Atlantic City Weekly

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The A.J. Meerwald, New Jersey’s official “tall ship” originally built in 1928 as an oyster-harvesting schooner, arrived at Historic Gardner’s Basin (800 N. New Hampshire Ave. in A.C.) on Monday, July 25, to start a five-day visit. To commemorate the event, Gardner’s Basin created a “transportation challenge” in which residents are eligible to win dining and merchandise gift cards. The challenge mandates that subjects take the train, jitney, bus and/or taxi to visit the Meerwald through Sunday, July 31, and receiving a free entry into a prize raffle set to take place July 31 in Gardner’s Basin. “The challenge came out of some conversations with visitors who had taken the train down from Cherry Hill to visit the Atlantic City Aquarium,” says Jack Keith, executive director of the Atlantic City Historical Waterfront Foundation. “Because environmentalism is our mission, we wanted to promote the fact that it’s easy to get to Historic Gardner’s Basin using public transportation. We also wanted to reward the visitors who do so.” The cost for riding on the Meerwald during its public sail vary with the time of day. Generally afternoon sails are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors, and $15 for children 12 and under. Evenings are generally $45 for adults, $40 for seniors, and $22 for children. There is no fee for children ages 3 and under. For more information, call 856-785-2060 or go to ajmeerwald.com.

— Nate Mulberg 



Cole Bros. Circus Returns to Town(s)


Crimson and gold canopies raise up towards the sky as the staff of the Cole Bros. Circus of the Stars craft the three-ring big top at the crack of dawn. Ringleader Chris Connors, along with his circus family, is hauling the three-ring tent to Atlantic City, Seaville, and Rio Grande this August. The Cole Bros. Circus of the Stars has been entertaining crowds for 127 years and is regarded as the world’s largest circus underneath the big top. Svetlana Gololobova performs the seemingly impossible “one finger” vertical balance at the show. Joining her, José Bermudez — the Human Cannonball — flies out of the world’s largest cannon. A trio of motorcyclists takes on the “Thunderdrome,” maneuvering through the metal globe by relying on the principle of inertia. Aside from the human beings that perform, lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!) can be witnessed under the vinyl and steel tent. Isabel and Rafael Abuhadba present their colorful cartoon poodles to circus audiences. Laura Herriot presents and trains horses, camels, elephants and more. And of course, a circus would not be complete unless there were clowns. The Bermudez family clowns waddle throughout the tent with their oversized footwear and fire-engine red noses, providing the show with great comedy. Other acts include the flying trapeze, aerial ballet, hand balancing, and motorcycle stunts. The Cole Bros. Circus will be coming to the Atlantic City Race Course in Mays Landing from Aug, 3-5; to 2065 Rt. 9 (mile marker 24) just north of Cedar Square in Seaville on Aug. 8-9; and the Robert “Ockie” Wisting Recreation Complex in Rio Grande on Aug. 10-11 with shows at 4:30pm and 7:30pm each day in all three locations. Click here for more information. — Cori Rosen 


Gillian Welch


‘The Harrow & the Harvest’ (Acony)


On Gillian Welch’s fourth album for her Acony record label (her fifth album overall, dating back to 1996’s gorgeous Revival), the Manhataan native, with her partner David Rawlings, has struck pure gold. Welch, who hasn’t released a new album in eight years, has spent her career writing and performing songs from what music writer Greil Marcus, in reference to Bob Dylan and the Band’s legendary Basement Tapes sessions, dubbed “that old, weird America” — early country, bluegrass, folk, blues and Appalachian Mountain tunes. And although the American folk revival that kept Welch and Rawlings touring and recording through the ’00s has abated, the 10 new Welch-Rawlings songs on The Harrow & The Harvest sound as good as just about any old Carter Family tune, but with a darker Gothic Americana twist. The pair plays, co-produces and sings on every track of this superbly sparse album, which many are calling the best of the Welch-Rawlings bunch. — Jeff Schwachter 


Below, a video of Gillian Welch with this week's feature and interview subject - The Decemberists:

Drew Toonz

AC Weekly readers have let us know that they have been enjoying this Atlantic City Weekly exclusive cartoon, featured in this spot over the past several months, so we’ve added them all in one place on our Web site! If you’ve missed any past toons, or would like to relive some of the best — created by local born artist and current resident of Hawaii Andrew Miller (Drew Toonz), who also did this week’s outstanding cover (see anyone you know in the crowd?) — visit the new Drew Toonz page where you can click on every Drew Toonz comic published so far.

Check back next week for a brand new comic.