A Taste of the Bayou

  Italian, Chinese, and Mexican are the three main types of restaurants frequented by people in our area. Sometimes you just need a change in your diet, perhaps something to wake those sleeping taste buds. Cajun cuisine definitely fits that description, combining a variety of sharp spices.
  Now, if you were planning to drive to Louisiana to seek out some of this authentic Cajun cuisine, I’m happy to say your journey can be shortened considerably. The Ragin' Cajun at in Belmar is proud to say it serves authentic Cajun cuisine.

Cajun cuisine in Belmar

Plastered all over the menu are the words “chicken”, “shrimp”, “peppers”, and “sauce”. A good sign, I must say. All the food has just the right amount of seasoning, and if you’re in a spicy sort of mood, the table is chock full of hot sauces.
  You say you want more adventure? Then I suggest ordering some alligator sausage, not something you see around too often around New Jersey.
  Another great thing about this place is the atmosphere. Local blues acts rotate in and out of the restaurant five days a week. Some of the acoustic regulars at the Ragin' Cajun include Billy Hector, Rogues on the Run, the Boogelizers, String Bean and the Stalkers and Randy Ledet. These local favorites play at night on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Masterful, light blues adds to the relaxed energy that circulates through the Cajun bistro.
  I highly recommend Ragin' Cajun. It’s a great place to sit back and relax. I guess it’s the combination of homemade dishes and hot sauces and the soul strumming of local blues favorites that builds up the laid-back atmosphere. This little piece of Louisiana definitely does Cajun cuisine justice. Cajun cooking never tasted so good.

-Erin Ziess

Clearwater Festival
(cont from p. 3)

Seeger’s group sailed from town to town along the Hudson River in a 19th century sloop, educating residents about pollution. The idea was brought to Monmouth County where Friends of Clearwater was formed and has since been succesful in bringing several lawsuits against polluters. Its main focus over the years has been the Raritan Bay and New Jersey’s coastline, especially in Monmouth County.
   The Clearwater Festival is not a fundraiser but a chance to educate and celebrate. However, any proceeds from the event went toward the group’s environmental programs.
                         -Eve Amendola

Boardwalk
(cont. from p. 4 )

  Summer concerts have also been held every Wednesday for the past three years in Keansburg. On August 20, for example, New Power Soul played in the lot on the corner of Raritan and Beachway. The final August show provided a performance from the group Saturday Night Fever.
  Sounds like plenty of effort has been put towards the revitalization of Keansburg lately. A wide range of events were organized in the past months, including the previously mentioned concerts and a classic car show on September 14 at the amusement park.
  The face-lift of Keansburg has commenced, providing an array of activities from amusement parks to taverns along the boardwalk. The future of the Keansburg boardwalk is uncertain, but it certainly seems as if it’s heading in a positive direction

-Erin Ziess