Down the Shore

Vol. 47 - Week of August 2nd

August 03, 2026

We recently picked up a copy of The Jersey Shore by Dominic Mazzagetti from our local library, and we’ve already gathered enough fun facts in just a few chapters to populate this newsletter for the rest of the year. Between that and starting Season One of Boardwalk Empire, it feels like we’re going for a PhD in Shore history. 

One of our favorite discoveries so far? The very idea of the "Shore vacation" exists because of the railroads. Before the 1850s, the Jersey Shore was a string of desolate, hard-to-reach beaches with relatively few visitors. Everything changed when rail lines connected Philadelphia and New York City to the coast, allowing the growing American middle class to escape factory life for a dose of salt air and sea breezes.

The first passengers to Atlantic City, on July 1, 1854, arrived covered in soot after the four-hour train journey from Camden. And we complain about NJ Transit.  

Thankfully, our own excursion to one of these long-hallowed resort destinations involved nothing more challenging than a bit of traffic on the Parkway. Read on to hear more about our own modern-day Shore vacation.


Staycation: The Asbury Ocean Club Hotel

Why Go: Their rooftop pool vibes will have you feeling like you jetted down to Miami Beach, yet their front-row view of the boardwalk and Atlantic Ocean reminds you there's no place like Jersey.

Opened in 2019, the Asbury Ocean Club Hotel received fresh buzz this year when its restaurant, The Drawing Room, opened to the public after previously being reserved for hotel guests and residents. The property is part boutique hotel, part luxury condos, so you’ll get a mix of visitors and those who call the Ocean Club home. 

Check in, drop your bags, and head immediately to the pool, which is conveniently located on the same floor as the hotel rooms. Ask for the chairs facing the boardwalk and ocean if they’re available. Order a cocktail or lunch to enjoy poolside — we recommend the Poke Bowl or the Wagyu Hot Dog, and for drinks, the South Jetty or the Absolutely Perfect Spritz. Lounge until golden hour. 

If you're only staying one night, here's exactly how we'd spend it:

Happy Hour: Shucked raw bar inside Convention Hall (pro tip: $2 oysters on Mondays & Thursdays)

Dinner: Reyla. Sit at the chef's counter and order the halloumi, oyster mushroom skewers, fresh pita, and whatever dessert is on special (we had the delectable banana bread). 

After Dinner: Wander across Wesley Lake into Ocean Grove. The Founders Park Fountain and the gingerbread cottages are especially magical after dark.

Feeling Competitive? Challenge each other to pinball at Silverball Retro Arcade or a game of bowling at Asbury Lanes.

One Last Drink: Head to Palmetto or Low Dive on the boardwalk for live cover bands. 

We’ll have more content from our staycation weekend in Asbury Park in the weeks to come! 

Weekly Forecast

Monday 8/3 - 81°/68° Scattered Thunderstorms

Tuesday 8/4 - 76°/69° Cloudy

Wednesday 8/5 - 76°/67° Cloudy

Thursday 8/6 - 77°/66° Light Rain

Friday 8/7 - 81°/67° Partly Sunny

Saturday 8/8 - 84°/68° Scattered Thunderstorms

Sunday 8/9 - 79°/69° Light Rain

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

Surf Conditions

Mon 8/3

AM: Choppy, 3-5 ft

PM: Clean, 3-5 ft

Tues 8/4

AM: Choppy, 2-3 ft

PM: Choppy, 2-3 ft

Weds 8/5

AM: Choppy, 2-4 ft

PM: Choppy, 2-3 ft

Thurs 8/6

AM: Choppy, 1-3 ft

PM: Choppy, 2-3 ft

Farmers Market Roundup

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

Happenings Down the Shore

As you can tell, we’ve been digging into the history of the Jersey Shore and are excited about Monday night’s event in Long Branch with Dr. Robert Fishman, who is a Professor Emeritus of Architecture and Planning at the University of Michigan.

This week is also National Night Out. If you’re like us and didn’t know what this event is, it’s a night of local programming (typically with food and family fun) hosted by local police departments. The goal is to strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and the communities that they serve. Monmouth County’s tourism site has listed a number of police departments that are hosting a “Night Out,” and be sure to check with your local police department!

Additionally, there’s plenty of yoga and live music up and down the Shore!

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

Monday 8/3

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

Long Branch - The Gilded Age in Long Branch at The Long Branch Arts & Cultural Center (6 pm)

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

Point Pleasant Beach - Beach Walk with Jenkinson’s Aquarium staff (6 pm)

Tuesday 8/4

Brielle - BookTowne Welcomes Jacqueline Friedland Author of Breathing Under Water (6 pm - get tix)

Red Bank - Steve Delopoulos at Birravino (6 pm - live music)

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

Sea Bright - Jimmy Mack at Bands on the Beach (7 pm - live music)

Wednesday 8/5

Belmar - Movies on the Beach: Footloose (Dusk)

Bradley Beach - Summer Jazz & Blues: Kate Curran (7 pm - live music)

Long Branch - Tiers and Cheers Workshop (By Bee Stamped by Dawn) at Beach Bee Meadery (6:30 pm - get tix)

Manasquan - Manasquan Fireman’s Fair (6 pm, runs Tues-Sat)

Red Bank - Kids Karate on BroadWalk (11 am)

Red Bank - Karaoke at Jamians (8 pm)

Spring Lake - Spring Lake Summer Nights Block Party on 3rd Avenue in Spring Lake (5 pm - learn more)

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

Thursday 8/6

Bradley Beach - Summer Yoga in the Garden at The James Bradley (6:30 pm - get tix)

Holmdel - Sundown Sessions at Bar Bella: feat. DJ Quikdish at Bell Works (5 pm - live music)

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

Spring Lake - An Evening with Author Ruta Sepetys at Thunder Road Books (6 pm - get tix)

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

 

Friday 8/7

Belmar - Friday Night Concert Series: Jo & the Highland Express (6 pm - live music)

Holmdel - CatNip at Fox Hollow Vineyard (6 pm - live music)

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

Manasquan - Blue Crue at Harpoon Willy’s (8:30 pm - live music)

Oceanport - Matt Forte at Skinny Flowers Brewing (6 pm - live music)

Red Bank - 72nd Annual Sidewalk Sale in Downtown Red Bank (learn more the sidewalk sale runs through Sunday, 8/9)

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

Red Bank - The Embers at Jamians (9 pm - live music)

Saturday 8/8

Asbury Park - Too Many Zooz at The Asbury Lanes (8 pm - live music)

Bradley Beach - Summer Yoga in the Garden at The James Bradley (7 am - get tix)

Holmdel - Sundown Sessions at Bar Bella: feat. DJ Robbie Woodside at Bell Works (5 pm - live music)

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

Loch Arbor - The Good Guys Duo at Deal Lake Bar + Co (8 pm - live music)

Manasquan - Vinyl Trio at Harpoon Willy’s (8:30 pm - live music)

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

Red Bank - Random Test Reggae Featuring DNA at Jamians (9 pm - live music)

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

Spring Lake - How to Find Love in the Cereal Aisle Event wit Author Alissa DeRogatis at Thunder Road Books (6 pm - get tix)

Sunday 8/9

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

Loch Arbor - Pam McCoy Duo at Deal Lake Bar + Co (5 pm - live music)

Long Branch - Bands by the Beach: Aguilar Family Band at West End Park (7 pm - live music)

Did we miss an event? Let us know.

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