Cardiac Surgery - The Boardwalk Journal Magazine

Who’s Who
at the Jersey Shore
Who’s Who
at the Jersey Shore
Lori Lenzi
Perrin Jones
Lori Lenzi is not your average first grade
teacher. And that’s not because she loves teaching with a passion. Or
because she has a stage in her classroom. Or even because she has
an audition-stopping, jaw-droppingly good voice. It’s because Lori
Lenzi is Lori Sunshine, once a singer of the group LOL who was
previously signed with DreamWorks Record Label.
If you’re shaking your head wondering why you haven’t
heard of LOL, it’s because right before LOL and Lori Sunshine
became household names, there was a creative conflict between
DreamWorks and LOL’s managers/producers, Full Force. Deciding
to take a break after years spent working hard at the gym, in studios,
rehearsals, and many performances (one which was on Soul Train),
Lori Lenzi came back to her hometown of Galloway, NJ. “It was such
a humbling experience,” explained Lenzi.
Currently, the teacher and Urban Pop singer is exactly where she
wants to be. “I feel blessed to be doing both,” explained Lenzi, of her
teaching career—which she loves—and her once-again burgeoning
singing career. Though she works full time as a teacher and then
goes to the studio to work on her music and train for her upcoming
showcases, Lenzi perseveres, and even thrives, with her hectic
schedule. “I don’t even feel like I’m working,” Lenzi explained. “I love
doing both and give each my 110% (teaching and music). “
Lenzi has always given her all to music. “Music is like breathing
to me,” said Lenzi. And from the time she was a small child, everyone
around her knew it. The esteemed local vocal coach, Sal DuPree, was
“like a second father” to Lenzi. She grew up going to auditions in New
York while also singing at her church several days a week. Church and
her relationship with God is the root of Lenzi’s upbringing. Lenzi can’t
remember a time when she wasn’t in headphones, working on her gift.
As Lenzi recalls, “Music consumed me.”
So after graduating Absegami High School, Lenzi auditioned for
and enrolled in the Academy of Musical and Dramatic Arts in New
York. “It was like FAME,” Lenzi described of the experience. “The
training was unbelievable.”
And though it was a dream come true, it wasn’t enough. Instead of
riding out the college experience like many of her classmates, Lenzi was
still auditioning full-time, in addition to taking her classes. At home,
her parents were undergoing a separation, and Lenzi felt compelled to
work harder than ever. It was during this period when Lenzi made the
fortuitous connection that would completely change her future.
Lenzi went to an audition for the legendary production company,
Full Force, who worked with Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, and
Nicki Minaj, among other big names in the entertainment industry.
“I was so raw,” Lenzi explained. “I had no pictures, no demos. But I
said to them, ‘When I get done singing, you’re going to stop these
auditions.’” And that’s exactly what they did. They saw Lenzi, who they
later nicknamed Sunshine, as the whole package.
After being almost immediately signed to a production deal, over
the next few years, Lenzi experienced the dramatic rise, and just as
dramatic fall, of her music career. From performing non-stop across
the globe, and being signed by DreamWorks, to losing it all through
no fault of her own, Lenzi came home to decompress and reflect on
her journey thus far. After much evaluation, Lenzi decided to go back
to school, and earned dual degrees, and a teaching certification to
teach K-12. After receiving her degree, she secured a position in the
Atlantic City district, teaching first grade at the Texas Avenue School.
With her teaching career established, Lenzi is giving her all to
music, only this time, she is in control. With the help of the very
reputable local underground producer MadMan, from Team609
Production Company and Lonnie Smalls as her music director,
Lenzi is back, and on the verge of another breakthrough. An Atlantic
City showcase has been rescheduled for the beginning of next year
after being postponed due to Hurricane Sandy, and showcases are
also scheduled for Los Angeles, Atlanta and New York.
Don’t be surprised if Lori Sunshine becomes a household name.
She is on the rise one note at a time. Her fan base demographic is
versatile, large, and patient—they have been waiting diligently for
her return. To get an early preview of Lenzi’s music, check her out at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rva0AuQum2o&feature=plcp. Or visit
her website at www.LoriLSunshine.com.
Lori Lenzi
Perrin Jones knows a good restaurant experience.
The Colorado native has spent the last twenty five years involved in
the restaurant industry. It’s where he’s most at home, where he’s got
loads of experience, and where he wants you, the customer, to get a
wonderful experience.
Jones, now the General Manager at Philippe Chin’s French-
Asian Bistro & Deck Bar in Somers Point, remembers his first
restaurant job, all the way back when he was 10 years old, where
he helped out at the catering company owned by a friend of his
father’s. And after moving to Sarasota Springs with his family
during high school, Jones continued to work through almost every
single position in the restaurant industry, from front of house, to
back of house, to management.
That’s one of the reasons that Jones is so invaluable to the
restaurant industry—his ability to relate to every position within
any given dining establishment. In fact, it’s this ability that has
lent itself so well to Jones’ other career as a restaurant consultant.
As a consultant, Jones is generally hired by privately owned and
previously successful restaurants that have, for whatever reason,
seen things slip and want to return to their prior success.
During a consult, Jones will spend several days on-site prior
to giving his assessment, spending his first day at the bar, eating,
maybe having a glass of wine, and watching everything. Day two
will be spent either behind the bar as a bartender or as a server. Day
three involves hosting. Additional days involve spending time in
the back-of-the-house with the chef, in addition to spending time
with management. It’s only then that Jones will offer his assessment,
which will contain suggestions pertaining to structure and/or
training, and most importantly, how to best help the customer.
While Jones isn’t focusing on consulting now—it would be
a conflict of interest to do anything that would impact Philippe
Chin’s—it’s his level of expertise as well as his general understanding
of the customer that makes him an indispensable part of any
restaurant’s structure. And what will contribute to both a successful
career at Philippe Chin’s as well as the success of the restaurant.
When I asked Jones, who is the third generation of his family
to have resided in Saratoga Springs, “why Philippe Chin,” he joked,
“I’m on the water…how much better can it get?”
Add to that the fact that Jones and Chin have a previous
working relationship as well as a tight friendship, and taking the
job here, six hours away from Saratoga, was really a ‘no-brainer’.
Jones and Chin began working together in 2009 at the legendary
restaurant, 8 Tables, in Saratoga. When that restaurant expanded
to Twenty8 Tables, both Jones and Chin went with it. “We work
extremely well together,” Jones said of working with Chin.
It’s a good thing too. Philippe Chin French Asian Bistro &
Deck Bar is located at 800 Bay Avenue, on the site of what was
previously a restaurant/Bed and Breakfast. Which means that due
to the layout of the building, both the chef—Chin—as well as
the general manager—Jones—have residences on the premises,
a situation that requires a bit of balance to maintain, but one that
Jones enjoys. “It can be hectic, but being constantly on the premises
is perfect for meetings with sales people,” explained Jones. “It’s
refreshing to be able to walk downstairs to work,” he added. Most
important, perhaps, is the convenience. “Each morning, Philippe
and I go through the plans for the day and throughout the day, we
work through the checklist.”
Jones, who had never visited New Jersey prior to coming to
Somers Point this past August, is happy with his new home here
at Philippe Chin French Asian Bistro & Deck Bar. As for menu
recommendations, Jones is the consummate professional, saying,
“Everyone is different, everyone wants a different experience. I
recommend coming in for Tapas Monday so you can try a bit of
everything and see what you like.” As for his favorites, Jones swears
by the Veal Porterhouse and the Asian Tuna Nacho. With his
experienced palate, I don’t think you could go wrong with either.
Perrin Jones
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