There are always things and people to keep you happy in Atlantic Highlands as well as Highlands so it’s nice when you have the time to stop and enjoy not only friendly conversations but some of the unique things both towns have to offer.
That includes Emilio’s Restaurant, the charming little breakfast and lunch place on Center Avenue in Atlantic Highlands, where the staff always seems to be smiling and truly happy when you complement the chef on some of those fantastic lunch specials. Spotlessly clean and offering a rather unique menu, it’s a great place to meet some pretty wonderful people.
Kind of like The Girl’s Cafe in Highlands where everyone already knows Cathy, Vera and Charley as well as whichever relatives are pitching in to either help or say Hi are always so upbeat and happy, even when they’re at the end of a busy day and worn out from all that running around and serving great food. This is truly a special place with special people.
You can say the same thing for Sue at the Laundromat on Bay and Huddy, where she is always busy, washing, folding, polishing, cleaning, or packing whatever needs to be done. Sue doesn’t quit, and she does it all with a great smile and greater conversation!
Then there’s the Renaissance on First Avenue, that terrific mix of little shops where you can find anything from coins and earrings to books, cards, furniture and toys that are enjoying a second life thanks to the busy shopkeepers who pick up unusual things. All the folks running the Renaissance are terrific, eager to help, and friendly, but it’s hard to beat Ronnie for out and out enthusiasm and a strong desire to be sure every customer is happy and content.
And it’s fun to watch the camera at the building site for Highlands new Borough Hall and wonder what’s coming next. They’re working hard there in spite of the soaring temps and it’s starting to get easier to visualize the finished product.
They’re all sold out for Sunday’s fantastic Navesink Queen cruise up the river with the Twin Light’s historian Nick Wood giving one of his terrific presentations. But while you can’t get on this particular event since it’s at capacity, you can catch some of Nick’s wisdom at the Twin Lights where he is the state’s historian and always eager to talk about the past.
And you can still enjoy so many other events going on at the Strauss House where the Atlantic Highlands Historical Society that is sponsoring Sunday’s cruise has a full calendar of other events going on, including concerts, and simply wonderful tours of this historic “cottage” on the hill. Historians and volunteers in the Bayshore do their best to bring out some fascinating stories of the past and some of the reasons why we should feel so fortunate to be living here. The more you know about the area, the more you love it.
