Matawan Day 2011

My wife and I visited Matawan Day today. The Matawan-Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce is celebrating the 325th anniversary of the landing and settlement of Matawan by Scots Presbyterians. The weather was sunny but a bit blustery. Terhune Park looked to be flooded as we walked by. The festivities were downtown. There were countless vendors, food concessions, organizations, and things to see and do. You could buy a purse, get your teeth polished, lose weight, sign up for dance lessons, become an activist, and climb a rock wall, all in about an hour. Lots of people attended. What fun! Matawan Fire Department had its trucks on display.

We chatted with a couple of nice ladies with the national office of the NAACP who were promoting the Bayshore NAACP Branch meeting, which is scheduled for 19 Nov 2011 at noon at St Mark AME Zion Church at 218 Delaware Avenue in Cliffwood. They have a bus heading to the MLK Memorial dedication tomorrow morning, btw. Only $30.

I welcomed Olga, one of the owners of Next Level Dance Academy, which recently opened in the Starbucks shopping center at Main Street and Route 34. The people from Loving Hut Vegan Cuisine were out in force. They should be opening in two weeks, as soon as their final permits are cleared by the Borough. Their restaurant will operate in the Dunkin Donuts shopping center at Broad Street and Rte 34. Ciro Pizza Cafe was handing out menus for their new restaurant off Morristown Road and Cliffwood Avenue. Kimberly Paone was manning the library's table. Cathy Zavorskas was at the Hobby Shop stand.  Maloney's was mobbed so we'll visit another time. Aby's Restaurant had a table. Victoria's Cozy Corner was conspicuously closed.

We had a nice chat with Adele Sammarco, who is the Democratic candidate for Mayor of Matawan, and Bill Cole, who is running for Borough Council. Adele helped out with Mission Matawan last summer. I had a nice conversation with Bill Spedding, who is the Democrat running for NJ State Assembly in the 12th Legislative District.

We bought cheesesteak sandwiches with the works from the booth operated by Philly Cheesesteak Factory USA. They gave me a free t-shirt. (Don't tell anyone but I ate my cheesesteak at a table provided by Bagelicious. I eat at their place on Route 34 and always enjoy myself, so I guess it was ok!)

There was a band playing near the Dollar Store and a dance competition at the corner of Ravine Drive and Main Street. Check out my photos below.

I parked at Starbucks and hoofed it into town. Lots of folks had the same idea.

Dancers were at the ready.

I took a peek inside. Might try it soon. I love Mexican food. They had a promotion for a musician playing last night, but the ad was in Spanish. Looked like a man with an acoustic guitar.