👋Hello, friends!

November has arrived with Beatles music, handmade finds and an incentive to try a new restaurant (or two). We’ve also got library dancing, fresh TV picks and early Thanksgiving reservations to consider if you don’t feel like cooking this year!

👀What’s on tap:

🍂 Weekend Plans: Fab Four festivities, restaurant week and local finds
🌳 In the Parks: Historic homes and craftsmanship
📚 Beyond the Books: Games, dancing, screenings and Medicare help
📺 TV Time: Your next couch commitment
✈️ Wanderlust Weekly: Alaska, Egypt and Mediterranean daydreams
🇺🇸 Honoring Our Veterans: Ceremonies and a thank-you meal
🦃 Thanksgiving Out: Let someone else handle the dishes

Up first…

See what’s happening around Monmouth County this weekend.

A little help from your Fab Four: Everything Fab Four Fest returns to Asbury Park for concerts, conversations and a celebration of Revolver’s 60th anniversary. Thursday–Sunday, Nov. 5–8. Tickets: $50–$300. You’ve had six decades to learn the lyrics.

Three courses, one good excuse: Jersey Shore Restaurant Week offers three-course meals at participating Shore restaurants for $32.26 or $42.26, Nov. 6–15. Try somewhere new—or give your favorite another vote of confidence.

Christmas is coming down the farm lane: The Village at Anne Ellen opens with a hayride through Christmas tree fields and wooded pathways filled with lights and holiday displays. Nov. 6–Dec. 30, Manalapan. Adults: $24–$28; children: $14–$18. An early outing with the grandkids could become a new tradition.

Give the gift list a head start: Browse painted glassware, wood art, greeting cards and more at the Monmouth County Park System’s Fall Craft Show. More than 40 local artists and crafters will be at Fort Monmouth Recreation Center, Tinton Falls, Saturday, Nov. 7, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Free admission.

Art with a side of fresh air: Fall Art in the Garden fills Calgo Gardens in Freehold with paintings, pottery, jewelry and photography. Add live music and a stop at The Tulip Tree Café, and you’ve got an afternoon worth leaving unscheduled otherwise. Saturday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Suggested donation: $3.

A rest day with options: Rest Day No. 1 brings food, drinks, local makers, movement classes, recovery activities and children’s fun to Oceanport. The new market comes from FRESH Markets and The Fort Athletic Club. Saturday, Nov. 7, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Free admission.

Sip around the Garden State: The NJ Wine Expo gathers New Jersey wineries at the Bell Works Ballroom in Holmdel, with more than 130 wines to sample and winemakers to meet. Saturday, Nov. 7, noon–5 p.m. Tickets: $39–$54; designated drivers: $10.

A colorful celebration of remembrance: Asbury Park’s Día de los Muertos honors loved ones through music, art, mariachi and a boardwalk walk from Convention Hall to the historic Casino. Families and pets are welcome. Saturday, Nov. 7, 4–7 p.m.; early face painting begins at 2 p.m.

Links to the latest news on aging.

5 Ways to Help Your Adult Children Financially Without Ruining Your Own Retirement: From helping with rent to bailing their grown kids out of a financial bind, parents sometimes find themselves opening their wallets long after the college tuition bills were supposed to end. Money, Oct. 26.

Regret Signing Up for Social Security in 2026? Here's What You Can Do: You thought you were ready to apply for Social Security benefits, but a few months in, you're second-guessing that decision. The Motley Fool, Oct. 26.

What Happens When Social Security Thinks You're Dead? As many as 12,000 people a year are mistakenly declared dead by the SSA, stopping their Social Security and Medicare benefits cold. Here's what to do if it happens to you. Kiplinger, Oct. 31.

What's Gone Up Even Faster Than Gas or Rent? The Cost of Caregiving: As prices have ticked up in recent years, the cost to caregivers has skyrocketed. NPR, Oct. 28.

🍿 Two movies for your holiday radar: Johnny Depp takes on Ebenezer Scrooge in Ebenezer, a ghostly retelling of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, opening Nov. 13. Then Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro reunite—with Ariana Grande joining the family—in Focker-In-Law, arriving Nov. 25. Christmas spirit and family chaos on the big screen? Two good reasons to make a movie date this holiday season.

Dessert now comes with a coffee lid: Starbucks’ holiday menu arrives Nov. 5, bringing back Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulée Latte and Cranberry Bliss Bars, alongside a new Tiramisu Velvet drink lineup. See the seasonal menu.

Thanksgiving math worth checking: Walmart says its $35 holiday meal basket serves 10, with ingredients for turkey, sides and dessert. Available through Dec. 24; check local pricing and availability. Cooking duties, alas, are still yours. See what’s included.

Speaking of stepping away from the kitchen, there’s some local history waiting outside.

Step inside another century: Tour Historic Portland Place, the restored 18th-century house in Hartshorne Woods Park’s Locust section of Middletown. Exhibits explore the region’s history and the Hartshorne family’s local legacy. Wednesday–Sunday, Nov. 4–8 and 11–15, at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. Free. Register that day at the Visitor Center. Park calendar.

Now that’s working with your hands: Watch traditional craftsmanship at the blacksmith shop at Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel, Sunday, Nov. 8, 1–3 p.m. Free.

Prefer your November activities indoors? The libraries have you covered.

Cards to play, dances to try and help with the practical stuff. Your Monmouth County Library card continues to earn its keep.

Bring your best bridge game: Intermediate players can join Bridge at West Long Branch Library, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Seats are first come, first served—no saving one for your favorite partner.

Meet your next favorite game: Modern Board Game Night introduces beginner-friendly picks such as Sushi Go!, Splendor and Ticket to Ride. Wednesday, Nov. 4, 6–8 p.m., Library Headquarters, Manalapan. Come ready to learn. Your competitive streak will probably find its own way there.

Thursday means table time: Holmdel’s Game Day offers player-led Mahjongg and bridge, with tables and supplies provided, Thursday, Nov. 5, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. The Holmdel Mah Jongg Club follows 1–4 p.m. for casual play by experienced players.

Give those dancing shoes an outing: Practice ballroom dances with instructor Lloyd “Silqui” Davis at Social Dance Club, Thursday, Nov. 5, noon–1:30 p.m., Library Headquarters, Manalapan. Register in person.

A convenient health check-in: Certified nurses offer Free Wellness Screenings, including blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and stroke assessments, in a mobile van at Hazlet Township Library, Thursday, Nov. 5, 1–3:30 p.m. Community resources will also be available.

Keep the music going: Stacy Goto leads Israeli Folk Dancing for Everyone, welcoming beginners and experienced dancers. Thursday, Nov. 5, 7–8:30 p.m., Library Headquarters, Manalapan.

Medicare questions? Pull up a chair: Get free, confidential, unbiased information at one-on-one SHIP sessions Monday, Nov. 9, and Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2:30–4:30 p.m., Library Headquarters, Manalapan. Both are in person, in the Zoom Room. Walk-ins welcome; first come, first served.

A little planning now, less scrambling later: Emergency Preparedness at Home covers residential security and practical preparedness with Howell Township Office of Emergency Management volunteer Michael Lauer. Tuesday, Nov. 10, 6:30–7:30 p.m., Howell Library.

And when you’re ready to put your feet up, here’s what’s on TV.

Your Sunday-night society is back: Season 4 of The Gilded Age premiered Nov. 1 on HBO and HBO Max, so there’s still time to catch up with the upstairs crowd and their downstairs drama. The manners are impeccable. The motives? Less so.

Let the holiday baking begin: Holiday Baking Championship returned to Food Network Monday, Nov. 2, at 8 p.m. All the seasonal baking ambition, with someone else washing the mixing bowls.

A ringside seat to history: The Greatest follows Muhammad Ali’s life beyond the fights, exploring the family and personal moments behind the legend. Jaalen Best stars in the first authorized scripted series about Ali. All eight episodes arrive Wednesday, Nov. 4, on Prime Video.

Second chances, with a nine iron: Owen Wilson returns in Stick, about a former pro golfer finding purpose through a talented young player and an unlikely circle of friends. Season 2 premieres Wednesday, Nov. 4, on Apple TV with two episodes, followed by weekly releases. Golf expertise optional.

For the “just one more episode” crowd: Keira Knightley, Ben Whishaw and Sarah Lancashire return in Black Doves. Helen’s public life as the prime minister’s wife collides with her secret work as a spy, while a new attack sends everyone hunting for answers. Season 2 arrives Thursday, Nov. 5, on Netflix.

Family recipes, meet the learning curve: Awkwafina comes from a restaurant family. One small problem: she can’t cook. In Awkwafina: The Unlikely Cook, she takes a culinary road trip to learn the craft and help revive her family’s Chinese restaurant. Premieres Friday, Nov. 6, on Apple TV. For anyone who inherited the recipes without inheriting the knack.

Watching other people travel can lead to ideas. Which brings us to…

Links to the latest travel news.

Alaska, with history on the side: Holland America marks 80 years in Alaska in 2027 with more than three dozen Alaska Heritage Tours. Experiences include the White Pass scenic railroad, glacier visits and Kenai Fjords wildlife cruises. Available on select cruises and land-and-sea cruise tours; booking is now open.

Egypt gets a longer look: Viking’s new 19-day Grand Nile Journey, beginning in 2028, combines four hotel nights in Cairo with a 14-night sailing aboard Viking Ra. Seventeen guided tours include the pyramids, Grand Egyptian Museum and lesser-visited Nile sites. Ancient history, with time to take it in.

Put the Mediterranean on the calendar: Norwegian Bella is open for booking, with seven-day round-trip Barcelona sailings starting in May 2028. Ports serve Rome and Florence, plus Salerno, Marseille and Palma de Mallorca. Planning ahead is easier when the plan includes Italy.

Let someone else handle the driving: Amtrak’s new Airo trains entered service on the Cascades route in the Pacific Northwest on Sept. 30. Something to consider if Washington and Oregon are on your travel list—and watching the scenery sounds better than watching traffic.

Back home, an important November observance is approaching.

Veterans Day is Wednesday, Nov. 11. Here are several ways to recognize and thank those who served, starting close to home.

A moment of remembrance in Holmdel: The New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial hosts its annual ceremony at 11 a.m., with speakers and ceremonial wreath laying. The public is welcome.

A salute aboard the battleship: Battleship New Jersey in Camden holds a free public ceremony at 11 a.m. on the ship’s fantail.

A thank-you you can take to lunch: Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers gives veterans and active-duty military personnel a free combo-meal card when they visit Nov. 11 with valid military ID. No purchase necessary; redeem the card through Nov. 25. A fitting tradition for a restaurant named after World War II veteran Freddy Simon.

Keep the family gathering. Hand off the cooking. From a casual turkey dinner to an oceanfront feast, these Monmouth County restaurants are serving Thanksgiving meals. Your job: choose a table and arrive hungry.

A classic feast in downtown Freehold: The American Hotel is serving its Thanksgiving buffet from 1–5 p.m., featuring turkey, ham and traditional sides. Adults are $69; children 12 and under are $34. Parking is free. Call 732-431-3220 for reservations.

A holiday spread in Spring Lake Heights: Spring Lake Manor offers a buffet with turkey and prime rib carving stations, salmon, traditional sides and dessert. $65 adults; $30 children ages 3–10. Reservations required; tables are reserved for 90 minutes.

Turkey with a more modest tab: Moore’s Tavern & Sports Bar in Freehold Township offers a holiday dinner noon–7 p.m., starting with cream of mushroom soup, followed by roast turkey, sausage-and-apricot stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet yams, green beans and cranberry sauce. Finish with pumpkin pie, apple pie or a chocolate sundae. Adults are $32; children under 12 are $15. Reserve at 732-863-0555.

An ocean view with your second helping: McLoone’s Pier House in Long Branch is serving an all-you-can-eat Thanksgiving buffet, featuring turkey and roast beef carving stations, classic holiday sides and pumpkin, apple and pecan pies. Guests ages 11 and older are $54; children 10 and younger are $19. Book through the link or call 732-795-3493 for available seating times.

A familiar favorite in Holmdel: Houlihan’s offers turkey with soup or salad, mashed potatoes, cornbread stuffing, green beans, cranberry jam and pumpkin pie. $27.99 adults; $13.99 children. Prime rib is also advertised; confirm holiday hours when booking.

Four courses by the sea: Avenue in Long Branch is offering a four-course Thanksgiving prix fixe for $65 per person, from 1–7 p.m. Chef Juan Camarillo’s menu gives holiday classics a modern twist, with optional raw bar selections. The restaurant says gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian accommodations are available. Follow the link for the menu and reservations.

Make it a special occasion in Rumson: Red Horse Steakhouse by David Burke is serving a three-course Thanksgiving prix fixe from noon–8 p.m. Choose from holiday turkey and dishes from land and sea. Adults are $95, plus tax and gratuity; children 12 and under are $45. Reserve through the website.

Red Horse’s “Grab n’ Gobble,” Rumson: Bring home cooked, carved turkey with gravy, stuffing, vegetables, whipped potatoes, Caesar salad, cranberry sauce, cheesy popovers and pie. A whole-turkey package serving 6–10 is $450; a half-turkey package serving 4–6 is $225. Food comes packed separately with reheating instructions. Pickup is Thanksgiving Day, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Order and package details. You can still take credit for setting the table.

Reserve early and confirm availability, children’s pricing, tax, gratuity and holiday service charges. Know another Monmouth restaurant serving Thanksgiving dinner? Hit reply and share the tip.

Happy 68th birthday to Peter C. of Holmdel! Wishing you good health and plenty of cake throughout the year! You’re in good birthday company this week: Nov. 5: Folk legend Art Garfunkel turns 85, Herman’s Hermits singer Peter Noone is 79 and reality TV personality Kris Jenner is 71; Nov. 6: Actress Sally Field turns 80 and journalist Maria Shriver is 71; Nov. 7: Singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell turns 83, Christopher Knight—forever Peter Brady— is 69 and Kiss guitarist Tommy Thayer turns 66.

That’s the Scoop for this week. Know someone who would enjoy a few more things to do and a few fewer things to search for? Forward them the Scoop so they can subscribe to our weekly newsletter. It’s free!

Until next week,
😉The Monmouth Senior Scoop team

Disclaimer: Always double-check event dates, prices, registration and accessibility before heading out—plans change, even the good ones. And nothing here is medical, legal or financial advice.