MAY THE CENTRIFUGAL FORCE BE WITH YOU
The Casino Pier in Seaside Heights continues its post-Sandy recovery with the return of Centrifuge Centrifuge, long revered for spinning and twisting riders into hysteria. The revamped ride features pulsating music in a fog of multicolored strobe lights. —Dominique McIndoe
BRIELLE’S ITALIAN ACCENT
The DeRosa family ran the former Luna DeRosa restaurant and Savor Lounge in Seaside Heights. Their new dinner spot, La Mondina, opened this spring in Brielle (110 Union Avenue), in the space previously occupied by Rella’s Italian Tavern. Brothers Carmine and Nick DeRosa serve brick-oven pizza, pastas and classic entrées in a rustic Italian setting. Weekends bring live entertainment. —DM
ASBURY PARK’S OCEANFRONT GEM
Where once stood a derelict construction site across from the Asbury Park boardwalk, there now soars the Asbury Ocean Club, a 17-story, glass-clad, high-rise with residences starting around $900,000 (for a one-bedroom condo). On its fourth floor is the ultra-cool Asbury Ocean Club Hotel (1101 Ocean Avenue), a 54-room luxury resort. Each guest room offers one-of-a-kind furnishings, private terrace and sweeping ocean views. Personal bellpersons set up towels and chairs on the beach or at the spacious pool. The Drawing Room, a floating glass house for guests and residents, features a piano bar and Mediterranean-inspired restaurant. Opening July 4th weekend; introductory rates are expected to begin at $295 per night. —Lauren Payne
BEACHWOOD TAKES ROOT
Chef and restaurateur Lucas Manteca brings his farm-to-table flair to Sea Isle City with Beachwood at the Dunes (8600 Landis Avenue). Located at the former home of Doc Magrogan’s Oyster House, Beachwood includes a lounge and full bar. —Julie Trien
SPRING INTO SUMMER
Six Flags Great Adventure’s Hurricane Harbor waterpark expands with a new Calypso Springs attraction. The 100,000-gallon beach-entry pool sports an obelisk-style fountain, periodically erupting geyser, open lounge deck, oversized poolside umbrellas and its own dining facility. —DM
WATCH THE RUNAWAY TRAM, PLEASE
Wildwood’s distinctive yellow tram cars have been a boardwalk staple for nearly 70 years. Now, they’ve inspired the Runaway Tram, a family-friendly ride at Morey’s Surfside Pier. The ride climbs 40 feet on a swirling adventure along 922 feet of track. Also new from Morey’s: Flying Hatchets, where participants (16 or older) can test their skill at, yes, hatchet throwing. —JT
LBI ROOMS WITH A VIEW
An ambitious, upscale Long Beach Island vacation alternative, Hotel LBI offers 102 guest rooms, salon, spa, restaurant and indoor pool with retractable roof. Located at the site of the old Quarter Deck Inn at the entrance to LBI in Ship Bottom, the new hotel is several blocks from the beach, but promises sweeping views of the bay and ocean from its rooftop deck. —JT
MAKING PASSES IN AC
The Atlantic City Blackjacks launch their first season of arena football at AC’s newly renamed Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall. At quarterback for the Arena Football League franchise is Warren Smith, a Forked River native with three seasons of AFL experience. The team’s schedule includes home games vs. the Albany Empire (May 25), Baltimore Brigade (June 1 and July 21) and Philadelphia Soul (July 6). —JT
SURF’S UP AT THE BOARDING HOUSE
The Hirsch family, longtime proprietors of Cape May’s Montreal Beach Resort, roll out a new concept this summer with the Boarding House (810 Lafayette Street), an 11-room, surf-inspired hotel about 12 blocks from the beach. Each room features a surfboard rack along with soaps and coffee blends made by Cape May businesses. Local partnerships provide opportunities for biking, paddle-boarding and, of course, surfing. The new hotel is dog friendly, too. —JT
A PERFECT PAIR: COFFEE & GELATO
Childhood friends from Brooklyn, Rob Castore and Anthony Russo, recreate a slice of Italy in Asbury Park with Amici’s Gelato & Caffé (630 Mattison Avenue). The vintage-style café offers coffee from illycaffè, a third-generation Italian roasting company; fresh baked goods and pastries; and handmade gelato. For the latter, Castore and Russo teamed with gelato chef and Milan native Emiliano Graci to turn ingredients sourced from Italy into classic and American variations of the frozen dessert. Amici’s also serves panini, wraps, salads, sorbet, cannoli and frozen yogurt. —DM
PEP UP AT THE SALT SPA
The Salt Spa is the latest luxury at the Reeds at Shelter Haven, Stone Harbor’s toniest hotel. The two-story, full-service spa features six treatment rooms, Turkish bath, blow-out bar, makeup studio, nail salon, waxing services, fully equipped fitness center and more. Salt Spa presents a wellness workshop on the first Sunday of every month. —DM
GRAB A BITE IN BAY HEAD
Burke’s Market (536 Main Avenue) brings gourmet prepared food, gelato and coffee to Bay Head at the former site of Curtis’ Central Market. Burke’s includes a spirits-and-wine shop, curated grocery selection and made-to-order sandwiches. Sweets are available at the adjacent Candy Cabana. —LP