It was time for a pilgrimage to Asbury Park. Along the way, we stopped in
Hightstown to go to the Hights Bohemian Cafe
where Dr Len
ordered the oatmeal drink
and I had the Inca Kola
in pineapple flavor. The corn meal cakes
were followed by the fried sweet plantain
which showed better without the flash
and then I had my salad
and Len had his pork
that fueled us for the journey ahead. After getting this picture
for the collection, we drove on.
Our first view of Asbury Park was of the last attempt at redevelopment
which seems to have failed. While recording the Paramount
this truck asked to be recorded
as we aimed for the HoJo's
and the convention center
which still operates
and has a boat on top
from which closeups
can be captured. While Dr Len checked the door
I looked down the beach
because Howard Johnson's didn't seem open
despite the sign that said otherwise. The beach warned about swimming
and the beer was probably cold
but Howard Johnson's
has seen its better days
as we looked at the beach
and down the boardwalk
and even Madam Marie
showed no signs of life. The boardwalk
didn't seem to need this usage sign
but the Stone Pony
seemed to be alive as we ambled on to the antique store
and then captured pictures of the worn down rotunda
as Dr Len demonstrated the 4 foot rule
for which he overpaid. Back to the rotunda
and adjoining buildings
and the old salt water taffy shop
by the pizza store
none of which gave any sense of life. But, we saw our goal
the greatest wall neon anywhere coming into sight.
We recorded the long view
and then the windows of the rotunda
before getting closer
and zooming
and getting closer
and zooming
until we were almost there
and could record the size sideways
and work our way
to head on views
from broader angles
all of which amused Dr Len
who was still happy to have his four foot rule
we recorded the local environment
and then zoomed in on the major face in this great sign
which is no longer an inviting locale
possibly because there is no one buying beach badges
these days. On the way back to the car, we passed the senior citizen center
bid farewell to Madam Marie
and the Salt Water Taffy shop
before heading downtown to see Sonny's
in the midst of a snow covered street scene
where Louis Farrakhan
is too present and toys
and sinks
line the sidewalk.
When I got home, Suzanne was knitting
as the kids gathered
and Daniel Suo
promised that he would win in Utah while Ben watched Justin and Ned
get the chess game to this situation
while Rosie, Kevin (birthday boy) and Stephent
watched the basketball game
and Jane and Lucy made weird faces
and Lucy watched
the birthday boy
negotiate the crowd
as the laptop ran fsck
the chess game continued
and Jane got up
to serve the pizza
and brownies
and everyone wished Kevin a happy birthday.