Jersey Tour!

I´m going to the USA for three months with two friends. The first week will we spend in New York and since one of my friends is almost as big Bon Jovi-fan as I am, we´ll definately spend one day in Jersey! So my question is if anyone could help us with places we oughta visit when we´re there? Maybe a map or something like that? Or if anyone who lives there could give us a BJ-related tour that would be awesome! Thanks in advance.

Are you guys going to have a car? You never said exactly when you would be here. I have been official tour guide here but it depends on time. I am so busy right now that it's insane - we engineers tend to be busy desiging things over the winter so that they can get built in the warmer weather.

Here is a list of sites you might want to consider:

1. Jon's childhood home in Sayreville, 16 Robin Hood Drive

2. Broadway Central Cafe South Amboy, 1114 S. Broadway:
The band used to hang out there very often, especially Tico. There are BJ artifacts in several places surround the bar including a platinum album for SWW and a life-size autographed poster in the women's room.

3. Hunka Bunka Ballroom (Starland Ballroom now), Sayreville, Jernee Mill Road:
Alec worked there once and Jon used to play there.

4. Fast Lane, Asbury Park, 207 Fourth Ave, and...

5. Stone Pony Asbury Park, 913 Ocean Ave:
Jon played there with his earlier bands.

6. The Roadside Diner, Route 33/34 West in Wall Township:
The cover for Crossroad was shot here. 10 min from Asbury Park

7. Seaside Heights boardwalk:
Favorite hangout of the band, videos like In and out of Love were filmed there, and photos for the NJ album are made here.

8. Surf and Turf Ale House, 415 Rute 18 S, East Brunswick:
Richie played there with his earlier band.

9. The Count Basie Theater in Red Bank on Monmouth St.where the legendary Christmas concerts were.

10. Seaside Heights - where the In and out of Love video was shot!

11. Enzo's Pizza in Sayreville. I believe it's on Main Street if you want to try to find it. Pizza Parlor jury.

12. Jon's fav Pizzeria is "Umberto" in Fair Haven, 583 River Road. There is a photo of Jon on the wall. I heard he usually eats Pizza Anchovies medium size.

13. SAYREVILLE WAR MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL
820 Washington Road Parlin, NJ 08859

I have an even longer list that Kev gave me but I have to find it.

Kathleen

Wow Kathleen, that is absolutely amazing! I can´t thank you enough, you´re just too kind .. I think we´re gonna stay in NY like 24-31 January.. So if you´re available any of these days that would be totally amazing! I understand if you don´t have the time but I would LOVE to have you as a tour-guide!

That is soon - yikes. The Jersey tour is a full day if you do it right and I usually will take people on the weekend. Unfortunately the weekend that you are here is my daughters very last play at her high school before she graduates - on both Saturday and Sunday. I can't NOT be there - I'm Mom LOL.

If you are a member of backstage I can recommend asking there. There are a ton of people that live quite close. There aren't too many of us here on this board unfortunately.

I wish I could help out - I like meeting people from the board and showing them around my beautiful state.

Kathleen

Okey I totally understand! Maybe we´ll hang aroung to the weekend after that (3-4), I don´t know for sure yet. Would that be a better time for you?

Hey Kathleen! I spoke to my friends and they really wanted to stay a little longer in NY so we could do the Jersey-tour! If you´re up for it of course! So how is your schedule the next weekend, 2-4 February? Unfortunately I don´t really know any people at backstage, plus you seem extremely nice and it would be great to meet you!

Sorry I didn't get back to you - too much work . The following weekend would be far better for me. We'll have to see about the weather - we would be going to the beach and when it snows it's damn miserable at the beach LOL. Of course where you are from - it might feel warm here LOL.

I'll send you my phone numbers in a pm and you can get in touch when you get here

Kathleen

That´s amazing, a BIG thank you to you Kathleen! I´ll be in touch!

Facts about NJ
If you've ever lived in Jersey...you'll appreciate this!!!

New Jersey is a peninsula.
Highlands, New Jersey has the highest elevation along the entire eastern
seaboard, from Maine to Florida.
New Jersey is the only state where all of its counties are classified as metropolitan areas.
New Jersey has more race horses than Kentucky.
New Jersey has more Cubans in Union City (1 sq mi.) than Havana, Cuba.
New Jersey has the densest system of highways and railroads in the US.
New Jersey has the highest cost of living.
New Jersey has the highest cost of auto insurance.
New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the nation.
New Jersey has the most diners in the world and is sometimes referred to
as the "Diner Capital of the World. "
New Jersey is home to the original Mystery Pork Parts Club
(no, not Spam): Taylor Ham or Pork Roll.
Home to the less mysterious but the best Italian hot dogs and Italian sausage w/peppers and onions.
North Jersey has the most shopping malls in one area in the world, with
seven major shopping malls in a 25 square mile radius. And you live within 20 minutes of at least one, if not 3.
New Jersey is home to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
The Passaic River was the site of the first submarine ride by inventor John P. Holland .
New Jersey has 50+ resort cities & towns; some of the nation's most famous: Asbury Park, Wildwood, Atlantic City, Seaside Heights, Long Branch, Cape May.
New Jersey has the most stringent testing along our coastline for water quality control than any other seaboard state in the entire country.
New Jersey is a leading technology & industrial state and is the largest chemical producing state in the nation when you include pharmaceuticals.
Jersey tomatoes are known the world over as being the best you can buy and the best you will ever eat.
New Jersey is the world leader in blueberry and cranberry production (and here you thought Massachusetts?)
Here's to New Jersey - the toast of the country! In 1642, the first brewery in America, opened in Hoboken.
New Jersey rocks! The famous Les Paul invented the first solid body electric guitar in Mahwah, in 1940.
New Jersey is a major seaport state with the largest seaport in the US, located in Elizabeth. Nearly 80 percent of what our nation imports comes through Elizabeth Seaport first.
New Jersey is home to one of the nation's busiest airports (in Newark), Liberty International.
George Washington slept here. Several important Revolutionary War battles were fought on New Jersey soil, led by General George Washington.
The light bulb, phonograph (record player), and motion picture projector,
were invented by Thomas Edison in his Menlo Park, NJ, laboratory.
We also boast the first town ever lit by incandescent bulbs.
The first seaplane was built in Keyport , NJ.
The first airmail (to Chicago) was started from Keyport,NJ.
The first phonograph records were made in Camden,NJ.
New Jersey was home to the Miss America Pageant held in Atlantic Cit y.
The game Monopoly, played all over the world, named the streets on its playing board after the actual streets in Atlantic City. And, Atlantic City has the longest boardwalk in the world, not to mention salt water taffy.
New Jersey has the largest petroleum containment area outside of the Middle East countries.
The first Indian reservation was in New Jersey, in the Watchung Mountains.
New Jersey has the tallest water-tower in the world. (Union, NJ!!)
New Jersey had the first medical center, in Jersey City.
The Pulaski SkyWay, from Jersey City t o Newark, was the first skyway highway.
NJ built the first tunnel under a river, the Hudson (Holland Tunnel).
The first baseball game was played in Hoboken, NJ, which is also the birthplace of Frank Sinatra.
The first intercollegiate football game was played in New Brunswick in
1889 (Rutgers College played Princeton).
The first drive-in movie theater was opened in Camden, NJ,
(but they're all gone now!).
New Jersey is home to 2 out of 3 of "NEW YORK'S" pro football teams!
The first radio station and broadcast was in Paterson, NJ .
The first FM radio broadcast was made from Alpine, NJ, by Maj. Thomas Armstrong.
All New Jersey natives: Jack Nicholson, Derek Jeter, Bruce
Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Jason Alexander, Queen Latifah, Susan Sarandon,
Connie Francis, Shaq, Judy Blume, Aaron Burr, Joan Robertson, Ken Kross, Dionne Warwick, Sarah Vaughn, Budd Abbott, Lou Costello, Alan Ginsberg, Norman Mail er, Marilynn McCoo, Flip Wilson, Alexander Hamilton, Whitney Houston, Eddie Money, Linda McElroy, Eileen Donnelly, Grover Cleveland, Woodrow Wilson, Walt Whitman, Jerry Lewis, Tom Cruise, Joyce Kilmer, Bruce Willis, Caesar Romero, Lauryn Hill, Ice-T, Nick Adams, Nathan Lane, Sandra Dee, Danny DeVito, Richard Conti, Joe Pesci, Joe Piscopo, Joe DePasquale, Robert Blake, John Forsythe, Meryl Streep, Loretta Swit, Norman Lloyd, Paul Simon, Jerry Herman, Gorden McCrae, Kevin Spacey, John Travolta, Phyllis Newman, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Eva Marie Saint, Elisabeth Shue, Zebulon Pike, James Fennimore Cooper, Admiral Wm.Halsey,Jr., Dave Thomas (Wendy's), William Carlos Williams, Ray Liotta, Robert Wuhl, Bob Reyers, Paul Robeson, Ernie Kovacs, Joseph Macchia, Kelly Ripa, and, of course, Francis Albert Sinatra and "Uncle Floyd" Vivino.
Bob Meade adds: The Great Falls in Paterson, on the Passaic River, is the second highest waterfall on the East Coast of the US.

You know you're from Jersey when . . .
You don't think of fruit when people mention "The Oranges."
You know that it's called Great Adventure, not Six Flags.
A good, quick breakfast is a hard roll with butter.
You've known the way to Seaside Heights since you were seven.
You've eaten at a diner, when you were stoned or drunk, at 3 A.M.
You know that the state isn't one big oil refinery.
At least three people in your family still love Bruce Springsteen, and
you know the town Jon Bon Jovi is from.
You know what a "jug handle" is.
You know that WaWa is a convenience store.
You know that the state isn't all farmland.
You know that there are no "beaches" in New Jersey--there's the
shore--and you don't go "to the shore," you go "down the shore."
And when you are there, you're not "at the shore"; you are "down the shore."
You know how to properly negotiate a circle.
You knew that the last sentence had to do with dr iving.
You know that this is the only "New" state that doesn't require "New" to identify it (try . . Mexico . . . York ..! . . Hampshire-- doesn't work, does it?).
You know that a "White Castle" is the name of BOTH a fast food chain AND a fast food sandwich.
You consider putting mayo on a corned beef sandwich a sacrilege.
You don't think "What exit?" is very funny.
You know that people from the 609 area code are "a little different." Yes they are!
You know that no respectable New Jerseyan goes to Princeton--that's for out-of-staters.
The Jets-Giants game has started fights at your school or local bar.
You refer to all highways and interstates by their numbers.
Every year you have at least one kid in your class named Tony.
You know the location of every clip shown in the Sopranos opening credits.
You've gotten on the wrong highway trying to get out of the mall.
You know that people from North Jersey go to Seaside Heights, and people from Central Jersey go to Belmar, and people from South Jersey go to Wildwood. It can be no other way.
You weren't raised in New Jersey--you were raised in either North Jersey, Central Jersey or South Jersey.
You remember the stores Korvette's, Two Guys, Rickel's, Channel, Bamberger's Gimbel's and Orbach's.
You also remember Palisades Amusement Park.
You've had a boardwalk cheese steak and vinegar fries.
You start planning for Memorial Day weekend in February.
And finally . . .
You have NEVER, NEVER NEVER, EVER pumped your own gas.

Here is my list, that Kathleen mentioned. I apologise in advance for some minor spelling mistakes....

New Jersey

Jon’s childhood home – 16 Robinhood Drive, Parlin, NJ 08859-1612 (next to Stevenson St)
Jon’s old house (90‘) – 22 Somerset Drive, Rumson, NJ 07760-1101

Peer on opposite site of Navesink River – Fair Haven Road (next to River Road, Red Bank)
Jon’s beach house - Lily Pond Lane, East Hampton, NY 11937
Jon’s high school – Sayreville High School – 820 Washington Road, Parlin, NJ 08859
Jon’s fave Pizzeria – Umberto, Fair Haven, 583 River Road (There’s a photo of Jon on the wall)
Jon’s old job – Kinney‘s Shoestore, Willowbrook Mall in Wayne

Richie’s childhood home - Harriot Street, Woodbridge, NJ 07095
Richie’s old house - 12 Broadmoor Drive, Rumson, NJ 07760-1202 (right on the beach)
Richie’s high school (not sure) – Woodbridge High School – Samuel Lupo Place, Woodbrigde, NJ 07095

Tico’s old house – Box 267, Route 537, Colts Neck, NJ (1996)
Tico’s high school – JFK Memorial High School – 200 Washington Avenue, Iselin, NJ 08830
Tico’s house – West Palm Beach, Florida

Dave’s house – 45 Phalanx Road, Colts Neck, NJ
Dave’s high school (not sure) – John P- Stevensons High School – 855 Grove Avenue, Edison, NJ 08820

Alec’s old house – 29 Laird Road, Colts Neck, NJ

Broadway Central Cafe – 114 S. Broadway, South Amboy, Band members used to hang around. There are BJ artifacts at several places including a platinum album of SWW and a life-sized autographed poster in the women’s room.

Hunka Bunka Ballroom/Jernee Mill Inn/Starland Ballroom – 570 Jernee Mill Road, Sayreville. Alec used to work there and Jon played there.

The Fastlane – 207 Fourth Ave, Asbury Park

The Stone Pony – 913 Ocean Ave, Asbury Park

Roadside Diner – Route 34, Wall Township, Farmingdale, NJ 07727 (close to Catherine Street – West of Collingwood Circle (Cover of Crossroads and Saturday Night Single were shot there)

Seaside Heights Broadwalk – Exit 82 off the Parkway. Favorite hangout of the band, videos like In an out of love were shot there.

Surf and Turf Ale House – 415 Route 18, South East Brunswick. Located in the Village Geern East Shopping Center. This is the site of the former Charly’s uncle nightclub were young Richie used to play in bands like Shark Frenzy.

Convention Hall ans Paramount Theater – Asbury Park at the end of the Asbury Park Board Walk

Asbury Park Beach – Ocean Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ 07712 – pictures from SWW album

Elements The Lounge – 1072 Ocean Avenue, Seabright, NJ 07760

Enzo’s & Angelo’s Pizzeria – 80 Main Street, Sayreville, NJ 08872-1564 - Pizza Parlour Jury. Where the band asked some fans about the SWW album.

Century Productions Studio – 171 Washington Road, Sayreville, NJ 08872 - where SWW was recorded

Jersey Shore – Point Pleasant, Jenkinson’s Beach, 300 Ocean Avenue – Pt. Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742 – Jon used to go to this beach in the summertime with his family

New York:

Jon’s apartement - Trump International Hotel & Tower - One Central Park West New York, NY 10023

Power Station Studios – since 1996 Avatar Studios, 441 West 53rd Street, New York, NY 10019

Universal Record Company – 1755 Broadway #4, New York, NY 10019

Island Records – 825 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10019

Chelsea Hotel – 222 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10011 – video clip Midnight in Chelsea & photoshots with Bon Jovi

The West Park Hotel - 6 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019 – photoshot for the cover of Bon Jovi (debut album) on the street

Irving Plaza – 17 Irving Place, New York, NY – Bon Jovi filmed Have A Nice Day there

Bowery Ballroom – 6 Delancey, NY, NY 10002 – Bon Jovi filmed Misunderstood there

Central Park South & Columbus Circle – Bon Jovi filmed Welcome To Wherever You Are there

MTV studios – 1515 Broadway, New York, NY 10036

Wollman Skating Rink – Central Park South, New York – Central Park entrance at 59th Street and 6th Avenue. Wollman Rink is a two minute walk into Central Park from this entrance. Follow the footpath directly into the park. - *someone* got caught breaking in after hours.

The Brookly Bridge – Bon Jovi filmed on it for Keep The Faith & for Welcome To Wherever You Are

Lower east site - whole area was used in Keep The Faith

Chelsea Piers – Bon Jovie have done videoshoots and photoshoots there

Smith's Bar – 701 8th Avenue (E.44th Street) Hell's Kitchen, New York, NY 10036 – the original filming of the video for Welcome To Wherever You Are was shot there.

Nokia Theatre – Times Square

Hammerstein Ballroom – 311 West 34th Street, New York, NY 10001


Hope this helps