Jersey Shore Insider

OCEAN GROVE - The Ocean Grove Chamber of Commerce invites all Chocolate Lovers to Ocean Grove on February 11 & 12 for their special Chocolate Lovers' Weekend. Come for a day or take a break with a wonderful weekend Valentines' getaway! There will be chocolate everywhere.

On Saturday from 11-4, tour some of Ocean Grove's most charming inns with chocolate tastings; Hunt for Hearts in our adorable shops and boutiques; relax and enjoy the wonderful "Choral Favorites" sung by the Great Auditorium Choir at 4:30pm in the Youth Temple. There will be a drawing for prizes for the winners of the Hunt for Hearts. Participating restaurants will be offering Chocolate Lovers' specials throughout the entire weekend.

The fun continues on Sunday with a Winter Walk through Ocean Grove searching for the answers to a sheet of questions from 12-3pm. Prizes will be awarded to the first 100 Winners of the Winter Walk. All events originate at the Chamber Office, 45 Pilgrim Pathway any time between 10 and 3 on Saturday and 12-3 on Sunday. Visit our NEW WEB SITE for details at www.oceangrovechamber.org. 

TOMS RIVER – In honor of Black History Month, Ocean County College will celebrate with a special musical presentation, Sensing African American Spirituals on Thursday, February 23 at 2:00 p.m. in Room A117, Arts and Community Center, OCC Main Campus, College Drive, Toms River, NJ. Admission is free and open to the public.

Hear one woman’s expression of African American culture through the singing of spiritual songs born from her people’s experience. Carolyn Watts will sing and narrate. Karin Gargone, OCC Instructor of Humanities, will accompany on piano. The presentation, part of the “Tower Recitals” series, is sponsored by the OCC School of Languages and the Arts. For more information, contact Karin Gargone at 732.255.0400, ext. 2109, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

MONMOUTH – February might be the shortest month of the year, but it’s long on things to do in Monmouth County.
                                                              
Enjoy an early Valentine's Day celebration with “Valentine’s Doo Wop” at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank on Feb. 11.
 
Presidents’ Day weekend provides another reason to get out and about at Historic Allaire Village in Allaire State Park, Wall Township, Feb. 19, and you can follow that up with “George and Martha Tea” at Poricy Park’s Murray farmhouse on Feb. 26.

LONG BRANCH - New Jersey Repertory Company, located at 179 Broadway in Long Branch is proud to present “Summer In Sanctuary,” an explosive new play by Al Letson, a nationally recognized award–winning slam poet, performer, playwright, and the host and producer of the popular “State of the Re: Union” on National Public Radio. Performances for this limited run are March 8 - 25 and tickets can be ordered by calling 732-229-3166 or by visiting www.njrep.org.

The title refers to “Sanctuary,” a community center located on 8th Street, in one of the toughest sections of Jacksonville, Florida where Mr. Letson spent three months as a creative writing teacher at a summer camp for inner city teenagers. His intentions were noble. Letson grew up in a middle-class family in North Jersey, the son of a Southern Baptist preacher, and he wanted to make a difference. Imbued with idealism he enthusiastically went down to Jacksonville but very quickly learned that “sanctuary” was a dangerously deceptive word, and that soon he would be challenged as he had never before been challenged, and that all his ideals of “giving-back,” good intentions and resolve, would soon be tested bitterly.

OCEAN COUNTY - Treat yourself and the ones you love to some quality time in LBI this winter. Begin by downloading the themed reading and movie list, created by the local branches of the Ocean County Library. In addition to reading and movies suggestions, the library branches invite visitors and residents to stop in and register for their planned activities that correspond with Chocolate Week, February 11-20, a Destination Marketing Initiative in partnership with the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce and sponsor the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism.

This year is packed with activities for families, couples and own personal appetites such as free environmental events such as The Long Beach Island Foundation February Science Saturday. They will give a tribute to the local ecosystem with a Chocolate Turtle hand out. Enjoy a Blissful Massage featuring a Mayan Gold Chocolate antioxidant drink with the area’s top spas. Stay overnight and take in the Minerva Bed & Breakfast Chocolate Cooking Class, Magnolia House’s Romantic Getaway or Daddy O's decadent dinners. Looking to get away for more than a weekend? 

MONMOUTH - It might be cold outside but the Monmouth County Park System is just getting warmed up! With plenty to do inside and outside, winter might just be the best time of year to discover everything the parks have to offer.  Here are a few things to do this winter:

Sign up for a Park System class or trip! Ever go on a Moonlight Hike?  Tried your hand at Archery? Wanted to be Stronger for Longer? Then check out the latest issue of the Directory for these and other Park System sports, nature, hikes and exercise classes. Information and registration available online at www.monmouthcountyparks.com.