Clean-beach activists celebrate the Jersey Shore's first "Ocean Friendly Restaurant" Saturday morning in Asbury Park, and everyone's invited to the festivities.

The beach in Asbury Park
The beach in Asbury Park (Lauren Bigica,
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The Surfrider Foundation Jersey Shore Chapter bestows the title on the Langosta Lounge, and its two partner bistros owned by Marilyn Schlossbach and husband Scott Szegeski.

After the 10:30 AM ceremony, chapter members and other volunteers also invite you to help clear debris from Asbury's avenues, as part of International Coastal Cleanup Day.

Ocean Friendly Restaurant designation is an offshoot of the Surfrider Foundation's Rise Above Plastics initiative. Restauranteurs are required to contain or reduce Styrofoam use, recycle, provide reusable tableware for on-site dining and supply utensils for takeout orders only on request, and refrain from plastic bags for orders to go.

Business operators then choose three options from a supplemental list, which includes: plastic straws only on request; no beverages in plastic bottles; discounts for customers with reusable cups, mugs or bags; vegetarian or vegan menu options, and all seafood categorized as "Best Choice" or "Good Alternative" for sustainability by Seafood Watch; and measures for water conservation and energy efficiency.

The Asbury establishments join Potbellys, in Morris County, which became the first to meet the standards earlier this year.

After the ceremony and cleanup, volunteers age 21 and up will gather at the Dark City Brewery, Main Street at Second Avenue, at 1 PM. The cleanup is posted as a Facebook event.

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