Asbury Park Press from Asbury Park, New Jersey • Page 101

1 SEPTEMBER 2000 FRIDAY l1JLj111'2. ASBURY PARK PRESS "PAGE 11 hot spots Ml open 11 a.m.-ll p.m. daily, (609) 978-1818. BLAST! FUN PARK is at 208 N. Main Street, Lacey, and is open daily from 11 a.m.-ll p.m.

Call (609) 242-7580 or contact www.blast-funpark.com. BLACKBEARD'S CAVE is at 136 Route 9 in Berkeley and is open daily from 10 a.m. to midnight. Call (732) 286-4414. "I like taking my grandchildren to the kiddie park here, because it's in a segregated place and I can keep an eye on them easier than if I were on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights," said Paula Cassidy, Stafford.

"It's a lot cheaper here, too." One ticket book is only $20." PICADILLY PLAYGROUND is at 597 Route 9 Eagleswood and is Looking for fun? Take a drive down Route 9 PRESENTED BY THE GARDEN STATE CI LTIRAI CENTER FUND SPONSORED BY ilfltjitftf fllj covered driving range; new bumper cars; a bungee trampoline and a ladder challenge," he said. "Oh, and we also have a restaurant and pub." Aiello estimates that, each summer, a half-million fun-seekers visit the park, which started out as a driving range and restaurant. Now there are plans to build another restaurant as well as a pro-shop. "We try to compare ourselves to Great Adventure," Aiello said. "We also are open when they're open, which is from late April through October when we offer hayrides," he said.

"I like the arcade because it's cheaper here than other places by at least a quarter," said 10-year-old Nick Anderson, Brick, an avid game player. His 8-year-old brother Zachary joined him, soaking wee from the bumper boats. "Look, it's summer and there are no lines." About a 20-minute ride north from Picadilly Playland is the newcomer known as Blast! Fun Park. Co-owners Vincent Simonelli and Pete Novak are both from Forked River, Lacey, where the park is located. Like Picadilly Playland, By LISETTE CORDERO Correspondent A cluster of amusement parks has popped up along Route 9 in Ocean County within the last 10 years and they're giving the big theme complexes and summer carnivals a run for their money.

Todd Aiello's family originally was in the restaurant business but wanted to try something else in the late 1980s. His father thought an amusement park had potential as a family business and decided to open Picadilly Playland in West Creek, Eagleswood. "It took us three years to get the permit on the 16 acres of land. The borough council couldn't understand it at first," Aiello said. "Now they see what we can do and they love it." Aiello stands in the noisy arcade, points outside and starts rattling off: "We've got two 18-hole miniature golf courses; two go-cart tracks (one for kids, one for adults); bumper boats the wettest ride, like jumping in the ocean; 10 batting cages, slow-to-pro; a 32-stall there also are an arcade, adult and kiddie go-carts, and, of course, miniature golf.

The water ride here features "water tag," where participants run around an inflatable maze trying to squirt water into their opponents' shields. "Miniature golf is still the biggest seller, no matter what we have the more challenging, the better. Ours has hills and lots of bridges," said manager Rocky Bronzino from behind the snack bar, where fun-goers can buy fast foods like pizza, ice cream, nachos, a vegetable plate Or old-fashioned funnel cake. After 10 years in business, Blackbeard's Cave in Bayville, Berkeley, is the park that most closely resembles entertainment operations such as those found on the Seaside Heights boardwalk, in Toms River or at Jenkinson's in Point Pleasant Beach, but co-owner Tony Naita doesn't consider those summer destinations to be competition. Blackbeard's Cave offers unusual attractions such as archery, jousting, a climbing wall and paintball, in addition to batting cages, go-carts and bumper boats.

Is tow AFRICAN AMERICAN FESTIVAL Warren Daniels and the New York People Jason "Malletman" Taylor BJ and 40 Plus The On Track Band Sat, Sept. 16 All Day Mall 10am-6pm $8 Advance $10 Day of $3 8-12 yrs old Children Under 8 Free. GERMAN FESTIVAL Eberhard Hertel Stefanie Hertel Stefan Mross UWE Heino junior Sept. 10 Mall Theatre Mall Only $4 Theater S10-S20 Children Under 14 Free for Mall Only. mm ii SLOVAK FESTIVAL Trade Show Exhibits Parade of Fashions Music Singing Dancing Sept.

24 Mall 10am-6pm 3 Advance $10 Day of S3 8-12 yrs ol SCOTTISH FESTIVAL Mary Stewart Highland Dancers Hadrian's Wall Ian Bruce Bill Reid Karen Hunter Oct. 1 Mall 10am-6pm $10 Adults $3 8-12 yrs old Children Under 8 Free. MffiJl mw 'Hajfe ij'5 (RlMlt MM) Under 8 Free. INFINITY :0 OUTDOOR NEWS SEW JERSEY SUftlMEft SEAFOOD SPECTACULAR Every Day Now Thru Labor Day Our new Summer Seafood Spectacular Menu features the widest variety of freshly prepared seafood at the Jersey Shore! Dine inside or outside on our Lakeside Deck SUUDAYS THE OLD MILL INN Sunday Candlelight Dinners 3 pm Closing Exciting four-course dinners starting at only $19.95 Brunch 11-3 pm Our fabulous Lakeside Brunch includes Omelettes, French Toast, Benedicts, Croissants, Pasta, Chicken and Seafood! Complete Brunches start at $10.95 and include beverage, dessert and coffee PLACE FOR STEM Features Prime Aged Steaks, Filet Mignon, Lamb Chops, Char-Grilled Fish, Lobster much more! Friday After Work Happy Hours from 5 pm to 8 pm with complimentary buffet Live Entertainment All Labor Day Weekend Friday, Saturday Sunday Nights TH VOICE Of HTW JtJtSfY Meridian Health System 0 PSEG Local Consumer Ethxjuim Program fcHWjt SC Memwei itmMMiMBWl1 fiWMlBMMUii TO PURCHASE TICKETS send check made payable to GSCCF, P.O.Box 5013, Woodbndge, N.J. 07095-5013.

Please enclose a business size, stamped, self-addressed envelope. Separate check per festival, or tickets may be purchased at the PNC BANK ARTS CENTER BOX OFFICE. Call for Box Office hours: (732) 335-0400 For further information call (732) 442-9200 PNC BANK ARTS CENTER Exit 116 Garden State Parkway, Holmdel, NJ WO JEfUNJ)S LCJtA.WGES-; HERITAGE FESTIVAL TICKET DISCOUNT Present this ad at die Holmdel Box Office for $1 ott on up to four tickets! ri1 fUH.Hl H'K I't'Hl HASLOI i ILfil I M.i SI IVAL. Tl( KLTSj.