🍲Beach Haus Chili Cook-Off🍺!!

Together With

Good morning Monmouth County! Earlier in the week it looked like we were about to get knocked on our collective highnesses (one of Amanda’s many malapropisms) this weekend by an even bigger snow storm. But as of this publication it looks like we’ve sidestepped that one. Or maybe not. Who knows.

TODAY’S BUZZ 🐝 

☀️Light of Day Foundation Success

🥊 Fight For James Bitzer

👸 Daddy-Daughter Dances

🍔 Little Andy’s Burger Pop-Up

🥩 Highlands Beef and Brew🍺 

🍲 Chili Cook-Off at Beach Haus Brewery

💘Bell Works Fresh Valentine’s Day Pop-Up Market

🇧🇲 Collie Buddz at The Stone Pony

🧊 Ice Harvest at Howell Living History Farm

📽️ Bugonia, Sentimental Value, and The Sting at The Showroom

🎾 Monmouth U. Sports

🌊 Ocean Temp/Tides

📰 NEWS

☀️ Light of Day Foundation Success

Light of Day Foundation recently hit a massive milestone, raising over $7.5 million to date in its mission to fund research for Parkinson’s disease, ALS, and PSP. The foundation’s 26th annual "Winterfest" culminated last week with high-energy events across Monmouth County, including the legendary "Bob’s Birthday Bash" at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank. The festival, which featured performances from John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls and a surprise appearance by Bruce Springsteen, once again transformed local stages into platforms for hope and community action.

The "Main Event" was particularly poignant this year, as Springsteen joined longtime friends Joe Grushecky and Gary U.S. Bonds for a high-octane set that included rarities like "I'm Not Sleeping" and "Lucky Town." Beyond the music, the evening served as a powerful call for unity, with Springsteen dedicating a performance of "The Promised Land" to local victims of national tragedies and the broader "Light of Day" ensemble closing with the traditional group rendition of the foundation's namesake anthem. This year’s success reinforces Monmouth County’s status as the heart of this global movement, proving that the "awesome power of music" remains a formidable tool in the fight for a cure.

🥊 Fight For James Bitzer

The GoFundMe for 6 year old James Bitzer has raised a couple thousand more dollars since the last issue of Monmouth Buzz which is fantastic. We’re going to keep this up as to encourage as many as we can and to show the Bitzer’s they’re not alone.

The link to the GoFundMe is below and has more information about James and the clinical trial.

🥳 FAMILY FUN!

Storytime & Craft: Groundhog Day | 1/30-2/1 10am-4pm | Monmouth Museum (Lincroft) | info 

Daddy-Daughter Dance | 1/30-2/1 F 6pm-9pm, S 5pm-8pm, Su 11am-2pm | Jacques Banquet Hall (Middletown) | info 

Tiny Hands Studio | 1/31 10am | Sun Moon Studio (Keyport) | info 

A Wicked Fairytale - A Musical For Kids | 1/31 12pm | Freehold Learning Center (Freehold) | info

📍 LOCAL EVENTS

Manasquan Public Library Book Sale | 1/30 10am-3pm | Manasquan Library (Manasquan) | info 

National Seed Swap Day | 1/31 10:30am-11:30am | Freneau Woods Park Visitor Center (Aberdeen) | info 

Super Friendz Collectibles Show | 1/31 10am-4pm | Jersey Shore Arts Center (Ocean Grove) | info 

DIY Chunky Yarn Blanket Workshop | 1/31 10am-1pm | Taylor Pavilion (Belmar) | info 

Revolutionary Pieces: Jigsaw Puzzle Tournament | 1/31 2pm-4pm | Manalapan Library (Manalapan) | info 

Collingwood Craft Show | 1/31, 2/1 8am-3pm | Collingwood Flea Market & Auction (Farmingdale) | info 

Allentown Library Book Sale | 2/1 9am-5pm | Allentown Library (Allentown) | info 

Bell Works Fresh Valentine's Day Pop-Up Market | 2/1 11am-4pm | Bell Works (Holmdel) | info

🍔 FOOD & 🍹 DRINK

🍲 Beach Haus Chili Cook-Off 🍺 

Beach Haus Brewery in Belmar is turning up the heat this Saturday, January 31, for its 3rd Annual Chili Cook-Off. From 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM, the brewery will transform into a tasting arena where local home cooks battle for titles like "Chili Champion" and "People's Choice." For a $15 entry fee—which includes your first beer—attendees can sample a massive variety of secret recipes while enjoying live music from NGXB and BC MacGowan (of Los Gringos). It’s a high-energy community staple that pairs fiery flavors with cold drafts, making it the perfect winter weekend hang for Monmouth County locals.

🥩 Highlands Beef and Brew 🍺 

Highlands Business Partnership is kicking off the countdown to St. Patrick’s Day with its 16th Annual Beef & Brew Fundraiser this Sunday, February 1st. Hosted at Proving Ground (56 Shrewsbury Avenue) from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the event offers a hearty Irish buffet featuring corned beef and cabbage, shepherd's pie, and two beer tickets included with the $50 admission. Attendees will be treated to live entertainment from the Middlesex County Police & Fire Pipes and Drums and high-energy Irish dancers, all while celebrating the 2026 Grand Marshal, Mayor Carolyn Broullon, who will be presented with her official sash. All proceeds from the afternoon support the 21st Annual Highlands St. Patrick's Day Parade scheduled for March 21st.

Unlimited Pizza Night | 1/30 4pm-9pm | The Bistro-iPlay America (Freehold) | info 

Cork & Explore: Wine Tasting Experience | 1/30 6pm-8pm | Avenue-Pier Village (Long Branch) | info 

Modern Italian Dinner Party (Adult class) | 1/30 6:30pm-9pm | Taste & Technique (Fair Haven) | info 

Tacokase Event (Taco Omakase) | 1/30, 1/31 4pm-8pm | Barrio Costero (Asbury Park) | info 

Kiss and Tell: Valentine's Pop-Up Bar | 1/20-2/22 F 4pm-12am, S 10am-12am, Su 10am-9pm | The Bistro-iPlay America (Freehold) | info 

A Cook & A Book: Pete's Pizza Party | 1/31 9am-10:30am | Taste & Technique (Fair Haven) | info 

Gluten-Free Gourmet Brunch (Adult Class) | 1/31 11am-1:30pm | Taste & Technique (Fair Haven) | info 

Little Andy's Burgers Pop-Up | 1/31 12pm-3pm | Off The Rails Screenprinting (Asbury Park) | info 

Chili Cook-Off at Beach Haus | 1/31 12pm-5pm | Beach Haus Brewery (Belmar) | info 

Mexi-Boys Food Truck at Bakes | 1/31 2pm-8pm | Bakes Brewing Co. (Wall) | info 

Locale Pizza Pop-Up | 1/31 2pm-8pm | Skinny Flowers Brewing (Oceanport) | info 

Smash N' Grab Burger at Bakes | 2/1 12pm-7pm | Bakes Brewing Co. (Wall) | info 

Highlands Annual Beef & Brew | 2/1 3pm | Proving Ground (Highlands) | info 

Make Your Own Gin Class | 2/1 3pm | 3BR Distillery (Keyport) | info

🎨 ART, HISTORY & EDUCATION

Whispers on the Water: Images of Coastal Regions Exhibit | 1/30-2/21 9am-9pm | Shrewsbury Library (Shrewsbury) | info 

Narwhal: Revealing an Arctic Legend | 1/30-3/1 T-Su 10am-4pm | Monmouth Museum (Lincroft) | info 

Nina Nemeth: Shared Spaces Exhibit | 1/30-3/1 T-Su 10am-4pm | Monmouth Museum (Lincroft) | info 

Lightning in a Bottle: A Love Letter to the Original Asbury Lanes | 1/30-2/1 F/S 12pm-9pm, Su 11am-7pm | Parlor Gallery (Asbury Park) | info 

Nature vs Nurture Exhibit: Opening Reception | 1/30 5:30pm-8pm | ArtSpace (Red Bank) | info 

Horror Author Steven Farkas Book Talk & Signing | 1/30 6pm-7:30pm | Paranormal Books & Curiosities (Asbury Park) | info 

Ice Harvest | 1/31 10am-4pm | Howell Living History Farm (Howell) | info 

Portrait Photography Workshop | 1/31 10am-12pm | Lincroft Park Area (Lincroft) | info 

Free Weekend Workshop Series | 1/31-2/1 11am-2pm | Monmouth Museum (Lincroft) | info 

Reception for Annual Photography Exhibit | 1/31 1pm-3pm | Middletown Library (Middletown) | info 

Cutting, Splitting and Hewing | 2/1 12:30pm-2:30pm | Historic Longstreet Farm (Holmdel) | info 

Seal and Winter Waterfowl Walk - Sandy Hook | 2/1 1pm-3pm | American Littoral Society HQ (Highlands) | info 

Groundhogs, Woodchucks, and Whistlepigs...Oh my! | 2/1 1pm-3pm | Historic Walnford (Upper Freehold) | info 

Free Guided Battlefield Walk: The Fight at the Point of Woods | 2/1 1:30pm | Monmouth Battlefield State Park (Manalapan) | info 

Meant to Be Art Exhibition | 2/2-2/27 M/W/Th/F 8am-4pm, T 8am-9pm | Middletown Arts Center (Middletown) | info

🎭️ THEATER, CINEMA & COMEDY

A Private Life (Cinema) | 1/30 4:30pm, 7pm | Basie Center Cinemas (Red Bank) | info 

The Rocky Horror Picture Show | 1/30 10pm | Basie Center Cinemas (Red Bank) | info 

Bugonia (Cinema) | 1/30-2/1 F 7:30pm, S 5pm, Su 3pm | The Showroom (Asbury Park) | info 

Sentimental Value (Cinema) | 1/30-2/1 F 7:15pm, S 4:30pm, 7:15pm, Su 2:45pm | The Showroom (Asbury Park) | info 

California Suite | 1/30-2/1 F/S 7:30pm, Su 2:30pm | First Ave Playhouse (Atl. Highlands) | info 

ComedySportz Live Improv | 1/31 7pm | Jersey Shore Arts Center (Ocean Grove) | info 

The Sting (Cinema) | 1/31 7:30pm | The Showroom (Asbury Park) | info 

Midnight Madness (Cinema) | 1/31 10pm, 11:59pm | Basie Center Cinemas (Red Bank) | info

🎸 LIVE MUSIC 🥁 

Broadway's Greatest Love Songs | 1/30-2/1 F/S 7pm, Su 2pm | Jersey Shore Arts Center (Ocean Grove) | info 

The Big Gig- Lakehouse Music Academy | 1/30-2/1 F 4pm, S/Su 9am | Asbury Lanes (Asbury Park) | info 

The TRIP | 1/30 6pm | House of Independents (Asbury Park) | info 

Candlelight Concerts: Tribute to Fleetwood Mac | 1/30 6pm | Pollak Theatre (W. Long Branch) | info 

Elvis Birthday Bash | 1/30 7:30pm | Count Basie-HMH Theatre (Red Bank) | info 

Richard Elliot | 1/30 7:30pm | Count Basie-The Vogel (Red Bank) | info 

Collie Buddz | 1/30 8pm | The Stone Pony (Asbury Park) | info 

Candlelight Concerts: 90's Hip-Hop on Strings | 1/30 8:30pm | Pollak Theatre (W. Long Branch) | info 

Generations | 1/31 5pm | The Stone Pony (Asbury Park) | info 

New Jersey Symphony: Romeo & Juliet | 1/31 7:30pm | Count Basie-HMH Theatre (Red Bank) | info 

Bell Bottom Blues: Clapton Tribute Band | 1/31 7:30pm | Count Basie-The Vogel (Red Bank) | info 

Magical Mystery Doors: Beatles, Zeppelin, Doors Tribute | 1/31 8pm | Algonquin Theatre (Manasquan) | info 

School of Rock Red Bank - End of Season Shows | 2/1 11:30am-1:30pm | The Stone Pony (Asbury Park) | info 

Concert Crave Artist Showcase | 2/1 4pm *Postponed from 1/25* | House of Independents (Asbury Park) | info 

Swinging Sundays: Jazz Night | 2/1 7pm-10pm | The Asbury Hotel (Asbury Park) | info

⚾️ SPORTS & FITNESS 🏃‍♂️ 

Back Handspring Clinic | 1/30 4pm-5:30pm | Allaire Gymnastics (Manasquan) | info 

Monmouth U. Women's Basketball vs Drexel | 1/30 7pm | Monmouth U. (W. Long Branch) | info 

Monmouth U. Men's Swimming vs LaSalle | 1/31 11am | Monmouth U. (W. Long Branch) | info 

Monmouth U. Men's Basketball vs Hofstra | 1/31 2pm | Monmouth U. (W. Long Branch) | info 

Monmouth U. Men's Tennis vs Quinnipiac | 2/1 6pm | Park Avenue Tennis Center (Oakhurst) | info

🌊 ☀️ BEACH

Asbury Park - Ocean Temp. 37°F 

Fri 1/30: High 4:40am | Low 11:13am | High 5:17pm | Low 11:11pm | Sunrise 7:08am | Sunset 5:12pm

Sat 1/31: High 5:38am | Low 12:06pm | High 6:12pm | Sunrise 7:07am | Sunset 5:14pm

Sun 2/1: Low 12:07am | High 6:30am | Low 12:56pm | High 7:06pm | Sunrise 7:05am | Sunset 5:10pm