The morning of the festival, cold rain fell and dispelled notions of heading to Red Bank for Sunday fun. Then the magic weather wand whisked and by 2 PM, sunny blue skies and warm breezes arrived as did thousands of festival fans.  The festival, sponsored by Asbury Park Press and Heineken had help from Red Bank River Center, Red Bank Visitors Center and the Borough of Red Bank.

No matter how many times I go to Red Bank, each opportunity to stroll down Broad Street, with abundant old architecture from the turn of the next to last century, I feel as if I just got off a Rod Serling train into a slice of American history, and its springtime, early 1940’s. I loved being downtown in another century before I hit White Street parking lot for the food, drink and music.

The aromas and sounds of the festival filled the air. Two soundstages on the western and eastern sides of the parking lot provided first rate entertainment  to huge crowds. On the All American Stage ‘King Casino Band, Brian Kirk and the Jirks, Runaway (Bon Jovi Tribute band) and Quincy Mumford and the Reason Why rocked the packed house. What could be bad? Rock music. Food 360 degrees. Beer (A plastic bottle of Amstel Light approached 30 feet in height).  A booth that rolled cigars. And a Bagpipe marching band.

The International stage featured performances by Kathryn Barnett School of Dance, Random Test Reggae, Steve Reilly Band (Irish sounds) and The Funktion (Latin and Salsa). More eye catching attractions: booths for; cheese, chocolate, hand-made sea glass jewelry, a camp for dogs, rock music school and almost every kind of gourmet food. Near the exit and my 94 minutes of absorbing the festival, I found a booth for fresh shrimp cocktail. It put me in the mood. We had dinner in Red Bank on Broad Street sitting outside. The sky was still blue.

by Calvin Schwartz

50-year music career, singer-songwriter-keyboardist “Stormin'” Norman Seldin has been a frontman, a sideman, a manager, a concert promoter and a music instructor. And recently, he has received some overdue recognition.

Seldin is stepping out from the trenches with “Asbury Park: Then and Now.” The two-CD, 46-track set, released on Seldin’s own Ivory International label, includes recordings from throughout his career, and offers shore music fans a rare opportunity to hear legendary groups like The Jaywalkers, The Joyful Noyze (featuring E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons) and The Motifs on CD.
Five members of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band (Clemons, Max Weinberg, Garry Tallent, Roy Bittan and the late Danny Federici) back Seldin on eight 1980 recordings. Other luminaries, such as Southside Johnny, the late Harry Ray (of Ray, Goodman and Brown fame) and drummer Bernard “Pretty” Purdie also make appearances

The Garden State Wine Growers Association (GSWGA) held its first festival of the year on April 1, 2012 at Branches in West Long Branch, NJ. A total of 23 GSWGA wineries showcased their product at the Spring Fever Food & Wine Festival, the only indoor festival of the year. The event drew over 1500 attendees.

 The culmination of four years of studio and commercial art study at Red Bank Regional’s (RBR)Academy of Visual & Performing Arts (VPA) is currently on display at the Guild of Creative Art at 620 Broad Street in Shrewbury, NJ.  

The RBR VPA Senior Art Students’ works are featured at the Guild of Creative Art in Shrewsburyfrom March 30 through April 12. Pictured at the opening reception of Art Beat are: (left to right), Emily Stafford, Little Silver, Kelly McAdam, Little Silver, Jade Saybolt, Shrewsbury, Terrill Warrenburg, Little Silver, RBR commercial art teacher Claudia O’Connor, Tatjana Farley, Neptune City and Beth Keenan, Little Silver.

The museum is open from 8 am to 4:30 pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and till 7 pm on Thursday and 10 am to 4:30 pm on Saturday.

(Left) Terrill Warrenberg’s Whipped Cream connotes a tone of a bygone era in America.

Student Kelly McAdam stands in front of a variety of her works, including: oil on canvas, charcoal, acrylic, band, chalk pastel and ebony pencil.

Red Bank Regional student Beth Keenen’s mixed media, below, Behind the Door arouses curiosity.

The artwork is available for purchased at the end of the show.  http://www.guildofcreativeart.org/

NJ Discover team Frank Dicopoulos and Tara-Jean Vitale attend the West End Fire Relief Fundraiser held at the Ocean Place Resort and Spa in Long Branch, New Jersey. The fundraiser, organized by the Mix Lounge and Long Branch Chamber of Commerce and hosted by Big Joe Henry of 101.5, donated 100% of the proceeds to help aid the victims of the February 13 West End Fire on Brighton Avenue. 

Restaurants that donated services to the the fundraiser.
Tre Amici, Jesse’s Cafe, WindMill, Rooney’s Ocean Crab House, Tuzzio’s Restaurant, MIX Lounge and Food Bar, CIAO Restaurant, Sallee Tee’s Restaurant, Draft House, Cake, Bake & Roll, DIVE! Coastal Bar, R&R Marketing, Anjelica’s, Salad Shack, Rook Coffee Roasters, Court Liquors, Shore Point Distributors and Dozortsev & Sons Enterprises.

NJ Discover always fulfills its name. Today in Seaside Heights, 30,000 spectators gathered on the boardwalk (two weeks ago, when we were there scouting the location, it was deserted) along with 6000 brave, dedicated polar bear plunge participants from all over the country including California, in an event which grows every year to raise money for Special Olympics New Jersey.

While Big Joe Henry from Jersey 101.5 FM broadcasted live from the Aztec Hotel, NJ Discover TV provided complete video coverage and interviews from an amazing event in an amazing state. Who else but NJ Discover? The event today raised over $1.4 million. Donations can still be made at http://www.njpolarplunge.org/

Candle Light Vigil for the Long Branch victims.

Mayor Adam Schneider and community volunteer Krysta-Lynn Landolfi are interviewed by NJ Discover Reporter Tara-Jean Vitale during the Candle Light Vigil for the victims of the February 13th West End Fire in Long Branch.

In mid October, Calvin Schwartz, writer, reporter for NJ Discover interviewed Linda Chorney, long before any Grammy buzz or nominations (which were announced on November 30th). So Calvin and NJ Discover therefore scooped the journalistic world and major media outlets. Perhaps good old fashioned NJ journalistic instincts but a great appreciation for the enormous talent of Linda Chorney. In the months since then, Linda has become the darling of the Grammy nominations and NJ Discover was commissioned by hooplaha.com ( a dynamic new site for smiles, thinking and upbeat motivational stories with daily updates)to do a video with Linda. And thanks to hooplaha.com for allowing NJ Discover to share this wonderful story about Linda’s journey.

By Calvin Schwartz:
A few weeks ago my personal blog was a copy of my interview with an amazingly voiced singer, Linda Chorney, who was just beginning the process of submitting her album ‘Emotional Jukebox’ for Grammy nomination consideration.

I consider that interview my finest hour and journalistic achievement since my whole ‘Woodward and Bernstein'(remember them?) shtick began on July 30, 2011; my first day as a journalist when I covered Old Freehold Day and heard this vibrant feisty singer (of course Linda) do a set before a crowd of people more intent that hot day of getting free rides on a hay tractor, back and forth to a suburban New Jersey parking lot. As Humphrey Bogart (Rick) said to Claude Rains (Louis) in ‘Casablanca’ it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

I’ve observed the process as Indie (no major record label) Linda Chorney has suited up with determination, drive, depth and spirit and presented herself to the establishment called Grammy Awards. I’m a visual literary guy: I see Joan of Arc, Althea Gibson (one of my life’s heroes. Go Google if you don’t know her), Annie Oakley, Susan B. Anthony, Marian Anderson, Molly Pitcher (Revolutionary War heroine. There’s a hotel near Linda in Red Bank named after her). You see, I like rugged individualists like Linda Chorney. She went out and used the extant tools to bring her musical message to the Grammy voters.

She’s an Indie. I look at her fellow nominees for Best Americana Album, most of them loaded with Grammy awards already. Linda has now been called the darling of the Grammy awards by many reporters and observers because of the fire of determination to bring awareness to her music far from the maddening crowd of big record labels and money. There’s always a Benedict Arnold, a Dathan (played by Edward G. Robinson in ‘Ten Commandments’) or just another political party on the other side of midnight or an aisle. So I smile sardonically and read the words of some ‘Bob,’ ‘Baker’ or ‘Houston’ guy who are upset because they don’t know her music and don’t think she belongs where she is. Then I look at the United Nations and its inability to reach agreement in ‘Kyoto Protocol’ and I know since the time my distant relatives, the Cro Magnons’ played a rendition of soccer right here in Jersey across the street from me, that there will always be towers of babble, ignorance and jealousy as some ‘Bob, ‘Baker’ or ‘Houston’ guys recently demonstrated and restored my faith in the old adage, “some folks never get it.” As I see it, as objectively as I can be, Linda’s music is wonderful, moving and passionate and deserves to be right in front of all of us with Grammy recognition. I do believe George Washington would’ve loved it too, especially her song from ‘Emotional Jukebox’ called ‘Cherries.’ George did chop down the cherry tree and was honest about it. That’s what I like about Linda Chorney.

The story of Mark Levine, his life and his burger has caught national attention. Through the Ashley Lauren Foundation and 709 Restaurant in Point Pleasant Beach, Mark is being honored with the “Mark The Shark Day” Friday January 27th from noon until close. Mark’s own burger will be a special on the menu and the proceeds will benefit The Ashley Lauren Foundation, helping make wishes come true for local children battling cancer. NJ Discover reporters Tara-Jean Vitale and Calvin Schwartz are on the scene.  Check out interviews with 709 Restaurant Owner, Chef Mike, Big Joe Henry and Ashley Lauren.

NJ Discover TV covered the world premiere of ‘Nothing For Christmas’ on December 1st in Red Bank by interviewing the director/writer Sean Guess, movie actors and singer Danny White who performed a song for the movie. It was a stirring, emotional and surprisingly well-acted movie along the lines of ‘It’s A Wonderful Life.’

During tough economic times, when working class families struggle during the holiday season, the Perry family struggle more than most. Jerry Perry’s hardware sales job has been phased out and he is facing eviction from his home. His daughter Betsy, who had vandalized neighbors Christmas decorations, now seeks guidance from a Rabbi to help her change her hatred of the holidays. His hope is to show his friends the true meaning of the holidays and make them realize sometimes, nothing is all you need.