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Good morning Monmouth County! And congratulations to Monmouth County’s Teacher of the Year 2025-2026 Gillian Ober of the Freehold Borough School District. The NJ Department of Education announced the 21 county recipients on Tuesday. More on that below.

This is a special issue of Monmouth Buzz as we’re also publishing the results of our first extensive academic study; your favorite coffee spots in Monmouth County. Find that below in the Food/Drink section and join us in the coming months as we venture out to sample the brews we haven’t yet.

TODAY’S BUZZ 🐝 

✏️ Monmouth County Teacher of the Year

☕️ Our Subscribers’ Favorite Coffee Spots

🍦 Jersey Freeze Colts Neck Grand Opening

📽️ Indie Street Film Festival

🍺 Spirits of Asbury Park Haunted Bar Tour

🏃‍♀️Howell Twp./Farmingdale 5k

🎭️ Aziz Ansari at Count Basie

🎸 David Bowie Tribute at Pier Village

🌊 Ocean Temp/Tides

🥳 FAMILY FUN!

Open Pool at the Fort | 8/18-8/22 2 pm-7:30 pm | Fort Monmouth Rec Center (Tinton Falls) | info

Colorful Chemical Reactions Workshop (Ages 5-8) | 8/18 2:30 pm-3:15 pm | Manalapan Library (Manalapan) | info

Science and the Environment (Grades 3+) | 8/18 3:30 pm-4 pm | Atl. Highlands Library (Atl. Highlands) | info

The Lizard Guys-Real-life Reptiles | 8/18 3:30 pm-4:30 pm | Colts Neck Library (Colts Neck) | info

Surfing Robot PopDown Art w/David Udovic (Ages 5+) | 8/18 4 pm-4:45 pm | W. Long Branch Library (W. Long Branch) | info

Summer Sidewalk Art | 8/19 4 pm-4:45 pm | Hazlet Library (Hazlet) | info

Movies on the Beach: Inside Out 2 | 8/20 8 pm | 7th Ave. Beach (Belmar) | info

Movies by the Pool: How to Train Your Dragon | 8/20 8 pm | Middletown Sports Complex (Middletown) | info

Sea Bright Movies on the Beach: Frozen | 8/20 8:15 pm | Municipal Beach (Sea Bright) | info

Family Movie Night: Toy Story 3 | 8/20 8:30 pm-10 pm | Hall of Records (Freehold) | info

Allenhurst Carnival Night | 8/21 5 pm-8 pm | Railroad Plaza Park (Allenhurst) | info

Free Movie in the Park & Tie-Dye Party: Inside Out 2 | 8/21 6:30 pm (Movie Starts at 8 pm) | Middletown Arts Center (Middletown) | info

Movies Under the Stars: A Minecraft Movie | 8/21 6:30 pm | Howell Library Hill (Howell) | info

Baronet Outdoor Rooftop Movies: The Wedding Singer | 8/21 8 pm | Baronet Rooftop (Asbury Park) | info

Movies in the Park: Wicked | 8/21 8 pm | Memorial Park (Neptune City) | info

 📍 LOCAL EVENTS

Line Dancing | 8/19 6 pm-8 pm | 5th Ave. Gazebo (Bradley Beach) | info

Asbury Bark's Ghosts of the Boardwalk Tour (Pet Friendly) | 8/19, 8/21 7 pm | Bradley Park (Asbury Park) | info

Original Asbury Park Ghost Tours: Ghosts & Legends-Downtown Tour | 8/20 8 pm | Paranormal Books & Curiosities (Asbury Park) | info

Meet Me on Main | 8/21 6 pm | Downtown (Manasquan) | info

Meet the Seeing Eye Puppies | 8/21 7 pm-8 pm | Shrewsbury Library (Shrewsbury) | info

🍔 FOOD & 🍹 DRINK

Rook Coffee is our Subscribers’ Top Pick!

A few weeks ago we asked our subscribers and followers to weigh in on their favorite coffee spots in Monmouth County. Rook took the blue ribbon by an eyelash but some other really great coffee shops made the list as well. We’ve only experienced half the list, so we plan to visit the ones we haven’t very soon. So without further ado, here’s the list:

1. Rook (11 stores in Monmouth and Ocean Counties)

2. Driftwood (Spring Lake)

3. Turnstile (Belmar)

4. Goldrush (Asbury Park)

5. Creative Cup (Wall)

6. Offshore (Belmar & Asbury Park)

7. Batch (Manasquan)

8. Ocean Soul (Long Branch)

9. Fair Mountain (Atlantic Highlands)

10. The Perfect Perk Cafe (Bradley Beach)

11. Hey Peach Bakery (Bradley Beach)

12. Odyssey (Ocean Grove)

Jersey Freeze | Colts Neck Grand Opening | 8/19, 8/20 6 pm-9 pm | Jersey Freeze (Colts Neck) | info

Budding Bakers Camp: Deco Challenge (Rainbow Fish Theme)-Ages 5-7 | 8/19 9 am-10:30 am | Taste & Technique (Fair Haven) | info

West End Farmers Market | 8/20 9 am-3 pm | West End Park (Long Branch) | info

Bell Works Fresh Farmers & Makers Market | 8/20 11 am-4 pm | Bell Works (Holmdel) | info

Sea Bright Farm & Artisan Market | 8/20 1 pm-6 pm | Public Beach Entrance (Sea Bright) | info

Spirits of Asbury Park Haunted Bar Tour | 8/20 7:30 pm | Paranormal Books & Curiosities (Asbury Park) | info

Ocean Grove Farm Stand | 8/21 10 am-2 pm | Pilgrim Pathway/Main Ave. (Ocean Grove) | info

Girl Dinner at Robinson Ale House | 8/21 4 pm | Robinson Ale House-Pier Village (Long Branch) | info

Foodie Farmers Market | 8/21 4 pm-7 pm | Calgo Gardens (Freehold) | info

Mozzarella Making Party | 8/21 6 pm-8:30 pm | Taste & Technique (Fair Haven) | info

🎨 ART, HISTORY, EDUCATION 

Springsteen in Long Branch Gallery Opening | 8/18 8:30 am | Long Branch Arts & Cultural Center (Long Branch) | info

Seining Along Sandy Hook Bay | 8/18, 8/20 11 am-12 pm | Bayshore Waterfront Park (Port Monmouth) | info

Tour of the Great Auditorium | 8/18-8/21 12:30 pm, 1:15 pm | The Hub (Ocean Grove) | info

Casual Birder at Hatshorne Woods Park | 8/19 9 am-12 pm | Rocky Point Parking Lot (Highlands) | info

Milton & Mike Quon: Art Runs in the Family | 8/19-8/21 10 am-4 pm | Monmouth Museum-Nilson Gallery (Lincroft) | info

The Bias Inside Us: Smithsonian Exhibit | 8/19-8/21 10 am-4 pm | Monmouth Museum-Main Gallery (Lincroft) | info

Tiday Tuesday: Seine the Cove | 8/19 11 am-12 pm | Fisherman's Cove (Manasquan) | info

Senior Art Show Award Ceremony & Reception | 8/20 10 am-12 pm | Manalapan Library (Manalapan) | info

Boat Tours of the Manasquan Reservoir | 8/20 2 pm, 3 pm, 4 pm | Manasquan Reservoir Visitor Center (Howell) | info

Meet the Pollinators: Native Plants | 8/20 2:30 pm-3:15 pm | Manalapan Library (Manalapan) | info

Fishing 101: A Beginner's Guide to Fishing | 8/21 9 am-1 pm | Manasquan Reservoir Visitor Center (Howell) | info

Explore Life in a Freshwater Pond | 8/21 11 am-12 pm | Freneau Woods Park (Aberdeen) | info

Nature Lecture Series: Sea Turtles of the Jersey Shore | 8/21 7 pm-8 pm | Bayshore Waterfront Park (Port Monmouth) | info

🎭️ THEATER, CINEMA, & COMEDY

Goin' Buggy-Summer Workshop | 8/18 6 pm | Spring Lake Theater (Spring Lake) | info

How to Eat Like a Child-Summer Workshop | 8/18 7:30 pm | Spring Lake Theater (Spring Lake) | info

Indie Street Film Festival | 8/18-8/24 Various | Basie Center Cinemas/The Vogel (Red Bank) | info

Newsies Jr.-Summer Workshop | 8/19 7:30 pm | Spring Lake Theater (Spring Lake) | info

Open Mic Poetry-Reinvention & the Romantic Era | 8/20 7 pm-8:30 pm | Thompson Park Theater Barn (Lincroft) | info

The Sound of Music | 8/20, 8/21 7:30 pm | Spring Lake Theater (Spring Lake) | info

Power Bottom: A Comedy Show | 8/21 6:30 pm | House of Independents (Asbury Park) | info

Aziz Ansari | 8/21 7 pm | Count Basie: HMH Theater (Red Bank) | info

Dare to Dream Jr. | 8/21 7 pm | Bell Theater (Holmdel) | info

Open Mic Comedy Night | 8/21 7 pm | Basie Center Cinemas (Red Bank) | info

All That Jazz | 8/21 7:30 pm | The Showroom (Asbury Park) | info

Jersey Shore's Top Comic | 8/21 7:30 pm | Count Basie: The Vogel (Red Bank) | info

🎸 LIVE MUSIC 🥁 

Opera by the Sea | 8/18 6 pm-8 pm | 5th Ave. Gazebo (Bradley Beach) | info

Music Monday's Concert Series: Ms. G & Da Guys, Kuf Knotz & Christine Elise | 8/18 6 pm-8 pm | Springwood Park (Asbury Park) | info

Starman: A Tribute to David Bowie | 8/18 7 pm | Carousel Stage-Pier Village (Long Branch) | info

Tuesdays on Broadway: Midnight Jack | 8/19 7 pm-8:30 pm | Broadway Bandshell (Long Branch) | info

Devon Allman's Blues Summit | 8/19 7:30 pm | Count Basie: The Vogel (Red Bank) | info

Wednesday Summer Jazz Series: Jersey Swamp Cats | 8/20 7 pm-9 pm | Riley Park (Bradley Beach) | info

Cafe Artiste | 8/20 7 pm | Jersey Shore Arts Center (Ocean Grove) | info

AP Live on the Boardwalk Concert Series: Mike Frank & Friends and Foes of Fern | 8/20 7 pm-10 pm | First Ave. Green (Asbury Park) | info

Magical Mystery Doors: Music of The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and The Doors | 8/20 7:30 pm | Axelrod PAC (Deal) | info

Anchor Jam on the River Queen | 8/21 6:30 pm-9 pm | River Queen (Atl. Highlands) | info

Songwriters on the Beach | 8/21 7 pm-9 pm | Newark Ave. Beach (Bradley Beach) | info

Thursdays by the Sea: Joe Baracata Band | 8/21 7 pm-8:30 pm | Great Lawn Stage (Long Branch) | info

Colts Neck Sounds of Summer: The Last Whippoorwills | 8/21 7 pm-8:30 pm | Town Hall, Pondside (Colts Neck) | info

Hazlet Summer Concerts in the Park: Pump-Aerosmith Tribute | 8/21 7 pm | Veterans Park (Hazlet) | info

Manasquan Beach Concert: Groove Sharks | 8/21 7 pm-10 pm | Main Beach (Manasquan) | info

Thursdays Rock Summer Concert Series: Turnstyles | 8/21 7:30 pm-9:30 pm | Hall of Records (Freehold) | info

⚾️ SPORTS & FITNESS 🏃‍♂️ 

Early Bird Swim Workout | 8/18-8/22 7 am-10 am | Fort Monmouth Rec Center (Tinton Falls) | info

Blue Claws vs Hudson Valley | 8/19-8/21 T 6:35 pm, W 5:05 pm, Th 7:05 pm | Shoretown Ballpark (Lakewood) | info

12th Annual Howell Twp./Farmingdale 5k Race & Race Walk | 8/20 6 pm | Howell High School (Howell) | info

Monmouth U Men's Soccer vs New Haven | 8/21 7 pm | Monmouth U. (W. Long Branch) | info

🌊 ☀️ BEACH

Asbury Park - Ocean Temp. 77°F

Mon 8/18: High 3:20 am | Low 9:06 am | High 3:49 pm | Low 10:35 pm | Sunrise 6:11 am | Sunset 7:50 pm

Tue 8/19: High 4:30 am | Low 10:30 am | High 4:56 pm | Low 11:32 pm | Sunrise 6:12 am | Sunset 7:49 pm

Wed 8/20: Low 12:06 am | High 5:53 am | Low 12:02 pm | High 6:16 pm | Sunrise 6:13 am | Sunset 7:48 pm

Thu 8/21: Low 12:58 am | High 6:49 am | Low 12:02 pm | High 12:56 pm | Sunrise 6:13 am | Sunset 7:55 pm