'Greetings From Asbury Park' and more things to do at the Shore and beyond this weekend

The Sea Hear Now festival may be over, but there are still lots of things to see and do in Asbury Park.

In a nod to Bruce Springsteen's first album title, art629 presents "Greetings From Asbury Park," showcasing the "unique perspectives of local artists on our vibrant city by the sea," a release said. "Experience the rich history and diversity of this beloved community through a celebration of its people, art, architecture and music."

This exhibit features an array of artwork that brings Asbury Park to life, depicting buildings, landmarks and people through photography, paintings, collages and more."We are showing art that was inspired by everything Asbury Park, old and new, from ferris wheels and bumper cars to The Wonderbar. We have surfboards and sculptures, Tillies and mermaids, everything from Bruce Springsteen to Danny Devito," said art629 curator Brittany James in a release.

Among the pieces shown are "Tillie's Twilight" by Frankie Manieri; "At the End of Wesley Lake, Asbury Park" by Michael Pyrdsa; "Bumper Cars, 1983" by Dorie Dahlberg; and "Just a Gleaming In The Sun" by Conni Freestone.

Go: "Greetings From Asbury Park," through Friday, Nov. 8, art629, 629 Cookman Ave., Asbury Park; 908-278-1597, art629.com.

Here are other things to do at the Shore and beyond, including the Calpulli Mexican Dance Company performing at four branches of the Ocean County Library, and a "Presidential Dogs" exhibit opening at the American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog in New York.

Comfort Food Festival in Toms River

Downtown Toms River is home to restaurants serving everything from pizza and pasta to sushi and tacos, and all are taking part in this food-focused festival.

Festivalgoers can stroll Washington Street, visiting restaurants such as A Thyme for All Seasons, Oi Sushi, Tommy Boy's Cafe, and Capone's Gourmet Pizza & Pasta.

Shop a variety of craft vendors, sip beer and spirits from Garden State Distillery and Battle River Brewing, check out participating food trucks, and enjoy live music and dance performances.

Go: Comfort Food Festival, noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Washington Street, Toms River; 732-341-8738, downtowntomsriver.com.

U-pick sunflowers in Cream Ridge

Holland Ridge Farms knows all about the power of flowers, and the Fall Flower Festival is taking place through Monday, Oct. 14.

"Our expansive flower fields are bursting with colorful blooms including cheerful sunflowers, majestic gladiolus, elegant calla lilies and dazzling dahlias," Holland Ridge says on its website.

All stems are $1 each on weekends, 50 cents each on weekdays. This year, according to the site, flower varieties are grouped into sections to make them easier to find. Check the map for more info.

Food vendors are available daily, but many more show up on weekends. Every Saturday and Sunday is the farmers and makers market.

Holland Ridge is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The last entry to the farm is 4:30 p.m. Tickets (rain or shine) are $15 per person weekdays, $17 per person weekends. Private tours are $35 per person. Everyone 3 and older requires a ticket to enter, kids 2 and younger are free.

Go: Fall Flower Festival, Holland Ridge Farms, 108 Rues Road, Cream Ridge, $15 per person weekdays, $17 per person weekends for everyone 3 and older; hollandridgefarms.com/u-pick-sunflowers-fall-festival.

Dionne Warwick to be honored in Holmdel

Legendary vocalist Dionne Warwick comes to Bell Theater at Bell Works on Sunday in support of the Axelrod Performing Arts Center and Bell Theater’s cultural arts and education programs.

The New Jersey Arts Icon Gala will include a 5 p.m. reception and auction, followed by a 7 p.m. concert featuring Warwick. Among the special guests paying tribute to Warwick’s iconic songbook are Grammy nominee Deborah Cox, Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child, classically trained vocalist Nova Y. Payton, Jersey Shore favorite Remember Jones, and Warwick’s granddaughter, singer Cheyenne Elliott. All performers will be accompanied by the American Pops Orchestra, conducted by Luke Frazier.

Twelve students from the junior division of Axelrod Performing Arts Academy’s musical theater program will sing "That’s What Friends Are For" with Warwick.

A native of East Orange, Warwick is a singer, actress and activist who has been performing for more than six decades. Her soulful vocal style bridged the gaps between pop, gospel, R&B and rock ‘n' roll. A muse for songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David, she made classics of songs such as "Walk on By," "Alfie," "I’ll Never Fall in Love Again," "I Say a Little Prayer," "Do You Know the Way to San Jose" and "What the World Needs Now Is Love," among others.

Warwick is a 2024 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, a 2023 Kennedy Center Award winner, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame — and in 2013 was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. In addition to winning five Grammy Awards as well as the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, she became a social media star during the pandemic for her viral tweets, commentary and pop culture observations.

VIP tickets are $750 and include a pre-concert reception, priority seating and post-concert meet and greet with the artists. Premium tickets are $350 and include pre-concert reception, preferred seating and post-concert dessert reception. Standard tickets are $250, which include a pre-concert reception.

Go: New Jersey Arts Icon Gala honoring Dionne Warwick, 5 p.m. Sunday, Bell Theater inside Bell Labs, 101 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, $250 to $750; 732-531-9106, ext. 14, belltheater.org/bell-theater-2024-gala.

LGBTQIA+ Resource Fair in Toms River

The Ocean County Library presents a LGBTQIA+ Resource Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in the Toms River branch.

Members of the community and their allies will find representatives from more than 25 support organizations, including Barnegat Pride, Garden State Equality, GLSEN New Jersey chapters, PFLAG Jersey Shore, and Trans Equity Coalition. Visitors will have a chance to view a section of the AIDS Memorial Quilt.

At 2 p.m., there will be a performance by the New Jersey Gay Men’s Chorus. The resource fair and the performance are free. No registration is required.

Go: LGBTQIA+ Resource Fair, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Ocean County Library, Toms River branch, 101 Washington St., free; 732-349-6200, theoceancountylibrary.org/events.

Calpulli Mexican Dance Company to perform in Ocean County

Learn the history of Mexico and its diverse regions through folkloric dance as the Ocean County Library honors Hispanic Heritage Month with educational performances by the Calpulli Mexican Dance Company.

The company will perform at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Barnegat branch, 112 Burr St. (609-698-3331), and then at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Little Egg Harbor branch, 290 Mathistown Road (609-294-1197).

Calpulli also performs twice on Tuesday, Sept. 24 — first at 2:30 p.m. at the Point Pleasant Borough branch, 834 Beaver Dam Road (732-295-1555), and then at 6:30 p.m. at the Berkeley Branch, 30 Station Road, Bayville (732-269-2144).

Attendees will see Mexican folkloric dances featuring music, colorful costumes, memorable choreography and interactive narration. The New York City-based not-for-profit organization, now in its 21st year, celebrates the diversity of Mexican and Mexican-American heritage, communicating messages of hope through the languages of dance, music and spirit.

Register for any of these programs at https://tinyurl.com/OclCalpulli.

Go: Calpulli Mexican Dance Company, 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. Thursday, and 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24, Ocean County Library branches, free; 732-349-6200, https://tinyurl.com/OclCalpulli.

More: 15 can't-miss food and wine fests at the Shore this fall

Fall Native Plant Exchange in Middletown

The Monmouth County Park System will host its Fall Native Plant Exchange on Saturday at Deep Cut Gardens in Middletown.

The plant exchange begins with drop-off from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Bring established plants in 4-inch, 1-quart, 1-gallon or 2-gallon containers, and take home the same size and number of plants.

Please label all plants, a release says. Only plants native to the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States will be accepted. House plants may also be exchanged (these do not need to be native).

Visit the Deep Cut Gardens page on the Park System’s website at MonmouthCountyParks.com for a list of acceptable plants.

Go: Fall Native Plant Exchange, 8:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Deep Cut Gardens, 152 Red Hill Road, Middletown; 732-671-6050, MonmouthCountyParks.com.

Coming to Lizzie Rose Music Room in Tuckerton

Joanna Connor was born in Brooklyn and raised in Massachusetts, but her soul belongs to the Chicago blues scene.

An accomplished guitarist, who can switch between chords, single-note playing and slide guitar at the drop of a beat, Connor and the Wrecking Crew return to the Lizzie Rose Music Room in Tuckerton at 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

Opening band Bees Deluxe, a British/American acid blues band, makes their fourth appearance at Lizzie Rose. The modern four-piece blues band honors the music of legendary artists such as Billie Holiday, Etta James, Albert Collins, Robert Cray, Tinsley Ellis, Freddie King and Bobby "Blue" Bland. Go: Joanna Connor & The Wrecking Crew, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Lizzie Rose Music Room, 217 E. Main St., Tuckerton, $35 advance, $40 at the door; 609-276-6758 (information only), lizzierosemusic.com.

'Presidential Dogs' exhibit opens in NYC

The American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog just opened its newest exhibit, "Presidential Dogs: Canine Companions in the White House," which runs through Jan. 5, 2025.

The exhibition explores the fact that dogs, as well as other pets, have played a significant role in the lives of the President of the United States since the country’s founding. Given the approaching election, the museum wanted to share with visitors the history of dogs in the White House, including the various breeds that have had access to the Oval Office.

In addition, the exhibition will feature archival video footage to highlight some of the most notable presidential dogs, such as excerpts from FDR’s “Fala” speech, and Nixon’s “Checkers” address, which will be playing in the museum’s AKC.tv studio.

As a release from the museum says, “No politics, just paws.”

On Friday, Oct. 4, guests can visit the museum and explore the exhibit with their own pups.

The museum, open Wednesdays through Sundays, is home to more than 1,700 original paintings, drawings, watercolors, prints, sculptures, bronzes, porcelain figurines, a variety of decorative arts objects, and interactive displays depicting man's best friend throughout the ages.

Go: "Presidential Dogs: Canine Companions in the White House," through Jan. 5, 2025, AKC Museum of the Dog, 101 Park Ave., $15, $10 for students 13 to 24, $10 for active military, veterans and visitors with a disability, $5 for kids 3 to 12; 212-696-8360, museumofthedog.org.

Sarah Griesemer contributed to this story.

Have an event coming up? Tell us about it. Email Bill Canacci at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore things to do: Greetings From Asbury Park exhibit