Continue reading »]]> We are reminded every day how special our town of Red Bank, NJ is. With our great shops, restaurants, arts and nightlife we are truly a town that offers the best of everything. Over the past two decades, our downtown has grown tremendously and together, we have created a lively, warm and vibrant business district for all of us to enjoy and cherish—and we aren’t the only ones who feel this way!

Recently Smithsonian Magazine compiled a list of the 20 best small towns in America and our amazing town ranked third! Among Taos, New Mexico, Mill Valley, California, Naples, Florida and even Princeton, New Jersey, we are so excited to be recognized as a great place to be!  Take a look at what they had to say about Red Bank:

“William Count Basie grew up and got his musical chops on Mechanic Street in Red Bank. In the early 1920s he moved to Harlem and the rest is jazz history, to the tune of the “One O’Clock Jump.” His hometown on the south bank of the Navesink River about 25 miles south of Manhattan went through some lean, mean times after that, but has since made an astonishing cultural and economic comeback, linchpinned by the refurbishment of the 1926 Carlton Theater, now the Count Basie performing arts center, a venue for ballet to rock to Willie Nelson. Cafés, galleries, clubs and shops followed, along with farmers markets and street fairs, attracting people from well-heeled Monmouth County and the Jersey Shore. Town folk (pop. 12,200) went to work on neglected old homes with good bones, the landmark Victorian train depot was restored and the silver was polished at the Molly Pitcher Inn, named for a Revolutionary War heroine who is said to have brought water to thirsty soldiers serving under George Washington during the Battle of Monmouth County. The Navesink got a spiffy waterfront park, the setting for jazz concerts in the summer and iceboating when the river freezes; string quartets and youth choruses perform at the Monmouth Conservatory of Music, while the Two River Theater Company stages new plays and musicals. It all adds up to a model for small-town renewal.”
According to Smithsonian.com, towns were selected for this list based on culture. To assist in creating the list, they asked a geographic systems company to search data bases for high concentrations of museums, historic sites, resident orchestras, art galleries and other cultural assets common to big cities. The magazine focused on towns with populations less than 25,000 so tourists could soak up culture in a smaller, calmer setting.

We are honored to be considered one of the greatest small towns in America, and are flattered to be among so many other wonderful places. Whether you’re a resident, a neighbor or a traveler, we hope you enjoy everything Red Bank has to offer! Read the full article online and visit us on Facebook to stay up to date with our town’s happenings.

Continue reading »]]> Tiled Interiors of Red Bank, N.J., previously known as A Step in Stone, knows that home improvements can make your house your dream home. Redoing the tile in your kitchen or bathroom can bring life back to a dull and lifeless space. If you could use a little life in your kitchen, we have some tips for choosing tile.

Budget

One of the most important things for any home improvement project is to set a budget. Figure out how much you can spend and how much you WANT to spend before even looking. You don’t want to fall in love with something only to realize you can’t afford or don’t want to spend that much on it.

Placement

Have you ever realized how the kitchen tends to be the center of your home? Maybe it’s the room where you all meet for breakfast or dinner, maybe it’s the room where the kids do their homework while you cook dinner. Is it where you read your paper in the morning, or watch the news? The kitchen is the hub and that’s why it needs to be both comfortable and practical. There might be a few different tiles in your kitchen, and the great thing about that is – it’s okay in the kitchen! Your backsplash can be different than your floor, counter tile or accent tile. The first thing you need to decide is where this tile is going to go. Will you use it as a pop of color or pattern in the backsplash? Will it work better as a neutral background?

Contrast

Contrast is a vital design aspect when selecting tile for your home. You want to make sure the colors and patterns complement each other yet contrast well to bring the design to life. With more than 18 years of experience at Tiled Interiors, you know you’re design is in good hands.

Practicality

The next thing to consider for your tile design is practicality. Your tile should be functional. You don’t want to realize two month down the road that the tile looks great, but stains easily or heats up quickly. For countertops, ceramic tile is durable and will hold up to heat from hot pans. It is also easy to clean and maintain. However, ceramic tile can easily crack or chip.

When choosing tile for your floor, practicality is definitely important. Is your kitchen a high traffic area coming from the back door? Do you have pets or small children? If the answer to these questions is yes, you want to choose something durable that might hide traffic dirt well.

Backsplash

Tiled Interiors specializes in backsplashes. That’s the best part of the whole project. This is where you can pick something creative and fun that will really make your kitchen pop. The experts from the store can you give an old world style, contemporary or traditional look, or anything else you can think of! The design of your home should reflect you and your family!

If it’s time to do a little updating in your kitchen or bathroom, stop in to Tiled Interiors, located in the Galleria in Red Bank, N.J. With decades of experience, creativity and free consultations and measurements, you can’t go wrong!

Continue reading »]]> Bienvenue Restaurant, located on E Front St. In Red Bank, N.J., is known as the “French Corner in Red Bank.” Serving up delicious food, this BYO bistro offers patrons French “country charm” with classic French dishes. If you’re looking for a new place to try, you have to sink your teeth into the deliciousness of Bienvenue.

With a chic and humble atmosphere, it’s the perfect place for a date night whether it’s with the friend you have to catch up with, or that special someone. It might be the atmosphere, or it might be the food from the country that brings us the most romantic city in the world, Bienvenue cannot deny it’s charm and romance.

You’re in good hands when you eat at Bienvenue as the plates are the work of the seasoned classical Chef and Owner, Marc Fontaine. You can transport yourself to the French corner for a very reasonable price. Marc creates a wonderful prix fixe menu served every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for only $30.

Make a date to warm up with the French Onion Soup, or soup of the day. Treat yourself to the Escargot Puff Pastry or the Warm Brie Salad.

Don’t forget to pick out your favorite bottle of wine, which will pair well with some of the best dishes in the area like the Stuffed Chicken Breast, stuffed with spinach, goat cheese and red peppers topped in a white butter sauce. Seafood lovers will delight in the Sea Scallops or Pan Seared Monkfish.

What delicious menu is complete without dessert? Try one of the irresistible desserts including the Crème Caramel, Crème Brulee and Profitérole.

Bienvenue offers weekly specials prepared by a talented chef, a beautiful romantic atmosphere, a reasonable prix fixe menu and even booking for private parties. What more could you want from a restaurant? Don’t be the last one to discover this gem in Red Bank. Make your date now. Bienvenue is awaiting you!

Continue reading »]]> With the holiday season in full swing, holiday shopping is at the top of a lot of our to-do lists. Getting overwhelmed by the amount of people you have to shop for? Get all your holiday shopping done right at Soapmarket in Red Bank! Soapmarket is so much more than soap, making it the place for one-stop shopping for everyone!

Soapmarket has a clear focus on natural products, which makes buying feel good! They carry a unique blend of gifts, luxuries and daily essentials. Whether you’re looking to spoil yourself or a loved one, you’re sure to find the perfect product at Soapmarket. You’ll also find products for babies, children and men as well as bath and body lines for all ages! There is a large selection of candles and diffusers, even soy candles! Looking for Lampe Berger? Soapmarket is the exclusive area dealer!

Speaking of big names, Soapmarket carries a of your favorite big name products! In the store and online you can find hand crafted jewelry from Chan Luu, Satya Jewelry, Me&Ro Jewelry, Viv&Ingrid and so much more! In fact, Soapmarket carries the largest collection Chan Luu wrap bracelets in Monmouth County! Anyone on your shopping list would love one of these coveted bracelets! Brand-name jewelry isn’t what you’re looking for? Soapmarket has gifts available in any price range, so you know you’ll find something that is right for you. You can even order custom gift baskets!

Looking for holiday-specific gifts? Soapmarket can help you find just that! With many holiday themed gifts from gingerbread man shaped soaps and mint scented soap ornaments to luxurious Provence bars! They even carry everyone’s favorite holiday scented Frasier Fir collection from Thymes. Soapmarket also does corporate gifts and party favors!

Did you know Soapmarket has its very own line? MarketLine features natural and handcrafted soaps, bath and body! Natural products are important to Soapmarket and that is why they carry natural and also certified fair trade items! Do you want to learn more about Soapmarket? Check out their blog!

With a wide variety of products including children’s products, home goods, accessories, jewelry and bath goods, Soapmarket can make your holiday shopping much easier by being your one-stop shop for everything you need! ‘Like’ Soapmarket on Facebook for more information on their products and visit their website for a coupon code! Give us a call if you have any questions at (732) 747-6447 or visit us at 12 Monmouth St. in Red Bank!

Continue reading »]]> If you’ve been looking for the perfect pizza at the Jersey Shore, look no further than Tommy’s Coal Fired Pizza! With delicious food, awesome specials and fun contests, you’re sure to find exactly what you’re looking for at Tommy’s!

The menu at Tommy’s is definitely out of this world, and there is something for everyone! Tommy’s original pie is topped with fresh mozzarella, San Marzano tomatoes, grated parmigiano reggiano and fresh basil and can be made in a variety of sizes and even gluten free! Also on the menu is every kind of specialty pie you can imagine! You’ll love Tommy’s coal oven roasted wings, family style sides, sandwiches and soups! A great lunch option at Tommy’s is the $5 lunch. While dining in you get your choice of individual plain pizza, chopped salad, ½ sandwich and salad or ½ sandwiches and soup. Tommy’s has an entire take-out menu as well! If you don’t have time for a sit down lunch break, take Tommy’s to go! For the month of December you can even get the $5 lunch to go!

One of the best parts about Tommy’s has to be the awesome specials. No matter when you go, you’re sure to catch a special! Tommy’s is serving up great Football specials all season long! During the games you can get a bucket of Coor’s Light for $10, ½ price wings, ½ price drafts, $4 well drinks or wine and $5 chopped salads or personal pies! Don’t miss Happy Hour either! Monday-Friday stop by Tommy’s from 4-7 and 10-close for great food and drink specials! Throughout the week Tommy’s has great nightly specials. Mondays is ½ price wine, Tuesdays get ½ price specialty drinks, Wednesdays is ½ price sangria and Thursday get ½ price beer pitchers and half price wings!

You definitely don’t want to miss Tommy’s contests! Right now you can enter Tommy’s Christmas Contest for a chance to win a $50 gift card to Tommy’s. From December 1^st- December 29^th take a picture of yourself in Tommy’s gear dressed creatively for Christmas and enter it on their website. The most creative picture wins!

With so much fun to be had at Tommy’s, you’re sure to enjoy yourself whenever you stop by! Not only can you find Tommy’s in Red Bank, but you can enjoy this great menu and specials in Oakhurst and Brick as well! ‘Like’ Tommy’s Coal Fired Pizza on Facebook for more information on Tommy’s specials and events!

Continue reading »]]> When it comes to your health, you want to make sure you’re getting the best care possible, right? Professional Pharmacy has been serving the Red Bank area for over 60 years and they are dedicated to making sure you stay healthy! If you’re looking for the best customer service around, Professional Pharmacy is the place to go!

Professional Pharmacy is always available for your health care needs. They pride themselves on being open every single day from 9am to 10pm for all their customers. You never know when you’re going to need something and Professional Pharmacy wants to be there for you. In fact, the only day you’ll find Professional Pharmacy closed is Christmas Day! You don’t even have to worry about parking, which is a gift in Red Bank, because Professional Pharmacy has free parking behind the pharmacy!

For your added convenience, Professional Pharmacy is also Angie’s Hallmark! Right inside the store you can find a Hallmark Gold Crown card and gift shop. Pick up all the Hallmark products you could ever need! Angie’s Hallmark even features 50% off Yankee Candles, every single day!

Perhaps the best part of Professional Pharmacy is that they have free local delivery. We all know how hard it is to get out of bed to get your medicine when you’re sick and Professional Pharmacy is available to help you! There’s nothing better than neighbors helping neighbors and Professional Pharmacy is happy to provide a very personalized customer service.

If you check out Professional Pharmacy’s website, you’ll find a lot of helpful information including healthy recipes, a reference room with helpful links as well as health calculators so you can keep up with your health! You can also get a lot of useful information regarding your medication. You can see through their website how much Professional Pharmacy cares about their customers.

Whether you’re looking for something to help you when you’re sick, or to browse their great selection of Hallmark gifts, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for at Professional Pharmacy/Angie’s Hallmark! The customer service you’ll find here is incredibly personalized and you’ll definitely appreciate it!

Continue reading »]]> If you’ve been looking for a vegan or vegetarian restaurant in Red Bank, we’ve got a great place for you the check out. Good Karma Café is serving up the best vegan and vegetarian food around using the finest local and fair trade ingredients. The best part is that 90% of the ingredients are organic!

Good Karma Café prides itself on using staple ingredients that are free of pesticides and are not irradiated and this is one reason why they’ve been reviewed as the best vegan food down the shore! Located on East Front Street in Red Bank, Good Karma Café is serving up some of the best organic raw vegan and vegetarian fare. This is a place you can go and relax for lunch, dinner or coffee and even bring the kids! Gail Doherty and Tiffany Betts are the chefs at Good Karma and they are excited to have a menu where you can eat any cuisine knowing that it’s organic and vegetarian!

The menu at Good Karma Café includes both wheat and gluten free options. There are several categories on the menu like live foods, salad, entrees, wraps, sandwiches, munchies, soup, a kids menu, juice and smoothies. Some of the star items on the menu include live nachos, pizza and lasagna, pineapple mango tempeh, spicy peanut satay, pad thai, sweet chili and tempeh ruebens. If that doesn’t make you hungry, we don’t know what will!

Good Karma Café also has a juice bar! At the juice bar you can get different juice and smoothies that are both delicious and good for you. Good Karma Café serves up raw lemonade—a customer favorite! They also have carrot juice and tons of smoothies including an immune booster, circulator, spirulina rush, the cotton candy and even the Elvis.

Check out the online menu at Good Karma Café’s website to see what menu options are wheat and gluten free. Gail and Tiffany also make it easy to substitute a wheat free wrap or bread for something that isn’t generally wheat and gluten free!

Good vegan and vegetarian fare can be hard to come by, but Good Karma Café is a great place to go for raw food made with the finest and most organic ingredients around! They are open Monday-Saturday from 12 to 9pm, so stop by and give them a try! ‘Like’ Good Karma Café on Facebook for their updates!

Continue reading »]]> Red Bank is packed with so many amazing restaurants that it’s difficult to pick just one! If you’re looking for classic Italian food, look no further than Via45. Owners and Chefs Claudette Herring and Lauren Phillips treat patrons as they would treat family in their own homes and that is service you just can’t find anywhere else.

With each meal made fresh to order and plated at genuine kitchen tables, Claudette and Lauren have something really original. The menu at Via45 is changed daily, and can even change by the hour based on what the chefs found fresh at the market that day. A meal you had the week before can have a completely different spin depending on what is fresh when the chefs are shopping. Neither Claudette nor Lauren has been formally trained and instead brings real family values into their kitchen. Dining is very laid back and relaxed, you come to enjoy yourself and the people you are dining with rather than a quick meal on the go.

The dining room at Via45 is not set up like your average restaurant; there are paintings and sculptures decorating the walls and large bookcases of cookbooks that patrons can browse through while waiting for their meals. There is a real local feel here that is hard to find these days. Claudette and Lauren describe Via45 as a rustic Italian eatery with an emphasis on freshness and flexibility.

With fresh food all the time as well as gluten-free choices, vegetarian and vegan specialties, there is something for everyone at Via45. The chefsgenerally have just sixteen dishes per night on their handwritten menus, but all can be specially made for every individual. Some favorites include pasta fagioli, pasta pomodoro, pasta alla Norma, tilapia and classic chicken parmesan. You are also welcome to bring your favorite bottle of wine to enjoy. Desserts are a favorite of patrons as well with many options to fall in love with.

Via45 has a distinct “come to our table” philosophy that shines through the atmosphere and fresh dinners. If you’re looking for a place to slow

down, relax and enjoy home cooked, made to order meal, Via45 is the place for you! Make a reservation on OpenTable or call Via45 at 732.450.9945!

Continue reading »]]> Recently named Best Home Boutique by the readers of Monmouth Health & Life, Red Ginger Home began with the culmination of two passions – world travel, and home furnishings. This marriage resulted in a selection of classic, modern and globally-influenced home furnishings. If you’re looking to add some new pieces to your home or do a complete makeover, look no further than Red Ginger Home.

This unique store offers products you won’t find anywhere else in the Red Bank area, such as the Adriana Hoyos Collection, a scultptural line of furniture crafted from fine woods and exotic materials.  In addition, Red Ginger Home also offers complete interior design services, encompassing space and color planning, furniture, accessories, lighting, window treatments, art and rugs.  The team, with over 20 years of interior design experience, works with clients to deliver a stylish comfortable look for the home. Here is a sneak peak at some of the unique pieces offered by the store.

MIRRORS

Mirrors are great accent pieces especially when you can find unique mirrors that add a pop of style to the wall. Red Ginger Home has a wide select ion of unique mirrors including the Baroque Mirror and Berlin Mirror. Styles representing the origin of name, these mirrors are old school meets new school with a great twist of fashion.

LIVING ROOM

Whether you’re looking to update the look, or change the entire design, the store has a beautiful selection of sofas, sectionals, lounges, love seats, chairs and ottomans. Updated retro styles look great and offer comfort. Sectionals give plenty of seating for a larger room and add a flair of style with shape. Add an accent chair to any room for a pop of style and color.

ACCESSORIES

From lamps to rugs, sculptures and wall art, Red Ginger Home has everything you need to create a beautiful and chic space that you love. Don’t be afraid to add a bold area rug to bring out the style of your room along with unique sculptures, wall art and accent pillows. Great furniture is one thing, great accessories are another!

Red Ginger Home has just released the new Fall Collection outlining the new and best looks for the home this year. Included in this collection are the current trends which encompass vibrant colors of greens and oranges. The hottest color trend in home furnishings this fall is purple. Pair any shade of purple with these vibrant colors for a beautiful and warm tone in your home this year. Red Ginger Home believes a home should reflect the owner’s style, function well for those living there, and always be warm and inviting. Visit the store online at http://redgingerhome.com/ or in Red Bank at 48 Broad Street. If you have any questions we would love to help. Give the store a call: (732) 345 – 1000.

Continue reading »]]> Located in the heart of Red Bank, Pazzo features rustic Italian classics and daily fish, meat and pasta specialties served for lunch and dinner, Monday through Saturday. Pazzo’s lively, family friendly atmosphere offers spacious seating, a magnificent full bar and comfortable outdoor seating for al fresco dining. Pazzo is not just a restaurant, but a great place to head to after work with friends for drinks.

Beginning September 27, Pazzo is pleased to present Service Industry Night Tuesdays. This night is dedicated to helping those who work hard all week have a night of fun! Beginning at 9:30 p.m. DJ Cati will start spinning and drink specials will be served – $2.00 Coors Light Drafts, $3.00 Coors Light Bottles and $5 SpritzOne and Sobieski drinks.

It’s not just about fun, of course. It’s about delicious dishes, great atmosphere and a relaxing night out. Pazzo is the perfect place if you’re looking for an evening out, just the two of you. The restaurant offers palate pleasing antipasta options, delicious specialty pizzas, pastas dishes including Penne alla Vodka, Linguine alle Vongole and Penne Prosciutto. Patrons can also choose from mouth watering seafood dishes including Branzino, Halibut and Salmone Fresci. Pazzo even offers kid’s dishes so that the tiniest members of the family can join you!

A relaxing evening is complete with a great wine to pair with your dish. Pazzo has an extensive wine list hosting a wide variety of red and whites by the glass or bottle. Try the Alois Lageder, Pinot Grigio or the Nozzole, Chianti Classico Reserva. If you’re more of a cocktail drinker, the drink menu includes deliciously blended Martinis and classic cocktails. To end the meal as beautifully as it started, order one of the delicious desserts like the Warm Chocolate Bread Pudding, Canolli Trio, the daily Gelato selection or Pizzelle Tower.

Whether you’re looking for a night with friends or a quiet evening out, Pazzo is a great choice! Drink specials, delicious food and a great atmosphere is a local favorite where you can’t go wrong!