BEACH PARTY CROWDS PLUMMET
AFTER MOVE FROM ASBURY PARK

Sand Blast Weekend, which attracted as many as 5000 visitors during its 12-year run in Asbury Park, drew no more than 1500 people when it moved this year to Atlantic City, its founder said.

Founder Brad Hurtado speculated that many New Yorkers didn't want to travel the extra 60 miles to Atlantic City, where thousands of New Yorkers go daily to gamble.

Hurtado said increased costs helped prompt the move from Asbury Park. No word yet on the location of next year's event. [MORE]

NEW RESTAURANT IN KEY SPACE

A new restaurant is expected to open this summer at a key downtown location.

The Coaster newspaper reports that the owners of the Shore House Bar and Grill in Point Pleasant Beach will lease the space in the former Steinbach building on Cookman Avenue.

The new restaurant, to be called H20, will replace Old Man Rafferty's, which has operated at the historic spot for seven years. [MORE]

SKATE & SURF FESTIVAL
BACK IN ASBURY PARK

The Skate & Surf Festival returned to its roots in Asbury Park.

The event, first held at the Convention Hall complex in 2001, took place across the street in Bradley Park on May 17 and 18.

Headliners for the latest edition included New Found Glory, Alkaline Trio, Circa Survive, Saosin (with Anthony Green), Midtown, We Came as Romans, The Early November, Brick + Mortar and Hidden in Plain View. [MORE]

NEWCOMER TAKES ON INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT

Monmouth County Republicans have nominated attorney Anthony E. Wilkinson to take on incumbent Democrat Frank Pallone in New Jersey's 6th congressional district.

Wilkinson, of Old Bridge, is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Yale Law School. "The extremist politicies that Frank Pallone supports are hurting the same constituents he's supposed to protect," Wilkinson said.

Pallone has claimed credit for the 2010 law commonly called Obamacare. Most of the sixth district is in Middlesex County and GOP leaders believe Wilkinson could be an attractive candidate throughout the oddly shaped district. [MORE]

COUNCIL HIRES NEW CITY MANAGER

The City Council has hired former Jersey City business administrator John "Jack" Kelly as Asbury Park's new city manager.

He succeeds Terry Reidy, who said in October that newly elected council planned to replace him.

Kelly abruptly retired from his Jersey City job last July. He was an ally of former mayor Jerramiah Healy, who lost his bid for reelection in May.

A state treasury spokesman said at the time that Kelly was in line to receive a $94,000 annual pension. Kelly will be paid $140,000 a year in Asbury Park. [MORE]

STUDIOS ENHANCE CITY PROFILE

In a world where dreams come easy, but are tough to fulfill, producer and songwriter Jon Leidersdorff has caught a golden ring.

Committed to building a cohesive infrastructure for the music scene in his hometown, Leidersdorff discovered a former warehouse in downtown Asbury Park and envisioned it as a multi-purpose center for a collective of music business locals. [MORE]

BEER GARDEN PLANS
APPROVED BY CITY

Plans for an outdoor rooftop beer garden, bar and restaurant in a vacant downtown building have been approved.

The Asbury Park FestHalle and Biergarten is expected to open this summer at 527 Lake Ave.

Owners of the business expect to create 20 to 30 year-round jobs as well as seasonal employment. [MORE]

MAGAZINE SALUTES CITY

This Old House magazine, an offshoot of the iconic television show, says Asbury Park is one of the top 10 "old house" neighborhoods in the country.

The magazine cites the city's "gem-speckled residential areas" and revitalized downtown.

No other New Jersey town made the list, nor did any communities in nearby New York or Pennsylvania. [MORE]