Plus, Winter Prose and Poetry Getaway at Seaview, the Album of the Week and Drew Toonz
By Lori Hoffman
There is nothing like a leap into the frigid Atlantic Ocean after a night of partying, or perhaps a brisk run to get you off to a fresh start in the New Year. Both of these activities are part of Ocean City’s First Day at the Beach celebration, Jan 1, 2013. And, if you’re dubious about running into the Atlantic, it is warmer than usual this year because of a mild fall, around 48 degrees, rather than the usual mid-30s. A 5K Boardwalk run/walk begins 12:30pm (giving you time to sleep in a bit) at the Music Pier. Registration starts at 11am. Entry fee is $20 (with shirt while they last). Without shirt, fee is $10. Pre-registration fee is $18 if received before Dec. 28. For more info, contact Mike Givens at 861-0674 or at runawayac@comcast.net. Awards will be presented for the 5K Race, male and female 1st. 2nd, 3rd and Overall. The age groups include 14 and under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 and over. The walk is non-competitive. The “First Dip in the Ocean” is set for 2pm. All participants should report to the registration area in front of the Music Pier, Boardwalk and Moorlyn Terrace, where they will sign a waiver and receive a “Beach Nut Certificate” proclaiming that they have bravely negotiated the waters on New Year’s Day in Ocean City. Visitors will also be able to make an optional donation to support OCNJCARE, the volunteer organization that is assisting those still recovering from the recent Sandy storm.
By Casey Harper
The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and Murphy Writing Seminars have teamed up to bring wordsmiths a chance to hone their craft at the 20th Annual Poetry and Prose Getaway. The three-day conference will take place over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, (Jan. 18-21, 2013) at the Stockton Seaview Hotel in Galloway. The Winter Getaway, which is geared toward educators, encourages teachers to attend to improve their own writing to in turn provide better instruction to students. “Teachers who write become better teachers of writing,” says Peter Murphy, conference director and veteran writing teacher, having spent 29 years teaching at Atlantic City High School. Those whose schools are part of Stockton’s Educational Technology Training Center (ETTC) may use their ETTC credits to attend the Getaway. The conference will host some of the most prestigious authors from the area, including Stockton’s Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Creative Writing, Stephen Dunn, and Pulitzer Prize in Poetry winner Dorianne Laux, who will assist attendees in a number of workshops including poetry, nonfiction, and memoir. With classes of 10 or less, attendees will receive intensive and specific instruction and feedback, receiving constructive insights from both instructors and peers. Teachers will earn 18 hours of professional development credit, and engage in Common Core Standards as they practice different styles of writing for different audiences. Julianne Paper was fairly unfamiliar with creative writing prior to attending the Getaway, but left feeling emboldened. “I like the atmosphere which engendered positive feedback and I am now inspired to write more,” she says. Non-educators are also permitted to attend, with registration available at wintergetaway.com.
Dwight Yoakam
‘3 Pears’
Sublime soul, straight-ahead rockers and a pair of tracks produced by indie troubadour Beck barely scrape the surface when describing Dwight Yoakam’s first album of new tunes since 2005’s remarkable Blame the Vain. The 12-song set, 3 Pears, released in September, is undoubtedly one of the singer-songwriter’s greatest collections of new material during his wildly prolific career. The two tracks co-produced by Beck (“A Heart Like Mine” and “Missing Heart”) are groovy standouts and although the album is modern in every sense, 3 Pears has a 1960s-era vibe rollin’ throughout, as well as some good ol’ honky tonkin’ twang. One of the best albums of 2012, 3 Pears will surprise you, haunt you and get you dancing too. (Yoakam plays the Golden Nugget in A.C. Jan. 26, 2013.)
— Jeff Schwachter
Drew Toonz
Yoakam on his new album: "We built the thing in a very organic way, a spontaneous way, which is what pure musical expression is really about.”
There were parties galore in Atlantic City on New Year's Eve 2013, including casino-wide celebrations, the Life in Color event at Bader Field and Tiesto.
Plus, upcoming events at the Atlantic City Free Public Library, the Album of the Week (Fat Boys) and Drew Toonz
Plus other outstanding releases of the year, including several extraordinary re-issues from the Fat Boys, Velvet Underground and the soundtrack to the documentary 'Searching for Sugar Man.'
Plus 'Latkes, Lo Mein and Laughter' on Dec. 25, Top 10 Albums of the Year, and Drew Toonz
If you have not heard about TFIA, there's a good chance your children know some of their songs.
An iron-man run of towering proportions has sadly come to an end, as Ted Prior, who’s been performing spot-on renditions of Elvis for more years than Elvis was alive, will be missing his first Ocean City First Night Celebration since the New Year’s Eve tradition began.
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