musicians to build stage experience, connect with audiences, and become part of the local circuit. Those shared songs create a common language between bands and fans and foster a welcoming camaraderie. Something even more inspiring has been happening recently. Several of Chris's friends from the local music community have begun forming their own original bands and performing their own songs. Chris loves supporting them, showing up to their shows and cheering them on as they cheer him. This is how music scenes grow. Musicians celebrate the music that inspired them, refine their skills through live performance, collaborate with other players, and eventually discover their own voice. Even today the Stone Pony carries that legacy. Musicians still show up, plug in, and play. Fans still crowd close to the stage the way they did decades ago. Great cultural movements rarely begin in boardrooms or corporate offices. They begin in communities, in small venues, shared stages, and the willingness of people to create together. The Stone Pony and the Asbury Park music community are proof that when talent, opportunity, and collaboration come together in one place, something extraordinary can happen. Joanna Renner NJ Realtor | Life Coach Proud Mom of Musician Chris Renner 646-296-6864

Just stopped in here briefly to look around while a show was going on. Definitely a bucket list…read moreplace to visit if you're going to be in the area considering all the amazing musicians that have been here over the years.

Every year the borough of Red Bank holds their annual street fair on Broad and Monmouth Streets…read more There were over 85 vendors showing off and selling their wares. From artsy to food vendors, you will find it all here on the streets of Red Bank. This year it was mobbed and music prevailed in the background with a lot of performances. And the weather cooperated. What a gorgeous day in Red Bank. The

It was a beautiful day at the Red Bank street fair today. There were a large variety of vendors…read moreincluding 2 grilled cheese trucks, kettle corn, cheesesteaks, kielbasa's, 2 sausage stands at minimum in addition to 2 cbd sellers, soap sellers, several jewelry stands and dozens of crafters. The main municipal lot was packed so I parked down by the marina by Boondocks which was a 5 minute walk from the action. The girls had a great time window shopping and hitting the clearance racks at Lucki Clover