One of the most famous sculptures on Sarasota, Florida's waterfront sculpture walk and park.

The Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority (ACCVA), now under the umbrella of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) and the Atlantic City Alliance (ACA), released a statement on Friday afternoon that a Monday press conference will be held at Harrah’s Resort with regard to a new non-gaming attraction coming to town.

The Atlantic City waterfront is getting its own Sculpture Walk/Park,  thanks to a partnership between the ACA, CRDA and the Noyes Museum of Art of Richard Stockton College.

“The AC Waterfront Sculpture Walk, the newest addition to the burgeoning art program in Atlantic City,  will be located along the existing illuminated trail along the bay in the Marina District of Atlantic City, linking the Golden Nugget Atlantic City with Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City and Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa,” reads the statement.

“Located within the Tourism District, this new, eco-friendly, non-gaming attraction will encompass the procurement of 40 sculptures over the next four years, with the first installation scheduled for July, 2013.”

This summer! Fantastic news. And with 40 sculptures planned the project will definitely change the look and feel of Atlantic City’s Marina District.

One of the sculptures on the Sarasota, Fla., sculpture walk along its watefront.

SOMERS POINT, N.J. — A gallery of international artwork will be made available in a silent auction in the banquet portion of Sandi Pointe Coastal Bistro (908 Shore Road, Somers Point) on Saturday, May 4, from 7:30-10:30pm.

Admission is free, and the auction will benefit the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Atlantic and Cape May counties. There will be with music and drinks provided to all those in attendance, as well as a stellar collection of artwork to bid on. The silent auction starts promptly at 7:30pm. You do not need to be present to win, so come early or late.


Starting bids will be set low to encourage lots of participation. Browse and bid on beautiful artwork from all over the United States. Some of the artists will be in attendance at Sandi Pointe.

The event curators are Bill Dunleavy and Sarah Varacalli, both southern New Jersey natives. Varacalli’s artistic resume includes published work for American Photo, Artforum, Coca Cola, GQ, Esquire and international versions of Maxim, Allure and Vogue. Dunleavy is a photographer and founded Superchief, a magazine and art gallery based in New York City. E-mail  bill@superchief.tv or SarahVaracalli@gmail.com for more information.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Atlantic and Cape May Counties has spent the past forty-four years providing children with one-to-one mentoring relationships. These children come from all walks of life, and the majority are considered to be at-risk. Through Big Brothers Big Sisters’ professionally supported mentoring relationships children gain self-confidence and a better outlook for their future. Visit bbbsatlanticcape.org for more information.

ATLANTIC CITY — The Color Run, heralded as the single largest event series in the nation, will make its debut in Atlantic City on October 19.

With no winners or official times, The Color Run “celebrates healthiness, happiness and individuality,” bringing the community together to create a five-kilometer canvas of colorful fun in which thousands of participants are doused from head to toe in different colors at each kilometer.

Click here for a story about a similar event held last New Year’s Eve at Atlantic City’s Bader Field, and click here to see a photo gallery of that event.

Participation in, and buzz for, The Color Run has exploded since its debut last year, with over one million “likes” on Facebook and over four million YouTube views.

The Color Run visited over 50 cities last year with over 600,000 participants, a feat following its first event in January 2012. Event organizers plan to make 2013 a stellar year, launching over 100 events with an estimated one million participants.

“We call The Color Run the ‘happiest 5K on the planet’ because our events bring together friends and family in a unique, healthy, and fun environment,” says Travis Snyder, founder of The Color Run, in a media release. “Our only rules are that people wear white and prepare to be covered in color at the finish.”

The Color Run is being dubbed a “feel-good, happy, colorful event” in which colorful runners go from wearing pristine white clothing to being covered in prismatic color. At each kilometer mark, a different color of powder fills the air and covers the participants, creating an ever-increasing spectrum of color and beauty. At the finish line, the color festival kicks off and the air is filled with millions of vivid color combinations as participants get in on the color throwing fun as well.

The Color Run chooses an individual charity to donate to in each city they visit and raised donations for over 60 local and national charities in 2012. Their charity partner Atlantic City will be announced in the upcoming weeks.

Registration for the Atlantic City event will start May 1. Go to thecolorrun.com/atlantic-city to register.

SOMERS POINT, N.J. — The Somers Point Jazz Society’s 16th annual Cape Bank Jazz @ The Point festival, a four-day event featuring 10 groups performing at various venues in Somers Point, has released its 2013 itinerary.

Touted by organizers as the “greatest jazz festival value in the universe,” a pre-event price of $60 per person ($80 when purchased after April 11) is good for the entire four days, April 11-14. Tickets will be available starting March 1. Thursdays events are free, and for individual ticket prices or more information, call (609) 927-6677 or visit the Somers Point Jazz Society’s Web site at spjazz.org.

Headlining this year’s festival is the Pat Martino Trio (with Pat Martino, pictured left, on guitar, Pat Bianchi on organ and Carmen Intorre Jr. on drums), which performs in the Sandi Pointe Ballroom on Saturday night, April 13 (sets at 8pm and 10pm).

This festival is made possible in part through the New Jersey State Council of the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts through the Local Arts Grant administered by Atlantic County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs.

See a full schedule below.

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MAYS LANDING, N.J. —  Five decades after the Beatles first appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, the iconic foursome joins other rock legends being showcased at the KOOL 98.3 Rock Art Show and Sale on Friday, Feb. 8, through Sunday, Feb. 10.

Shannon’s "7 Faces of John" has been chosen by the city of Liverpool to be the official art piece of John Lennon's 70th birthday celebration.

The Hamilton Mall will house the celebration of rock-inspired crafts on the second floor where Pearl Vision was previously located from 10am-9pm on Friday and Saturday, and 11am-6pm on Sunday.

Featuring a collection of artwork honoring Paul McCartney, Jerry Garcia, Billy Joel, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, and Elton John, among many others, photographs, signed works, posters, and limited edition pieces will be displayed and available for purchase. Some highlights include a special Beatles exhibit, an extremely rare signed lithograph from Bob Dylan, and early Bon Jovi photographs and limited edition gold records.

The largest exhibit of its kind, this event is a unique opportunity for music lovers and free to the public. Visit rockartshow.com for more. — Casey Harper

ATLANTIC CITY — This calendar year, 2013, marks the Year of the Snake for the Asian Lunar New Year, and Caesars Entertainment is celebrating with an array of exciting activities.

Saturday, Feb. 16, at 2pm kicks off the string of events with the Lunar New Year Parade on the Boardwalk, which will march from in front of Showboat down the Boardwalk to the sixth floor Atrium in Bally’s. The annual parade will include lion and dragon dancers, marching bands, and accustomed dress performers.

Following the parade, Caesars, Bally’s and Showboat will each feature unique dining and entertainment opportunities. Bally’s Grand Ballroom will house a traditional Chinese Market Place showcasing over 25 vendor booths with food, beverages, and merchandise available for purchase from 4pm to midnight.

Meanwhile, a craft fair will be held at Showboat from 3-7pm. Liu Jun and Zhang Di are set to perform at the Celebrating Year of the Snake Concert hosted by Caesars’ Circus Maximus Theater Saturday, Feb. 16, at 10pm, and Sunday, Feb. 17, at 2am. For more information visit tzhTotalRewardsAC.com  — Casey Harper

MAYS LANDING, N.J. — Radio station KOOL 98.3 FM is about to rock the art world with an amazing collection of photography, gold records, animation art, concert tour posters and more at the KOOL 98.3 Rock Art Show & Sale Friday through Sunday, Feb. 8-10.

'The Boss and The Big Man – 1980' Photo by Mark Weiss

The show will take place on the second level of the Hamilton Mall, second level in Mays Landing from 10am-9pm Friday and Saturday, and 11am-6pm Sunday.  It is free and open to the public, and every piece of art is also available to purchase.

The show takes place on the 49th anniversary of the Beatles’ first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. Now, almost five decades later, the show will include a special art exhibit featuring hand-signed works, limited edition pieces and more on the most celebrated band in rock history.

The show will also include artwork by such music luminaries as Paul McCartney, Jerry Garcia, Billy Joel, John Entwistle, Jimi Hendrix, Fleetwood Mac, Ron Wood, Bob Dylan, Carlos Santana, Elton John, Robby Krieger, Tony Bennett, The Police, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jon Anderson, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, U2 and dozens of others, plus photographs from sessions including Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd, Aerosmith, The Doors, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Bon Jovi, Johnny Cash and more.

Other highlights include an extremely rare hand-signed lithograph from Bob Dylan, original Beatles cartoon paintings from Ron Campbell (director of the TV Beatles Cartoon Series and animator for the film Yellow Submarine), a newly discovered panoramic photo of the Allman Brothers taken during the first few days of their formation by Rolling Stone magazine first chief photographer Baron Wolman (the photo is included in Gregg Allman’s new book), and a series of early photographs of Bruce Springsteen taken in the ’70s when The Boss was still playing the club circuit, and early Bon Jovi photographs and limited edition gold records.

Visit rockartshow.com for more.

ATLANTIC CITY — As part of its Wet ‘n’ Wild Wednesday series, The Pool at Harrah’s will be a glow-in-the-dark spectacular featuring a glow-paint fashion show. The Party Nerdz are hosting the event, while DJ Deejay Vito G, Mazz, and Paul Desisto will man the turntables.

The event is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 9, at The Pool starting 10pm. The cover will start at $10. Call (609) 441-5585 for VIP reservations, or e-mail dhare@harrahs.com or call 441-5096 for more information.

THE WILDWOODS, N.J. — Local artist David Macomber completed an eight-foot by 20-foot mural (pictured right) at Morey’s Piers to benefit Hurricane Sandy relief efforts at the Jersey shore.

Macomber wanted to create something that would raise awareness as well as funds to benefit those affected by the super storm.

The mural started off as a sketch (pictured left). The first layer in the mural consisted of pictures Macomber has taken over the years of different Jersey resorts, and on top of those pictures Macomber wrote the inspiring words that Bruce Springsteen delivered at his 2008 Hall of Fame Induction:

“Rise up my fellow New Jerseyans, for we are all members of a confused but noble race. We, of the state that will never get any respect. We, who bear the coolness of the forever uncool, the chip on our shoulders of those with forever something to prove. And even with this wonderful Hall of Fame, we know that there’s another bad Jersey joke coming just around the corner.”

Macomber (right, with the work in progress) then painted over the pictures and words, a splash of colors to represent the bright and vivid Jersey Shore. He painted the words “Strength and Unity” over top to symbolize the pride all New Jerseyans have.

“The ideas of strength and unity are important to me and they are what I want to express in this piece,” said Macomber. “In these trying times, we need to come together to help the larger community. The shore is what drives our economy so in reality it affects us all.

“Although Wildwood wasn’t hit as hard as other places, Morey’s Piers seemed like the most fitting and inspiring venue for this project,” he added. “I wanted to work with the ocean as a backdrop and the feeling of winter at the shore can be haunting. This painting is the light of hope in the midst of a darker environment.”

The completed mural will be separated into about 30 segments and will be auctioned to raise money for New Jersey shore towns that were devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Proceeds will be donated to Wavesforwater.org.

The 18th season of the Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour will be making a stop in Atlantic City on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 12-13, 2013, at the Atlantic City Convention Center. Registration for the event — called Magic: Gathering Grand Prix Atlantic City — is $40 per player and takes place Friday, Jan. 11, from noon-8pm, and Saturday, Jan. 12, from 7-9:30am.

Magic: The Gathering is the world’s premier trading card game. Created in 1993, Magic is played approximately 12 million players per year. It can be played by two or more players, each using a deck of printed cards or a deck of virtual cards, through the Internet-based Magic: The Gathering Online or third-party programs.

In the Magic game, you play the role of a “planeswalker” — a powerful wizard who fights other planeswalkers for glory, knowledge, and conquest. Your deck of cards represents all the weapons in your arsenal. It contains the spells you know and the creatures you can summon to fight for you.

An organized tournament system and a community of professional Magic players has developed, as has a secondary market for Magic cards. The Grand Prix Atlantic City event will debut a “play mat” featuring art by the legendary Randy “rk” Post, an noted illustrator of fantasy publications who will be on-site all weekend signing the mats. The first 600 players to register on Friday at Grand Prix Atlantic City and all “Sleep-In Special” registrants who pay before the Friday of the Grand Prix will receive a mat.

Go to wizards.com for more information.