Pictures of 02.21.03 -- The shrine of Asbury Park and Kevin's birthday Party

It was time for a pilgrimage to Asbury Park. Along the way, we stopped in Hightstown to go to the Hights Bohemian Cafe ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0619 where Dr Len ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0620 ordered the oatmeal drink ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0621 and I had the Inca Kola ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0622 ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0623 in pineapple flavor. The corn meal cakes ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0624 were followed by the fried sweet plantain ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0625 which showed better without the flash ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0626 and then I had my salad ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0627 and Len had his pork ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0628 that fueled us for the journey ahead. After getting this picture ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0629 for the collection, we drove on.
Our first view of Asbury Park was of the last attempt at redevelopment ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0630 which seems to have failed. While recording the Paramount ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0631 this truck asked to be recorded ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0632 as we aimed for the HoJo's ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0633 and the convention center ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0634 which still operates ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0635 and has a boat on top ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0636 from which closeups ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0637 can be captured. While Dr Len checked the door ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0638 I looked down the beach ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0639 because Howard Johnson's didn't seem open ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0640 despite the sign that said otherwise. The beach warned about swimming ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0641 and the beer was probably cold ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0642 but Howard Johnson's ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0643 has seen its better days as we looked at the beach ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0644 and down the boardwalk ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0645 and even Madam Marie ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0646 showed no signs of life. The boardwalk ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0647 didn't seem to need this usage sign ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0648 but the Stone Pony ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0649 ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0650 seemed to be alive as we ambled on to the antique store ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0651 and then captured pictures of the worn down rotunda ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0652 as Dr Len demonstrated the 4 foot rule ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0653 for which he overpaid. Back to the rotunda ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0654 and adjoining buildings ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0655 and the old salt water taffy shop ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0656 by the pizza store ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0657 none of which gave any sense of life. But, we saw our goal ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0658 the greatest wall neon anywhere coming into sight.
We recorded the long view ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0659 ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0660 and then the windows of the rotunda ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0661 ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0662 before getting closer ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0663 and zooming ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0664 and getting closer ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0665 and zooming ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0666 until we were almost there ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0667 and could record the size sideways ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0668 and work our way ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0669 to head on views ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0670 from broader angles ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0671 ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0672 ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0673 ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0674 all of which amused Dr Len ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0675 who was still happy to have his four foot rule ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0676 we recorded the local environment ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0677 and then zoomed in on the major face in this great sign ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0678 ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0679 ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0680 ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0681 which is no longer an inviting locale ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0682 possibly because there is no one buying beach badges ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0683 these days. On the way back to the car, we passed the senior citizen center ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0684 bid farewell to Madam Marie ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0685 and the Salt Water Taffy shop ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0686 ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0687 before heading downtown to see Sonny's ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0688 in the midst of a snow covered street scene ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0689 where Louis Farrakhan ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0690 is too present and toys ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0691 and sinks ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0692 line the sidewalk.
When I got home, Suzanne was knitting ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0693 as the kids gathered ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0694 and Daniel Suo ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0695 promised that he would win in Utah while Ben watched Justin and Ned ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0696 get the chess game to this situation ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0697 while Rosie, Kevin (birthday boy) and Stephent ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0698 watched the basketball game ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0699 and Jane and Lucy made weird faces ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0700 ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0701 and Lucy watched ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0702 the birthday boy ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0703 ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0704 negotiate the crowd ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0705 as the laptop ran fsck ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0706 the chess game continued ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0707 and Jane got up ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0708 to serve the pizza ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0709 and brownies ../../../Sabbat/2003/02.21.03AsburyParkKevinsBDay//IMG_0710 and everyone wished Kevin a happy birthday.