Karen's Shore Bets

Hello and thanks for stopping by.

In order to improve the interaction with readers, I’ve moved my regular posts on the Jersey Shore to the web site www.karensshorebets.com . Please stop by. This week I’ve posted lots of ideas for Valentine’s Day.

I’ll still be checking in with Tumblr, though not as frequently.

Karen

This Saturday, February 6, “First Saturday” will be celebrated in Asbury Park. This event, with a Mardi Gras theme, has been dubbed “Samedi Gras”, aka “Fat Tuesday. Restaurants and retailers will be open from 6:00 to 10:00 pm and later. They are also giving out Mardi Gras beads, yeah!!!!!! Gotta love those.

Go to http://www.asburychamber.com for more information.

I have to tell you, I’m diggin’ the poster of a costumed Tillie!

Thanks to everyone for all of the great feedback on the test site.

I am so happy that it, and the Explore Asbury Park page on Facebook have been so well received by my friends!

The availability of this page may be spotty this weekend, as I will be moving it to another host (February 6-7).

The new site will be different in appearance (colors, etc.) and will allow you to post comments, etc., which will enrich the experience for all of us.

We are still testing the site, so your feedback is welcome! Send suggestions and comments to info@karensshorebets.com.

Thanks for visiting, and please stop by again soon!

Karen

In this column for the next two weeks I will be giving readers more suggestions on how to celebrate the holiday.

Crust & Crumble
There are many ways to express your love and adoration, of course. One of my favorite’s is through food! If you plan to eat at home on February 14th and you are still working on a menu, I’d like to suggest a fun dessert option.

A personalized six-inch “Sweet Heart Cake” from Crust & Crumble bakery. It is a decadent, heart-shaped Double Chocolate Mousse cake, for only $8.00.

This price includes a personal message on top, too so be prepared to spill it. I won’t tell you the message that I wrote for DH! Nothing X-rated, mind you, just funny.

Crust & Crumble is a gourmet bakery and pizzeria. It is located in Asbury Park at 658 Cookman Avenue (in the Shoppes At the Arcade)  You can also enter the shop directly through another door in the back, on the Lake Avenue side (across from Wesley Lake in Ocean Grove, near the NJ Natural Gas Company entrance). It is owned by a really nice chef named Lucas, who in addition to selling baked goods, makes custom specialty pizzas, appetizers, sandwiches, soups and salads. I like to go there for a hot cup of coffee or a quick bite. Call for hours:  732-776-7767.

Okay, so Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching.

This day makes some people nuts. Maybe this year you are not “in love” and want no part of it. Maybe you’d rather strangle Cupid with your bare hands. Have I got an idea for you!

Keep reading…

Perhaps you are crazy about someone and want to do something totally different and unexpected.

Have you ever considered giving a gift to a stranger to show your devotion? I’ll bet not!

Well our friends at Brookdale Community College’s Holocaust, Genocide & Human Rights Center are hoping that you’ll do just that this year.

They have teamed up with the organization www.freetheslaves.net to collect money this Valentine’s Day to help improve the lives of enslaved people. 

I was shocked to learn that there are an estimated 27 million slaves around the world today. 

Please educate yourself and your friends and loved ones about the campaign to make a difference in the lives of those who are suffering at the link below:

http://www.holocaustbcc.org/

Trying my best to ignore the cold weather, I went out with my hubby and some good friends last night for dinner and a concert. We had a delicious meal at Piccola Italia, an Italian restaurant located in Cobblestone Village in Ocean Township. What a nice surprise! The restaurant is located next to my favorite local place for Chinese food, Magic Rice.

The decor was lovely and simple. The restaurant has a very nice staff, which is always a plus in my book. There is nothing worse than being served by people who want to be elsewhere. Anyway, everyone in my little party loved their entrees and the Antipasti appetizer that we shared was perfect. I had a pasta dish named “Gnocci Alla Carbonara”, which was really good!

Later, we went to the Pollack Theater at Monmouth University in West Long Branch to listen to the legendary American Folk performer, Richie Havens. I was familiar with his music, but I’d never seen him perform before. He is a songwriter who also plays the guitar and sings both original tunes and covers. Havens has even tried acting in the past. Our friends were longtime fans of his work. Judging from the crowd (mostly aged 50+, with a splash of 20-somethings), his devoted followers can still fill a room. 

When speaking, Havens is quite gentle and soft; almost inaudible, but when he sings his voice is very strong and powerful. His guitar playing can be quite intense, though it is obvious that he is slowing down a bit. As a Brooklyn native and longtime player on the music scene, 69-year old  Havens is remembered by most Americans (even those who are not fans of folk music) for his performance at Woodstock in 1969. Some of his hits include “Here Comes The Sun” and most notably, “Freedom”. Both songs were met with wild applause by the audience.

The rest of the performance was soothing and mellow. He was accompanied by guitarist Walter Parks, of the trio Swamp Cabbage. If you ever have the opportunity to hear Parks play guitar and sing, you will be moved. His voice is just incredible. At the end of the evening, Haven’s announced that Walter Parks has just put out his first solo CD, so check it out.

Havens is a legend for good reason. It was a pleasant experience, and not at all what I expected, not being a Folk fan.

But variety is the spice of life!

I know I don’t have to tell any of you that this winter has been really strange, weatherwise. My way to deal with the gray skies, frosty weather and plain old  boredom is to go out on the town!  

Although we travel outside of the New Jersey/New York metro area quite a bit, I try to patronize local restaurants and retailers in Allenhurst, Asbury Park, West End, Long Branch, Avon, Bradley Beach, etc. as often as possible.  

It’s important to support our local merchants. If they succeed, they’ll hire our friends and neighbors, boosting our economy, and we will have more shopping and entertainment choices as “locals”. In addition, by having strong, vibrant shops, restaurants, and nightclubs, we’ll attract more tourists, which will bring in more new business investors. 

It is a win-win for everyone!

My darling hubby (“DH” from now on) and I went out in Asbury Park last night for cocktails and dinner. One of our favorite spots in the city is the restaurant Stella Marina, located at 800 Ocean Avenue (on the boardwalk), a sister restaurant to Sirena in Pier Village (Long Branch).

We’ve dined there many times and have never been disappointed. Stella Marina has very fine Italian fare. Delicious seafood, steaks, salads, and pizza. The pasta dishes are fabulous and the staff is professional.  Whether we are meeting old friends or have guests in from out of town, this restaurant is one of the first places that comes to mind for good Italian food. We also love Jimmy’s (1405 Asbury Avenue, Asbury Park) and Mister C’s Beach Bistro, at the ocean (Allen Aveue) in Allenhurst. If you have not been to Stella Marina, check it out. 

I would not describe it as expensive, but for the budget conscious, they have half price Happy Hour specials at the bar before 6:00 during the week (call them at 732-775-7776 to confirm).

Half priced drinks and appys will really make your wallet smile!