30th Wings ‘N Water Festival  in Stone Harbor

NEWS & VIEWS > COASTING

Plus, the Album of the Week, Beachstock in Margate and Drew Toonz

By AC Weekly Staff

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Jul. 3, 2012

30th Wings ‘N Water Festival  in Stone Harbor 

A Cape May County summer staple, the Wetlands Institute Wings ‘N Water Festival in Stone Harbor is entering its fourth decade in fine form with dozens of new and engaging activities for the whole family. The actual festival dates are Thursday and Friday, July 12-13, but there is related activity going on before and after too, starting with an opening reception Wednesday, July 11, at the William Ris Gallery (9400 Second Ave. in Stone Harbor), where acoustic duo Jeff & Tamara will perform blues, folk and rock covers and some striking originals. Following the festival on Saturday, July 14, will be a benefit auction from 6-10pm at the Wetlands Institute (1075 Stone Harbor Blvd.) where guests can enjoy cocktails and delectable fare while bidding on high-quality live and silent auction items for a $60 per person entry fee. The festival runs 10am-4pm both Thursday and Friday, and activities include live music and dancing, the H2O Olympics, face painting and a Terrapin Turtle Release Party among others. Activities take place in multiple locations throughout Stone Harbor. At 6:30 both evenings, the New Jersey Academy for Aquatic Sciences will also host a Family Fun Night called “Reptiles Rock” at the Institute. Fun for just the grown-ups includes a “Flashback to the Awesome ‘80s” party at The Princeton in Avalon Thursday starting 7:30pm, and a sunset cocktail cruise aboard the Miss Avalon II party boat ($37.50 per person) on Friday from 6:30-8:30pm. For more information go to wetlandsinstitute.org or e-mail Patrice@wetlandsinstitute.org. — Ray Schweibert 

Margate’s Beachstock 

Margate is hosting its annual summer beach party with Beachstock 2012 on Saturday, July 7 (rain date: July 8). The celebration goes from 10am-10pm on the beach between Granville and Huntington avenues. The wildly popular Sons of Jah headline the music line-up. The event is free with vendors selling food and more. There will be complimentary Jitney pick up and drop off points 11am-7pm at Fredericksburg, Brunswick, Essex, Huntington (Beachstock location), Jerome, Pembroke, Thurlow, Cedar Grove, Washington, Jefferson and Coolidge avenues. Riders will be able to drop off their beach gear at Granville & Atlantic then head to Union or Tighe School to park, and take the shuttle back. There will be Zumba on the beach presented by Jewish Community Center (10-11am); free skin cancer screenings (11am-3pm); live Entertainment on the 100.7 WZXL Main Stage (11:15am –noon); a food and beer garden, sand sculpting by Matthew Deibert & Children’s Sand Sculpting Instruction and Alissa Dirato face painting (starting 11:30am); water balloon toss, hula hoop contest and potato sack races (11:30am-1:30pm); kids’ entertainment, Margate Soul Line Dancers (noon-5pm); a Battle By the Beach – Finalist Band Competition (12:15-4pm); Stacey Marchel’s surfing classes (1-3pm); plus volleyball, a “Fun Competition,” Children’s treasure hunt, lifeguard competitions and more. The Sons of Jah take the stage at 5pm and a free screening of the movie Avatar starts at 8:30pm on the beach. — Lori Hoffman

James Luther Dickinson  and North Mississippi  All Stars  

‘I’m Just Dead, I’m Not Gone’  (Memphis Int’l) 

Although he recorded sporadically during his 67 years on earth, Jim Dickinson could rock like no other and became a soul mate to the many musicians he worked with in the studio over his long career in music, Bob Dylan, the Replacements, Big Star, Ry Cooder and the Rolling Stones, to name a few. Released two years after his death, I’m Just Dead, I’m Not Gone comes across as a live brew of the stuff that moved Dickinson over the years, from Furry Lewis and Sleepy John Estes tunes to the folk ode to addiction, “Codeine.” Dickinson howls like only he could and the All Stars, led by his son Luther Dickinson, wail behind him. Listen on limited edition vinyl for a real treat. —Jeff Schwachter