Eat to the Beat...
New Jersey Seafood Festival
Rebecca Cavanaugh

I've decided to make the July column of Eat to the Beat a little different than what were all used to. You know what they say, variety is the spice of life. Earlier last month, June 9th to be exact, I ventured over to the 15th annual seafood festival in Belmar. To my delight, not only was their a plethora of potential dining experiences but an array of local talent as well. Now, traditionally Eat to the Beat is a column solely dedicated to investigating and reporting on eateries that provide great food as well as great music, but like I said we are taking the lesser traveled road today. With that in mind lets talk about the artisans for a bit.

I believe its in a festival planning guide somewhere that to have a successful event you must have some hokey craft vendors selling bird houses and painted tee-shirts that proclaim your love for golfing. The New Jersey Seafood Festival was no exception. Their were tacky vendors galore (I counted five bird house booths alone!), but I didn't let that distract me from some of the much more unique vendors and artisans. It just so happens that my sisters birthday was one day away and being the slacker that I am, I was scrambling for a gift. Jackpot! With the variety of things available I had no trouble picking out the perfect gifts. From jewelers to photographers, their was no lack of merchandise begging to be bought. Actually I ended up buying jewelry for my sister, a puppet for my little brother and a amazing oak and stained glass coffee table of myself. Im a glutton for a good deal.
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KBOB
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J.T.: No?
KBOB: [playing with me] You didn't know it doesn't happen that way?5
J.T.: Yes!...I knew....it's just that the reality of dealing with it [patience for learning] as opposed to just thinking about it is...a little different. It's still fun tho'.
KBOB: Oh, yeah. I do it cause I love it. If the bug bit you and you got it in you, you gotta do it and there's no way around it.
J.T.: And it's easier than being ashamed of yourself cause you're not doing it.
KBOB: I got this thing in my brain that if I went all the way to my grave and I didn't become a musician...I'd be very unhappy - I'd be one of those ghost things...they come back and haunt bars...
J.T.: Yeah, yeah, yeah, you'd be Bob Marley...no, wait...Christopher Marley, not Bob Marley! [have another beer jt].
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