The Dublin House Pub is one of a dozen Red Bank stops on Saturday’s crawl for post-Sandy charities. (Click to enlarge)
By WIL FULTON
With a cold, drab and possibly wet February weekend in the forecast, isn’t time to break out the beach wear?
It is, say the folks at Red Bank RiverCenter, organizers of Saturday’s Red Bank Bar Bounce, a pub crawl that encourages patrons to wear their favorite beach duds as part of a fundraiser for three charities helping to rebuild Hurricane Sandy-shattered Shore towns.
Twelve watering holes are participating in the bounce, which runs from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. On the itinerary are:
-DannyÂ’s Grill and Wine Bar
-JamianÂ’s Food and Drink
-Murphy Style Grill
-Taste
-Teak
-The Fixx
-The Dublin House
-Pazzo
-TommyÂ’s Coal Fired Pizza
-BranniganÂ’s Wharf
-The Globe Hotel
-Wall Street Pub
The bars are laid out in the itinerary based on location, creating a clear path that will lead patrons conveniently around Red Bank, according to James Scavone, RiverCenter director of operations. But the list is only a guideline, and participants should feel free to follow their own agendas or whims, he said.
Scavone also said that each participating bar will have its own unique drink specials for patrons, with some bars featuring food and giving away prizes throughout the day as well.
All registration proceeds from the crawl will be donated to Sea Bright Rising, Hope for Highlands, and RebuildRecover.
“It’s going to be a very fun way to spend a Saturday and to raise money for locally-based Sandy charities,” said RiverCenter executive director Nancy Adams. “People are going to be able to come out here, bounce from bar to bar, and have a good time in support of a good cause.”
The event has already raised in excess of $4,700, with 187 participants registered as of Tuesday afternoon.
Adams said that the bounce is replacement for the usual Dine Downtown restaurant event held in Red Bank every March, which took place two nights a week and featured restaurants offering prix-fixe menus.
“We decided to go in a new direction because so many Red Bank restaurants have fixed menus already, plus it’s something new and different, and many local businesses desired the bar bounce instead,” she said. “But, we still may do something similar to Dine Downtown in October,” she added.
And what about the potential liabilities involved in an event at which alcohol is freely consumed? Adams said the Red Bank police are aware of the crawl and will be on hand if needed, though she hopes, given the charitable aspect of the bounce, that no one will make any poor decisions.
“It does take place over several hours at bars, so we hope that if people overindulge that they use designated drivers, trains or taxis to get home safely,” Adams said. “This is an event designed to give aid to Sandy charities, so hopefully people will have fun but be safe as well.”
Adams said that representatives from the three charities will be present with information and donation buckets, and that she also hopes that patrons extend their visits to cover the areaÂ’s other businesses as well while participating in the bounce.
“We encourage everyone to not only visit the designated stops, but to also visit the many other local business and restaurants they will pass on the way,” she said. “It’s a great way to get people out and into Red Bank’s businesses, even those not participating.”
Advance registration, which costs $25, is available online. Revelers can also sign up Saturday between noon and 2 p.m. at Jamians, Taste or the Globe. The Red Bank Roller Vixens will be helping with check-in and with directions to help get visitors around town.
Participants will receive a bar bounce T-shirt, mug, and an itinerary for the day.
