text: Greetings from Asbury Park New Jersey. The new and improved Asbury Park has a wealth of things to do. Locals know that Springtime in New Jersey is an amazing time.We try to keep that a secret since New Jersey is crowded enough. On Mother's Day I visited Hot Sands, a fairly new hands-on art experience right on the beach in Asbury. A few steps from Convention Hall, the old Howard Johnson's--now a a trendy restaurant owned by Tim McCloone--, and Madam Marie's (yes, that Madam Marie), Hot Sands is a great way to spend an afternoon. Check it out at www.HotSandAP.com.
  At Hot Sands you can participate in glass blowing. If you have the time and interest, you can take classes here, as well. Since today was my virgin experience, I chose to blow a small bubble with one color. Bubbles come in three sizes. You can add more color, swirls or other designs, but I decided to start small and keep it simple. This was, by the way, my sweet baby girl's Mother's Day gift to me (she is 22, but she's still my beautiful baby). She chose pink and I chose light blue and they both came out stunning! There are a myriad of colors to choose from and I know we will be back. This is addictive.
  I'm captivated and intrigued by glass. This is a substance that is first liquid and then becomes solid through a combination of heat, alchemy, the expertise of the glass blower, and a bit of magic. Magic. Each piece of blown glass is unique. I have long been obsessed with Dale Chihuly. He is the Zen master of glass in this country and his work has been commissioned all over the world. I'm on a mission to see as much of it as I can and to turn as many of my friends on to him as I can. I've been to several of his shows in New York, including the one at the Bronx Botanical Gardens. I've seen his work in New Orleans, the Bahamas and in Atlantic City. One day I'll make it to Seattle where he has his studio.
  But for today, I'm content. I experienced my own glass-blowing and I did it right here at the New Jersey shore. Shhh. Don't tell anyone else!
  Posted by teethetrav 14:57 Archived in USA Tagged tourist_sites
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