The Coaster

By RICHARD VIRGILIO
“The government is broke. We are deep deep deep in debt – broke. We are M.C. Hammer broke.” Comic Wanda Sykes
The news is pretty dismal right now. We, however, don’t focus on the negative here. So, I spoke with four innovators in our community and learned what they do to become re-energized [...]

By RICHARD VIRGILIO
The sun rises tomorrow (Friday, Nov. 14) on Asbury Park’s next destination restaurant – Marilyn Schlossbach’s Langosta Lounge, at the Boardwalk.
Marilyn – founder of the Labrador Lounge in Normandy Beach and Market in the Middle on Cookman Avenue – is dedicated to ensuring her new endeavor is a 21st Century business built on [...]

By RICHARD VIRGILIO
Remember when you were a child and there was that “must-go-to” house in the neighborhood on Halloween – either because the decorations were amazing or the homeowners gave out great candy? For some of us, there was also the lure of getting a rare peek inside fabulously designed homes.
Since 2000, Jill Potter’s [...]

By RICHARD VIRGILIO
Would you shave the hair off your head for a donation of $10,000 to your favorite charity?

A few months ago I spent some time with nine well-coifed ladies in their late-20’s and asked them that scruples question. After shrieks of horror worthy of the best Halloween movie, only two of the nine [...]

By RICHARD VIRGILIO
I am seeing escapism in your future…I am seeing a business…a fun business…in…in… no, on Cookman Avenue. The store is inviting you…it’s telling me to invite you to explore something new and original in Asbury Park this Halloween.

Paranormal Books and Curiosities is packed with so many things to see and do this Halloween, it’s sure to excite and ignite any weary spirit.
Whether you are interested in an evening of searching for ghosts, investigating spirit-infused location tours in Asbury Park, learning your future or buying an unusual book about Halloween, ghosts or the macabre – Paranormal Books can be your haunted home base.

By RICHARD VIRGILIO
We all need a great laugh and some levity right now. Let’s laugh together this weekend at comedienne Maureen Langan’s performance at Cry Baby Gallery during the 7th Annual Women’s Arts Festival.
Named one of the “Ten Standout Stand-ups Worth Watching” by Backstage Magazine, Maureen is taking a break from opening for Joy Behar, stealing the show with her sharp news satire from MSNBC’s hottie Dan Abrams and touring – a regular at Caroline’s in New York City – to help us forget the country’s troubles and get happy.

By RICHARD VIRGILIO
When anyone talks about kind, smart, energetic, engaged, beautiful people in town, one person I think of immediately is Donna Forcier, owner of Uptown Tile and Stone Gallery.
Donna is a blonde bolt of seriously positive energy running around town and Uptown Tile is the area’s go-to store for the most fabulous tile and [...]

By RICHARD VIRGILIO
When was the last time you had a night that you knew you would remember for a long time – and be happy about it?
If it’s been a while, a gift is waiting for you this Sat., Sept. 20 at Asbury Lanes – the Yard Dogs.
“The Yard Dogs are a rounded and authentic [...]