Tattoo Fest Returns to Atlantic City, June 24-26

NEWS & VIEWS > COASTING

Plus DrewToonz takes on MTV's 'Jersey Shore' (again); Caribbean Luau at Renault Winery and the Album of the Week: Johnny Sansone's latest.

By ACW Staff

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Jun. 15, 2011

Last year's Tattoo Expo

Back in 2004, unconventional entertainment guru Jon Henderson and his buds Marc Fairchild and Terry Manning saw more potential than what was then the trend for tattoo and body-art enthusiasts, which was basically a series of small, one-day shows and seminars around the country. Their vision was to bring tattoo tradesmen together in Atlantic City for a weekend-long extravaganza that not only included artists and tattoo buffs sharing secrets, but also seminars, tattoo contests, vendors, live music and the kind of off-the-wall entertainment Henderson has become well known for in A.C. It worked, and like the other major event his company Unsuited Entertainment promotes in A.C. — the annual spring Celebration of the Suds beer festival — the Drawin’ the Wildcard Tattoo Expo has gained momentum since its start, and is now touted as the largest event of its kind in the nation. This year’s version will take place at Bally’s Atlantic City from Friday to Sunday, June 24-26, and is expected to draw over 5,000 attendees. “The Tattoo expo will feature a little bit for everyone,” says Henderson. “While the main focus is the opportunity to get tattooed by any of 60-plus tattoo artists from around the globe, the event also promises to astonish and amaze with its circus antics and sideshows.” Admission is $15 for a one-day pass, $25 for a two-day pass, and $35 for a three-day pass. An adult must accompany anyone under the age of 18. Kids under 12 get in free with a parent or guardian. For more information, visit actattooexpo.com or call 252-636-0333. — Ray Schweibert  

Renault Winery’s Caribbean Luau 

Renault Winery will transform the poolside at its Tuscany House into an island paradise for a Caribbean Luau on Friday, June 17. Cocktails start at 6:30pm with dinner at 8pm. A roasted pig and various appetizers plus the signature drink, the Tropical Bang Bang Cocktail, will highlight the cocktail reception. The dinner menu will include a lobster black bean burrito, curried boneless chicken thigh, Mahi roasted in banana leaf and a coffee & spice rubbed short rib. There will also be a dessert station and a Hawaiian Luau Show with dancers. This “dining with the chefs” package is $69 (plus tax and service charge) for a five-course meal paired with a sampling of wines with each course. Also available is the dinner plus a night’s stay at the Tuscany House for $99. For reservations call 965-2111.  — Lori Hoffman

Johnny Sansone 

‘The Lord Is Waiting and the Devil Is too’ (Shortstack ) 

So far, 2011 has been a year of very pleasant surprises (check the archives at acweekly.com) as far as new music and reissues go and New Jersey-native Johnny Sansone’s latest album is indeed one of them. Already being called an early contender for album of the year since its April release, The Lord is Waiting and the Devil Is Too, features no slick overdubs or false-hearted songwriting. Produced by Anders Osborne (who also plays guitar) and recorded live (with Galactic drummer Stanton Moore) in New Orleans, where Sansone has lived for several years, the album is raw, rowdy and rough around the edges — just like the blues ought to be played. Sansone shines not only as a songwriter here, but also as one of the top blues harmonica players around. —Jeff Schwachter

DrewToonz

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