Caught Between a ROCK and a HEART PLACE

Asbury Park Rebirth. Then the Economy Tanks.

In my previous post, I started writing about the "jewel by the sea" - Asbury Park and the role it's playing in our lives. One thing I forgot to mention is the recent article in the NYTimes featuring one of our favorite restaurateurs Marilyn Schlossbach and her brand new venture: Langosta Lounge. Check out the article at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/16/nyregion/16towns.html?scp=1&sq=asbury%20park&st=cse

By the way, one of our favorite quotes of the piece comes from Lance Larson - musician, Wonder Bar manager and veteran of Asbury Park - sums up Asbury's revival coinciding with the failing economy: "We've been to hell already," he said. "Been there, done that. If we could handle that, we can handle this."

Apropos of the tough-skinned, hopeful spirits in Asbury Park. Come visit. People with vision welcomed.

-Michael

Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ

For those of you who remember Asbury Park as "what it use to be", or home to Bruce Springsteen, or a run down city with no hope of coming back to its glory days - - - - - you should come visit it now. I don't think you'd recognize the place. True, it still has quite a way to go, and the economic downturn is not helping it come back any faster. But there's a lot of hope here as well as a lot of re-building. Thanks to the developer Madison Marquette, the boardwalk has all the pavilions open - - even now in the winter. Great restaurants, fashionable shops, Live Nation programming the Paramount (newly restored) and Convention Hall. The Stone Pony and The Wonder Bar are also open. Then there's the downtown area all along Cookman Ave that is springing to life with restaurants, galleries, shops and its really becoming the center of the Spirit of Asbury.

So what's all this got to do with ROCK and a HEART PLACE? Well, Holiday Express is a Monmouth County charitable organization. Tim McLoone owns a new supper club here on the boardwalk. Many of the band members play locally here in the clubs and have quite a following. Asbury has kind of been our second home for the past few years ever since the production of the film, and its getting more so every day as an exciting ever changing place to be.

If you're a "creative-type", c'mon down to Asbury Park. I think you'll like it.

-Michael