New Jersey Avenue bridge across Wesley Lake to Asbury Park restaurant scene on Cookman Avenue. . June, 2015. By Paul Goldfinger Blogfinger.net.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor@Blogfinger.net. 2015.
Asbury Park once experienced “Glory Days,” but in the 1980’s it went into a downhill spiral and it turned into “Nowhere.”
Then in recent years, perhaps ten, a slow and difficult rebirth has been occurring, and now it’s clear that Asbury Park has turned a definite corner in its renaissance and is becoming “Somewhere.”
Of course there are still problems in governance, crime, poverty and schools. In some ways it is a tale of two cities—roughly east and west.
In December 2013, we posted a piece on Blogfinger that wondered if the acclaimed Asbury Park restaurant scene downtown had become a true “destination” for visitors from around here and elsewhere. We were interested in this subject because of the relationship that Ocean Grove has to AP. That includes the fact that many Grovers go there for dinner on a regular basis, and oftentimes we walk over there at night.
In 2013, half of our Blogfinger readers who took our poll said that AP had not yet become the “go to” place for fine dining.
But now, in 2015, we have reason to believe that the tide has turned regarding the dining situation. We wrote a recent glowing review about Taka’s new location, and today we will be reporting on a new name in town: “Cross & Orange.”
Now that A. Park is a true destination, girls named Marie might show up. It’s Kermit Ruffins from New Orleans:
This is the southernmost border of Asbury Park. On the left is the “The Glad to See You Tower”also called the “Steam Plant.” Photo by Paul Goldfinger, Blogfinger.net, in 2015. The Casino is in the center of the photo.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger. 2015. Re-post.
We’ve all walked by that peculiar-looking building on the left side of our photo above, adjacent to the Casino in Asbury Park, at the Ocean Grove North End.
Many of us wondered what that is/was. I’ve never heard a clear explanation until now upon reading a wonderful account, with photos, by Marlo Montanaro, a Jersey Shore photographer, who posted a piece on his blog called “The Monolith of Asbury Park.”
Marlo was able to get information and access inside of that mysterious place. He succinctly refers to it as “the steam power plant,” a name known to many old-timers in this part of the Jersey Shore.
The steam plant was built in 1930 in order to provide heat to boardwalk attractions so that Asbury Park could compete year-round for recreational business. It was designed by Warren and Wetmore from New York City who were responsible for other Beaux Arts structures nearby, including the Casino, Convention Hall, Paramount Theatre, and the Berkeley Carteret Hotel to the north.
Inside were three huge boilers that used oil to create steam for heat. A great deal of asbestos was utilized. The heat was pumped through pipes to the various buildings. Those pipes extended underground from the Casino to the Convention Hall. Water may have been obtained from Wesley Lake or even dumped into the Lake. There is no information as to the success of the project, but evidently it wasn’t used once WWII occurred.
Since then it has stood as a monument of sorts to a utility that lost its purpose over 70 years ago. In the late c. 1960’s we have a photo of Bruce Springsteen, another Asbury icon, standing north of the tower.
“Young Bruce” at the north end of the Asbury boards. Photo by Emil Salvini.
In 2003, a developer wanted to move the Stone Pony into that steam building, but, of course, that did not occur thanks to a lot of noise by the Cousin Brucie rock ‘n roll crowd.
The most original recent contribution to the known history of the steam power plant are the evocative interior photographs that Marlo Montanaro posted last April with his detailed review of the subject.
Here is what he said about the enigmas that remain, “There are still mysteries here- what it really looked like when she was new… the men that worked here, what 1930 was really like… I can picture dark smoke and steam spewing from the top, the noises of banging steam pipes, and loud oil-fueled fires heating huge tanks of water, the smell of burning oil- steam power is a living, breathing thing. I can see some of the workmen taking a break, looking out over Wesley Lake as families took a ride on the paddle boats, while they toiled in a hot, nasty environment wearing soot-covered overalls. I wish I could have seen her in all her glory. But I can only imagine.”
Below are two links to Marlo’s blogposts dated April, 2014. Thanks to Joel of OG for tipping us off to the Marlo post.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor@ Blogfinger.net Photos and text. Relevant in 2018 regarding the contrasts between Asbury Park and Ocean Grove.
In case you haven’t noticed, according to last Sunday’s NY Times, Asbury Park, at least the part by the ocean, is a huge success attracting hot-shots from all over the mid-Atlantic to this “beach destination.” It seems that the turning point is the new 110 room Asbury Hotel, a brilliantly conceived venue which the chief designer, Anda Andrei, calls “luxury with modesty.”
According to the Times, the “City by the Sea” has officially risen from the ashes and has become a place where “everyone and everything” is happening. Below are some of the observations reported by the Times in their featured article in the “Next Stop” series on Sunday, July 10, 2016, written by Eric Lipton, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist:
“IStar is the NYC based real estate company that owns all 35 acres of beachfront land. Madison Marquette is the company in charge of leasing retail space at the beachfront. These companies plan to invest over $1 billion in AP over the next 10 years.”
Regarding the demographics of those who populate the scene in AP, it is described as an “eclectic mix of professionals, families, young bar hoppers, and a large gay population—-all of them across income levels.”
The author of the article said, “Now the rebirth of Asbury Park is no longer in question. The only question that does remain is how much of Asbury’s character will be retained as it becomes a summertime mecca again.”
The executive in charge of iStar told the Times that “his company is determined not to turn Asbury Park into Disneyland.”
You can already get a feel for that when you check out the eating establishments on the boards—no pizza slices and French fries for them.
“The music scene is still the element that holds Asbury Park together with at least eight venues featuring live music.”
Downtown more than two dozen restaurants and bars comprise an eclectic collection of fine shops, galleries, and bakeries. The Festhall and Biergarten across the lake from OG is filled with “over 700 patrons on busy weekend nights.”
Clearly this Times article was aimed at a crowd that would respond to the “Brooklyn by the beach” nickname, but when Eric Lipton wondered about retaining the original AP “character,” it wasn’t clear what image he had in mind.
The article failed to consider that AP is a city that consists of more than just a destination for glitterati. There are people who live there who are ordinary folks—not hipsters, and they bring a beautiful down-home, multi-racial sensibility to the City which has deeper roots than fancy restaurants and cool destinations. There is a tapestry in Asbury Park, not just designer clothes.
Also there is no recognition in the article of the state of affairs in some parts of town west of the tracks, the poverty, the unemployment, the poor condition of Main Street, and the pervasive crime problems, primarily surrounding the considerable drug scene over there.
And as we all know who live in this area, Asbury Park is not isolated—it has neighbors. Regarding the “eclectic mix” that visits A. Park, the author says that the mix is “in striking contrast to the more stuffy (and staid) nearby beach towns, like Spring Lake.”
Uh, excuse me, but if you are going to contrast Asbury to a nearby town, there is an actual striking contrast with next door Ocean Grove, just south of A. Park—-a much more interesting place than “staid” Spring Lake.
There is a small reference to OG in a side bar which, like most inattentive media, gets it wrong about us—painting us as some shriveled-up museum-like religious town. He says, “Ocean Grove is a dry town built around religious summer camps—God’s Square Mile is its slogan—-so no bars with music there. But it is a museum of Victorian architecture.”
Eric Lipton mentions our ” more than a dozen bed and breakfast options,” but who would want to visit our embalmed town? The dynamic interaction between these two beach towns which is developing, goes unrecognized by the media. Ocean Grove may not be where the cool crowd goes, but our history, diversity, beauty, quietude, and family lifestyles provide quite an impressive and favorable comparison to the sparkling high life going on across Wesley Lake.
So, what will Ocean Grove become by comparison as AP morphs into a very special place with its own character, fame, and attraction? Will we evolve into a historical prototype of small town America with a famous Victorian architecture, a religious flavor, a unique character, a classy culture, and a wonderful personality of its own that will complement what is happening to the north?
Or will we be left in the dustbin of history as a place with stifling crowding, insoluble parking concerns, a has-been Victorian success story, condos all over town, a pseudo-Asbury at the North End, and a town devoid of community—– known for gizmos and Abba on the Pathway but no art, culture, or values of its own? All that will be left to focus on will be the Camp Meeting Association with its specific mission and lifestyle—worthy as part of the community, but less impressive all by itself.
CELIA CRUZ: (Live) Turn on the music and then look at the gallery below.
An Asbury Park gallery—-the other side of A. Park, by Paul Goldfinger @Blogfinger.net. Click on one and follow the arrows. Use the small X upper left to return to Blogfinger proper (or improper as the case may be.)
By Paul Goldfinger, MD, Editor. Blogfinger.net. Re-post.
In 2015/2017 we featured Frank’s Deli and Restaurant in a BF post, and now we re-post it for 2024, with some updates. Not much has changed. Here is a quote from that piece:
“You might also be tempted to turn into Frank’s Restaurant where everybody goes for breakfast and lunch including cops, contractors, politicians, businessmen, bloggers, artists, realtors, homeboys, celebrities, wayward Grovers, and stylish types from across the border on Cookman Avenue.”
UPS man waits for his sub delivery. Blogfinger photo.
I’m sure most of you are familiar with Frank’s, a local family-owned place where they have been cooking breakfast and lunch since 1960. It has a very down-home feel. You can sit at a table or at the counter where you can watch the chefs work—poetry in motion. “Those fries are getting cold; dump them and serve some hot ones,” says the cook; he is at the grill and he is a perfectionist.
He watches his little assembly line, with his back to the counter and he doesn’t miss a detail. He turns around and asks us if everything is OK. They make more eggs, toast and bacon than any other place in the area. Frank’s is a destination with a pedigree–more so than any of the newly arrived eateries on Cookman-by-the-Grove.
Grill-master efficient and accurate. They are known for their Jersey breakfast sandwich: Taylor ham, egg and cheese on a roll.
The waitresses are attentive. They seem to know everybody and they are friendly and accommodating—-not like the diner waitress who waited on Jack Nicholson in Five Easy Pieces. If there are any waiters, we haven’t seen one. Besides, gender is out these days—–they are all “servers” However, at Frank’s you feel like political correctness is not on the menu. It is a place to relax and speak freely.
Joe Maggio, owner at Frank’s. From a Bruce Springsteen music video.
Joe Maggio is the owner and the main-man at the grill. His father started the business. We go there often, but he was on vacation this time. However, his staff wasn’t missing a beat. One of the cooks noticed an elderly man near the end of the counter near where we were sitting. He called him by name and said, “How about a grilled cheese; I’ll make you one now.” The man grinned and said, “Thanks.”
Everything at Frank’s is fresh and made-to-order. The toast was ordered that way. Their Jersey breakfast sandwiches–Taylor ham, eggs and cheese on a roll are famous. BF photo.
You can walk up to the deli counter and order a superb sub. made to order. Even Bruce Springsteen visits Frank’s, and he included Frank’s in a 2012 music video. Bruce likes the turkey club.
In 2015, Anthony Bourdain and Southside Johnny visited Frank’s while CNN filmed the episode for Bourdain’s “Parts Unknown” show.
We get a kick out of the diverse clientele who are going in and out of Frank’s which reminds me of some places my friends and I frequented when we were in high school in Rutherford. We would go to towns like Lyndhurst or Passaic to get soul food: pizza and burgers.
At night, after walking up and down Park Avenue in Rutherford, we would visit Stio’s, a family luncheonette, fountain, and ice cream place near the tracks that was so old, everyone and everything there seemed to be in slow motion. But all sorts of characters would show up, and we would laugh and joke and kid the owners. Frank’s takes me back to that sort of Jersey place.
If you are from Jersey, you need a dose of that every once in a while.
