4 years of Tricky Manuevers

From where I sit, well, stand actually because I'm always on my feet, I get into the "Asbury Conversation" a lot. It's the one about remembering the past, expectations of the now and the "what I think?" of the future of our Little Apple.

Ok, the past: things I remember- the Albion Hotel (would of made a great south beachesque hotel), the Mayfair and St. James (what were they thinking tearing them down, we would of had the best performing arts center in the state), The Paris Cinema (Red Bank Cinema anyone?) and the obvious- the carousel, the Ferris wheel (yep, I'll keep on nagging about it)...the Savoy ( check my last posts)....the list goes on.

The present: that part of the conversation is tough. Expectations are high. What did we get? A solid reality that the Little Apple is moving (organically) forward and it isn't going backwards (unless we get our own Katrina and acts of god are forgivable). I said last year that you wouldn't see the "New Little Apple" for 5 years and I still believe that we have 4 more years coming. No, it won't be finished but it won't be a desert of empty eminent domain lots either. (For better or worse as the Reverend says).

A Past, present and future moment: The powers that be, The City and the developers. That reputation of corruption and lack of visionary leadership that haunts us here. With the new Mr. Mayor Man there is an expectation, cynical albeit, that there will be change. In my experience there is no change just a progressive, and hopefully, transformation to a better city. It's out job and duty to make that happen not the politicians and developers. We are the check and balance of the city.

Side note: Parking.....ask the powers that be and they can't give you a straight answer. HELLO!!!

Ok, the Future as Big D sees it. The powers that be will slowly get it because of OUR relentless castigation. We will see movie theatres, more businesses, yep, more condos, we'll see that the owners of the Berkeley actually took charge of the mammoth and made it to a interesting hotel, that functions, there will be my Ferris wheel and I'll move here from Ocean Grove and run to be the next Mr.Mayor Man..........

VOTE Big D!!!!

The Politics of Dancing @ Big D's B'day Bash

Last night was the Mayor's Ball but I absconded with it and made it my birthday bash. Nice crowd showed up and we wined and dined and danced the night away. Though I couldn't get Mr. Mayor Man out on the dance floor. I got the feeling he's got higher sights that keep dancing low on his priorities. Oh well, maybe he will at the Governor's Ball in a few years.

Thanks Jake

Thanks for the shout out in the TCN Jake and sorry about the bed bugs...uuuugh. Don't know if we ever met but maybe I'll see you at the Mayor's Ball Saturday. Say hello sometime.

I was biking around downtown Little Apple yesterday, beautiful day. Sounds like there new and interesting things in the works. I don't want to jinx them so I'll hold my tongue.

In my travels I was eyeing this building on Bond. There was this alley next to it and I drove in. I totally forgot about the Savoy Theater that sits behind the building on Mattison. I kind of remember from when I was a kid that there was a community theater in there years ago. my brother did lights for them. I also remember being told that the Savoy has very rich history. One thing I was told years ago is that it was part of the Negro Vaudeville Circuit in the early part of the 20th century. Don't know if there are ghosts there, they should have Kathy from Paranormal check it out, but I'm sure its got a lot of memories that shouldn't be lost.

The Little Apple needs more places for art and culture and the Savoy is just sitting there. Damn if the powers that be let me have it ...............

Have a great day!
Big D

Wow, it's been a month!

So, me and 60 other people were naked in the Convention Hall arcade this past Saturday night. Now that was an Asbury experience! We all gathered to be a part of the Angelo Musco photo shoot. Only in the Little Apple can an event like this really work. There were men and women of all shapes, ages, colors and sexual orientations. After ten minutes of being in all of nothing you could feel everyone start relaxing because we all felt we were part of a monumental artistic event.

Having been a performer, I have been on stage and screen in the all buff, so, it wasn't a weird experience for me. I think if this was in the Big Apple there would be some competitiveness to "be seen." But here it was a real lets make art atmosphere. I think everyone left feeling they were not only part of a historical artistic moment but an essential part of it.

I believe that being essential is what you get from the people here and it is what makes the Little Apple unique and wonderful.

Now, if only Mr. Mayor Man was there! Naked!

Where's the ferris wheel?

I keep asking for one but.....
We don't need a theme park just one little really huge ferris wheel. It should be housed in a little green building that says Palace Amusements on it. Ok, ok put Tillie on the side too.

But I want it that the gondolas on the ferris wheel come up out of the building. And they have cool weather gondolas so the wheel can turn all year round.....yippppeeeeee!!!

Feeling Guilty

I saw Julia and Julie last night and felt a bit guilty about not posting enough. There's always an excuse but then it's always an excuse.

Well, we just passed mid summer here in the Little Apple. Finally the fish are a jumping and the cotton (tomatoes) are high.... Had our first mini heat wave...Monday was killer. The boss decided we would have our weekly manager meeting on the beach. I got fried, looking like a steamed lobster. Be nice if summer lasted to October.

As we unwind our way out of this quagmire of an economic downturn it looks like there's a bit of action heating up here in the Little Apple. A couple of new restaurants are getting built. Now if we could get Apple to open an East Coast office and start a little silicon beach here the tides would really turn.

Anyone see USA Today yesterday? Interesting, Front Page no less, article on AP.

now, if it was up to me I'd make half the Esperanza hulk into a hot club and banquet hall. The other half I'd make the hottest performing arts center on the East Coast! Just leave it as is and light it well. Ok, and add windows and bathrooms. Ok, ok...heat and A/C too. That's it!
Oh and then add a ferris wheel and it would be great. I need to talk to MM (Mattison Marquette) and MMM (Mister Mayor Man) about this. Eminent Domain anyone?

Talk soon,
Big D

WOW, Health Care reform

I am so amazed that the right can railroad this important conversation on health care....again. Got to admire them. Look at the wacky guy in the TCN. He'll say anything to be read. It's the same with these anti-health reform guys. They are so so so organized. If Obama gets some semblance of health reform passed, I think we as Americans should shout out big time about his unbelievable ability to make change in this country.

If he fails, there's not much to lose accept our health. You have got to admire the health insurance industry for their seemingly sincere support for reform when you know they are funding the crazed misinformed demonstrations at these town hall meetings.

It's kind of a paradox that obviously poor or out of work people are being paid to fight the programs that will help them. It's all about the cash i guess.

All about the cash

Richard