Brown “Microsuede” Love Seat
Leather chairs
Books
CDs/Movies
Kitchen stuff
Clothes
Candles
Household items
Miscellaneous items
Lava Lamp! :)

Some things were never used/still in box!

Moving on Sunday! Everything must go! No reasonable offers turned down. :)

Email exit117a (at) gmail (dot) com for more info!

By the way, the love seat is still available!  I have lowered the price to $175.00.  That is the absolute lowest I want to go.  I honestly need that money for the move.  :(

I’m willing to sell the Rock Garden / Aromatherapy kit for $20.00 together.

The desk is sold pending pickup tomorrow.

I also have some things I may Freecycle.  I will know more tomorrow when I really start going through things.

I’m moving back to Philadelphia this weekend.  If anybody wants to get together this week, let me know!  I’m accepting offers of dinner/drinks! ;)

I have some items for sale that I have not been able to get rid of on Craigslist and it’s annoying me.  Click on the links below to see the Craigslist ads.

Like New Brown “Microsuede” Love Seat – this was purchased last November and is in excellent condition.

Used Technics SL-1200MK2 Direct Drive Turntable

EnviraScape™ Rock Garden Relaxation Fountain

Pearlessence Zen Diffuser Set – “Bamboo Mint”

I’m also selling my computer desk.  I don’t have a picture of it, but it’s a small, black armoire-like desk.  It’s got a keyboard tray and some shelving to the right of where the monitor goes.  I’m asking $40 or best offer.  It’s got some scratches, but otherwise in decent shape!

All items (except small stuff) are pickup and CASH ONLY!

Please email me at EXIT117A (at) GMAIL (dot) COM if you’re interested.  Thanks!

The 2008 hurricane season is well under way, and so far it has been active.
If you, a family member or anyone you know will need help evacuating during a storm, registering today with the Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) will help emergency workers attend to you more easily during a crisis.

“Monmouth County is part of the statewide effort to identify and register all individuals with special needs who may not be able to get to safety on their own during an emergency evacuation,” said Gary McTighe, acting director of the county’s OEM. “The county is assisting with the New Jersey Special Needs Registry by registering those who may need assistance locally.”

Anyone with physical or cognitive limitations, language barriers or lack of transportation should register with the New Jersey Special Needs Registry. The registry was designed to help emergency responders locate and safely evacuate people who could find it difficult to help themselves in the event of a major disaster.

Registration and information can be made by contacting the county’s OEM at 732-431-7400, or by downloading and mailing the registration form from the county’s Web site at www.visitmonmouth.com.

If you register by telephone, a special needs registrar will ask you a few simple questions such as your address, telephone number, how many people are in your household and if you have any pets. This information is necessary for officials to help you evacuate.

In the event of an evacuation, you or the person being assisted will need to bring medications, important papers, prescriptions, cash, food for your pets and clothes to last at least three to five days.

“If you know of someone who may have difficulty getting themselves to safety with family or friends, or to a public shelter, be sure they have registered with this free, confidential registry,” said Freeholder William C. Barham, liaison to the county’s OEM. “This effort is also designed to increase resident awareness and preparation for a major disaster. Help those you care about by contacting the county emergency management staff today.”

For further information: 732-431-7310.

Whether it’s a park, a party, a store, or a restaurant, I just love those little visual and sensory touches that bring an immersive design together. For me, a well-done, fun theme can make the difference between a good experience and an amazing one.

Trinity Restaurant in Keyport, NJ

I had heard a lot of good things about Trinity Restaurant (84 Broad Street in Keyport), so my husband and I decided to check it out. Talk about a well-done theme! Not only is the restaurant housed inside a beautiful little converted church, but the slightly cheeky religious motif extends into other details: the bible-black menus with section titles like “In the Beginning” and “Into the Fire,” the custom wrought-iron railings with tiny crosses, the sumptuous red draperies, and the intact hymn boards in the corners, to name a few. I could barely keep myself from gaping at the serene beauty of the place. It’s definitely a restaurant in which the building is part of the attraction – if you go, be sure to give yourself a tour.

All right, so enough about the surroundings. How was the food?

In a word, heavenly. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)

We started with the Green and White Asparagus appetizer, which was drizzled with vinaigrette: delicious and perfect for a warm summer day. My husband then ordered the Hukilau Pot, a savory seafood stew with veggies and couscous. His exact quote was: “This is the best one of these I’ve ever had,” which definitely means something, since he is quite the seafood connoisseur.

In keeping with our predilection towards fruits of the sea, I had the Pure and Simple Broiled Monkfish. The citrus and basil oil was delicate and tangy, the fish was deliciously moist, and the vegetables were steamed to perfection.

Dessert was chocolate, as it usually is with us: Malted Milk Pannacotta with sea salt sprinkled on top. Kind of like a chocolate-covered pretzel in custard form. Delicious!

Throughout the meal, the service was friendly and quick, and we were lucky enough to have a chat with the owner and the chef before we left. It’s not often that you actually get to give your compliments to the chef, so we happily did so.

All in all, our dinner at Trinity was a real treat. After eating at so many chains from day to day, it seems like an almost spiritual experience to partake of food prepared by a real, honest-to-goodness chef with a focus on taste and presentation. It’s a theme restaurant, yes, but thankfully that theme is paired with a true dedication to cuisine and a great sense of customer service.

Our rating? Truly transcendental.
________________________________
Rachael Citron lives in Matawan, where she owns Glass Slipper Weddings and Events, a full-service wedding and party planning service. She can be reached at rachael@glassslipperweddings.com.

UPDATE: I tried Matawan Barbeque on Wednesday night. I walked in around 8:30 and ordered to go. The place was about half filled, so I was served right away. During my short wait I checked the place out. There are 12 tables, so it can accommodate a small family or group. There are a variety of soft drinks and other beverages in drink cases. I chose a brand of diet Brazilian soda called Gurana (in a can). It was tasty!

So, how was the food you ask? Pretty good! I ordered the half BBQ chicken with yellow rice and beans. The portions were quite generous and everything was tasty. Prices are extremely reasonable. There are soups, salads, appetizers, barbeque combo’s, entrees (beef, chicken, pork), and fish/seafood (shrimp, salmon, cod). My platter was only $7.50. The most expensive item on the menu is a whole Grilled or Boiled Cod Fish (Bacalhau) at $18.00. I hope to try them again before I move.

FYI: I overheard the server say they are looking for more help, both in the kitchen and also more servers. So if you or someone you know is looking for a job, either call them or walk in. Here’s their number: 732-242-9946

The Laurence Harbor Little League Fields are located off Ely Avenue and Matawan Avenue behind the Memorial School. Laurence Harbor is located off of Exit 120 on the Garden State Parkway. Please visit the website for game day information and directions from your house to the fields.

For information, contact Jake Zychick at mountieman2005@aol.com

House Fire on Orchard Street possibly started by young child.

Firefighters are battling a house fire on Orchard Street, between Park Avenue and Center Street in Matawan Borough.  I walked down to the scene where I learned that the two story house with attached two car garage is a rental property and is owned by a couple in Holmdel.  A neighbor said it appeared that a young child in the home, around 3 years old, had gotten a hold of a firecracker and set it off sparking the blaze.

DISCLAIMER: This was heard “through the grapevine”, so I do not know for sure if this is a fact. I will gladly post a retraction if it is false.

If this is indeed true, it is a sad case of irresponsible behavior on the part of those around the child.  I know it was the Fourth of July a couple of weeks ago, but MY GOD if you have kids in the house, you DO NOT leave firecrackers laying around!  Secondly, how did a child of that age get his hands on something to set it off!?!  These are questions yet to be answered, I suppose.

Fortunately, none of the residents of the house were harmed.  We can be thankful for that.

More as I learn more!  Stay tuned.

Living in Monmouth County has been fun and enlightening in a lot of ways. In addition to all the wonderful delicious epicurean experiences, I’ve enjoyed the beaches, the nightlife, the culture, and co-mingling with the locals.  I’m a person that thrives off of experiences and societal interaction.  I love to learn new things, be immersed in my surroundings, be active and involved in community, and “pay it forward” to others.  I like to make differences in people’s lives; and I feel, in turn, they will make a difference in mine.

I had very high hopes of my time here, not only personally, but publicly.  Many of those hopes were realized.  Some were not.  I will not go into detail about those “dashed hopes”, however I prefer to focus on the positives, which I have noted above.

My time here in Matawan-Aberdeen is, sadly, coming to a close. I’m at a juncture where my life must change again.  I will be moving away from Matawan-Aberdeen, and back to my beloved Philadelphia, come September.  It came with a lot of deep thought and consideration.

This public announcement is two-fold:  I felt I owe it you, my readers, to know what the future holds for me and Exit 117A.  I want to assure you that I will not be deleting this blog.  In fact, this is partially why I have offered the opportunity for readers of this blog, or local writers, to contribute.  Come September I doubt I will be writing much here, if at all, since I won’t be living in the area.

I think for a hyper local blog to have just shy of 20,000 hits in under a year is a good thing.  I am glad that it has become a great resource of information to a lot of people.  I really hope it will continue to be just that.  This is NOT a goodbye, I promise. I’m not going to totally abandon this blog.  However, I’d like to offer, again, the opportunity for fans/readers of this site to contribute.  Please let me know if you would like to write for this blog and keep it going!

Thank you all so much!

Marilyn/Exit 117A

No word on opening date.  There’s a number, too, on one of the signs, but the light turned green and I didn’t have a chance to write it down.

I’m excited. I love BBQ.  I don’t have much experience with Brazilian or Portuguese BBQ, but I’ve always wanted to try.  I hope it opens before the end of the summer!  Stay tuned.