🎸Sunday Surprise from The Boss!!

Together With

Good morning Monmouth County! It’s the last weekend before Christmas and we’ve got a little early present for you. Find your way to the Food/Drink section for a dessert recommendation that will make you the most popular kid at the holiday party!

TODAY’S BUZZ 🐝 

🎸 Sunday Surprise from The Boss

🎅 Santa Breakfasts and Brunches 🥞 

🎄 Christmas at The Historic Village at Allaire

☃️ Asbury Park Holiday Bazaar Series

🏠️ Christmas House at Freehold Raceway Mall

🧸 Manasquan Arts & Crafts Fair

🍪 Gingerbread Workshop at Minnows

📚️ Lightning in a Bottle: A Love Letter to Asbury Lanes

🎭️ The Wag’s Christmas Spectacular

🎙️ Chris Pinnella Christmas

🏀 Monmouth U. Basketball

🌊 Ocean Temp/Tides

📰 NEWS

🎸 Sunday Surprise from The Boss

Bruce Springsteen surprised fans at The Stone Pony this past Sunday, joining Steven Van Zandt and the Disciples of Soul for the 50th annual Hungerthon benefit. While the legendary duo was mid-performance, a fire alarm unexpectedly triggered, cutting the power to the amplifiers and bringing the house lights up.

Despite the technical glitch, the spirit of the evening remained high. The crowd took over, leading a massive sing-along of Jersey Shore classics, while Springsteen kept the rhythm going by jamming on the congas with percussionist Anthony Almonte. Once the alarm was cleared and the power restored, The Boss and Little Steven picked up right where they left off, delivering an defiant rendition of "I Don’t Want to Go Home."

🎄 HOLIDAYS

🎅 Santa Breakfast & Brunch 🥞 

Breakfast with Santa (Registration Only) | 12/20 9am-12pm | Bucky James Community Center (Long Branch) | info

Breakfast Buffet with Santa | 12/20 9am-12pm | Ocean Place Resort & Spa (Long Branch) | info

Brunch with Santa | 12/21 10am-3pm | The American Hotel (Freehold) | info 

Santa Brunch | 12/20 11am-2pm | The Bistro-iPlay America (Freehold) | info

Brunch with Santa | 12/21 10am-3pm | The Proving Ground (Highlands) | info 

Brunch with Santa | 12/21 10am-3pm | McLoone's Pier House (Long Branch) | info 

Brunch with Santa | 12/21 10am-3pm | The Rum Runner (Sea Bright) | info 

Sunday Brunch with Santa | 12/21 11am-3pm | MJ's at The Buttonwood Manor (Matawan) | info

Frosty, Grinch, Santa Brunch | 12/21 11am-2pm | The Bistro-iPlay America (Freehold) | info

🎄 Holiday Events

Red Bank Elf Scavenger Hunt: 12/19-12/21 All Day | Various Locations (Red Bank) | info 

Magic of Lights: 12/19-1/3 Su-Th 5pm-10pm, F/S 5pm-11pm | PNC Arts Center (Holmdel) | info 

The Village at Anne Ellen Christmas Tree Farms: 12/19-12/30 5pm-9pm | Anne Ellen Christmas Tree Farm (Manalapan) | info 

Christmas House: 12/19-12/31 M/W/Th 4pm-9pm T 4pm-9:30pm | Freehold Raceway Mall (Freehold) | info 

U-Pick Tulips Winter Wonderland: 12/19-12/21 5pm-9pm | Holland Ridge Farms (Cream Ridge) | info 

Christmas Wonderland at Maple Leaf Farms: 12/19-12/21 F 12pm-8pm, S/Su 10am-5pm | Maple Leaf Farms (Manalapan) | info 

Christmas Train Village: 12/19-12/21 12pm-5pm | Duggan Hall (Spring Lake) | info 

Merry Mile of Lights: 12/19-12/21 5:30pm-9:30pm | A. Casola Farms (Holmdel) | info 

Asbury Park Holiday Bazaar Series: 12/19-12/21 12pm-5pm | Convention Hall, Asbury Hotel, Whitechapel Projects (Asbury Park, Long Branch) | info 

Old Fashioned Christmas on the Farm & Walk-Through Light Show: 12/19-12/21 4pm-8pm | Allaire Community Farm (Wall) | info 

The Holiday Evening Stroll: 12/19, 12/20 6pm-9pm | Historic Village at Allaire (Wall) | info 

Christmas VIP Lantern Tours: 12/19, 12/20 4:30pm-7pm | Historic Village at Allaire (Wall) | info 

Highlands Holiday Lights Contest: 12/19 5pm-10pm | Town Wide (Highlands) | info 

Holiday Pop-Up Market: 12/20, 12/21 9am-3pm | Colonial Nursery (Lincroft) | info 

Bell Works Fresh Holiday Market: 12/20 12pm-4pm | Bell Works (Holmdel) | info 

Strolling Santa by the Sea: 12/20 12pm-2pm | Pier Village (Long Branch) | info 

Strolling Christmas Carolers: 12/20 12pm-3pm | Pier Village (Long Branch) | info 

Visit with Santa at Historic Longstreet Farm: 12/20 12pm-3pm | Historic Longstreet Farm (Holmdel) | info 

19th Century Christmas Ballads: 12/20 1pm-3pm | Historic Longstreet Farm (Holmdel) | info 

Ugly Sweater Party & Contest: 12/20 12pm-6pm | Tall Oaks Farm & Brewery (Farmingdale) | info 

Christmas on the Farm: 12/20 1pm-6:30pm | Screamin' Hill Brewery (Cream Ridge) | info 

Christmas Light Show: 12/20 6pm-9pm | Pyanoe Plaza (Belmar) | info 

Porta Holiday Market: 12/21 12pm-4pm | Porta (Asbury Park) | info 

Strolling A Capella Entertainement: 12/21 12pm-3pm | Pier Village (Long Branch) | info 

Christmas at Allaire: 12/21 11am-4pm | Historic Village at Allaire (Wall) | info 

Menorah Lighting: 12/21 5:30pm-7pm | Pier Village (Long Branch) | info

🥳 FAMILY FUN!

Middletown Winter Wonderland: 12/19-3/8 F-Su 11am-7:30pm | Middletown Sports Complex (Middletown) | info 

Raising Sunshine Pizza, Play & Santa Magic: 12/19 2pm, 3:30pm | Raising Sunshine (Shrewsbury) | info 

Grinch-Storytime & Crafts: 12/19-12/21 10am-4pm | Monmouth Museum (Lincroft) | info 

Raising Sunshine Gingerbread Spice and Everything Nice: 12/20 9am | Raising Sunshine (Shrewsbury) | info 

Mr. & Mrs. Claus at Colonial Market: 12/20 9am-3pm | Colonial Nursery (Lincroft) | info 

Tiny Hands Studio: 12/20 10am | Sun Moon Studio (Keyport) | info 

Weekend Art Workshop - Dreidel & Wooden Ornaments: 12/20, 12/21 10:30am, 1pm | Monmouth Museum (Lincroft) | info 

Santa Express at Pine Creek Railroad: 12/20, 12/21 S 11am-4pm, 6pm-7:30pm, Su 11am-4pm | NJ Museum of Transportation (Wall) | info 

Manasquan Visit with Santa at Christmas Central: 12/20 12pm-4pm | 114 Main St. (Manasquan) | info 

Storytime with Mrs. Claus: 12/20, 12/21 12pm-1pm | Monmouth Museum (Lincroft) | info 

The Dancing Up from The Savannah Bananas: 12/20 12:30pm-2pm | Warehouse 100-iPlay America (Freehold) | info 

Winter Icons Character Brunch: 12/21 11am-2pm | The Bistro-iPlay America (Freehold) | info

📍 LOCAL EVENTS

Partners Board Game Tournament | 12/21 12pm-6pm | Bar Bella-Bell Works (Holmdel) | info 

Manasquan Arts & Crafts Fair | 12/20 10am-3pm | St. Denis School (Manasquan) | info 

New Jersey Sports Card Convention | 12/20, 12/21 S 10am-6pm, Su 10am-4pm | Warehouse 100-iPlay America (Freehold) | info 

Winter Solstice Vendor Market | 12/20 2pm-5pm | 3 BR Distillery (Keyport) | info 

90's Night Dance Party | 12/19 9pm | House of Independents (Asbury Park) | info 

Vintage Sale | 12/21 12pm-5pm | Transparent Clinch Gallery (Asbury Park) | info

🍔 FOOD & 🍹 DRINK

🍳 Lita Chefs Appear on Food Network

Monmouth County’s culinary scene took center stage last month as Chef’s David Viana and Brian Lopes, the powerhouse duo behind Aberdeen’s acclaimed Lita, faced off against Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli on Food Network’s Alex vs. America. Competing in the Season 5 "Restaurant Teams" episode, the pair brought the same high-level expertise and synergy they developed at world-class institutions like Aldea and The Aviary to the national screen. While they ultimately fell short of a victory against the Iron Chef, the episode served as a masterful showcase of their decades-long partnership, which began in culinary school and has since defined the sophisticated flavors of Lita. Their appearance highlighted not just their technical precision, but the deep-rooted mutual respect and "culinary shorthand" that has made them one of the most formidable teams in the industry today.

🥣 Mind the Gap Banana Pudding

Last weekend when we met our new friend Deni at Creative Cup Coffee in Wall we also learned about her sister Rhawnie who is the proprietor of Mind the Gap Coffee in Monroe Twp. We’re breaking with protocol a little by going just slightly out of County here but you need to trust us with this one. Our friend Kyheem, who introduced us to these Barista Sistas, was generous enough to deliver a few monstrous tubs of Mind the Gap’s pudding to some hungry police officers and the response was amazing! “Outrageous,” “OMG,” “Incredible,” and “that’s one of the best things I’ve ever eaten.

If you need to bring dessert to a holiday function or you just like getting cozy with some pudding by yourself, you need to check out Mind the Gap Coffee in Monroe. Tell them Monmouth Buzz sent you and you can thank us later.

Miracle at Avenue Pop-Up Bar | 12/18-12/21 Th 3pm-9pm | Avenue-Pier Village (Long Branch) | info 

Gingerbread Workshop at Minnows | 12/19 5pm-6pm | Minnows (Brielle) | info 

Cork & Explore: Walk Around Wine Tasting Experience | 12/19 6pm-8pm | Avenue-Pier Village (Long Branch) | info 

A Cook and a Book: Gifts from the Kitche (Age 3-6 years Mommy & Me) | 12/20 9am-10:30am | Taste & Technique (Fair Haven) | info 

Grinch Drag Brunch | 12/20 11am | House of Independents (Asbury Park) | info 

Cookie Creators: Holiday Cookie Workshop (Age 7+) | 12/20 11:30am-1:30pm | Taste & Technique (Fair Haven) | info 

Old World Style Christmas Market | 12/20, 12/21 12pm-7pm | Fox Hollow Vineyards (Holmdel) | info 

Mexi-Boys Food Truck | 12/20 2pm-8pm | Bakes Brewing Co. (Wall) | info 

Couples: Holiday Date Night Cooking Class | 12/20 6:30pm-9:30pm | Taste & Technique (Fair Haven) | info 

Ugly Sweater Brunch Class (Adult) | 12/21 11am-2pm | Taste & Technique (Fair Haven) | info 

DIY Gin: Make Your Own Gin Class | 12/21 3pm | 3 BR Distillery (Keyport) | info

🎨 ART, HISTORY & EDUCATION

Narwhal: Revealing an Arctic Legend | 12/19-3/1 T-Su 10am-4pm | Monmouth Museum (Lincroft) | info 

Members Showcase: Celebrating Creativity | 12/19-1/11 T-Su 10am-4pm | Monmouth Museum (Lincroft) | info 

Great Beads for Good Causes Exhibit | 12/19-12/31 9am-9pm | Shrewsbury Library (Shrewsbury) | info 

Manasquan Group of Artists Art Exhibit | 12/19-12/31 9am-5pm | Shrewsbury Library (Shrewsbury) | info 

Jewelry Set Beading Workshop | 12/19 6pm-8pm | Inspired Minds (Colts Neck) | info 

Lightning in a Bottle: A Love Letter to Asbury Lanes Book Release Exhibit | 12/19 7pm-11pm | Parlor Gallery (Asbury Park) | info 

Wood Burned Serving Board | 12/20 10am-12:30pm | Asbury Park Art Club (Asbury Park) | info 

Lightning in a Bottle: A Love Letter to Asbury Lanes Book Signing & Events | 12/20 12pm-11pm | Multiple Locations (Asbury Park) | info

🎭️ THEATER, CINEMA, & COMEDY

Elf Jr. The Musical | 12/19, 12/20 F 6:30pm, S 1pm | The Villas of Holmdel (Holmdel) | info 

My Three Angels | 12/19-12/21 F/S 7:30pm, Su 2:30pm | First Ave Playhouse (Atl. Highlands) | info 

Naughty or Nice: Burlesque Show | 12/19 7pm | 3 BR Distillery (Keyport) | info 

The Rocky Horror Picture Show | 12/19 10pm | Basie Center Cinemas (Red Bank) | info 

The Wag's Christmas Spectacular | 12/20 7pm | Middletown Arts Center (Middletown) | info 

ComedySportz: Live Improve...Played as a Sport | 12/20 7pm | Jersey Shore Arts Center (Ocean Grove) | info 

It's a Wonderful Life (Cinema) | 12/20 7:30 PM | The Showroom (Asbury Park) | info

🎸 LIVE MUSIC 🥁 

Swingin' the Season | 12/19 2pm-3pm | Manalapan Library (Manalapan) | info 

Low Cut Connie | 12/19 7:00 PM | The Stone Pony (Asbury Park) | info 

Darlene Love - Love for the Holidays | 12/19 7:30pm | Count Basie-HMH Theater (Red Bank) | info 

The Smithereens | 12/19 8pm | Count Basie-The Vogel (Red Bank) | info

Rock'n Music Academy | 12/20 12:00 PM | Asbury Lanes (Asbury Park) | info 

John Denver Christmas Featuring Chris Collins & Boulder Canyon | 12/20 2pm, 7:30pm | Algonquin Theater (Manasquan) | info 

Winter Melodies: Band of Two Rivers Concert | 12/20 2pm-3pm | Howell Library (Howell) | info 

The Weeklings & Friends: Holiday Hullabaloo | 12/20 3:30pm | Count Basie-The Vogel (Red Bank) | info 

The Nerds Annual Holiday Show | 12/20 6:30pm | The Stone Pony (Asbury Park) | info 

Swinging in the Holidays | 12/20 7pm | Two River Theater (Red Bank) | info 

A Classical Christmas (S) | 12/20 7pm | Jersey Shore Arts Center (Ocean Grove) | info 

Brian Kirk & The Jirks for Lunch Break | 12/20 7:30pm-10pm | Count Basie-HMH Theater (Red Bank) | info 

Dueling Pianos | 12/20 8pm | House of Independents (Asbury Park) | info

Stone Pony Sunday Showcase | 12/21 1pm-7pm | The Stone Pony (Asbury Pari) | info 

Chris Pinnella Christmas | 12/21 2pm, 7pm | Count Basie-The Vogel (Red Bank) | info 

A Classical Christmas (Su) | 12/21 2pm | Jersey Shore Arts Center (Ocean Grove) | info 

Have Yourself a Merry Little Big Band with Zack Alexander | 12/21 3pm-5pm | Algonquin Theater (Manasquan) | info 

Monmouth Civic Chorus: A Joyous Day | 12/21 4pm-6pm | Count Basie-HMH Theater (Red Bank) | info 

Swinging Sundays: Jazz Night | 12/21 7pm-10pm | Asbury Hotel (Asbury Park) | info

⚾️ SPORTS & FITNESS 🏃‍♂️ 

NJ Holiday 10K, 5K, and Youth Runs | 12/20 9:30am | Thompson Park (Lincroft) | info 

Train Run Holiday Special | 12/21 10:48am | Johnny Mac's House of Spirits (Asbury Park) | info 

Monmouth U. Men's Basketball vs Lehigh | 12/21 1pm | Monmouth U. (W. Long Branch) | info 

Winter Solstice Hike | 12/21 5pm-6pm | Poricy Park (Middletown) | info

🌊 ☀️ BEACH

Asbury Park - Ocean Temp. 43°F

Fri 12/19: Low 12:05 am | High 6:31 am | Low 12:53 pm | High 6:55 pm | Sunrise 7:15 am | Sunset 4:33 pm

Sat 12/20: Low 12:47 am | High 7:08 am | Low 1:34 pm | High 7:34 pm | Sunrise 7:15 am | Sunset 4:34 pm

Sun 12/21: Low 1:28 am | High 7:44 am | Low 2:13 am | High 8:12 pm | Sunrise 7:15 am | Sunset 4:33 pm