🍷 Wine Down Wednesday at 618!!

Together With

Good morning Monmouth County! If you haven’t heard by now, the Belmar St. Patrick’s Parade was postponed until 3/28. But apparently you can’t send back massive quantities of corned beef and Guinness so the parties are still happening. Enjoy Parade Day!!

Today’s Buzz 🐝 

📊 Brookdale’s Economic Impact

🍷 Wine Down Wednesday at 618

🪄 Masters of Illusion

💃 Salsa & Bachata Monday

🥊 Fight For James Bitzer

🍝 Italian Classics Cooking Class

🧾 AARP Tax-Aide

☘️ Ireland’s Cultural Revival

🎸 Artikal Sound System

🎨 Women in Motion Art Exhibit

🎭️ David Nihill Comedy

🥋 Women’s Self Defense Class

🌊 Ocean Temp/Tides

📰 NEWS

📊 Brookdale’s Economic Impact

Brookdale Community College is proving to be a major economic engine for Monmouth County, according to a newly released economic impact report that highlights the college’s far-reaching benefits to the local community. The study found that Brookdale Community College generates approximately $686 million in annual economic activity and supports nearly 7,000 jobs across the county through its operations, student spending, and workforce development programs. Beyond educating students, Brookdale plays a critical role in strengthening the regional economy by supplying skilled graduates to local employers, supporting small businesses, and attracting investment to the area. County leaders say the findings underscore Brookdale’s value not just as an educational institution, but as a cornerstone of economic growth and long-term prosperity for Monmouth County.

The studies, The Economic Value of New Jersey’s Community Colleges and The Economic Value of Brookdale Community College, were conducted by Lightcast, a nationally recognized economic and data consulting firm with extensive expertise in labor market analysis, workforce development, and higher education impact. The analysis is based on data and assumptions drawn from the colleges’ FY 2023–24 academic and financial reports, along with industry and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau. Additional insights were informed by Lightcast’s proprietary economic modeling as well as studies and surveys examining the relationship between education and social outcomes.

🥊 Fight For James Bitzer

The GoFundMe for 6 year old James Bitzer has raised over $20,000 in just the last couple weeks. We’re going to keep this up 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.

📍 LOCAL EVENTS

Asbury Coffee with a Council Member | 3/2 10am | Macrobites (Asbury Park) | info

Rare Disease Day: Fragile X Premutation Info Session | 3/2 6:30pm | Middletown Arts Center (Middletown) | info

Salsa & Bachata Monday's | 3/2 7pm | House of Independents (Asbury Park) | info

Mahjongg – every Tuesday | 3/3 1pm-4pm | West Long Branch Library (West Long Branch) | info

Bridge – every Wednesday | 3/4 11am-1pm | West Long Branch Library (West Long Branch) | info

Learn to Play Duplicate Bridge – every Wednesday | 3/4 12pm-4:45pm | Manalapan Library (Manalapan) | info

Social Dance Club | 3/5 12pm-1:30pm | Manalapan Library (Manalapan) | info

🍔 FOOD & 🍹 DRINK

 🍷 Get Yourself to 618 for Wine Down Wednesday

So we hit up Wine Down Wednesday at 618 in Freehold for our eighth wedding anniversary this past week. You have to forgive us if we’re late to the party on this one but talk about a home run! Half price bottles of wine every Wednesday from 4pm-10pm and starting at 7pm they have DJ JSoul next to the bar singing along to the best R & B hits from the 90’s and 2000’s. We were seriously blown away by JSoul. His soulful voice is so much fun while you enjoy a great meal and half price wine. We’re coming back with friends!

Pier Village Restaurant Week | 3/2-3/4 11am-10pm | Pier Village (Long Branch) | info

Bell Works Fresh Market | 3/4 11am-4pm | Bell Works (Holmdel) | info

Italian Classics Cooking Class | 3/4 6pm-8:30pm | Taste & Technique (Fair Haven) | info

Girl Dinner at Avenue | 3/5 6pm-9pm | Avenue – Pier Village (Long Branch) | info

Sip & Wicks: Candle Making & Karaoke Class | 3/5 6:30pm | Source Brewing (Colts Neck) | info

🎨 ART, HISTORY & EDUCATION

Freedom's Battleground: A Traveling Exhibit of MonmouthNJ 250 Celebration | 3/2-3/5 9am-9pm | Shrewsbury Library (Shrewsbury) | info

Wall 2026 AARP Tax-Aide | 3/2-3/3 1pm-4pm | Wall Library (Wall) | info

Hazlet 2026 AARP Tax-Aide | 3/2 1pm-5pm | Hazlet Library (Hazlet) | info

One-on-One SHIP Q and A | 3/2 2:30pm-4pm | Manalapan Library (Manalapan) | info

Whispers on the Water: Images of Coastal Regions | 3/2-3/5 9am-9pm | Shrewsbury Library (Shrewsbury) | info

Pop Surrealism: From the James and Maureen Dorment Collection | 3/2-3/20 M-F 10am-5pm | DiMattio Gallery (W. Long Branch) | info

Praise and Paint | 3/3 2pm | Sun Moon Studio (Keyport) | info

Watercolor Mandalas: A Holi Celebration of Color | 3/3 11am-1pm, 6:30pm-8:30pm | Manalapan Library (Manalapan) | info

Coastal Vibes-Large Ornaments Class | 3/3 6pm | Sun Moon Studio (Keyport) | info

Tuesday Night Record Club: Kate Bush-Hounds of Love | 3/3 7:30pm | The Great Hall Auditorium/Virtual (W. Long Branch) | info

Marlboro 2026 AARP Tax-Aide Program | 3/4 10am-2:30pm | Marlboro Branch Library (Marlboro) | info

Artists' Eyes on the American Revolution: Gilbert Stuart and His Portraits of the Founding Fathers | 3/4 1:30pm-3pm | Shrewsbury Library (Shrewsbury) | info

Perspective Drawing | 3/4 6pm-7:30pm | Sun Moon Studio (Keyport) | info

Shrewsbury 2026 AARP Tax-Aide Program | 3/5 9am-5pm | Shrewsbury Library (Shrewsbury) | info

Ireland's Cultural Revival | 3/5 2pm-3:15pm | Wall Library (Wall) | info

Women in Motion Art Exhibit | 3/5 5pm-7pm | Gallery on Grant (Deal) | info

Needle Felted Gnomes | 3/5 6pm-8pm | Sun Moon Studio (Keyport) | info

🎭️ THEATER, CINEMA & COMEDY

Center Players' Play Reading Series: The Dresser | 3/2 7pm | The American Hotel (Freehold) | info

A Doll's House | 3/4 1pm, 7pm; 3/5 8pm | Two River Theater (Red Bank) | info

David Nihill: Taking Tangents Tour (Comedy) | 3/4 7:30pm | Count Basie – The Vogel (Red Bank) | info

Samantha Inside Out | 3/5 7pm | NJ Repertory Co. (Long Branch) | info

Masters of Illusion | 3/5 7:30pm | Count Basie – HMH Theater (Red Bank) | info

 🎸 LIVE MUSIC 🎙️ 

Cafe Artiste – The Listening Room | 3/4 7pm | Jersey Shore Arts Center (Ocean Grove) | info

Dark Divine "The Shallow Graves Tour" | 3/5 6pm | House of Independents (Asbury Park) | info

Artikal Sound System | 3/5 8pm | The Wonder Bar (Asbury Park) | info

 🏀 SPORTS & FITNESS 🏃‍♂️

Brookdale Men's Volleyball vs Harcum College | 3/2 6pm | Brookdale CC (Lincroft) | info

Women's Self-Defense Class | 3/4 6pm-7pm | Manalapan Library (Manalapan) | info

Brookdale Men's Volleyball vs Middlesex College | 3/4 6pm | Brookdale CC (Lincroft) | info

Brookdale Softball vs Mercer County Community College | 3/5 2:30pm, 4:30pm | Brookdale CC (Lincroft) | info

Monmouth U. Women's Basketball vs Towson | 3/5 7pm | Monmouth U. (W. Long Branch) | info

🌊 ☀️ BEACH

Asbury Park - Ocean Temp. 36°F 

Mon 3/2: High 6:14am | Low 12:33am | High 6:43pm | Sunrise 6:29am | Sunset 5:49pm

Tue 3/3: Low 12:43am | High 6:58pm | Low 1:16pm | High 7:26pm | Sunrise 6:28am | Sunset 5:50pm

Wed 3/4: Low 1:29am | High 7:40am | Low 1:55am | High 8:08pm | Low 11:54pm | Sunrise 6:31am | Sunset 5:48pm

Thu 3/5: Low 2:12am | High 8:21am | Low 2:32am | High 8:48pm | Low 11:54pm | Sunrise 6:28am | Sunset 5:52pm