If you liked
Asbury Park's Convention Center, then this will blow your socks off.
Anchoring the main boardwalk on the other end from the Convention Center is a complex which includes the 'Casino', the Carousel, and the Old Heating Plant.
Also designed by New York Beaux-Arts architects
Whitney Warren & Charles Wetmore at the same time period, the complex is currently in flux between restoration efforts.
The carousel itself was sadly sold in 1990 but the space would be a great concert venue or outdoor cafe.
The details are just amazing.
Part of the building on the beach side of the boardwalk has been torn down but plans are in place to possibly rebuild it to hold an indoor food market.
This space is similar to the arcade at the Convention Center but obviously needs a bit more work to become fully occupiable.
Again, the details all reference the beach location.
The interior retains the original polished terrazzo and a lot of really great plasterwork.
Hiding renovation of the former ice skating rink is this interesting painted billboard. Graffiti art like this exists all throughout the city and lends a fun bohemian vibe.
I wonder what sign was originally housed so ornately?
On the backside of the complex was my favorite building, the Old Heating Plant.
Built by Warren & Wetmore, the utiliarian building was given the appearance of either a strange temple or swank beach bar. The purpose however was to cover access and machinery for the steam tunnels which fueled the complex of buildings along the boardwalk.
The bronze urns are where excess steam was released from the machinery.
Imagine the 2nd floor as a restaurant overlooking the ocean (or better yet my personal beachhouse!).
The back has a loggia facing the canal. I imagine back in the day it was quite lovely but now is a bit forlorn.
Reminders of Asbury Park's heyday are all around, as in this graffiti art mentioning a Cole Porter tribute: "
Is it Granada I see or Asbury Park?".
I've shared with you the highlights of Asbury Park, the convention center and the casino, but there is still more to see!
Despite a lot of new building and restoration, much still lies vacant down along the water but has a certain picturesque charm.
Other than the Atlantic, the big draw to Asbury Park is the nearby Ocean Grove Auditorium and village -a religious retreat. This is a quaint area near downtown which contains a number of restored Victorian houses.
Right across the street from the Convention Center along the boardwalk is the iconic Howard Johnsons, now home to another cafe. I love quirky mid century modern buildings like this.
No small town is complete without a proper post office, a white marble beaux-arts beauty at that.
Terra cotta decoration is found off the boardwalk as well.
The Romanesque styled Methodist church in town is covered in gorgeous, colorful tiles.
Immacutely kept, the church must be much loved by its' congregants.
Just a detail of the tiles.
Even this house was covered in terra cotta!
The town has seen a rebirth and many of the houses have been restored.
Most are charming Victorians such as this with wide front porches; quintessential American homes.
There are many variations though, this classically - inspired bungalow was all original. Talk about unique!
I loved this white elephant of a Mediterranean, how I would love to restore it!
Downtown holds no end of great restaurants and antique shops. This building in particular appealed to me.
Even smaller cities have some early skyscrapers, like this Richardsonian Romanesque stone beauty, now condos above a restaurant.
But it is primarily known for the strip along the boardwalk where many musicians have famously gotten their start such as Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi , at the Stone Pony club.
I even made a few friends down on the boardwalk! I hope you enjoyed this tour of New Jersey's great small town, Asbury Park.
While founded in 1871, the beach town had its heyday in the 1920s when many of the most beautiful buildings in the city were constructed.
One of these was the Convention center/ Paramount theater complex which has been the keystone of the rehabilitation in the city.
The complex, designed by Warren & Wetmore in a nautically inspired Beaux-arts style, officially opened in 1930 and contained a performance venue, a section of enclosed boardwalk, and large convention center facing the ocean.
After having been abandoned for years after riots in 1970 caused the town to decline, the complex was restored and reopened in 2007.
The brick building has beautiful glazed terra cotta ornamentation that is as stunning today as in 1930. 
The themes are suitably nautical and musical.
How many colors can you count here?!
I just can't get enough of this stuff.
Below you can see the theater to the left (facing the town square), the enclosed arcade at the boardwalk and the convention center flanked by outdoor terrace restaurants over the beach to the right.
This is no small project.
I love the large metal ship over the sign.
The arcade inside is full of shops and restaurants and was busy with a tatoo convention the day I visited (I did not exactly fit in with this crowd as you can imagine........)
Many of the interior details have been preserved although there is still a ways to go.
In the following days I'll be bringing you some photos and history of some other fascinating buildings from Asbury Park. Stay tuned!
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