Starting the Year with Comedy at P.O.P.'s Cafe

On Saturday, January 2nd at 7 P.M. Live Laughter is featured at P.O.P.'s Cafe, 410 Main St., Avon-by-the-Sea, NJ. Your host will be Mollie Sperduto. Performers include Michael Grosso, Sean O'Connor, Joe Pontillo, David Rosenhaus and special guest Joe Conte. There is a $10 cover charge. Ginger Ninja Productions can be found on facebook.

Seaside Heights New Years Celebration

Seaside Heights has a unique New Years celebration planned. The Seaside Heights Tourism website has details. The Lakewood BlueClaws are sponsoring First Night Ocean County. You can become part of the festivities by purchasing bracelets at the County Connection in the Ocean County Mall. $5.00 per bracelet enables a day of entertainment. On Thursday, December 31st, starting at 11 AM, an illusion show and performances by the Give and Take Jugglers can be seen. Participating boardwalk arcades will make available music, comedy, face painters, balloonists, and caricature portrait drawings. The celebration ends with a fireworks show at 5:30 PM. Th fireworks are on the beach in-between the two amusement piers.

Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes at Count Basie

Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes are performing a New Years Eve show at the Count Basie Theatre located at 99 Monmouth Street in Red Bank, New Jersey 07701. The box office phone number is: 732-842-9000. Ticket prices range from $29.50 to $99. There are also group rates. Their website link provides further details.

Entertainment Tonight at The Legend Restaurant

The Hitman Murder Mystery: Medieval Murders at Castle Cill is playing tonight at 7:30 at The Legend Restaurant, 955 Hooper Avenue in Toms River. For detailed information call: 732-768-2709 or go to this website.

Ebenezer at the Surflight Theatre

The Christmas musical Ebenezer is currently playing at the Surflight Theatre located at Engleside and Beach Avenues in Beach Haven, NJ. There are two show times- 2 PM and 7:30 PM. The last show is at 2 PM on December 20th. Both times are slotted for the 19th of December. You can call the box office number 609-492-9477 or click on this link for ticket information.

A New Bus Line from the Shore to Newark Airport

NJ Transit approves Jersey Shore to Newark airport bus line is an NJ.com article reporting on the decision by NJ Transit to run a line of number 60 buses from the Toms River Bus Terminal to Newark Liberty International Airport. There will be stops at some Garden State Parkway park-and-ride lots along the way. There is a 30 month trial period for the line which should begin in January or February of 2010.

Frankie Edgar: MMA Fighter and Contender

Frank Edgar is a mixed martial artist who fights within the sport's premier MMA organization, the UFC. He hails from Toms River, New Jersey and has shown that he is a legitimate contender for the lightweight crown (155 pound limit). Edgar has excellent wrestling skills and has shown good boxing prowess as well. On December 5th he stopped Matt Veach in the second round after dropping him with a good right hand. The fight went to the ground where Frankie applied a rear-naked choke and forced Veach to tap. Edgar looked impressive. I watched him on Spike TV which shows UFC bouts.

The Growing Influence of the Jersey Shore

On January 19th Governor-elect Chris Christie will become Governor of New Jersey. The online Asbury Park Press article Shore delivers for Christie: Vote totals boost area's influence, emphasizes the growing political clout of the Jersey Shore region. It cites the significant fact that during the recent gubernatorial election Ocean and Monmouth Counties delivered more votes for Republican Chris Christie than Democratic strongholds Essex and Hudson Counties did for Democrat Jon Corzine. That's a departure from past election patterns. A shift in power in favor of the Jersey Shore would signify its greater influence on the course of New Jersey's future. As this state is burdened with heavy taxes and a stagnant economy, that bodes well for area residents.

Ginger Ninja at P.O.P.'s Cafe Tonight

Tonight at P.O.P.'s Cafe, 410 Main St. in Avon-by-the-Sea, Ginger Ninja Productions puts on a comedic performance. Randy Tonge hosts the event. There is a $10 cover charge. Frank Gallo, Ryan Hill, Nick Maritato, Joe Pontillo and and special guest Buda will be there. The show starts at 7 PM.