Down the Shore

In case you couldn’t tell from reading this newsletter so far, we really like coffee and books. This Saturday, we were on a mission: Red Bank got a new bookshop AND a new coffee shop within a four-minute walk of each other. Armed with new reads and brews, we continued walking the beat and found a number of other exciting additions coming soon to the downtown scene.

As there is a lot to be excited about in our little city on the Navesink, we thought we’d make this edition into a Red Bank appreciation feature. And because good things come in threes, we’re giving you three staples we love, three newcomers to the scene, and three places we’re looking forward to exploring. 

It’s also officially BroadWalk season, the time of year when part of Main Street transforms into a pedestrian-only plaza. They’ve got free programming like live music, fitness classes, and kids takeovers all summer. Check out the calendar here.

What’s Happening in Red Bank?

If you’ve got a free Saturday morning, an evening after a long workday, or a weekend with visitors, here are the spots we’ve either tried or can’t wait to explore.

3 Staples We Love:

• Birravino: Now that it’s nice out, we recommend enjoying an evening outside in their covered “Piazza.” Choose a Spritz from the menu and pair it with Berta’s Mozzarella, the prosciutto and melon, and their Zucca Fiore (zucchini flower) pizza for some seasonal favorites.

• Toast: New Jersey’s known for its delicious diners and this one is no exception. Our daughter is a big fan of their pancakes, so it’s a choice spot for breakfast with the whole fam. 

• Bagel Oven: If you don’t have time for a sit-down meal, this place is classic, no frills, and counter-only. The bagels have a crispy outside and doughy inside — exactly what we missed when living outside the NYC metro area. 

3 Newcomers to Check Out:

• Crazy Story Books: Finally—Red Bank gets its own bookstore! Crazy Story opened its doors officially this past Saturday, and we loved it even more after learning it was inspired by one of our favorite bookstores back in our old neighborhood of Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. They also have an amazing kids section for young bookworms in training.

• Aura Coffee Roasters: While there’s always a time and place for Rook, they sadly don’t have seating. Aura is a beautiful new coffee spot with open-air lounge space and delicious seasonal bevs like the carrot cake or caramelized banana latte. Plus, have you seen their waffles? 

• Scoop N Scootery: Alright fine. we still haven’t made it through the doors! But we did notice while driving by that 4:30pm on a Friday happens to be the only time we haven’t seen a line outside. Ice cream happy hour anyone? 

3 Places We’re Excited To Try:

• The Lobby: Anderson Market’s long–awaited bar has been teasing us with tempting libation photos on Instagram, and they’ll also have a vinyl listening area! We can’t wait to see which album covers made the wall of fame. 

• Pollara: Coming soon to Monmouth Street (across from Five Dimes Brewery and Jamian’s), this beloved Oakland pizza place known for their thick, square slices was actually inspired by Bonci in Rome, another one of our favorite pizza places from our travels abroad! 

• Under the Glass: Calling all Pinball Wizards! Did you know Red Bank now has its own pinball speakeasy? It’s part kid-friendly retro arcade, part secret underground lounge. We just need to find the entrance… 

Weekly Forecast

We’re in for some beautiful weather this week with temps gradually rising to the 80s for the weekend! Just in time for the Bennies to show up…

Monday 6/1 - 66°/50° Sunny

Tuesday 6/2- 69°/53° Sunny

Wednesday 6/3 - 72°/56° Sunny

Thursday 6/4 - 72°/60° Sunny

Friday 6/5 - 81°/65° Partly Sunny

Saturday 6/6 - 81°/67° Partly Sunny

Sunday 6/7 - 78°/57° Cloudy

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

Farmers Market Roundup

• Holmdel: 6/3: Bell Works FRESH Farmers & Makers Market

• Wall: 6/4: Wall Twp. Farmers Market

• Allenhurst: 6/5 Allenhurst Farmers Market

• Brick: 6/6: Brick Farmers Market

• Howell, 6/7: Howell NJ Farmers Market

• Red Bank, 6/7: The Galleria Red Bank Farmers Market

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

Happenings Down the Shore

The first week of June is packed with live music up and down the Shore, as well as plenty of free events at Red Bank’s BroadWalk.

This weekend is also the 2nd Annual NJ Bookstore Crawl (starting June 5th)! You can check out participating bookstores and details here including DTS favorites Booktowne, Crazy Story Books, River Road Books, and Thunder Road Books!

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

Monday 6/1

Asbury Park - Stringbean & the Boardwalk Social Club at Low Dive (7 pm - live music)

Holmdel - Complimentary Intro to Pickleball Clinic with Jersey Pickleball Club at Bell Works (9:30 am)

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

Oceanport - Weekly Trivia at Skinny Flowers Brewing (6:30 pm)

Red Bank - Children’s Story Time on BroadWalk (10:30 am)

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

Tuesday 6/2

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

Wednesday 6/3

Asbury Park - Joe P at Low Dive (8 pm - live music)

Red Bank - Open Heart Yoga on BroadWalk (5:30 pm)

Red Bank - Karaoke at Jamians (8 pm)

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

Thursday 6/4

Asbury Park - Captain Cream & The Forest Fires at Low Dive (8 pm - live music)

Brielle - Colorful Pasta Class at Minnows Cafe (6 pm - learn more)

Holmdel - Sundown Sessions at Bar Bella: feat. Samantha Sayah at Bar Bella in Bell Works (6 pm - live music)

Red Bank - Kids Takeover at BroadWalk (4 pm)

Red Bank - Conor Quigley at The Molly Pitcher Inn (6 pm - live music)

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

Friday 6/5

Asbury Park - Sacred Lawns, Beach Wolf, & The Gulf of Mexicos DJ JaQ at Low Dive (9:30 pm - live music)

Holmdel - All That Roxx at Fox Hollow Vineyard (6 pm - live music)

Holmdel - Kid Rock Freedom 250 Tour at PNC Bank Arts Center (7 pm - get tix)

Loch Arbor - Groove Vultures at Deal Lake Bar + Co (5 pm - live music)

Manasquan - Jay & Amy at Harpoon Willy’s (8:30 pm - live music)

Oceanport - Hang Loose Band at Skinny Flowers Brewing (6 pm - live music)

Red Bank - Crazy Story Book Club at Crazy Story Books (6 pm)

Red Bank - Erez Lirov at The Molly Pitcher Inn (6 pm - live music)

Spring Lake - An Evening with NYT Bestselling Author Mary Kay Andrews at Thunder Road Books (6 pm - get tix)

Tinton Falls - Open Mic Night with Guest Host Charlie Krause at Twin Lights Brewing (6 pm)

Saturday 6/6

Holmdel - Sundown Sessions at Bar Bella: feat. Joe Rinaldi Trio at Bar Bella in Bell Works (5 pm - live music)

Holmdel - I Am Curbie at Fox Hollow Vineyard (2 pm - live music)

Loch Arbor - Pinheads Acoustic Trio at Deal Lake Bar + Co (8 pm - live music)

Manasquan - Salt Brothers at Harpoon Willy’s (8:30 pm - live music)

Oceanport - Quincy Mumford at Skinny Flowers Brewing (6:30 pm - live music)

Red Bank - Gary Phillips at Coffee Corral (10 am - live music)

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

Sandy Hook - Free Yoga on the Beach (8 am)

Wall - Allaire Arts Festival (11 am - get tix)

Sunday 6/7

Holmdel - Yoga at Fox Hollow Vineyard (8:30 am)

Red Bank - Greg Durante at Coffee Corral (10 am - live music)

On Deck

June 13th: Fair Haven: Fair Haven Day (5 pm)

June 13th: Spring Lake: Irish Festival (12 pm)

June 27th: Red Bank: Red Bank Arts Festival (12 pm)

July 4th: Spring Lake: Spring Lake Art Walk (10 am)

Did we miss an event? Let us know.

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