Plus, the Atlantic City Triathlon, the Album of the Week (Bob Dylan's superb 'Tempest') and Drew Toonz.
"Hannah Alley Corner" by Deb Spinella
Let's Take An Alley Walk
So well received was the exhibit Alley Art: Discovering Wabi-Sabi (wabi-sabi being a Japanese world view accepting imperfection) that it has been extended through Sept. 19 at the Great Bay Gallery in Somers Point. The exhibit debuted at the gallery (829 Bay Ave.) in late July and was originally intended to run through Sept. 1. It features the work of 17 artists and seven poets who painted, sketched and wrote about the alleys that wind through Somers Point. On Sunday, Sept. 16, Great Bay Gallery is sponsoring a “Let’s Take an Alley Walk” tour of the various alleys that were the subjects of the artists’ work. There is no charge for the self-guided tour, and alley locations and maps can be picked up at the gallery from 10am-2pm, during which time the gallery will also be open. “I’m honored to be one of the 20-something artists and poets participating in the invitation-only exhibition,” says artist Jennifer Tracy in a blog post. “Our focus was to find beauty in decay. The alley I was assigned to was Miller Lane, the closest alley to the gallery.” New fall hours for the Great Bay Gallery are Wednesdays through Saturdays, 1-6pm. “There have been many who have been surprised at the existence of alleys in Somers Point, so this is also a discovery and a wonderful way to spend a late-summer Sunday afternoon,” says gallery owner Kathleen Arleth. Call 653-4991 or e-mail katharleth@hotmail.com for more information. Additionally, the work of artist Sue Hanna Rau will be available at Latz’s By The Bay (801 Bay Ave. in Somers Point) through Sept. 30. — Ray Schweibert
A.C. Triathlon Quadruples in Size, Sells Out
Nearly two weeks before its scheduled start, the second annual Atlantic City International Triathlon reached maximum capacity and was declared sold out. More than 1,200 athletes will take part in the event, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 15, compared to just over 300 for last year’s debut. “We are ecstatic that in only its second year, the event has grown by 400 percent,” says event organizer Stephen del Monte. “The Atlantic City International Triathlon was already voted one of the top-eight vacation destination races by Active.com. This really puts us on the map to showcase all that the resort has to offer. With over 1,200 athletes and 4,000 spectators, the economic contributions from this event should exceed $750,000.” The A.C. Triathlon is an international-distance event that includes a one-mile swim in the bay, a 20-mile bike on the A.C. Expressway, and a 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) run on the Boardwalk. Event producer DelMoSports has added a sprint race this year consisting of a quarter-mile swim, 10-mile bike, and 5k run to encourage less-experienced endurance athletes to participate. This year the triathlon is partnering with the Atlantic City Seafood Festival scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 15-16, starting 11am both days at Bader Field. All athletes will be given complimentary access to the Seafood Festival, while their family and friends will be admitted for $5 (kids 12 and under free). The triathlon will also be saluting the Atlantic City area by naming the swim, bike and run events after past standout local athletes, and the race organizer is working closely with the Boys and Girls Club of Atlantic City to teach children the importance of fitness and staying active. Members of the Boys and Girls Club will be volunteering on race day. — RS
Bob Dylan
‘Tempest’ (Columbia)
What’s “my flat-chested junkie whore” doing in a tune on 71-year-old Bob Dylan’s 35th studio album, Tempest? As Dylan told Rolling Stone in relation to his superb, violent, strange and often surreal new album, “anything goes and you just gotta believe it will make sense.” Just like the world today, right? The essence of our world’s dark nuances and fragile beauty are perfectly captured within some of the best songs Dylan has ever written. Among the 10 new songs (the LP clocks in just under 70 minutes) are the ragged rocker “Pay in Blood,” the haunting epic “Scarlet Town,” the weird and intoxicating “Long and Wasted Years,” the 14-minute title track on the Titanic disaster and “Roll On, John,” a tribute to John Lennon. Dylan’s well-traveled road band — Tony Garnier (bass), George G. Receli (drums), Donnie Heron (steel guitar, banjo, violin, mandolin), Charlie Sexton (guitar), Stu Kimball (guitar) and with Los Lobos’ David Hidalgo on guitar, violin and accordion — complements Dylan’s otherworldly blues-drenched tunes like a fine cigar under the fall moonlight, creating an amalgamation of old-timey and ultra-modern sounds. The best album of the year so far, Tempest is one of Dylan’s strongest albums in a while. — Jeff Schwachter
Drew Toonz
Rock Art Show at Hamilton Mall Feb. 8-10; Horseback Riding on the Atlantic City Beach
ATLANTIC CITY — The organizers of this year’s Atlantic City Marathon, organized through the Katz JCC in Margate, have clearly made a decision. Let’s spice things up a bit. Yes, they’ve got a 53-year-old marathon tradition and the race is still a qualifier for the Boston Marathon. More than 3,000 runners have already signed up for the events (which include a half marathon and a 10K and 5K run), easily topping last year’s 2,700 runners and with more likely to register on race day, Sunday, Oct. 16. And this year a new course design is in effect to take better advantage of Atlantic City’s northside Boardwalk and the scenic back-bay views of Downbeach. So the racing part is there and going strong. All that was left was to spice...
The Marathon has also upped the prize pool for the race to about $18,000. The marathon winners, male and female, will receive a $2,500 cash prize...
It was a sad day in late September for Barbara Altman, local radio host and the longtime race director of the Atlantic City Marathon, as she made calls to the local media. The race, a more than 50-year tradition in the city, would not be held since no race director had been found. After 20 years, Altman was stepping down and had not found a capable replacement. The announcement came less than a month before the marathon’s scheduled Oct. 18 date.
Martin Scorsese not only directed the 2010 pilot for HBO's Boardwalk Empire, but remains a very important part of the series set in 1920s Atlantic City, serving as executive producer on the first two completed seasons. He also filmed The Color of Money (1986) in A.C. Dylan, on the other hand...
Here, in celebration of what will most likely be Bob Dylan’s final Atlantic City performance before he becomes a septuagenarian next May 24, are 69 things to love about one of the greatest ...
Bob Dylan Where: Bogata Event Center When: June 22 & 23, 8pm Tickets: $97-$137 Bob Dylan, who kicks off the latest leg of his Never Ending Tour this weekend with two shows at the Borgata (June ...
In the 40 years since Bob Dylan "plugged in" for his notorious electric tour, it's become even more evident how that string of concerts affected the world of popular music. As author Ron Bowman notes...
A guide to events, festivals and more during the flowering season in the Jersey shore region.
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