Shore Fun, Goats on Duty & a Long Weekend Worth Leaving the House For

👋Hey, Monmouth friends!

It’s a holiday-weekend edition of the Monmouth Senior Scoop, and Monmouth County is easing into summer with food trucks, festivals, waterfront seafood, park adventures and even a team of goats clocking in for landscaping duty. Inside, you’ll also find library happenings, day-trip ideas, TV picks, local news worth knowing and a few good reasons to get out and enjoy the week ahead.

🎡 Weekend Plans: Festivals, food trucks, art and crafts by the Shore
🐐 Around Town: Goats in Sea Girt, artists wanted in Red Bank and water quality updates
🦞 Local Flavor: Moby’s returns and Gourmand opens in Point Pleasant Beach
📅 Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming Monmouth County shredding events
🌿 In the Parks: Canoes, reservoir cruises, Civil War songs and Memorial Day tradition
🏛️ Interesting Fact: Historic park sites open for seasonal tours
🗞️ Prime Time News: Finances, retirement, Social Security and travel health headlines
🍳 In the Kitchen: MasterChef-inspired global recipes
🚗 Day Trippin’: Kites, cowboys and Renaissance Faire merriment
🥢 Tasty Treats: A shareable celebration menu at P.F. Chang’s
📚 Beyond the Books: Bridge, Beatles, Zeppelin history, bereavement support and more
📺 TV Time: New streaming picks for the week
🎂 Celebrity Birthdays: Cher, Mr. T, Naomi Campbell and more

Up first…

The New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial & Museum in Holmdel will host a Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Veterans, beloved museum docents, families, and community members are invited to gather at this meaningful site to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Many towns are also sponsoring their own local tributes and parades, so check your township’s website for details.

🎡 Bradley Beach Memorial Day Weekend Festival
Kick off the unofficial start of summer with two days of seaside fun in Bradley Beach on Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, May 24. Expect a festive Shore-town atmosphere, plenty to browse, and a cheerful reason to make a boardwalk day of it. Info

🚚 Jersey Shore Food Truck Festival
Come hungry. Monmouth Park in Oceanport rolls out the flavor from Saturday, May 23, through Monday, May 25, with a long weekend of food trucks, live racing energy, and enough tempting bites to make “just one snack” a very loose plan. Info

🎨 Art in the Park
A little fresh air, a little creativity, a very pleasant Sunday. Long Branch’s Art in the Park returns on Sunday, May 24, bringing artists and art lovers together for a colorful day by the Shore. Info

🛍️ Annual Highlands Seaport Craft Show
Handmade finds with a waterfront backdrop? Yes, please. Head to Highlands on Sunday, May 24, for the annual Seaport Craft Show, featuring artisan goods, gift-worthy treasures, and a lovely excuse to linger by the bay. Info

💧 New Jersey American Water’s 2026 Water Quality Reports are now available online, giving customers a closer look at their local drinking water results. The company says its water once again met or exceeded all state and federal standards for regulated substances, including lead, based on testing conducted throughout 2025. The reports also include updates on lead service line replacement efforts. Customers can find their local report by ZIP code at the company’s website or request a printed copy by calling 800-272-1325.

Local artists have a chance to get in on the Red Bank Arts Festival, set for Saturday, June 27, from noon to 4 p.m. on Monmouth Street. Applications are now open for fine artists who want to sell their work from a booth or submit a piece for the juried art show. The festival will spotlight painting, photography, sculpture and mixed media in the heart of downtown Red Bank.

Sea Girt has brought in a hardworking cleanup crew with four legs and big appetites. The Green Goats will graze for about four weeks, then return in August for another round, helping clear stubborn invasive plants from steep areas that are difficult to manage by hand or equipment. Residents can watch them at work along The Terrace between the fourth and fifth blocks — but officials ask visitors not to feed or pet them, since the goats are getting their nutrition from the vegetation and may have poison ivy oils on their coats. The project, a partnership between the borough and the Sea Girt Conservancy, will be followed by native plant restoration to support a healthier local ecosystem.

A Highlands summer favorite is officially open again. Moby’s Lobster Deck, the breezy waterfront seafood spot overlooking Sandy Hook Bay, has returned for the 2026 season with lobster rolls, chowders, clams, oysters, soft-shell crabs, seafood platters, frozen margaritas and more.

Next door, Moby’s Freeze is scooping up soft serve, Italian ice and 16 flavors under the Sandy Hook Bridge. Part of historic Bahrs Landing, the longtime local landmark has been feeding shore crowds for generations — even Frank Sinatra and Joe DiMaggio stopped by. Moby’s Lobster Deck and Moby’s Freeze are at 2 Bay Ave. in Highlands and are currently open Friday through Sunday, with expanded summer hours ahead, weather permitting.

A new upscale dining spot has opened in Point Pleasant Beach — and it’s already creating a stir. Gourmand, a chef-driven modern American restaurant, debuted Wednesday inside the historic Gottlieb Building at 641 Arnold Ave. Reservations are already booked through May, with June availability expected to open in the coming days.

The kitchen is led by Executive Chef Imer Jose Garcia, a partner in the restaurant, who is putting a polished, modern spin on classic dishes. The menu includes branzino, dry-aged steaks and spicy rigatoni, along with a signature mocktail cart that brings handcrafted alcohol-free drinks directly to the table.

Gourmand seats about 70 guests and is currently reservation only. A private dining room for 12 to 14 people is also planned for later this summer, likely in July or August.

Still time to wrap up that spring cleaning before summer mode fully kicks in. Monmouth County’s free paper shredding program continues with three upcoming events where residents can safely unload old bank statements, medical records, legal papers, utility bills and other sensitive documents.

Coming up next:

Residents from any Monmouth County municipality may bring up to 100 pounds of paper — about four office paper boxes or four large trash bags. Documents are shredded on site, while you wait. Large binder clips should be removed, but staples and paper clips are fine. Events end at 1 p.m. or when the trucks are full, whichever comes first. For details, visit visitmonmouth.com or call 732-683-8686, ext. 8967.

🦀 Meet Monmouth’s ancient shoreline survivor.
Nature Lecture: Horseshoe Crabs in Monmouth County — Wednesday, May 20, 7–8 p.m. at Bayshore Waterfront Park Activity Center in Port Monmouth. Learn why these fascinating “living fossils” matter — and what can be done to help restore their population. FREE!

🎻 Civil War-era songs, straight from the history books.
The Libby Prison Minstrels — Saturday, May 23, 1–3 p.m. at Historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel. Step back in time for an afternoon of historical music about life on the battlefield and the home front. FREE!

🛶 Paddle into the holiday weekend.
Thompson Park Canoe Rentals — Saturday and Sunday, May 23–24, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. at Thompson Park in Lincroft. Canoes will be available on Marlu Lake, with all equipment provided. Open to all ages; guests under 18 must be with an adult. Rentals are $15 per boat for 1–3 people for two hours, cash or check only.

🚤 Wildlife watching with a lake breeze.
Boat Tours of the Reservoir — Saturday–Monday, May 23–25, and Saturday–Sunday, May 30–31, at 2, 3, 4 and 5 p.m. at Manasquan Reservoir in Howell. These 45-minute naturalist-led tours offer a scenic look at local wildlife from the water. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for children 12 and under and are sold day-of only. Tours are weather- and water-level dependent, so call ahead to confirm.

🇺🇸 A Memorial Day tradition with old-fashioned charm.
Decoration Day Celebration — Monday, May 25, noon–3 p.m. at Historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel. Gather with family and friends to mark this early American holiday in a setting that feels like stepping into another era. FREE!

Monmouth County’s parks come with a side of history. Several Park System sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places open for free tours during the warmer months — a lovely excuse to stroll, explore, and pick up a little local lore along the way.

Historic Holmes-Hendrickson House — Saturdays and Sundays, noon–3 p.m., April 25–Oct. 18, at Holmdel Park in Holmdel.

Historic Portland Place — Wednesday through Sunday at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., May 2–Nov. 15, at Hartshorne Woods Park in the Locust section of Middletown.

Historic Racing Stable — Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., May 2–Oct. 18, at Thompson Park in Lincroft.

Historic Battery Lewis — Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., May 23–Oct. 11, at Hartshorne Woods Park. Use the Rocky Point entrance in Highlands.

Tours may be canceled because of bad weather or county holidays. For more information, visit MonmouthCountyParks.com or call 732-842-4000. TTY/TDD: 711.

The latest news on aging from trusted media sources.

Helping an Aging Parent with Finances Can Put You In Conflict. Here’s How To Approach It: It’s worthwhile to lay the groundwork to assist with your parents’ finances long before a crisis hits. CNBC, May 15.

Hantavirus: What Retirees Need to Know Before Boarding a Cruise Ship This Summer: Planning a cruise? Get the facts on the rare hantavirus outbreak — and why experts say norovirus remains the bigger health threat for retirees. Kiplinger, May 11.

Workers Want to Work Past 65. But New Survey Shows Some Employers Have Age Cutoffs — Despite Federal Law: Plenty of Americans plan to keep working past 65, but some employers are already saying they’ll be too old. Investopedia, May 16.

Social Security Claims at 62 Get Social Media Buzz — Experts Say Proceed With Caution: Some social media influencers recently claimed to have cracked the code on that decision, but experts say the calculation they’re using is missing crucial context. CNBC, May 11.

What If This Turns Out to Be a Terrible Time to Retire? Preretirees and new retirees concerned about today’s markets can take steps to protect themselves. Morningstar, May 15.

A little MasterChef flair is coming to home kitchens. Eggland’s Best is teaming up with FOX’s culinary competition series for Season 16 and serving up globally inspired recipes adapted from the show’s recipe bank. The tasty lineup of recipes to try at home includes:

Gluten-Free Frying Pan Muffin with Egg: a hearty, UK-inspired dish perfect for brunch

Carbonara with Blue Cheese, Broccoli & Hazelnuts: blends bold, modern flavors from around the world

Profiteroles: highlights precision pastry techniques and a rich, crowd-pleasing Italian dessert experience

Consider it your cue to bring a little global flavor — and a dash of TV-worthy kitchen confidence — to the table!

🪁 Wildwoods International Kite Festival: Go Fly One
The sky over Wildwood gets wonderfully busy May 22–25 as the Wildwoods International Kite Festival celebrates its 40th year on the beach at Rio Grande Avenue and inside the Wildwoods Convention Center. Look for glowing kites during the Illuminated Night Kite Fly, synchronized team flying, giant inflatable creations and family games. Best of all for spectators: admission is free.

🤠 Cowtown Rodeo: Lasso Some Fun
Saddle up — Cowtown Rodeo kicks off its 2026 season on Saturday, May 23, at 780 Harding Highway in Pilesgrove. The country’s longest-running weekly professional rodeo, and a 2024 Wrangler NFR Small Rodeo of the Year winner, brings bull riding, team roping, barrel racing and plenty of Old West excitement to South Jersey every Saturday night.

⚔️ New Jersey Renaissance Faire: Award-Winning Huzzahs
Cue the trumpets. The New Jersey Renaissance Faire returns to the Burlington County Fairgrounds in Columbus on May 23–24 and May 30–31, with additional weekends in June. This year’s swashbuckling theme welcomes The Three Musketeers back to the Shire of New Crossford, along with fire performers, musicians, magicians, more than 30 merchants, faire food and entertainment across seven stages. Tickets are available online.

Got a graduation, family dinner or belated Mother’s Day toast on the calendar? P.F. Chang’s is making it easy to gather around the table with its limited-time “Sizzle. Share. Celebrate.” menu, available through June 23. The five-course meal, starting at $89.99 for two at participating locations, is built for passing plates and lingering a little longer, with soup, appetizers, entrées and dessert. Expect favorites like Chang’s Spicy Chicken, Mongolian Beef, Miso-Glazed Salmon, dumplings and spare ribs, plus splurge-worthy upgrades such as NY Prime Strip Steak Tataki, Oolong Chilean Sea Bass and Lobster & Prawn Fried Rice. Save room for the Great Wall of Chocolate — because celebrations should end on a sweet note. Check out their Freehold location.

This week at Monmouth County libraries: Cards, Concerts, Crafts & a Little Zeppelin History

♠️ Bridge, Mahjongg & Game-Day Goodness
Card players have plenty of ways to get in the game this week. Bridge enthusiasts can drop by the West Long Branch Library on Wednesday, May 20, from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. for intermediate-level play, while beginners and intermediate players can Learn to Play Duplicate Bridge at Library Headquarters in Manalapan that same day from noon–4:45 p.m. On Thursday, May 21, the Eastern Branch in Shrewsbury hosts Learn to Play Bridge from 9:30 a.m.–noon, and the Holmdel Library turns Thursday into Game Day with Mahjongg or Bridge from 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Later that afternoon, experienced players can join the Holmdel Mah Jongg Club from 1–4 p.m. Over in West Long Branch, weekly Mahjongg returns on Tuesday, May 26, from 1–4 p.m. First come, first seated for most game programs, so early birds have the advantage.

🎨 Color, Fold & Puzzle It Out
Need a calmer kind of evening? Adult Coloring Night at the Howell Branch on Wednesday, May 20, from 6:30–8 p.m. offers coloring pages, snacks and a relaxing excuse to unplug. Experienced paperfolders can gather for the Circle of Origami Paperfolders at Library Headquarters in Manalapan on Saturday, May 23, from 1–4:30 p.m. And on Tuesday, May 26, from 6–8:45 p.m., the Allentown Branch invites neighbors to chip away at a community puzzle — one missing piece at a time.

📜 History Takes Flight
From wartime ambition to the Hindenburg disaster in Lakehurst, The History of Zeppelins: From a Weapon of War to an Aeronautic Marvel lands at the Eastern Branch Library in Shrewsbury on Wednesday, May 20, from 7–8 p.m. Historian and author Dominic Etzold traces the dramatic rise and fall of these giant airships.

🎹 Beatles, Books & a Rocking Saturday
Cue the sing-alongs. Pianist and vocalist Jay Daniels brings “Here, There and Everywhere: A Tribute to the Best of the Beatles” to the Marlboro Branch on Thursday, May 21, from 1–2 p.m., celebrating songs from Revolver, Sgt. Pepper’s and Magical Mystery Tour. That evening at 7 p.m., the Atlantic Highlands Library hosts its Stephen King Book Club discussion of Joe Hill’s spooky Heart-Shaped Box. Then on Saturday, May 23, from 2–4 p.m., the Hazlet Library cranks up the volume with Rocking with the Randal Graves Band!, featuring classic and alternative rock favorites.

💙 A Supportive Space in Manalapan
The Lost and Found Bereavement Support Group meets in person at Library Headquarters in Manalapan on Wednesday, May 27, from 6:45–8 p.m. Led by support facilitator Beth Stamp, the group offers a welcoming place to share experiences, feelings and ideas for moving forward after loss.

This week’s watch list brings back a favorite action hero, serves up a retirement-community monster mystery, and adds a few juicy new reasons to stay in.

Jack is back. Four years after his Prime Video series wrapped, John Krasinski returns as the CIA analyst-turned-action hero in “Jack Ryan: Ghost War,” streaming Wednesday on Prime Video. The latest chapter in the long-running franchise brings back familiar faces, including Wendell Pierce, Michael Kelly and Betty Gabriel.

A world where women run everything? That’s the setup for “Ladies First,” arriving Friday, May 22, on Netflix. Sacha Baron Cohen stars as a chauvinistic man who wakes up in a parallel society dominated by women, with Rosamund Pike, Charles Dance, Emily Mortimer and Richard E. Grant along for the ride.

Tarantino completists, clear the couch. “Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair” debuts Friday, May 22, on Peacock, combining Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 into one epic cut, complete with a previously removed 7½-minute animated sequence.

Mystery lovers may want to queue up “You’re Killing Me,” debuting Monday on Acorn TV. Brooke Shields plays a bestselling novelist who teams with a true-crime podcaster to solve a murder. Very book-club-meets-whodunit.

And here’s one with serious senior-community intrigue: “The Boroughs” debuts Thursday on Netflix, following residents of a seemingly peaceful retirement community who band together to battle monsters. The cast is a powerhouse: Geena Davis, Bill Pullman, Alfred Molina, Alfre Woodard and Denis O’Hare.

One last trip to Chicago’s South Side: “The Chi” returns for its eighth and final season Friday, May 22, on Paramount+, bringing its acclaimed story of family, friendship and survival to a close.

May 20: A little TV, a little rock ’n’ roll, and a whole lot of star power today. The Sopranos actor David Proval turns 84, while the one-and-only Cher celebrates 80 years of being fabulous. Also blowing out candles: actor and comedian Dave Thomas of SCTV and Grace Under Fire fame, 78; Go-Go’s guitarist Jane Wiedlin, 68; Susan Cowsill of The Cowsills, 67; actor Bronson Pinchot, 67; and The Facts of Life favorite Mindy Cohn, 60.

May 21: Soul legend Ron Isley of the Isley Brothers turns 85 today, and we pity the fool who forgets to wish Mr. T a happy 74th birthday.

May 22: Birthday wishes go out to Barbara Parkins, remembered for Peyton Place and Valley of the Dolls, who turns 84. Also celebrating: singer Morrissey, 67; actor Ann Cusack, 65; and supermodel Naomi Campbell, 56.

That’s the Scoop for this week — full of Shore plans, local flavor and just enough goat-related news to keep things interesting. Have a great one, Monmouth!

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Got a local event, news tip or community gem we should know about? Contact us — we’re always happy to hear what’s happening around town.

😎The Monmouth Senior Scoop team

One last thing: Plans change, trucks fill up, and weather has opinions, so check event details before heading out. Also, Monmouth Senior Scoop is for informational purposes only — not medical, legal or financial advice.