Place to see: Madame Marie Readings, Asbury Park, New Jersey, United States

About this place:

As the line in the song by Bruce Springsteen went, "Well the cops finally busted Madam Marie for tellin' fortunes better than they do" (4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)). Madam Marie is still situated on the Boardwalk in Asbury Park off of 4th Avenue and in between the Convention Center and the Casino.

NEWS FLASH: Today (7/2/08) the Asbury Park Press (http://www.app.com) reported that Marie Castello (a.k.a. - Madam Marie) passed away this past Friday - June 27, 2008. As I had gone by her place over the past couple days, I noticed a well kept facility, but no keeper at the booth. I also noticed that the flag over the Convention Center had been flying at half mast. Today I learned that this had been done as a tribute to her memory.

Madam Marie was 93 years of age and had been doing her readings more recently from her place in Ocean Township. A family member, Sally Castello, continues to do readings at the boardwalk landmark.

In an interview she granted to the Asbury Park Press she predicted better times in the future for Asbury Park. Based on developments that have been seen on the boardwalk this summer, it appears that she called this one right!