Down the Shore

Vol. 36 - Week of May 17th

May 18, 2026

We’re writing this edition of Down the Shore from our front porch after a weekend that truly felt like the kickoff to summer, even though Memorial Day is still a week away.

Our staycation began with Aperol Spritzes at La Dolce Vita in Belmar and a quick stop at the NJ Seafood Festival for lobster rolls from one of our favorite summer spots, Point Lobster Co. But we were most excited for the main event: a stay at The James Bradley Hotel in Bradley Beach for their first Murder Mystery Dinner.

We went into the evening not really knowing what to expect. Little did we know, we’d gain some detective skills and improv acting chops, and leave with some new friends - both out-of-towners and locals.

Read on to hear more about our experience at The James Bradley and our recs for a weekend getaway in Bradley Beach.


Staycation: The James Bradley (Bradley Beach)

Why go: A peaceful, beautifully designed boutique hotel perfect for a parents’ night off or a low-key friends weekend. Guests can also borrow beach chairs and towels free of charge, and Bradley Beach is a short stroll away.

Hotel History:

The James Bradley sits on a quiet stretch of 3rd Avenue lined with stately Victorian homes, just a block and a half from the ocean. Built in 1904 as a private residence, the hotel opened in 2021 and is named after the original homeowner James A. Bradley, the brush manufacturer and real estate mogul credited with shaping Bradley Beach and Asbury Park.

Vibe:

Inside, the hotel feels calm and chic, with linen textures and neutral tones balanced by bright contemporary art. Our room had a cocoon-like atmosphere with sand-colored walls and ceilings, and we were greeted with homemade salted chocolate chip cookies waiting inside.

The backyard, where the Murder Mystery Dinner was held, doubles as the hotel’s primary event space. It felt like we were in the perfect setting for a charming backyard wedding, if not for the detective interrogating guests between courses. While the on-site dining room only serves breakfast, the hotel does in-house catering for special events.

Food and Bev:

An interesting detail: James Bradley originally established the area as a temperance resort town, and today the hotel still carries a wellness focus. While no alcohol is served on-site (you can BYOB), they do make some pretty fantastic mocktails and juices. We loved the mango spritz with a salted Tajín rim served during the event.

Breakfast the next morning included coffee, house-made pastries, eggs, Jersey pork roll, and sourdough. Our favorite lavender-frosted cupcakes from dinner also made a reappearance.

Upcoming Events:

The James Bradley hosts events throughout the year, including an upcoming Soaking Salt Workshop on June 19 featuring their signature Lavender Rose blend, which is also stocked in every room.

We wanted to give a shoutout to their General Manager Emily, who curated an incredible event for the guests and made our stay so special. We are hoping the Murder Mystery Dinner makes an encore performance in the fall, just in time for spooky season!

The Bottom Line: Quiet rooms and an easy walk to both town and beach make The James Bradley the kind of place that leaves you feeling genuinely rested after a night away. Even if you happened to finish your BYOB supply - sorry Mr. Bradley!

Other Things to Do in Bradley Beach

Dinner: Del Ponte’s, Vic’s (Old-school Italian) or Bamboo Leaf (Thai)
Coffee: Steady Hand Cafe (get the cereal milk latte, trust us)
Dessert: Bradley’s Beach Plum (retro ice cream shop)
Workout: Jersey Shore Fitness (possibly the most no-frills gym we’ve ever seen)

Shore Points

Widow’s Bay on Apple TV has been a recent binge of ours that we loved even more after learning it was inspired by a haunted house in Long Branch! NJ Monthly talks to the showrunner Katie Dippold (who grew up in Freehold) about the Jersey Shore origins of the show.

This Family Business Was Already Old When the U.S. Was Born: The Wall Street Journal covered Laird & Company’s run of being a family-owned and operated business for nearly 300 years. At DTS, we actually featured Laird & Co. a few weeks ago, in case you want a short history of this iconic NJ distillery.

Weekly Forecast

It’s going to be a scorcher this week…until it’s not. Here’s to hoping things turn around for Memorial Day or we’ll be enjoying Windmill hot dogs in sweaters.

Monday 5/18 - 78°/69° Partly Sunny

Tuesday 5/19- 86°/71° Partly Sunny

Wednesday 5/20 - 89°/63° Rain

Thursday 5/21 - 62°/56° Cloudy

Friday 5/22 - 57°/53° Light Rain

Saturday 5/23 - 57°/53° Light Rain

Sunday 5/24 - 61°/57° Light Rain

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

Surf Conditions

Mon 5/18

AM: Fair, 2+ ft

PM: Fair, 1-2 ft

Tues 5/19

AM: Fair, 1-2 ft

PM: Choppy, 1-3 ft

Weds 5/20

AM: Choppy, 1-3 ft

PM: Clean, 1-3 ft

Thurs 5/21

AM: Choppy, 1+ ft

PM: Choppy, 1-2 ft

Farmers Market Roundup

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

Happenings Down the Shore

Happy last week before Memorial Day Weekend and the unofficial beginning of summer at the Shore!

This week we’re excited about a summer kickoff event at a Spring Lake art gallery, opening day at the St. Laurent Pool, and some fun children’s events in Red Bank (including story time at Toy Utopia and Kids Karate at BroadWalk).

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

Monday 5/18

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

Loch Arbor - Harry Potter 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 at Toy Utopia (10:30 am)

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

Tuesday 5/19

Long Branch - Mead and Magic Craft Workshop by Renegade Book Club at Beach Bee Meadery (6 pm)

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

Wednesday 5/20

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

Red Bank - Kids Karate at BroadWalk (11 am)

Red Bank - Karaoke at Jamians (8 pm)

Spring Lake - Author Event with Bestselling Author Heather Webb at Thunder Road Books (6 pm - get tix)

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

Thursday 5/21

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

Fair Haven - Books ‘N Bubbly Book Club at River Road Books (6:30 pm - get tix)

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

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

Red Bank - Gab Cinque Trio at Jamian’s (8 pm - live music)

Red Bank - Barbara King at The Molly Pitcher Inn (6 pm - live music)

Spring Lake - Summer Kickoff Party at Kelly-McKenna Gallery (6 pm)

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

 

Friday 5/22

Holmdel - Shut Up Gus at Fox Hollow Vineyard (6 pm - live music)

Loch Arbor - Doug Kaetz at Deal Lake Bar + Co (5 pm - live music)

Manasquan - Jo Wymer at Harpoon Willy’s (8:30 pm - live music)

Oceanport - Kathleen Elle at Skinny Flowers Brewing (6 pm - live music)

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

Tinton Falls - Comedy Night at Twin Lights Brewing (7 pm - get tix)

Saturday 5/23

Asbury Park: Memorial Day Pool Party at The Asbury (5 pm - get tix)

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

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

Loch Arbor - Kevin Koczan at Deal Lake Bar + Co (8 pm - live music)

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

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

Red Bank - James Martorana at Coffee Corral (10 am - live music)

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

Red Bank - Billy Walton at Jamian’s (9 pm - live music)

Spring Lake - Unicorns in Uniforms Storytime and Event with Beth Ferry and A.N. Kang at Thunder Road Books (1 pm)

Sunday 5/24

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

Long Branch- Art in the Park at West End Park (10 am)

Oceanport - Charlie Krause at Skinny Flowers Brewing (6 pm - live music)

On Deck

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

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

May 31st: Wall: Ducky Derby at Allaire Village (11 am)

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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