Taking a stroll has never been more rewarding than in Asbury Park’s historic downtown business district so over Sand Blast Weekend there are three times we’re suggesting you explore, cruise the shops and pick up something or someone to take home with you!

Saturday Morning Brunch & Shopping           9AM - Noon   

Saturday Evening’s Art Crawl & Dinner          6PM - 10PM   

Sunday Morning Brunch & Shopping              9AM - Noon

>  (See below for details on these three events)

Coffee, breakfast, antiques, art...  A walk through our historic downtown is the perfect way to see firsthand how this renewed beach town has risen from the ashes.   Thanks in great part to the influx of over 600 gays and lesbians who bought weekend homes in Asbury Park over the last decade, then began inviting their friends to come visit,  opening shops, running for city government & the school board, this Jewel on the Jersey Shore literally came back from the dead and now has a bustling downtown, lined with gorgeous Victorian buildings housing chic shops, great restaurants and fun bars and music clubs. 

Asbury Park has become the new gay mecca on the east coast and this charming turn-of-the-century shopping district is it’s heart and soul.     

Check out America’s Cup for coffee,  Plan B for brunch,  House of Modern Living for mid-century furniture, The Parlor Gallery, Shelter Home, as well as ETC. for clothing, smart home furnishings and art.  

The NJ TRANSIT Train Station is right downtown at the corner of Main Street and Cookman Avenue, so think of that as your starting point.  Head down Cookman Avenue toward the intersection of Bangs, then back up Mattison and Bangs Avenues and you’ll find some of the most unique specialty shops you’ll ever walk into perfuming the sidewalk with their music and chatter from ghostly gatherings to vintage consignments.  The downtown is quickly becoming a hub for artists, boasting art galleries open well into the evenings.

Our Historic Downtown

Sunday Morning, July 21st

BREAKFAST & SHOP IN HISTORIC DOWNTOWN ASBURY PARK

9:00 AM - NOON

Cookman Avenue & Mattison Avenue - From Main Street to Grand Avenue   (map)

This is the perfect way to start your Sunday morning before heading back into the sun, beach or pool parties.   Check out our antique shops, have another look at that cool item you saw during Saturday night’s Art Crawl, grab a coffee at America’s Cup and have brunch at Moonstruck, Plan B, The Twisted Tree or one of the other welcoming restaurants along Cookman Avenue.

Saturday Night, July 20

ASBURY PARK ART CRAWL

Fabulous Artwork At Six Galleries in our Historic Downtown

6:00 - 9:00 PM

Cookman Avenue - From Main Street to Grand Avenue    (map)

This is the perfect antidote to a long day in the sun - head to Asbury’s Historic Downtown and check out the art and cruise the crowd visiting six fantastic galleries.   Start your Art Crawl at Parlor Gallery on Cookman Avenue, located a block from Main Street, and head toward the beach.   Art Craw is FREE and open to the public.   Then grab some dinner at one of our downtown restaurants before you plunge back into the parties Saturday night.   If you see something you like downtown (artwork OR that hottie) you can stop by again on Sunday and take it home with you!

Saturday Morning, July 20

BRUNCH & SHOP IN HISTORIC DOWNTOWN ASBURY PARK

9:00 AM - NOON

Cookman Avenue & Mattison Avenue - From Main Street to Grand Avenue    (map)

Coffee, breakfast, antiques, art...  A walk through our historic downtown is the perfect way to start the weekend.   Check out America’s Cup for coffee,  Plan B for brunch,  House of Modern Living for mid-century furniture, The Parlor Gallery, Shelter Home, as well as ETC. for clothing, smart home furnishings and art.  Start at Main Street and Cookman Avenue and walk east, toward the beach a few blocks.  

The Former Steinbach Department Store now has restaurants & shops street level with loft apartments above.

A former Woolworth’s 5 & 10 is now filled with dozens of individual antique showrooms packed with tempting objects.

Sand Blast Weekend © Copyright 2013, Asbury Park Events

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