Posted in Asbury Park, Asbury Park lifestyles, tagged Asbury Park boardwalk on September 12, 2019|
Paul Goldfinger. Asbury Park Boardwalk. Undated ©
ELLA FITZGERALD (With Ellis Larkens) from her album Songs in a Mellow Mood. The song “What is There to Say” was written by Vernon Duke (music) and “Yip” Harburg (lyrics) for the 1934 Ziegfeld Follies. Duke was a Russian immigrant who also wrote serious “classical” music.
Posted in Asbury Park lifestyles, Photography the other side of Asbury Park, tagged Asbury outdoor art, Asbury Park on September 5, 2019|
4th Avenue, west side. Paul Goldfinger photo ©. Artist is Da D
NELLIE McKAY: “Wild Romantic Blues.” from Boardwalk Empire.
Posted in Asbury Park Connection Photo Gallery, Asbury Park lifestyles, Blogfinger Presents, tagged Gloria by Kenny Vance, Kenny Vance and the Planotones on September 2, 2019|
It’ s an August Friday night, and Cookman Avenue is alive with Millennia. (18 to 30 somethings.) These two didn’t get the memo. Across the street is TAKA. Paul Goldfinger 8/31/19
KENNY VANCE AND THE PLANOTONES;
Here’s a link to a post we wrote about this song: “Gloria.” (the Cadillacs had the big hit, and they performed it in the Great Auditorium, as did Kenny.)
Gloria: a rock and roll litmus test
Posted in Asbury Connection, Asbury Park lifestyles, tagged Asbury Park farmers market at Sunset Avenue on August 24, 2019|
Sunset Avenue, Asbury, Farmers Market. Saturday 8/24/19. Paul Goldfinger photo ©
DORIS TROY: “Just One Look.”
Posted in Asbury Park Connection Photo Gallery, Asbury Park lifestyles, tagged Asbury Park farmers market at Sunset Avenue on August 17, 2019|
Socializing at the market. Paul Goldfinger photograph.8/17/19 ©
Sunset Saturday market was busy. 8/17/19. Blogfinger photo © Very good heirloom tomatoes here.
This is the sort of small neighborhood events that OG needs to bring people together.
FYI: The Italian baker from Paterson has fine sfogliatella ( sea shells with crispy, flaky pastry, and inside there is sweet lemony cheese.) He also has fig bars and a terrific variety of authentic breads plus cheeses from Italy.
FRANK SINATRA:
Posted in Asbury Connection, Asbury Park, Asbury Park lifestyles, Blogfinger Presents, tagged 3 Little Maids From School, Taka Restaurant on July 29, 2019|
Taka, Cookman Avenue in Asbury Park. Paul Goldfinger photo. July, 2019.© click to enlarge.
If you would visit Cookman Avenue on a Saturday night, you would see many college age girls dressed up for bar hopping and fine dining. They might travel with guys, or they might walk about in groups of three or four.
4 little maids from school. Paul Goldfinger photo on the boards in Asbury Park. ©. Say. “Hi Mom.”
So here is a song from the Mikado which addresses such a group:
D’OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY: From the Mikado.
Posted in Asbury Connection, Asbury Park lifestyles, Photographic Gallery: Ocean Grove, Photography at The Jersey Shore, Photography by Bob Bowne, tagged Bob Bowné on April 26, 2019|
A sign of the times in Asbury Park. April 4, 2017. By Bob Bowné. Special to Blogfinger.net.
SMALL POTATOES finding the direction to spring in Bob’s image:
Posted in Asbury Park Connection Photo Gallery, Asbury Park lifestyles on April 16, 2019|
Dusk, Asbury Park boards. Paul Goldfinger ©. Blogfinger.net. Click image to enlarge.
SONNY STITT “At Last”
Posted in Asbury Connection, Asbury Park lifestyles, Blogfinger Presents, tagged Asbury Park best shore town on March 22, 2019|
Asbury Park July 2016
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor@Blogfinger.net
I’ve come to the conclusion that all those “best” lists are created by payoffs. After all, how can Asbury Park be one of the world’s best beach towns, better than famous beaches in California, Australia and Florida?
As a result, we have ignored those lists lately, because the A. Park that we know is usually awarded top billing on those lists. The only list I ever saw with Ocean Grove was some years ago, when we were rated higher than AP as the best place for gay folks.
However, to those of you who are cynical, as I am, about this subject, I did find a list that excluded A. Park. Maybe the payoff was too high for the Cookman crowd and iStar’s publicity department
U.S. News & World Report 3/19/19: Best Places to live near the beach:
1. Melbourne
2. San Diego
3. Sarasota
4. Honolulu
5. Charleston, South Carolina
6. Fort Myers
7. Jacksonville
8. Pensacola
9. Santa Barbara, California
10. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
11. Tampa
12. Port St. Lucie
13. Daytona Beach
14. Virginia Beach, Virginia
15. Los Angeles
16.Corpus Christi, Texas
17. Miami
18. Salinas, California
19. Brownsville, Texas
20. San Juan, Puerto Rico
Here’s a link to a recent post on Blogfinger about this topic:
PINK MARTINI “Sway” Do people still dance on vacation?
Posted in Asbury Park Connection Photo Gallery, Asbury Park lifestyles, Blogfinger Presents, tagged Asbury Park connects with Ocean Grove on December 18, 2018|
Blogfinger walking the dog by the New Jersey Avenue bridge in OG on Sunday afternoon 8/12/18. © All photos by Paul Goldfinger. Click to enlarge.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.net.
I posted this in 2018, and the OG-AP connection hasn’t changed much. Now it is 2023, and Asbury is over-rated as a destination city, and Ocean Grove is still stuck in the mud regarding our plans for North End redevelopment.
2018: I was playing “sit” with my son’s dog Pooja when I found out a few things. First, cute girls will stop and pet a dog with lots of “oohs and ahs and what’s his name?”
“It’s a girl,” said I, but no one wanted to know my name. (“Is it Mary or Sue?” as in the song.) I would have allowed them to pat my head, but no such luck.
DON AND JUAN:
Secondly I became distracted by the steady stream of people heading north to “sin city,” But, to be fair, there were all ages, genders and sizes. And they all seemed happy to be heading in that direction, so the “Asbury Connection” (with OG) seems to be working out. On a summer Sunday, a walk to A. Park seems to hold great promise for laughter, fun, food, friends and ogling.
Grovers understand this, and so do the Grovarian realtors who are pushing this concept.
And where did they all park? You know where.
A bridge not too far. Blogfinger photo. 8/12/18 ©
Heading north to the bridge from Asbury Avenue in the Grove.
Bring the kids. It’s not all babes, booze and bon-appetite. 8/12/18 Blogfinger photo
BOB GAUDIO from Jersey Boys:
Posted in Asbury Park Connection Photo Gallery, Asbury Park lifestyles, Blogfinger Presents, tagged Photo: Nocturnal Asbury on December 11, 2018|
Posted in Art, Asbury Park, Asbury Park Connection Photo Gallery, Asbury Park lifestyles, Blogfinger Presents, tagged Asbury Park boardwalk on October 29, 2018|
Paul Goldfinger ©. October, 2018. Click to enlarge.
THE BIRD AND THE BEE
“I’m Into Something Good” (From the movie Valentine’s Day)
Posted in Asbury Connection, Asbury Park, Asbury Park Connection Photo Gallery, Asbury Park lifestyles, Asbury Park news on Blogfinger.net, Blogfinger Presents, tagged The Hotel Asbury in Asbury Park on October 15, 2018|
The lobby bar at The Asbury is the Soundbooth where you can hear live music every night. All photos by Paul Goldfinger, Blogfinger.net. Re-post from July 21, 2016. © Click on the music below and then return here.
Check in here or visit the juice/coffee bar. Get a snack and sit down and relax. No pressure. © Paul Goldfinger photo ©.
The nocturnal Asbury. July 2016. Paul Goldfinger ©
One time, in Paris, we wanted to walk through the lobby of the Hotel George V, a very ritzy famous place. But we were not allowed to even walk in the front doors. Some hotels are fussy about non-guests coming in. But the new Asbury Hotel at Kingsley and 5th Avenue, near the ocean by the Paramount Theater, is just the opposite.
Architect Anda Andrei (looking at us) was guiding a photo-shoot in the lobby. Paul Goldfinger photo. ©
The designer/architect Anda Andrei wants her new hotel to be full of life and to be welcoming. Steve Valk and I took a tour of her new Asbury Park establishment and we found out that they want the public to come in and visit: have a coffee, listen to live music, sit at the bar, do your homework, or chat with the staff.
Be sure to check out the roof top space called “Salvation” where the views are spectacular in all directions. It is particularly impressive at night.
The eastward view from Salvation (not the mystical place; it is a wonderful rooftop lounge and bar.) Paul Goldfinger photo ©
Roof top lounge and bar. Photo from the NY Times July 5, 2016 by Tony Cenicola © See link below.
You can also watch classic or cult movies at the roof top garden called The Baronet, a tribute to the old Asbury Park theater which was torn down a few years ago.
Rooftop garden “The Baronet” where you can watch movies every night. © Paul Goldfinger photo.
In the lobby you can have casual food like a sandwich or something from the juice bar or the coffee bar. Steve and I ordered cappuccinos, and they were very good.The lobby bar area is called the “Soundbar” and it is beautiful and functions as a music venue.
More relaxation space on the ground floor. Paul Goldfinger photo
In fact you will marvel at the functional and gorgeous design features. Every night there is live music in the lobby, and you can just walk in and sit down. The staff is welcoming and very proud of their hotel.
If you are from Ocean Grove, do not fail to walk or bike or even drive (there are parking meters) to the Asbury. You will be impressed and you will enjoy yourself even if you don’t rent a room…but then again….
Paul Goldfinger, Travel Editor @Blogfinger.net
THE HOT CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO: “J’Attendrai”
LINK: Click on this NY Times article below.
Here is a link to a Blogfinger article in response to the Times piece above:
