The Coaster

The following interview represents the first in a series. ArtsCAP will interview arts affiliated locals or not-so-locals with an Asbury Park connection.

The first interview is with Frank DAlessandro, the owner and resident-expert of The Stephen Crane House and a friend of the arts.

Q. What do you think you are most well known for in Asbury Park?

A. Being a pain in the behind.

Q. What is something youd like people to know about you that they probably do not?

A. I was a high school Math teacher for twenty-seven years (Middletown North) and I loved it.

Q. Why do you think art is important?

A. Art is life. Without art, why would we bother. I am really upset that so many school curriculums are removing art and music programs.

Q. What art form first comes to mind when you think of Asbury Park?

A. Architecture. For example, our library, built in about 1880, is the oldest public building in Asbury Park. It has two of the most beautiful windows, one Tiffany and one made locally. There was a glass factory on the boardwalk where the 6th Ave Pavilion is. That guy also did dioramas of the Civil War and he may have influenced Stephen Cranes interest in the war.

Q. Where you involved in any art while you were in school?

A. I am the worlds worst artist, except geometry. I can stand at a blackboard and draw a perfect circle. I can also draw Woody Woodpecker!

Q. Do you consider yourself and artist or a patron of the arts?

A. I wish I was an artist. I am a patron. Except maybe, for the pain in the ass articles I write. I know at least one councilman hates me.

Q. After completing one of your infamous articles, how do you celebrate its completion?

A. Take a nap. Thats the nice thing about getting older.

Q. What are your future plans involving Asbury Park?

A. I have served on the Board of Ed for four years. I do not plan to rerun. I will devote my time to the Stephen Crane House. Id like to do more events here (at the Crane House). Id like to do a PowerPoint presentation of Stephen and Asbury Park. You know, it was here in Asbury Park that he learned to write.

Q. What is your favorite hang-out in Asbury Park?

A. The library.

Q. What about the Talking Bird? (Note: The Talking Bird was a restaurant where Wesley Grove has been built.)

A. Oh, yeah. It used to be The Talking Bird. That was such a friendly place that revolved around food. You know those guys may be coming back. I used to go there at 2 a.m. to serve coffee and do dishes. It was an after hours place, lots of laughs. It opened up after the bars closed.

Q. Any place else?

A. Ive been known to have a glass of wine at Cruisin.

Q. What is you favorite Asbury Park memory?

A. In the 50s my father, he worked for the railroad, would save up money enough to send my mother, my brother and me for four days to the Federal Hotel on Monroe. It included two home-cooked meals. It was run by two women, one German and one Scottish. It was $35 for an adult and $17.50 for children.

I have another memorable experience, but it was harrowing. I was standing where Blu (the condo complex) is now and I opened the Daily News to read that Superman had died. At 11, I was devastated. It was my first brush with mortality.

Q. What would you like your tombstone to say?

A. To paraphrase W.C. Fields, Better Asbury Park than here.

Q. What is one thing in your past youd change, if you could?

A. Take better care of my parents.

Q. Do you have an e-mail address youd like to share in case anyone reading this would like to contact you?

A. Sure, its Asburyfrank@peoplepc.com.

Frank was recently honored by ArtsCAP, The Black Box and The Historical Society for his unending support of their efforts. A painting, by Asbury artist Carl Hower, was presented to him Nov. 26.

To contact ArtsCAP go to www.artscap.org.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 5:24 pm and is filed under Arts & Entertainment, Asbury Park. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.