Down the Shore

Vol. 35 - Week of May 10th

May 11, 2026

It was an action-packed weekend here Down the Shore. First of all, a very Happy Mother’s Day to all of our readers who celebrate, especially our own moms, who were our first subscribers and continue to send us weekly ideas and encouragement.

Saturday marked a day we had long awaited: the annual opening of the Fair Haven Farmers Market! We came home with a delicious haul of ruby-red strawberries, vibrant tomatoes, and treats from our friends at Unleaded Beverages and Mielou Macarons, who we were excited to see in person.

On Sunday, we had brunch at Mule Barn Tavern and explored the trails at Sandy Hook State Park, which we’ve included a history of in this week’s edition.

And next weekend, we’re headed on a little staycation to The James Bradley Hotel for their Murder Mystery Dinner. Stay tuned for a full recap from our evening of intrigue…


Local History Lesson: Sandy Hook State Park

Hello, fellow history nerds. We’re back this week after a family visit to Sandy Hook’s Fort Hancock, where we stopped into the History House to learn more about life on the peninsula-turned-army base.

For anyone who’s visited, the rows of grand, nearly identical officer homes overlooking the water have an eerie feel. Windows are boarded up, some roofs are caving in, chimneys are topped with giant seabird nests, and the houses on Officers Row sit frozen in time.

But stepping inside the one home preserved as a museum feels surprisingly lively. Jazz music hums from a jukebox in the corner, photos of 1940s soldiers and their families line the mantel, and the kitchen pantry is staged as though an officer’s wife is mid-dinner prep for her family.

The park ranger told us construction on Fort Hancock began in the 1850s, while the officer housing was built starting around 1895. The fort’s strategic location helped protect all of New York Harbor and the surrounding metropolitan area, which is today part of the Gateway National Recreation Area that spans New York and New Jersey.

Fort Hancock was busiest during World War II, when concern over German U-boats made coastal defense especially important (that’s also why the History House is styled to resemble the 1940s.)

Married officers enjoyed rent-free housing in the large yellow brick homes, plus access to a free ferry into Battery Park. Bachelor soldiers had shared quarters—which still look spacious by today’s standards—but tying the knot definitely had its perks.

During the Cold War, Sandy Hook was also used for missile testing, and one of the missiles remains on display near the park entrance. The base was officially decommissioned in 1974.

Other Interesting Facts About Sandy Hook State Park

  • Gunnison Beach is the only clothing-optional beach in the Northeast

  • The Sandy Hook Lighthouse is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse in the U.S. (built in 1764)

  • The nuclear weapons once housed at Sandy Hook reportedly had a combined power more than 30 times that of the Hiroshima bomb

  • The shoreline is constantly shifting due to erosion and redeposition from the tides. Case in point: the lighthouse, once on the shoreline, now sits inland.

  • A mass grave of 14 British soldiers from the Revolutionary War was discovered here, and visitors (plus paranormal investigators) can still see the site.

  • Captain Kidd’s lost treasure was rumored to be buried here beneath a “lone pine.”

  • Sandy Hook is home to the largest maritime holly forest on the East Coast

DTS tip: Definitely pop into the History House if you’re visiting. It’s easy to miss, but free and a great place to glean a wealth of knowledge in a short period of time. 

Weekly Forecast

While it will be a bit rainy this week, we have our eyes on a weekend at the beach:

Monday 5/11 - 58°/47° Cloudy

Tuesday 5/12- 59°/49° Sunny

Wednesday 5/13 - 65°/55° Light Rain

Thursday 4/14 - 63°/52° Rain

Friday 5/15 - 65°/53° Rain

Saturday 5/16 - 76°/57° Mostly Cloudy

Sunday 5/17 - 79°/59° Partly Sunny

And for the surfers out there, here are the weekly surf conditions in Belmar courtesy of Surf Captain:

Surf Conditions

Mon 5/11

AM: Choppy, 2-3 ft

PM: Fair, 2-3 ft

Tues 5/12

AM: Clean, 1-3 ft

PM: Fair, 2+ ft

Weds 5/13

AM: Choppy, 1-2 ft

PM: Choppy, 2+ ft

Thurs 5/14

AM: Fair, 1-3 ft

PM: Clean, 2 ft

Farmers Market Roundup

And if there are any markets we should definitely feature this season, let us know!

Happenings Down the Shore

BroadWalk kicks off on Friday (5/15) in Red Bank. In addition to outdoor dining, there will be a bounce house, live music, and a DJ.

And if you are in Asbury Park this weekend, you can check out the farmers market, as well as a vintage market (5/16) and vegan food festival (5/16 and 5/17).

Lastly, if there’s an upcoming event you’d like us to cover, feel free to pass it along!

Monday 5/11

Loch Arbor - Trivia Night at Deal Lake Bar + Co (7:30 pm)

Oceanport - Weekly Trivia (Craft Beer Theme for American Craft Beer Week) at Skinny Flowers Brewing (6:30 pm)

Red Bank - Jazz Arts Jam Sessions at Triumph Brewing (6 pm - live music)

Tuesday 5/12

Red Bank - Everyday Nutrition Discussion with Happy Strong Healthy at The Residency, Anderson Market (11 am)

Red Bank - Trivia with Jenn at Jamians (7:30 pm)

Wednesday 5/13

Brielle - BookTowne Welcomes Christina Baker Kline, Author of The Foursome at The Brielle Public Library (6 pm - get tix)

Long Branch - Meet the Meadmaker at Beach Bee Meadery (6 pm)

Red Bank - Karaoke at Jamians (8 pm)

Spring Lake - The Island Club author event with Nicola Harrison in conversation with Amy Poeppel (6 pm - get tix)

Tinton Falls - Bingo & Brews at Twin Lights Brewing (6 pm)

Thursday 5/14

Asbury Park - Agave Spirits Club Tasting Event at Barrio Costero (5 pm)

Holmdel - Sundown Sessions feat. Samantha Sayah at Bar Bella in Bell Works (5 pm - live music)

Long Branch - Comedy Night at the Wave Resort (8 pm)

Red Bank - Skinny Amigo at Jamian’s (8 pm - live music)

Red Bank - Jeff Levine at The Molly Pitcher Inn (6 pm - live music)

Red Bank - Lawrence Haber Collective at Triumph Brewery (8 pm - live music)

Tinton Falls - Trivia on Tap at Twin Lights Brewing (7 pm)

 

Friday 5/15

Belmar - Tim Wildeman at Beach Haus (7 pm - live music)

Holmdel - Kül d'sac at Fox Hollow Vineyard (6 pm - live music)

Loch Arbor - Pat Guadagno at Deal Lake Bar + Co (5 pm - live music)

Manasquan - Matt Baker at Harpoon Willy’s (8:30 pm - live music)

Oceanport - Chris Brown at Skinny Flowers Brewing (6 pm - live music)

Red Bank - BroadWalk Kick-off (4 pm)

Red Bank - The Infringements at Jamian’s (9 pm - live music)

Red Bank - Marty Hoski at The Molly Pitcher Inn (6 pm - live music)

Saturday 5/16

Asbury Park - Asbury Vintage Market at The Stone Pony (12 pm)

Asbury Park - Asbury Vegan Food Festival (12 pm)

Bradley Beach - Murder Mystery Dinner at The James Bradley Hotel (6 pm - join us, a few spots are left!)

Farmingdale - History Kids Club - Make Your Own Basket & Gardening at Allaire State Park (1 pm - get tickets)

Holmdel - Sundown Sessions with Pete the DJ at Bar Bella in Bell Works (6:30 pm - live music)

Holmdel - Marin Contini at Fox Hollow Vineyard (2 pm - live music)

Loch Arbor - Carl Gentry at Deal Lake Bar + Co (8 pm - live music)

Manasquan - Aloha Monkey at Harpoon Willy’s (8:30 pm - live music)

Oceanport - Aiden Villa at Skinny Flowers Brewing (6 pm - live music)

Red Bank - Dog Walk on BroadWalk (12 pm)

Red Bank - Jo Wymer at Coffee Corral (10 am - live music)

Red Bank - Frank Rainey at The Molly Pitcher Inn (6 pm - live music)

Red Bank - Chuck Lambert at Jamians (9 pm - live music)

Sunday 5/17

Belmar - Louis Montesano at Beach Haus (4 pm - live music)

Holmdel - Deseree at Fox Hollow Vineyard (2 pm - live music)

Red Bank - Cherry Heart at Coffee Corral (10 am - live music)

Red Bank - J Taylor Leach Trio at Triumph Brewing (1 pm - live music)

Spring Lake - The Mediator book event with author Robert Bailey (12 pm - get tix)

On Deck

May 21st: Red Bank - Anderson Bar Opening and Happy Hour (4 pm)

May 22nd: Asbury Park - Opening Day at the St. Laurent Pool

May 29th: Holmdel - Monmouth Film Festival (runs through May 31st)

May 31st: Manasquan: David Sedaris Book Signing at BookTowne (5 pm)

June 13th: Atlantic City: Jersey boy Nick Jonas at the Hard Rock Hotel (8 pm)

Did we miss an event? Let us know.

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