Asbury Park jams, LBI restaurant week and more things to do at the Shore this weekend

Who’s ready to go to space?

Circles Around the Sun, a singular force in the modern jam band universe, hits the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park on Friday night.

The band was created by Denville native guitarist Neal Casal to manifest Grateful Dead-inspired instrumental pieces played during the set breaks of the Dead’s 2015 Fare The Well stadium concerts, recordings released later that year as “Recordings for the Dead.”

Circles Around the Sun have been charting new sonic territory since, and played on in the wake of Casal’s 2019 death.

The band released two stunning singles last year, the enveloping “Outer Boroughs” and the lush, expansive “Language” featuring harpist Mikaela Davis, as well as the live album “Live at the Charleston Pour House 11/12/21.”

“Language” is also the title of the band’s forthcoming fourth album, set to arrive in the spring.

Nectar’s Presents brings Circles Around the Sun — guitarist John Lee Shannon, bassist Dan Horne, keyboardist Adam MacDougall and drummer Mark Levy — with support from Rich Ruth. This is a journey in sound you want to take.

Go: Circles Around the Sun with Rich Ruth, 7 p.m. Friday, Wonder Bar, Fifth and Ocean Avenues, $20 in advance and $25 at the door; wonderbarasburypark.com.

Long Beach Island Bites Winter Restaurant Week

Come summer, when Long Beach Island swells with visitors, getting into a restaurant will be tricky.

But there are plenty of tables this time of year, and nearly two dozen eateries on and off the island will take part in Long Beach Island Bites Winter Restaurant Week. It begins Friday and runs through Sunday, Feb. 5, with restaurants serving prix fixe meals for lunch, dinner or both.

Among many other dishes, you'll find short rib pappardelle at Salt Kitchen & Bar in Ship Bottom; an oyster BLT at The Old Causeway Steak & Oyster House in Stafford; French toast with lemon curd and blueberry compote at LBI Pancake House in Ship Bottom; and chicken pot pie at Buckalew's Restaurant and Tavern in Beach Haven.

Go: Long Beach Island Bites Winter Restaurant Week, Jan. 27 to Feb. 5; for a full list of participating restaurants and menus, search Long Beach Island Bites on Facebook.

Brews + Bites at Bell Works

The Bell Works complex in Holmdel hosts the return of Brews + Bites, its tap takeover series showcasing local craft breweries, on Thursday. Alternate Ending Beer Co. of Aberdeen will be making the trip to Bell Works for the occasion.

Alternate Ending will be pouring a variety of signature beers and seasonal creations to be enjoyed with food offerings. Each $45 ticket includes four beer samples, each paired with food.

Go: Brews + Bites, 5 p.m. Thursday, Bell Works, 101 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, $45; bell.works/events/brews-bites.

Read with Pride

The monthly Read with Pride Adult Book Club takes place Thursday from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library.

Each month will showcase a different theme and will focus on books featuring prominent LGBTQ+ characters .This month the theme is Young Adult Literature. Suggested books are "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe"by Benjamin Alire Sáenz and "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera.

The books are available on the apps Libby and Hoopla, or in print at the library. This book discussion is for those who identify as LGBTQ, or who simply want to learn more about LGBTQ+ stories, narratives and experiences.

All are welcome.

Go: Read with Pride Adult Book Club, 7 p.m. Thursday, Ocean County Library, 101 Washington St., Toms River; 732-349-6200 or oceancountylibrary.org.

Broadway Rave at the House of Independents

Want to party hard to some of Broadway’s most show-stopping jams? That’s not an impossible dream in Asbury Park.

Broadway Rave: The Musical Theater Dance Party hits the House of Independents on Saturday night. A dance-floor celebration of musical theater, the touring spectacular is sure to be one singular sensation.

Guests are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite characters, and special surprise guests are always a possibility. Get ready for a fair bit of razzle dazzle, folks.

Go: Broadway Rave: The Musical Theater Dance Party, 9 p.m. Saturday, House of Independents, 572 Cookman Ave., $15 to $20; https://houseofindependents.com.

Stand Up Science Showroom

You know Beakman and Bill Nye – now meet Ben Miller.

The New York City-based scientist-turned-comedian is the star of Stand-Up Science — a work of humorous edutainment that’s touring the country and played the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.

Miller brings his multimedia happening to the ShowRoom Cinema in Asbury Park on Saturday night.

Go: Ben Miller’s Stand-Up Science, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, ShowRoom Cinema, 707 Cookman Ave., Asbury Park; showroomcinemas.com.

Sober Social in Asbury Park

In the alcohol-free spirit of Dry January, Over the Moon art studios of Asbury Park hosts the first installment in its Sober Social series on Saturday night.

The get-together will include live painting, oracle readings, on-site vendors, hand-crafted mocktails and snacks, and music from DJ Spicy Brown.

Go: Sober Social, 9 p.m. Saturday, Over the Moon art studios, 808 Springwood Ave., Asbury Park, $15; overthemoonartstudios.com.

Sarah Griesemer contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJ: Shore things to do include LBI restaurant week, Asbury Park music