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private events only. Now that the bar is open 7 days a week, it’s been a learning experience as well, trying to get the place up to speed as a destination club for those who enjoy original music. 

The musicians who play there have nothing but praise for The Wonder Bar; from the large, concert-grade PA system to the iced rum shots and $1 Bud pints, the multi-mirrored place has a vibe about it that’s just not found anywhere else on the Jersey Shore of today.

Debbie told us that they are also re-opening the club’s original snack bar, where original owner George DiNardo served the famous Wonder Bar cheese steaks and hot dogs through the night, every night.

In closing, there’s never a cover charge for the Open Mike; unlike some places, which charge musicians a cover to sign in and entertain in their club, The Wonder Bar’s open mike night wants to encourage all musicians, songwriters, and poets to come in and do their things. And Regis eat your heart out, the Open Mike is MC’d by none other than MC Lone Paranoid, and starting next week the Open Mike will feature a "Band of The Week," with Green Machine coming in for a 10 PM set on Wednesday 8/18; musical hosts will be The Slydells, and on Wednesday Aug. 25th, the musical host will be Joe Hughes of Golden Seal, with a special acoustic appearance by Keith Beck and band of the week The Gutless Poseurs.

The Wonder Bar is located at the corner of 5th and Ocean Avenues in Asbury Park, right across from Convention Hall and the Howard Johnson’s on the Asbury boardwalk.

For more info and schedule
call (732) 502-8886,
or go to http://www.wonderbarnj.com.

For information about early sign-ins or slot availability, call
World Beyond Network at (732) 668-6166 or
Lustrevision at (732) 492-7432.

By Chris Barry

from page 9
because everybody at the top of the charts today seems to sound the same.

Having appeared in the September issue of Elle Girl in a  DKNY spread that includes on location photos of her latest video shoot, I asked how she's handling all of this newfound national fame? "I don't know," (laughs). "It's funny because everybody keeps asking me that but I don't know what to tell them is going on. I'm just doing what I'm doing and I find myself definitely talking about myself a lot more than I ever have."

She does make sure that she's not the center of every conversation when she is kicking back with her buds though. Her greatest fear is that major success happens for her and she ends up not liking it. For now she's content touring the country opening for different musicians. When she's not chillin' in some cool cafe during her off hours, she's groovin' to the tunes in her I-Pod. "Oh I love this thing,” she beams. “I got some great stuff in here. Frou Frou (electronic music), Tuck and Patti (Jazz), Jet, Ani DiFranco, Norah Jones, and Living Colour to name a few.”

Toby shares some of her advice: “Don't pursue your goals until you're done with school. I would never give up going to college for anything. It's where you're not an adult and not a kid. You meet people from different places.”

Surf www.tobylightman.com for her concert schedule.
By Carole J. Brandi