Miznon Kosher & First Watch!!

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Good morning Monmouth County! And Merry Christmas! In any other county in America this weekend would be pretty wild. But in Monmouth County this is a very chill and manageable weekend between major holidays. If you do nothing else this weekend, check out Ty Mares at Asbury Lanes.

TODAY’S BUZZ 🐝 

🏠️ Christmas House at Freehold Raceway Mall

🎄Old World Style Christmas Market at Fox Hollow Vineyards

🏮 Weekend Workshop at Monmouth Museum

🥒 Miznon Kosher Opening

🍳First Watch Opening

🍻 Bakes Brewing Two Year Anniversary

🎭️ My Three Angels at First Ave Playhouse

🎸 Ty Mares & The Metaphorical at Asbury Lanes

🏃‍♀️Polar Bear Races

🌊 Ocean Temp/Tides

📰 NEWS

🌳 Open Space Grants

Last month the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners announced the on-going investment in local recreation by awarding $6 million in grants to 27 municipalities through the 2025 Municipal Open Space Grant (MOSG) program. Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone and Commissioner Ross F. Licitra highlighted the program as a vital partnership that supports physical and mental health by funding projects ranging from all-inclusive playgrounds in Manalapan to waterfront improvements in Fair Haven and the Brielle Eco Path. Several towns, including Middletown, Red Bank, and Wall Township, received the maximum award of $361,817 for significant upgrades to local landmarks like Count Basie Park and Camp Evans. By helping local officials meet acquisition and conservation goals, this long-standing initiative ensures that Monmouth County remains a premier destination for green spaces and high-quality community living. info

🎄 HOLIDAY EVENTS

Christmas Train Village | 12/26-12/31 12pm-5pm | Duggan Hall (Spring Lake) | info 

Magic of Lights | 12/26-12/28 F/S 5pm-11pm, Su 5pm-10pm | PNC Arts Center (Holmdel) | info 

The Village at Anne Ellen Christmas Tree Farm | 12/26-12/28 5pm-9pm | Anne Ellen Tree Farm (Manalapan) | info 

Merry Mile of Lights | 12/26-12/28 5:30pm-9:30pm | A. Casola Farms (Holmdel) | info 

Old Fashioned Christmas on the Farm | 12/26-12/28 4pm-8pm | Allaire Community Farm (Wall) | info 

Christmas House | 12/26-12/28 F/S 11am-9pm, Su 11am-7pm | Freehold Raceway Mall (Freehold) | info 

Miracle Pop-Up Bar at iPlay America | 12/26-12/28 F 12pm-12am, S 10am-12am, S 10am-10pm | The Bistro-iPlay America (Freehold) | info 

Miracle Pop-up Bar at Avenue | 12/26-12/28 F 12pm-9pm, S/Su 11am-9pm | Avenue-Pier Village (Long Branch) | info 

Old World Style Christmas Market | 12/27, 12/28 12pm-7pm | Fox Hollow Vineyards (Holmdel) | info 

Downtown Red Bank Holiday Trolley | 12/27 12pm-4pm | RiverCenter (Red Bank) | info

🥳 FAMILY FUN!

Tiny Hands Studio (Art) | 12/27 10am | Sun Moon Studio (Keyport) | info 

Weekend Workshop: Winter Lanterns | 12/27, 12/28 10:30am, 1pm | Monmouth Museum (Lincroft) | info

📍 LOCAL EVENTS

Middletown Outdoor Winter Wonderland | 12/26-3/8 11am-7:30pm | Middletown Sports Complex (Middletown) | info 

Year End Sale & Celebration | 12/26-12/28 12pm-12am | RiverCenter (Red Bank) | info 

Disney Night Dance Party | 12/26 8pm | House of Independents (Asbury Park) | info 

Gimme Gimme Disco | 12/27 10pm | House of Independents (Asbury Park) | info

🍔 FOOD & 🍹 DRINK

🥒 Miznon Kosher Opening at Bell Works

Miznon Kosher has officially delivered the vibrant energy of Tel Aviv street food to Monmouth County with its grand opening on the ground floor of Bell Works in Holmdel. Helmed by Michelin-starred celebrity chef Eyal Shani, this 2,300-square-foot eatery is the brand's first New Jersey venture and one of its few locations globally to hold a strict OU Glatt Kosher certification. The restaurant’s design features olive-colored walls adorned with hand-drawn chalk art, creating a rustic backdrop for signature dishes like the world-famous whole roasted cauliflower, "run over" potatoes, and pillowy pitas stuffed with everything from rib eye minute steak to melting chickpeas. Open for lunch and dinner from Sunday through Thursday, the spot has quickly become a cornerstone of the "metroburb" community, offering a high-energy dining experience where food is famously served in brown paper bags and on cardboard. info

🍳 First Watch Opening in Eatontown

First Watch has officially expanded into Monmouth County with the grand opening of its new Eatontown location at the corner of Route 35 and Wyckoff Road. Situated in the same complex as Amazon Fresh and Hackensack Meridian Urgent Care, this "Daytime Cafe" specializes in health-conscious breakfast, brunch, and lunch offerings served daily from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The menu features a mix of traditional favorites and innovative dishes, such as their lemon ricotta pancakes, avocado toast, and the "Million Dollar Bacon," alongside a fresh juice bar serving popular blends like the Morning Meditation. As the brand's first foray into the Monmouth-Ocean area, the restaurant provides a bright, modern atmosphere for diners looking for organic, vegan, or gluten-free options without the late-night hours. info

Cork & Explore: Walk Around Wine Tasting Experience | 12/26 6pm-8pm | Avenue-Pier Village (Long Branch) | info 

Bakes Brewing Two Year Anniversary Party | 12/27 12pm-10pm | Bakes Brewing Co. (Wall) | info 

Bakes Gone Wild Pizza | 12/27 12pm-8pm | Bakes Brewing Co. (Wall) | info 

Smash N Grab Burger Truck | 12/28 12pm-7pm | Bakes Brewing Co. (Wall) | info 

Elf Movie Lunch | 12/28 12:30pm | Alterate Ending Beer Co. (Aberdeen) | info

🎨 ART, HISTORY & EDUCATION

Great Beads for Good Causes | 12/27, 12/28 9am-9pm | Shrewsbury Library (Shrewsbury) | info 

Manasquan River Group of Artists Art Exhibit | 12/27, 12/28 9am-5pm | Wall Library (Wall) | info 

Narwhal: Revealing an Arctic Legend | 12/27, 12/28 10am-4pm | Monmouth Museum (Lincroft) | info 

Members Showcase: Celebrating Creativity Exhibit | 12/27, 12/28 10am-4pm | Monmouth Museum (Lincroft) | info

🎭️ THEATER, CINEMA, & COMEDY

Joe Matarese (Comedy) | 12/26 7pm | Count Basie-The Vogel (Red Bank) | info 

My Three Angels | 12/26-12/28 F/S 7:30pm, Su | First Ave Playhouse (Atl. Highlands) | info 

ComedySportz: Live Improv...Played as a Sport | 12/27 7pm | Jersey Shore Arts Center (Ocean Grove) | info 

200 Cigarettes (Cinema) | 12/27 7:30pm | The Showroom (Asbury Park) | info 

Langston Hughes' Black Nativity | 12/28 4pm | Count Basie-HMH Theater (Red Bank) | info

🎸 LIVE MUSIC 🥁 

Ty Mares & The Metaphorical

Ty Mares and his ensemble, The Metaphorical, have carved out a distinctive niche in the Jersey Shore music scene by seamlessly blending Berklee-trained technical precision with the soulful, improvisational spirit of a jam band. Fronted by the versatile guitarist and vocalist Ty Mares—a musician who cut his teeth in the competitive local circuit before gaining national recognition as a semi-finalist at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis—the group delivers a sophisticated soundscape that fuses blues, funk, and psychedelic rock. Known for their tight chemistry and the ability to pivot from high-energy rhythmic grooves to atmospheric, expansive jams, the band features a lineup of seasoned musicians including Greg Warren, Matt Hillblom, Anthony Mathison, and Tommy Allen Jr. Whether performing original material that highlights Mares’ R&B-inflected vocals or reimagining classics with a contemporary twist, Ty Mares & The Metaphorical continue to elevate the artistic standard of venues like Asbury Lanes and The Stone Pony, making this generation of the Jersey Shore’s sound possibly the most compelling.

Ty Mares & The Metaphorical | 12/26 7:30 PM | Asbury Lanes (Asbury Park) | info 

Sam MacPherson | 12/27 8pm | The Stone Pony (Asbury Park) | info 

Winter Break Party: Local Band Extravaganza | 12/28 2pm-8pm | The Stone Pony (Asbury Park) | info 

Swinging Sundays: Jazz Night | 12/28 7pm-10pm | The Asbury Hotel (Asbury Park) | info 

Adam Ezra Group | 12/28 7:00 PM | Count Basie-The Vogel (Red Bank) | info 

Jim Jones | 12/28 7:00 PM | House of Independents (Asbury Park) | info

⚾️ SPORTS & FITNESS 🏃‍♂️ 

Asbury Park Polar Bear Races | 12/27 9:30am | Convention Center (Asbury Park) | info

🌊 ☀️ BEACH

Asbury Park - Ocean Temp. 42°F

Fri 12/26: Low 4:53 am | High 11:17 am | Low 5:28 pm | High 11:57 pm | Sunrise 7:18 am | Sunset 4:37 pm

Sat 12/27: Low 5:59 am | High 12:11 am | Low 6:23 pm | Sunrise 7:18 am | Sunset 4:37 pm

Sun 12/28: High 12:50 am | Low 7:15 am | High 1:09 am | Low 7:26 pm | Sunrise 7:19 am | Sunset 4:38 pm