Red Tank Brewing owner John Arcara speaking at Wednesday’s council session. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
The Red Bank council voted Wednesday to boost the fees charged to restaurants to maintain tables in parking spaces converted to streateries.
The action followed claims by two business owners that the hike was onerous.
Borough workers created a streatery outside Bombay River and Tacoholics restaurants on Broad Street in July, 2020. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
At the Red Bank council’s first in-person session in more than two years last week, a lone member failed to advance a pandemic-era fix said to be favored by two merchant organizations: street eateries.
Public works employees installed concrete barricades around several parking spaces on Broad Street in downtown Red Bank Thursday afternoon.
A public parklet on Witherspoon Street in Princeton. Red Bank officials plan to allow parklets for designated restaurant use. (Photo courtesy of Planet Princeton. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Among a series of adjustments, Red Bank’s economic reopening committee has scrapped the Sunday pedestrian plaza on Monmouth Street.
Instead, the Broad Street plaza, which has drawn large turnouts three nights a week since debuting June 18, will become a four-day affair with the addition of Sunday operations starting this weekend, Red Bank RiverCenter executive director Laura Kirkpatrick tells redbankgreen.
At the same time, plans are in the works for “parklets,” or temporary seating structures, to be built in parking spots outside a handful of downtown restaurants, including three that participated in the aborted Monmouth Street plaza effort.
The trailer for ‘I Am Another You,’ a documentary about a young man who chooses to live on the streets, screens as a free, community-welcome entry at this week’s Indie Street Film Festival. Below, artist Ron Haywood Jones‘s mural for the festival at 97 Broad Street remained unfinished Tuesday morning because of rain interruptions. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
Its community mural may still need some finishing touches, thanks to uncooperative weather. Still, the third annual Indie Street Film Festival kicks off in Red Bank Wednesday evening, ushering in a five-day rush of innovative cinema, movie talk and parties.
A project of the filmmaker cooperative Indie Street (working in partnership with Red Bank RiverCenter), the festival spreads decidedly non-Hollywood magic across the borough’s theaters, restaurants, night spots, and even the middle school auditorium. And there’s a free, community-welcome screening mixed in among the orange-pass-only fare.
Check out the festival schedule below; information about passes and tickets can be found here.
He’s a product of Little Silver schools who, at age 14, started small as he embarked on what’s turned out to be a career in food: as dishwasher at Danny’s Pizza in his hometown. He went on to gigs as busboy at 2 Senza; barista at No Ordinary Joe’s Café; bartender at the Downtown; and other restaurant jobs in Red Bank, Manhattan and Brooklyn too numerous to list.
Now, Casey Webb, a 1994 graduate (football, wrestling) of Red Bank Regional who’s also cultivated a sideline as an actor, has landed a big gig, as host of the popular Travel Channel’ show ‘Man v. Food.’
The plan calls for a craft-beer microbrewery in the former ARC thrift shop space at 77 Monmouth Street. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
For the second time in recent weeks, a craft beer operation has confirmed plans for a microbrewery in downtown Red Bank.
And according to Google Maps, it’s less than 500 feet away from the first.
The organizers of last summer’s five-day Indie Street Film Festival in Red Bank, promoted above on a mural at Monmouth Street and Maple Avenue, plan to return next July, and are accepting film submissions, they announced Monday.
The trailer for “65 Percent,” a documentary by Mike and Jon Altino of Middletown, screens at the Red Bank Middle School at 1 p.m.
Saturday-morning cartoons, a locally made documentary and shorts-in-a-bunch enliven Saturday’s schedule of the Indie Street Film Festival, which got underway in Red Bank Wednesday night and continues through Sunday afternoon.
Click the “read more” for the full schedule and a sampling of delightful and outrageous movie trailers. More →
Sand artist Joe Mangrum creating a temporary painting at the festival opening-night cocktail party on the Count Basie patio Wednesday night. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
Screenings at four Red Bank venues fill Friday’s schedule of the Indie Street Film Festival, which got underway Wednesday night and continues through Sunday afternoon.
Click the “read more” for the full schedule and a sampling of delightful and outrageous movie trailers.
A documentary about people who eat white dirt adds some grit to the first full day of the Indie Street Film Festival.
Scandalously long, beautiful legs. A guy with a compulsion for commandeering buses and trains. Geophagy, or dirt-eating.
These and other delightfully strange and wondrous topics fill the schedule of Red Bank’s Indie Street Film Festival as it enters its first full day of screenings and other events Thursday.
Click the “read more” for the full sked and a whole dirtload of delightful and outrageous movie trailers.
The festival flickers to life with “Morris from America” on the big screen at the Count Basie Theatre. Here’s the trailer.
Day One of the first-ever Indie Street Film Festival gets underway in Red Bank Wednesday, kicking off five days of heaven for movie lovers.
The opening day schedule is light, with one just one film lighting up the giant silver screen of the Count Basie Theatre and two parties. But the festival shifts into high gear Thursday with daylong screenings and other events at five venues, and keeps up the pace through Saturday before winding down Sunday.
Check in with redbankgreen throughout the week for festival coverage and next-day schedules with tons of trailers to help you decide which darkened room to bring your popcorn to. Meantime, here’s the first-day lineup:
A mural on Monmouth Street near Maple Avenue touts the five-day Indie Street Film Festival, which flickers to life Wednesday. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
For the first time since 2007, Red Bank will swarm with screening maniacs this week as independent films, filmmakers and cinephiles invade the downtown — and one or two nearby outposts.
Encompassing nearly 100 feature-length and short films, four screening venues and a handful of bars and restaurants, the five-day Indie Street Film Festival kicks off Wednesday, promising to liven up a post-Independence Day interval when the borough traditionally slips into an early doldrums.
Work got underway recently on the facade and interior of the former ARC thrift shop at 77 Monmouth Street. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
Whats Going On with the former thrift shop next door to Jamian’s Food and Drink on Monmouth Street in Red Bank? More →
The first-floor restaurant at red, now closed for remodeling, will reopen under a new name in coming months. The upstairs nightclub remains open on Friday and Saturday nights. (Photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
Calling his Red Bank restaurant “red” 12 years ago turned out not to be the smartest choice in the era of the search engine, Dan Lynch admits with a laugh.
But that’s not why he shut down the Broad Street restaurant for a first-floor makeover and rebranding last Saturday, he tells redbankgreen‘s Retail Churn.
PieHole spiced up a recent lunch outing with this sandwich from the specials menu at Jamian’s Food & Drink on Monmouth Street in Red Bank.
It’s a chicken BLT on ciabatta roll with lettuce, tomato and a zesty sriracha mayo. Served with a side of fries and your favorite beverage in the open-air bar, this $7 meal serves as the centerpiece for a nice midday getaway.
Wondering where to have lunch today? Check out PieHole’s What’s for Lunch archive for some ideas. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
And when the Düsseldorf-style mustard’s gone? Well, a little beer might be nice. (Click to enlarge)
redbankgreen’s PieHole is all about local food and drink. If you haven’t liked us on Facebook yet or followed us on Twitter, you may have missed some of these recent stories . . .
• Looking for something different and light? Vietnamese summer rolls at Pho Le in Red Bank may hit the spot.
• Mustard in a mini beer stein? Jawohl!
• “Everything tastes better fried,” says the owner of Jamian’s in Red Bank. He’s serving a deep-fried cheesecake. Not kidding.
• What’s for Lunch? A zesty tuna panini says “summer” at Undici.
Follow the links to the stories, and check out PieHole’s Facebook page or follow its Twitter feed @RedBankPieHole for up-to-the-minute postings.
Tempura fried cheesecake with ice cream at Jamian’s. (Photo by Susan Ericson. Click to enlarge)
By SUSAN ERICSON
“Everything tastes better fried,” says Jamian LaViola, owner of Jamian’s Food and Drink on Monmouth Street in Red Bank.
Including cheesecake?
Well, sure, why not?
Can you identify the subject of this week’s Where Have I Seen This? Take a guess! Please send your answer to wherehaveiseenthis@redbankgreen.com.
Did you know the answer to last week’s puzzler? Let’s see who did…
PieHole checks in with area bartenders for some Valentine’s Day cocktail suggestions. (Photo by Jim Willis. Click to enlarge)
redbankgreen’s PieHole is all about local food and drink. If you haven’t liked us on Facebook yet or followed us on Twitter, you may have missed some of these recent stories . . .
• Ladies, if your date starts looking for cheap beer and Redheaded Sluts, that’s a bit of a red flag. Bartenders from Jamian’s, David Burke Fromagerie and Murphy’s Tavern share dating insights and favorite Valentine’s Day cocktails.
• We note the positive flu-recovery benefits of a diet high in pho, from Red Bank’s Phol Le.
• PieHole caught up with Dish chef Anthony Ferrando to talk about his short ribs and his favorite pizza place in town.
Follow the links to the stories, and check out PieHole’s Facebook page or follow its Twitter feed @RedBankPieHole for up-to-the-minute postings.
PieHole checks in with area bartenders, including Heather Vena and Robb McMahon of Murphy’s Tavern in Rumson, on good libations for either side of dinner. (Photo by Jim Willis. Click to enlarge)
By JIM WILLIS
Valentine’s Day falling on a Friday gives couples on the Green license to linger a little longer tonight, perhaps bookending dinner with a cocktail or two.
PieHole surveyed a few area mixologists for Valentine’s Day lessons on love and libration.
PieHole tracks down a few hot chocolate recipes from chefs, bartenders and home cooks to help you weather the storm. (Photo by Jim Willis. Click to enlarge)
By JIM WILLIS
With plenty of bacon and booze on hand, PieHole headquarters is well-stocked to weather the coming snowstorm. Besides these survival staples, though, we also believe that nothing says “snow day” like hot chocolate.
Some folks are fine with emptying the powdery contents of an envelope into a mug and adding hot water. Others prefer a long, slow melting of exotic chocolate with a touch of hot pepper.
PieHole knows there’s no one right way to make hot chocolate. We surveyed some of our area’s finest chefs, bartenders and home cooks to come up with a few recipes for you to try when you’re holed up at home by a snowstorm. If you’ve got a recipe you’d like to share, please feel free to add it to the comments below.
Jamian LaViola grabs some herbs from the rooftop garden over the restaurant’s kitchen. (Photo by Jim Willis. Click to enlarge)
By JIM WILLIS
At Jamian LaViolas eponymous Red Bank bar and restaurant, Jamians, patrons are apt to arrive on beach cruisers or skateboards, and if they come by car, there’s a good chance there’ll be a surfboard or two strapped to the roof.
That neighborhood vibe now extends to Jamians menu, with some produce coming from as nearby as a small garden atop the Monmouth Street restaurant and LaViolas backyard garden in Navesink.
This summer LaViola is harvesting greens like romaine and frisee from the home garden and using them in the kitchen.
We just brought in some lobster, and were making a fresh lobster salad tonight,” he told redbankgreen last Friday. “Will I use some of my fresh greens for that? Yeah, absolutely because it will make it just that much better.
A promo video for ‘Eat! Drink! Italy!,’ Red Bank restaurateur Victor Rallo’s new TV show, which gets a launch at the Basie Saturday night. Below, a rousing night of patriotic songs fills the First Presbyterian Church at Tower Hill Sunday. (Click to enlarge)
By ALEXIS ORLACCHIO
Friday, July 5:
RED BANK: The Josh Zuckerman Band stops by the Walt Street Pub for an energetic Friday night set. The show beings at 8 p.m. 180 Monmouth Street.
RED BANK: Blues rock guitarist Matt ORee and band perform at Jamians Food & Drink. The show begins at 8 p.m. 79 Monmouth Street.
SHREWSBURY: Monmouth County Eastern Branch Library hosts a discussion on Treasures of the Monmouth County Parks, including an update on the status of the park system post-Hurricane Sandy for this edition of First Friday for Seniors. The discussion begins at 11 a.m. 1001 Route 35 North.
