“Lightning in a Bottle: A Love Letter to Asbury Lanes” Book Signing & Events

“Lightning in a Bottle: A Love Letter to Asbury Lanes” is more than a photobook — it is a testament to one of Asbury Park’s most iconic eras. For over a decade, photographer Mike McLaughlin served as the unofficial “keeper of the Asbury Lanes’ memories,” instinctively documenting the music, the misfits, the staff, the artists, and the rare magic that lived inside the Lanes’ walls. His camera became an extension of him, allowing him to preserve a community and a creative universe that no longer exists. Through more than 100,000 images captured over 11 years, McLaughlin offers a visual archive of a beloved cultural landmark — a collective fever dream shared by those who called the Lanes home.
The spirit of The Lanes comes to life the weekend of December 19-20th! Gallery openings, gatherings, and the triumphant return of the legendary Guilty Pleasures Dance Party (IYKYK) will mark the release of this 400-page photographic love letter, hosted by Mt Crushmore Records, Parlor Gallery, and Mike McLaughlin.