Donna & I started the night by going to see Puggy’s “Dinner with Diamond” show @ the M O Café & Grill in Vorhees – about 1 hr 20 mins from Belmar. The restaurant had a modern California look with wavy chairs, wavy dishware. The food was gourmet with presentation. For example, the dessert “Fire & Ice” was served in 2 small dishes next to each other on a small serving platter. One dish had flambé banana foster, the other held a dollop of ice cream served on dry ice. The fire & cold air fog effect was way cool. We had surprised Puggy & he was happy to see us. The show was great. He started with (They're coming to) “America”. He did all of Neil Diamond’s biggest hits like “Forever in Blue Jeans”, “Play Me”, “Cracklin’ Rosie”, “Song Sung Blue”, “I am I Said”, “Holly Holy”, “September Morn”, “Love on the Rocks” and of course, “Sweet Caroline”. I had just finished telling Donna Neil Diamond had written some Monkees songs when Puggy told the audience his next song kids would know from Shrek. It was “I’m a Believer”. He did “You Don’t Send Me Flowers” with a Barbra Streistand impersonator. Puggy autographed a photo for me. He said the show was originally scheduled for the next week & he was supposed to play with Holme that night. A fuse blew during the show & someone yelled “You’re just so hot Frank!” We had a very nicetime & would recommend the show (and the restaurant). At the end of the night Puggy gave us Dinner with Diamond t-shirts. Then we were off to Belmar!
We arrived @ D’Jais during break time just before Holme’s last set. We immediately went to Justin’s bar. Justin wanted to know where I had been as I hadn’t been to see Holme in more than a month. Donna suggested we start the night with Jolly Rancher shots. We did 2 - toasting Neil Diamond each time. When we ordered drinks we deferred to Justin letting him know we did not want to mix alcohols. He suggested he add vodka to Jolly Ranchers. We went with it. Drinks were being served in happy hour glasses & toward the end of the night I asked for my drinks to be served in plastic cups thinking I was cutting my consumption. I was wrong. Donna noticed right away it was very warm by the DJ booth area & assumed Sementa was responsible. Peter Schuelle stopped to say hello. He also asked where I had been. The Mets lost & then the band went on. Holme added “Come A Little Bit Closer” to their playlist. Donna loved it. They also added Patti Smith’s “Gloria” – which they did VERY well. Before beginning it Kip reminded us it was a high school song. Actually it wasn’t but it reminded me that when Camille & I worked together we had asked for permission to leave work to get Patti Smith’s autograph. Smith had appeared @ Korvettes on Rt. 4 in Paramus & we took buses to get there. I noted Kip’s jeans were frayed @ the bottom & his sneakers were looking worn. I find it so unlike Kip to wear his sneakers in that condition. Harry did “Viva Las Vegas”. I motioned to Kip you couldn’t really hear Harry & in turn Kip motioned to the sound guy to turn up Harry’s volume. Later Frank told me Harry’s voice was strained from working 6 nights a week. The “Big Bopper” was there & invited to sing. As always he did “Chantilly Lace”. I was amazed how may people got into the song. I thought everyone is f-ing old! Some of the famous were there: Cowboy Bob, The Playwright, a member of the BAC. A man who will remain anonymous came over to me & introduced me to a woman named Lynette. He told me his wife & her friends read this Blog religiously & lead parallel lives to me & my friends. He offered to provide me with “information” off the record. I don’t know what he thought I wanted to know. I can be discreet but anything band related told to me is usually mentioned on this Blog if only by innuendo. The man said he could not tell me his wife’s name but I already knew it & told him it. He asked me how I knew it & I told him Sementa had told me. When I told Donna what the man said about our parallel lives she said we’d better beef it up! Donna & I stayed after the band ended. We drank, we danced. The music was good. The DJ was GREAT. He played a great mix of music. After the band went off I think DJ Charlie put the air conditioning on. When passing me at the bar Sementa stopped & asked if I was cold. Donna & I got into a conversation with Frank. I told him we had come from seeing Puggy’s Dinner with Diamond show & Frank began to sing “America”. Frank told me Billy will be participating in Bobby Banderia’s upcoming Revue at the Count Bassie Theatre & Puggy would be playing in his place. This did not come to be. Donna & I raved about the DJ to Frank & he told us DJ’s earn $1,500 & up a gig. People take your children out of college & send them to DJ school! The last topic we discussed with Frank was Belmar itself. This is one of those times I need to be discreet. Let’s just say it was another political conversation only this time all of the participants were on the same side. It was the 1st time I could check an item off my “Things to do this Summer” list.
Love, M.
P.S. With Stanley’s impending departure, I just might carry out my bright idea to take thick masking tape & write “Reserved for Joel Kraus” across it & stick it where Stanley stands.
* He's lookin' for home 'Cause everyone needs a place
And home's the most excellent place of all
And I'll be right here if you should call me - Heartlight by Neil Diamond
