Blogfinger

May 24, 2023: The Asbury side of the Casino breezeway which had been closed. Paul Goldfinger photo. Click once to enlarge

Ocean Grove side of the Casino 5/24/23. Asbury only put up the stone barricades on our side. Paul Goldfinger photo

LINK. 10/7/23

Casino 10/7/23 bypass enjoyed by kids

Paul Goldfinger photo on the Casino bypass. It came in handy to go to and from the Zombies.    Asbury Park made this happen.  10/7/23. Click to enlarge.  Blogfinger.net.

We learned from Google search today  (3/20/26) that the Casino bypass is open again.

While the recent  debate over the Casino had been happening, the roof was repaired, and then, as promised, the bypass has reopened  on March 19, 2026. The shortcut is approved for walkers and bikers but no electric devices .

That beach side walking path was a big help when the indoor “breezeway” was closed, and walkers and bikers needed a short way to get to  one boardwalk or the other. Many have assumed that the  Ocean Grove side belonged to the Grove up to the Casino entrance, but actually the Asbury boardwalk extended a short distance south past the Casino entrance.  But, as a practical manner, when one exited the breezeway on the OG side, most people believed  that they had stepped over the CMA OG property line.

The Google report on 3/19/26 is one of the few media discussions, besides Blogfinger’s, to emphasize  that the Casino breezeway connected the AP boards with the Ocean Grove boards. Most ignored the OG component.

This is an important fact  which ought to be emphasized when the Casino’s importance is reviewed now that a decision to rebuild has been agreed upon.

And for the record, Asbury Park was founded in 1871 by James Bradley who also was the first to buy a lot in Ocean Grove.  It looks like some in A. Park are waking up to the need to recognize and save historical places in the City, even if history is defined by more recent components like the Casino.   And the AP history story needs to include the Grove.

Here  a  Blogfinger photo from 2022:

This is James Bradley behind Convention Hall during the Sea, Hear, Now Festival of 2022.  Paul Goldfinger photo.  Click once. The shirt says “Asbury Park.”   Old Jim is also wearing a skirt. He’s in drag.  Blogfinger.net

PAUL McCARTNEY:

Ocean Grove. 9/20/22. Paul Goldfinger.  Click once to enlarge.

BEATLES  (From the Blue Album 1967-1970)

“Don’t Let Me Down”

Feb 22,2026. It’s always prettiest when it first falls. Paul Goldfinger photo. Blogfinger.net. Click once to enlarge the snow flakes. 

GUSTAVO SANTAOLALLA.   From the score of Brokeback Mountain:

“Snow”

Paul Goldfinger photo. 5/24/23. New path bypasses the Casino which has gone darker.  Click to enlarge.

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor, Blogfinger.

What’s it all about Asbury?  And what’s it all about Neptuners?  Why not  turn over the OG North End property to Madison Marquette for a cohesive design that would benefit the people of both towns as they rediscover the joys and beauties of the Jersey Shore.

Have the State come in to look at what’s best for the citizens. Is that not the point of the Green Acres program?  Aren’t the boardwalk, the pier and the beach tax exempt because they are supposed to do what’s best for we-the-people?

Bypass link

From the movie Alfie:

Phil Penman photo in the Alps.  Borrowed from  Leica.

This image has a monochromatic look, but it is in color.  Phil Penman from New York  is mostly a black and white photographer who uses Leica equipment. (as do I)  to obtain wonderful photographs  that reveal a blend of sharp and blurry  imagery with what is called “bokeh.”    His style includes low light photography which Leica is  known for.

This photo was made using a spectacular new lens boy Leica. (Noctilux 35 mm).  But the equipment does not make the photo automatically.  The results are a collaboration of artist photographer  using world famous Leica cameras and optics which photographers refer to as “glass.”

Phil Penman  has a website where more of his work can be seen and purchased.

My images are often shown on my site Blogfinger.net, but we don’t sell our photos  online.  And we rely on great artists like Phil who set the stage for greatness through  masterful images.

RONALD NALDI.   “Mattinata”

Paul Goldfinger, MD. Blogfinger.net

Asbury Park by the Casino. Paul Goldfinger photo. Blogfinger.net. 2014.  Click once to enlarge the happiness.

BRUNO MARS:

Nocturnal shadows go in both directions through the Casino “Breezeway.”   Ocean Grove is a presence that should be mentioned in discussing the importance of the Casino.    Check out Blogfinger.net for our recent coverage of this point.  Paul Goldfinger photograph.  2022.

By Paul Goldfinger,    Editor, Blogfinger.net.  Ocean Grove blog nation.   USA  3/18/26.

a. There is a report that Asbury Park has engaged a former NJ Supreme Court justice to look over the current situation regarding legalities related to former agreements involving Asbury and  current organizations which  have been working on plans for the AP oceanfront including the Casino.

b. Repairs on the Casino roof have been completed.  Inspections of the work are pending.  But even those repairs will not allow the Casino “Breezeway” to reopen, but the outdoor roundabout on the ocean side may open again soon.  (Scroll down to see the roundabout .)

c. We have just covered the recent opinions by Neptune lawyer Thomas De Seno.  Just scroll down.

d.  There is a post about the Casino in a publication called TAPinto.net.     Today they discuss roof repairs at the Casino, and they report that  “inspection is pending before the  pedestrian pathway may reopen.”

As some of you know,  we at Blogfinger.net, have recently questioned why all these Casino discussions fail to mention Ocean Grove which abuts on the southern border of  Asbury Park and offers access to those who come and go into the breezeway.

Here is a quote from the “TAPinto.net“ site:     “The breezeway, which historically connected the boardwalk to Ocean Avenue beneath the Casino Building, has been closed due to ongoing structural concerns and safety considerations. For decades, the breezeway served as a heavily used pedestrian corridor linking the boardwalk and beach with downtown Asbury Park, making its closure particularly noticeable for residents and visitors accustomed to using the passage.”    Does this make sense?

And there  is more, so consider this, “The application to demolish the Casino sparked renewed concern among preservation  advocates and residents who worry about the deterioration of the building and the potential loss of historic architectural elements that many consider part of Asbury Park’s identity.”

So all of a sudden there is concern about the Casino’s history after years of ignoring AP’s architectural history.  But what about Ocean Grove which is adjacent to the Casino and which is devoted to historic preservation on our side of the broken building.  Do you think that OG’s historic elements, including our presence on the State and National Historic registers,  might be considered in this discussion.  After all we are about to start developing our North End where many meetings have been devoted to historic preservation.

And yet this TAPinto reporter  cannot even mention the presence of Ocean Grove when they discuss the Casino’s “pedestrian corridor which links the Casino with Asbury’s beach and downtown.”   Did he even take a walk over there or look at some of the Casino photographs taken on the Ocean Grove side regularly shown on  Blogfinger.net?

Here is a Blogfinger post that discusses changing demographics in the Grove. Such changes might be of interest to those who are considering the future of the Asburian Casino.

OG demographics should be part of this Casino discussion.

JANE MONHEIT

Comments via “comment” button below or to our email:   Blogfinger@verizon.net