Features

Il Leone: A Refined Italian Experience Rooted in Family, Fire, and Flavor in Matawan

Published

5 months ago

April 15, 2026

If you’ve driven past Route 34 in Matawan lately, you might not expect to find one of the more refined Italian dining experiences in Monmouth County tucked right along it. But that’s exactly what Il Leone is quietly building.

Il Leone doesn’t lean on hype. It doesn’t need to. What it offers is something more reliable; and increasingly rare, an Italian restaurant that understands both tradition and restraint.

The space itself sets the tone. It’s clean, warm, and thoughtfully put together without feeling overdesigned. You walk in and immediately get the sense that this is a place meant for an actual evening out, not a quick in-and-out dinner. The lighting is soft, the room has a steady rhythm, and nothing feels rushed.

The menu follows that same approach. It’s not trying to reinvent Italian food. It’s trying to do it well.

Start with something simple like the whipped ricotta or baked clams and you’ll understand the kitchen’s direction right away. There’s a focus on flavor and balance instead of overcomplication. The wagyu meatballs land rich but controlled, and the fried calamari avoids the heaviness that often ruins the dish elsewhere.

Where Il Leone really separates itself is in the pasta. The spicy rigatoni has a clean heat that builds without overwhelming. The pappardelle wagyu bolognese is structured and satisfying without feeling heavy halfway through. Even something like gnocchi with pesto and burrata comes out composed, not thrown together.

Seafood holds its own here as well. The bronzino is handled simply, which is exactly the point. It’s cooked clean, plated well, and allowed to stand on its own. That kind of confidence says more than any complicated preparation ever could.

The pizzas deserve a mention too. A classic Margherita is always a test, and here it passes easily. The vodka pie and hot honey pepperoni bring a slightly more modern edge without losing the foundation.

What stands out just as much as the food is the pace. You’re not being turned over for the next table. Courses come out with space between them. You can actually sit, talk, and enjoy the night without feeling like you’re on a timer. That alone makes a difference.

Il Leone also works well for different occasions. It’s strong enough for a date night, comfortable enough for a family dinner, and polished enough to host something more formal without feeling stiff. That flexibility gives it an edge in a crowded local dining scene.

At its core, the restaurant is built around a simple idea; good food, done properly, in a setting that makes people want to stay a little longer. There’s a clear European influence in how the experience unfolds, but it never feels forced. It just feels natural.

In a part of New Jersey filled with Italian restaurants, Il Leone stands out by not trying too hard. It keeps things focused, consistent, and well-executed.

And most nights, that’s exactly what people are looking for.

Related Topics:Featured Food & Dining Il Leone

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Jersey Javelin

Features Editor The Jersey Javelin oversees long-form features and signature storytelling at The Jersey Review, focusing on depth, context, and cultural relevance. With a disciplined editorial eye, the Javelin selects stories that cut through noise - profiling people, places, and moments that shape New Jersey’s identity. Each feature is approached with precision and restraint, favoring clarity over sensationalism and substance over trend. The Javelin’s work is defined by thoughtful reporting, narrative balance, and a commitment to stories that endure beyond the news cycle.

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Entertainment

Sea.Hear.Now Is Sold Out. Here’s What Asbury Park Is Getting Next Weekend

Published

3 days ago

September 13, 2026

Shore Static

Asbury Park is about to get loud again.

Sea.Hear.Now returns to the oceanfront Saturday, September 19, and Sunday, September 20, bringing more than 25 acts, professional surfing, art and thousands of visitors back to North Beach and Bradley Park.

And if you were waiting until this week to buy a ticket, there is some bad news.

The festival is officially sold out.

Organizers are directing fans without tickets to the official waitlist or Ticketmaster Verified Ticket Exchange rather than promising additional inventory.

That still leaves plenty happening in Asbury Park before, during and around the festival weekend.

Mumford & Sons Take Saturday Night

Saturday’s lineup covers a lot of musical ground before Mumford & Sons close the Surf Stage at 9 p.m.

Men at Work play the Surf Stage at 3 p.m., followed by Chaka Khan at 5 and The Offspring at 7. Over in Bradley Park, Fitz and the Tantrums are scheduled for 4 p.m., The All-American Rejects at 6 and The War on Drugs at 8.

The Sand Stage adds another mix, with Tom Odell at 4 p.m., Susanna Hoffs at 6 and Shaggy at 8.

Festival gates open at noon and the grounds close at 10:30 p.m. both days.

The Strokes Close Sunday

Sunday shifts gears without exactly slowing down.

Fontaines D.C. play the Surf Stage at 5 p.m., followed by Goo Goo Dolls at 7 and The Strokes at 9.

Elsewhere, Ziggy Marley performs at 6 p.m. in Bradley Park before Moby takes that stage at 8. Kim Gordon and Pixies handle the final two evening slots on the Sand Stage, at 6 and 8 p.m. respectively.

The result is a lineup that moves pretty freely between classic rock, alternative, punk, reggae, pop and newer indie acts. Sea.Hear.Now has always leaned into that kind of mix, and this year is no exception.

The Festival Starts Before Saturday

The weekend actually gets moving Friday.

Sea.Hear.Now is holding a free Kickoff on Cookman on September 18 from 5 to 9 p.m. along Cookman Avenue between Grand Avenue and Main Street. The performances are open to the public and do not require a festival ticket.

The festival’s late-night schedule also includes separate shows around town.

The Offspring’s Friday night show at The Stone Pony is already sold out. The Ocean Ave Stomp at the Stone Pony on Saturday night is sold out as well, while additional late-night events are scheduled at Wonder Bar.

For people who missed festival tickets entirely, Friday’s Cookman Avenue event may be the easiest way to get some of the Sea.Hear.Now atmosphere without buying a resale wristband.

It Is Still More Than a Music Festival

The stages get most of the attention, but Sea.Hear.Now was built around Asbury Park’s beach culture as much as its music history.

The festival will again feature a team surf competition with East Coast surfers competing between the Surf and Sand stages. Art created by musicians will also be displayed through the festival’s Transparent Gallery, and organizers have scheduled boardwalk parades during the weekend.

There is even an option for people who would rather start their day quietly.

Free beach yoga sessions are scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. A Sea.Hear.Now ticket is not required, although participants must complete the festival waiver.

Expect a Busy Asbury Park

Anyone heading into town should expect crowds well beyond the festival gates.

There is no parking on the festival grounds, and organizers are encouraging public transportation and the city’s existing parking options. Asbury Park’s NJ Transit station is about a 15-minute walk from the festival area.

Sea.Hear.Now has grown into one of the biggest weekends on Asbury Park’s calendar. This will be the festival’s eighth edition, following a run of headliners that has included Pearl Jam, Green Day, Foo Fighters, The Killers, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Blink-182 and Hozier.

This year, Mumford & Sons and The Strokes get the closing slots.

By next Friday, however, the entire city will start feeling like part of the show.

For one September weekend, the beach, boardwalk, downtown bars, clubs and streets of Asbury Park will all be operating on festival time.

Features

Labor Day Weekend Isn’t Over: 5 Things to Do in Monmouth County Sunday and Monday

Published

2 weeks ago

September 5, 2026

Editorial Director

Labor Day weekend has already burned through Saturday, but Monmouth County still has plenty left on the calendar.

From local art and farmers markets to barbecue, horse racing and a little old-school country dancing, Sunday, September 6, and Labor Day Monday, September 7, still offer a solid excuse to get out of the house before summer unofficially signs off.

Here are five good options.

1. Browse Art in the Park in Long Branch

Long Branch turns West End Park into an outdoor art stop on Sunday with Art in the Park, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The free event is built around local artists, shopping and community, making it an easy daytime option for anyone already heading toward the Shore.

Where: West End Park, 607 Ocean Ave. North, Long Branch
When: Sunday, Sept. 6, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Admission: Free

This is probably the easiest event on the list to combine with lunch, a walk along the ocean or one last late-summer stop in Long Branch.

2. Spend Sunday Morning at Asbury FRESH

If your ideal Sunday involves coffee, local food and wandering through a market without much of a plan, head to downtown Asbury Park.

The Asbury FRESH Farmers & Makers Market returns to Press Plaza Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The market is now in its 13th year and brings together farmers, food vendors, artisans and independent makers. Organizers list room for more than 50 vendors at the market.

Where: Press Plaza, Asbury Park
When: Sunday, Sept. 6, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.

It also gives you a pretty good excuse to stick around Asbury afterward for the boardwalk, beach or an early dinner.

3. Go Big on BBQ at Monmouth Park

This is the heavyweight event of the weekend.

The BBQ & Craft Beer Festival continues Sunday and Monday at Monmouth Park in Oceanport from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The track is advertising more than 40 craft beers, nearly 20 pitmasters and live music, with beer sampling from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $7, parking is free and children 12 and under are admitted free. The first race is scheduled for 12:50 p.m.

Sunday also includes free family activities from noon to 4 p.m., including pony rides, face painting, clowns and a bounce house.

Where: Monmouth Park, Oceanport Avenue, Oceanport
When: Sunday and Monday, Sept. 6–7, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Barbecue, live racing and Labor Day at Monmouth Park is about as Jersey as the weekend gets.

4. Slow Things Down at Historic Walnford

For something completely different, Historic Walnford in Upper Freehold is offering a quieter Sunday afternoon.

The Monmouth County Park System will run gristmill demonstrations at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m., each lasting about 15 minutes. A free Music on the Porch program featuring an acoustic duo runs from 1 to 3 p.m.

Walnford sits at the heart of Crosswicks Creek Park and preserves more than two centuries of local history, including the historic mill, Waln family home and surrounding farmland.

Where: 62 Walnford Road, Upper Freehold
When: Sunday, Sept. 6
Admission: Free

If the Shore crowds have finally worn you out, this might be the antidote.

5. Finish Labor Day With Line Dancing in Red Bank

And if you’re still refusing to surrender summer by Monday evening, Red Bank has one more thing on the schedule.

Line Dancing on BroadWalk returns Monday from 7 to 9 p.m. in downtown Red Bank.

Bring the boots if you’ve got them. If not, confidence will probably do.

Where: BroadWalk, downtown Red Bank
When: Monday, Sept. 7, 7–9 p.m.

It’s a fun, low-key way to close out a three-day weekend before Tuesday morning brings everyone abruptly back to reality.

Summer Gets One More Day

Labor Day always feels a little strange at the Jersey Shore. The calendar still says summer, the beaches are still there and the weather often hasn’t gotten the memo, but school, football and fall are already knocking at the door.

So maybe don’t pack everything away just yet.

There’s still time for one more farmers market, one more afternoon outside, one more plate of barbecue and, apparently, one more chance to line dance in the middle of Red Bank.

Summer can wait until Tuesday.

Celebrity

From the Jersey Shore to the DJ Booth: Pauly D Is Still Having One Big Party

Published

4 weeks ago

August 22, 2026

Jersey Javelin

Pauly D figured out something most reality stars never do. He didn’t run from the show that made him. He took the party with him.

More than 15 years after MTV introduced the world to Paul “DJ Pauly D” DelVecchio and that unforgettable blowout, the Rhode Island native is still one of the most recognizable faces from Jersey Shore. What sets him apart is that the fame didn’t turn into a punchline or a cautionary tale. It turned into a real touring career that shows no signs of slowing down in 2026.

The Party Never Stopped

In a recent interview, Pauly described his live shows the only way that makes sense: one giant party. Coming from him, that’s not surprising. What’s impressive is that people are still lining up for it.

He’s currently working clubs and venues across the country—Las Vegas, Boise, Salt Lake City, and more—with a New York date locked in for October 9 at The Rooftop at Pier 17. He doesn’t just show up with a fixed playlist and hit play. He reads the room and adjusts in real time. That ability separates the guys who had a moment from the ones who can still hold a crowd years later.

Reality TV got him in the door. The rest has been pure entertainment.

From Catchphrase to Career

When Jersey Shore hit in 2009, few would have bet on which cast members would still be working nearly two decades later. Pauly had an advantage most of them didn’t: he was already a DJ. The show didn’t invent a career for him—it amplified the one he already had. The larger-than-life energy, the crowd sense, the willingness to lean into the chaos all translated cleanly from the house to the booth.

The joke became the brand. The brand became a business.

Today he still appears on Jersey Shore: Family Vacation while keeping a steady DJ schedule and releasing new music, including the 2026 single “Lost” with Capri Everitt. More tracks are on the way. That’s a long runway for something that could have easily faded into a very specific piece of late-2000s nostalgia.

Still Jersey, Even in Vegas

Yes, he was born in Rhode Island. The letters can stay in the drawer.

Jersey Shore permanently linked Pauly, Snooki, The Situation and the rest of them to a particular version of Shore culture—exaggerated, loud, and impossible to ignore. Whether people from New Jersey loved it or hated it, the rest of the world met that version through the cast. Pauly understood the assignment better than most. He never tried to distance himself from the character audiences connected with. He owned it, laughed with it, and kept moving without rewriting the past.

There’s a clean simplicity to that approach.

One Big Party

Pauly is 46. The hair still holds. The crowds still show up. The booth isn’t going anywhere.

His path offers a quiet lesson about sudden fame. Getting through the door is one thing. Staying relevant after the cameras leave requires giving people something they’re still willing to pay for. Pauly found his thing—or maybe it was always his thing.

A lot has changed since those early summers on the Shore. His basic deal with the audience hasn’t:

Show up. Turn the music up. Have a good time.

Sometimes the simplest model is the one that lasts.