The B Plot
My Oprah Asbury Park beach ah-ha moment
By RICHARD VIRGILIO
My friend Gary, who has lived here his entire life, tells me once a Benny, always a Benny. Because I moved here just three years ago, I will always be a Benny in his eyes. The Saturday evening of Labor Day weekend I had a major non-Benny moment, however, hanging with my peeps on the beach at Fifth Avenue.
My local gays organized a gorgeous potluck dinner party on the beach. I walked down the boardwalk and stepped through the sand to a huge table set fabulously including a great tablecloth blowing in the breeze and packed with delicacies grilled steak, pickled cucumbers a la Taka, colorful salads, foccacia. Everyone brought wonderful food that would make Rachel Ray proud. OMG it was so nice.
As we ate amazing fare that everyone simply threw together we all talked about 20 people came – and monitored the boardwalk, buzzing with people.
Genuinely buzzing with people.
New faces everywhere. Exhibit A packed. Salt Water Caf 45 minute wait to be seated. Beach Bar filled with populace from all over lounging, laughing and dancing. Hot Sand visitors milling around various colored glass creations whispering we have to come back here and (make our own glass sculpture).
The literal and figurative glow from the boardwalk onto the beach where we were standing was beyond exciting. It was hypnotic seeing profiles of the crowds with a background of the lights from the shops and restaurants on the boardwalk. Behind us was the wonderful ocean offering us the best dining background music imaginable.
I had what my girl Oprah would call an Ah-ha moment. Mark Rado and I agreed how lucky we were to have this boardwalk and all it offers in our backyard. How much the city has changed positively in just the past summer and the past year let alone three or four or seven years.
Asbury Park has achieved so much because of so many and we are finally seeing some of the fruits of the labor.
Our group discussed how some of the people true Bennys if there is such a thing – we were watching enjoy our boardwalk probably drove an hour to come here and how ultimately lucky we were to have Asbury Park at its best, most fun and happy, minutes from our homes.
When I lived in Northern New Jersey during the summer, friends and I would confer at three in the afternoon. We would start discussing how the weather was so beautiful and it would be a gorgeous night to be at the shore. Then we would start planning what would we do? Where would we go? Who would drive? Where should we meet? An Oscar-worthy production ensued just to enjoy the shore for a night.
I am sure a number of people parading the boardwalk had that same production experience earlier on Saturday.
Today, we are lucky enough to just tap dance our way over to our great beach and ta-da. The Asbury Park world is our oyster. I may always be a Benny, however I live and breathe Asbury Park and all it has to offer.
What was your best moment this summer? Email me – TheBPlot@yahoo.com. Please include your phone number.
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