Down the Shore

June is off to a bang - quite literally as we watched the Fair Haven Day fireworks from our backyard. We headed home early due to our little one’s bedtime, but not before grooving to the first set from The Cliffs and enjoying a delicious BBQ dinner catered by Brennan’s Deli. 

Other notables from the weekend included a stroll along the Henry Hudson Trail in Atlantic Highlands (thank goodness for those sea breezes!) and most importantly a special tour of the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music before its opening day! Read and rock on…

Spotlight on: Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music (Long Branch)

The Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music at Monmouth University opened its doors to the public this past Saturday, June 13th. Down the Shore was lucky enough to get a special sneak peek from the Center’s Director, Eileen Chapman. 

Eileen was part of the Asbury Park music scene long before taking on her current role. She ran in many of the same circles as Bruce Springsteen while managing Mrs. Jay’s Beer Garden in the 1980s, and later managed The Stone Pony in the early 2000s. Today, she has the exciting and enviable job of keeper and curator of this music history treasure trove. 

After being greeted for the tour, one of the first stops was the bathroom to the right of the lobby. Upon poking our heads in to admire the colorful mosaic walls, Eileen explained that if you combined all of the tiles in the bathrooms at the Center, it would recreate the album cover of Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.

It’s these surprising and thoughtful details that makes a visit so special for any music lover. Here’s what else we learned from Eileen during our tour:

Why Monmouth University?

The Center’s location isn’t just about proximity to Asbury Park or the Boss’s hometown of Freehold. Monmouth was also the first college Bruce Springsteen ever played. 

Between 1969 and 1974, he performed there at least ten times, and the students made up a significant part of his original fanbase. A concert flyer on display shows that lucky Hawks at then “Monmouth College” could see Bruce Springsteen play for just $1 and a newspaper for recycling. 

What should visitors make sure not to miss? 

The Center houses an incredible collection of memorabilia, from handwritten lyrics to the actual “Born to Run” leather jacket and white t-shirt, red hat, jeans combo from the “Born in the USA” album cover. 

Be sure to stop by the back display case where two of Bruce’s Grammy Awards, Academy Award, and Presidential Medal of Freedom can be found. 

There are also several interactive exhibits. Our favorite challenges visitors to choose encore songs for a real Springsteen concert before revealing what he actually played. 

How do you make a weekend of it? 

If you’re visiting from out of town, Eileen recommends continuing your tour throughout Monmouth County. 

Start in Asbury Park of course , with landmarks like The Stone Pony, Wonder Bar, and where the Turf Club used to be (renovation plans are currently in the works!). 

Then head to Belmar, where the E Street Band gets its name from the street where original E Street Band keyboardist David Sancious lived. Make sure to stop by Pyanoe Plaza and take a turn on the interactive outdoor piano there in honor of David and his mother Stella. 

Lastly, take a drive through Freehold where Springsteen grew up and still occasionally returns to get lunch with his high school friends. Eileen told us that they are planning a second museum location in Freehold, dedicated to Bruce’s early life.

Other things of note when you visit:

• It’s not all about Springsteen – the Center is about American music more broadly. A permanent collection from the Hard Rock features concert costumes from artists like Whitney Houston, Madonna, Janis Joplin and Johnny Cash.

• There is also a temporary collection space with rotating exhibitions. Currently, “Chimes of Freedom” features a history of music’s role as a force for social awareness and change.  

• Don’t miss the room designed to recreate the energy of a Springsteen concert, complete with projection footage, fan art, and a wall-to-wall photo of the crowd from a Meadowlands concert.  

A very big thank you to Eileen Chapman for the tour. Her passion for the Center is infectious, and after spending time there, it’s easy to see why it draws visitors from near and far beyond the Shore.

Father’s Day Recs

If you are still trying to figure out plans for Father’s Day, we have you covered.

Below are a roundup of some of our favorite restaurants that still have reservations (as of Sunday night, 6/14 at 7:40 pm). We’ve personally dined at each of these restaurants and would be excited to bring our own fathers here for a meal:

Bombay River in Red Bank for our favorite Indian food at the Jersey Shore.

Mabel in Holmdel: we love the burgers, flatbreads, and hear the homemade pasta is amazing.

Palmetto in Asbury Park (right on the boardwalk) for Southern food — fried chicken, pimento cheese, hush puppies, and shrimp and grits!

River Point Inn in Rumson for burgers, steaks, oysters, martinis, and other French delicacies.

Spring Lake Seafood in Spring Lake: we recommend the fish sandwich and sushi (also BYOB).

Undici in Rumson if you want to transport yourself to Tuscany for a few hours.

Bonus Rec: And if you are looking for something different, especially for history lovers, we’d recommend checking out the Battle of Monmouth Reenactment, which is happening this weekend (more details in the events roundup below).

Weekly Forecast

Burn baby burn 😎 

Monday 6/15 - 77°/57° Sunny

Tuesday 6/16- 72°/60° Sunny

Wednesday 6/17 - 74°/63° Partly Sunny

Thursday 6/18 - 84°/71° Light Rain

Friday 6/19 - 81°/64° Mostly Cloudy

Saturday 6/20 - 79°/63° Mostly Cloudy

Sunday 6/21 - 81°/66° Partly Sunny

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

Farmers Market Roundup

• Holmdel, 6/17: Bell Works FRESH Farmers & Makers Market

• Wall, 6/18: Wall Twp. Farmers Market

• Allenhurst, 6/19: Allenhurst Farmers Market

• Brick, 6/20: Brick Farmers Market

• Highlands, 6/20: Highlands Farmers Market

• Asbury Park, 6/21: Asbury FRESH Farmers & Makers Market

• Howell, 6/21: Howell NJ Farmers Market

• Point Pleasant Beach, 6/21: Point Pleasant Beach FRESH Farmers & Makers Market

• Red Bank, 6/21: 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

This week, we’re excited for a moment of zen during a new workshop to make your own soaking salts with our friends at The James Bradley Hotel.

There are also a few events for history buffs including a screening of a film at the Basie Cinema House and the Battle of Monmouth Reenactment (and if you missed it, check out our previous volume which goes into more depth about Monmouth County during the American Revolution).

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

Monday 6/15

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 - The Office 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 6/16

Highlands - Vlasic Classic Open Mic Night at The Chubby Pickle (8:30 pm)

Red Bank - “Monmouth County at War: Rebels, Raiders, and Revolution” screening at Basie Center Cinema House (4 pm)

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

Wednesday 6/17

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

Holmdel - Samara at Mabel’s roof deck (6 pm - live music)

Holmdel - Enchanted Blossoms Floral Arranging Workshop at Bar Bella (6:30 pm)

Red Bank - Kids Karate on BroadWalk (11 am)

Red Bank - Karaoke at Jamians (8 pm)

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

Thursday 6/18

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

Holmdel - Bossa Nova Night feat. Elena Maque Band at Bar Bella in Bell Works (6:30 pm - live music)

Long Branch - Purls & Pours Craft happy Hour by Knit in the Pit (all hobbies welcome) at Beach Bee Meadery (6 pm)

Red Bank - Anderson Bar Happy Hour (4 pm)

Red Bank - Kids Takeover at BroadWalk (4 pm)

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

Red Bank - Gabe Plotkin Trio at Triumph Brewing (8 pm - live music)

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

Friday 6/19

Asbury Park - Harshmello EMO Night In AP at Low Dive (9:30 pm - live music)

Bradley Beach - Soaking Salt Workshop at The James Bradley (6 pm - get tix)

Holmdel - E-Boro Bandits at Fox Hollow Vineyard (6 pm - live music)

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

Long Branch - MonmouthCountyClub Mingle x The Wave Resort (7 pm - get tix)

Manasquan - Todd Robbins at Harpoon Willy’s (8:30 pm - live music)

Oceanport - Jamie B. Gallagher at Skinny Flowers Brewing (6 pm - live music)

Red Bank - LinkedIn Lunch and Learn at The Residency, Anderson Market (12pm - RSVP)

Red Bank - Borough of Red Bank World Cup Watch Party for Team USA vs. Australia at Count Basie Park (1 pm)

Red Bank - James Larsen at The Molly Pitcher Inn (6 pm - live music)

Red Bank - JO & The Highland Express at Triumph Brewing (9 pm - live music)

Tinton Falls - Stagger with Stronghold and Tiki Torture at Twin Lights Brewing (6 pm - live music)

Saturday 6/20

Asbury Park - Patty C & The Pints at Low Dive (1 pm - live music)

Asbury Park - Bernie Williams & His Band of Friends at The Stony Pony (7 pm - get tix and yes, that Bernie Williams who played CF for the Yankees)

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

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

Loch Arbor - Doug Kaetz at Deal Lake Bar + Co (8 pm - live music)

Long Branch - Summer Fest Party at Beach Bee Meadery (6 pm)

Manalapan Township - Reenactment of the Battle of Monmouth at Monmouth Battlefield (various times, 9 am to 5 pm)

Manasquan - The Bent Fenders at Harpoon Willy’s (8:30 pm - live music)

Red Bank - Shaved Ice at Coffee Corral (10 am - live music)

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

Red Bank - Sonji Y Sabor at Triumph Brewing (9 pm - live music)

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

Sunday 6/21

Holmdel - Steve Hooten at Fox Hollow Vineyard (2 pm - Live Music)

Manalapan Township - Reenactment of the Battle of Monmouth at Monmouth Battlefield (various times, 9 am to 4 pm)

Red Bank - Jacob Daniels at Coffee Corral (10 am - live music)

Red Bank - The Longest Day: A Solstice Gathering (mediation and journaling) at Crazy Story Books (7 pm - get tix)

Red Bank - A Real Human Jazz Band at Triumph Brewing (1 pm - live music)

On Deck

June 25th: Holmdel - America’s 250th Birthday Gala (6 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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