Whitechapel Projects — Restaurant in Long Branch

On a crisp winter evening, the White Chapel Projects in Long Branch, NJ, transformed into a realm of wonder and impossibility as John Stessel graced the stage for a night of mind-bending magic. The venue, with its industrial-chic ambiance and warm, inviting atmosphere, provided the perfect canvas for an evening where the ordinary dissolved into the extraordinary.

From the moment Stessel stepped into the spotlight, the air crackled with anticipation. A true master of his craft, he seamlessly blended sleight of hand with psychological finesse, weaving a performance that was as intellectually stimulating as it was visually astonishing. Every illusion felt deeply personal, as if Stessel wasn’t just performing for the audience but with them, creating an immersive experience that left even the most skeptical minds questioning reality.

What sets Stessel apart is his effortless charisma. He doesn't simply execute tricks, he tells stories, crafts narratives, and invites the audience into his world of limitless possibility. His humor is razor-sharp, his timing impeccable, and his energy contagious. At moments, gasps of disbelief gave way to raucous laughter; at others, an almost reverent silence filled the room as the impossible unfolded before our eyes.

The evening’s highlights? A gravity-defying card routine that seemed to rewrite the laws of physics, a borrowed object vanishing only to reappear in the most unexpected of places, and a mind-reading act so precise, it bordered on the supernatural. Each feat built upon the last, culminating in a grand finale that left the audience spellbound, applauding long after the final bow.

White Chapel Projects, with its intimate yet electric atmosphere, proved to be the ideal setting for such an enchanting performance. The combination of masterful magic, impeccable showmanship, and an engaged, enthusiastic audience elevated this from a mere show to a truly transcendent experience.

Verdict? A Michelin-level performance in the world of magic. John Stessel isn’t just a magician, he’s an artist, a storyteller, and a force of nature. If you have the chance to witness his sorcery live, seize it. Because nights like this remind us why we believe in magic in the...

Tonight, my fiancé and her friend went to have a dinner together at WCP and it will be the LAST time she ever goes back. As a background, my fiancé has an extremely severe gluten allergy which goes by celiac disease. Normally, when we go out, I would be the one who would express to the waiter or waitress the severity of her allergy to ensure that what she orders is gluten free, with no chance of cross contamination. Since she went with a friend, she didn’t express that to the waiter and placed her order for a gluten-free pizza with vegan cheese which in the server noted and went back to the kitchen. The manager brought a pizza out for her and without questioning assumed it was her gluten-free pizza and ate a slice. After eating a slice, the waiter came out to let her know that the pizza that she was eating WASN’T gluten-free.

To a lot of people it won’t make a difference having just one slice because of the fact that some people just have an intolerance to gluten and not an allergy, but in her case, it is extremely serious and just as bad as someone having a peanut allergy. Now with the server, noting that the pizza wasn’t gluten-free and the manager being aware of this, the manager, let my fiancé know that instead of covering the bill, which working in the food service industry for 7+ years is common practice. Instead the manager offered to cover 15% of the bill, and if it wasn’t for the waiter saying that the pizza should be covered then there would’ve been only a minor savings for someone who is going to be sick for the next 3 days.

I am completely sick to my stomach, knowing how they handled the situation and how little regard they had for the amount of pain and issues my fiancé will have to deal with. I can promise you that neither my fiancé or me will ever step foot into this...

Went for the Vivaldi by candlelight event that they hosted. I wish there wasn't snow and ice and frigid cold everywhere because there was a very large and very interesting looking semi sheltered outdoor section (like a mudroom but the size of tennis court).

Once you navigate your way inside (it isn't the most intuitive the entrance from that massive mudroom area) they have a nice restaurant section with a bar. Very friendly bartenders and weren't afraid to fill your glass to the top. Then there's the venue section.

I won't complain much about how the beautiful picture of candles I'm gonna post was the only time I was able to see said candle arrangement. But unless you were in the first 2 rows as soon as you took your seat you'd never know there was a single candle lighting anything. Some aisle seats could see some of it but just a small view; it was a huge disappointment and failure on that part. However the musicians talent made up for it in spades!

They were phenomenal, I believe the stringed quartet works out of monmouth county so local talent. But they just kept raising the bar higher and higher through each movement. And the 2 additional pieces and encore was a great treat and fun shake up of the order of things since it's such a famous and ubiqitoiusly used piece through time. But they made each note feel riveting and new. Can't recommend enough.

It's also a nice intimate venue. It seated 144 by my count all wooden chairs two sections 9 x 8 with an aisle in the middle. But you can hear the person across the hall moving there chair when it's a quiet portion of the song. Luckily we had a pretty respectful audience and we're mindful of the noise. Would enjoy seeing another concert there...