Asbury Park Love

This past Saturday I spent the evening in Asbury Park with Michele. I have always loved it there. My association with Asbury is not the same as most New Jerseans, or probably most Bruce fans. I can remember be a young girl and my mom taking me shopping and out to lunch in one of the department stores on Cookman Ave. I also remember taking swimming lessons at the Y. When I was in my twenties, it became the place for those of us who were into the alternative music scene. I saw countless big name bands at the Fast Lane with Michele. Michele who has always been the shutterbug. I never understood it until I started blogging and opened the Etsy shop. Once I began to learn more about taking the photos, got a little better at it, I must confess to falling in love with it. And since I got the small camera, well I love this new camera and I take it with me all the time. I had so much fun just taking random shots. I wanted to try and show how far Asbury has come. Quite a few years ago, the lanes closed, really all that was left was the Stone Pony, and I don't think too many people ventured into AP. It wasn't the safest place to be, and despite many efforts to build, there was always failure. I did keep hearing about a resurgence and really didn't believe it until Michele and I went to Roller Derby at Convention Hall. To my amazement there were people everywhere. All kinds of people, but what was evident was that they were in a neighbourhood that I would not have expected them to be in. There seems to be something for everyone in AP now. The main street is lined with high end boutiques, cozy little cafes and galleries. So crowded there was no place to park. Michele and I are still drawn to the hip, alternative crowd. No better place to be than the Asbury Lanes. We went for Burlesque-Apades, which was disappointing. Big crowd, but the show was pricey, short and not as good as what we have seen in the past. A night out with Michele is always fun and adventurous!