ATLANTIC CITY — Are you an average Joe? Do you enjoy hot cars, cool boats and fast motorcycles? Do you like hunting, fishing, camping, the outdoors, BBQ, MMA, rock ‘n’ roll, video games and sports? If the answer to these questions is yes, you might just be an average Joe! And if you’re an average Joe, it’s mandatory that you git yer fun-lovin’ keister to the Average Joe Expo!

Organized by those crazy cats at Good Time Tricycle — the same ones who bring Atlantic City the Celebration of the Suds and A.C. Seafood Festival each year — the Average Joe Expo will be held May 18 and 19 at the Atlantic City Convention Center.

The Average Joe Expo is like no other show on earth. This inaugural event vows to “bring real guys together and create an opportunity to discover what makes us tick, getting to the heart of male commerce, interests and desires — both the obtainable and the aspirational, the Average Joe Expo has it all!”

The event will populate over 200,000 square feet of exhibition space at the Convention Center. It will introduce products, places and things to the masses, holding nothing back and showcasing unique product demos, seminars and other related experiences.  The Average Joe Expo promises to be a great weekend out to explore some awesome experiences you may not have otherwise! Tickets are $20 in advance through Ticketmaster or $25 at the door. Hours are Saturday, May 18: 11am-8pm; Sunday, May 19: 11am – 6pm.

The Average Joe Expo will also play host to a variety of celebrities and personalities — people who guys just want to meet and hang out with.  With a huge emphasis on the male lifestyle, the expo will cover motocross, gaming, action sports, all things outdoors and everything in between . This expo will offer men a true weekend of discovery! Visit averagejoeexpo.com/atlantic-city.aspx or click the video below to learn more.

The Atlantic City Alliance presented the first day of its brand new event, the DO AC Wine Promenade featuring over 150 wines at seven tented stations along the iconic AC Boardwalk. If you missed yesterday, you can still attend today.

Go here for all the details, and here for a report on yesterday’s debut.

ATLANTIC CITY — Are you an average Joe? Do you enjoy hot cars, cool boats and fast motorcycles? Do you like hunting, fishing, camping, the outdoors, BBQ, MMA, rock ‘n’ roll, video games and all things sports? If the answer to these questions is yes, you have to git yer keister to the Average Joe Expo!

Organized by those crazy cats at Good Time Tricycle — the same ones who bring Atlantic City the Celebration of the Suds and A.C. Seafood Festival each year — the Average Joe Expo will be held May 18 and 19 at the Atlantic City Convention Center.

The Average Joe Expo is like no other show on earth. This inaugural event vows to “bring real guys together and create an opportunity to discover what makes us tick, getting to the heart of male commerce, interests and desires — both the obtainable and the aspirational, the Average Joe Expo has it all!”

The event will populate over 200,000 square feet of exhibition space at the Convention Center. It will introduce products, places and things to the masses, holding nothing back and showcasing unique product demos, seminars and other related experiences.  The Average Joe Expo promises to be a great weekend out to explore some awesome experiences you may not have otherwise! Tickets are $20 in advance through Ticketmaster or $25 at the door. Hours are Saturday, May 18: 11am-8pm; Sunday, May 19: 11am – 6pm.

The Average Joe Expo will also play host to a variety of celebrities and personalities — people who guys just want to meet and hang out with.  With a huge emphasis on the male lifestyle, the expo will cover motocross, gaming, action sports, all things outdoors and everything in between . This expo will offer men a true weekend of discovery! Visit averagejoeexpo.com/atlantic-city.aspx or click the video below to learn more.

Le Grand Fromage, 25 Gordon’s Alley, The Boneyard, 20 S. Virginia Ave., Atlantic City, host this special music event. All door proceeds ($10 cover) will go directly to the Ozan Music School in Galloway and toward free music schlorships for autistic children. Also every person who pays to get in will receive a limited edition Elephants for Autism CD featuring over 20 artists who were kind enough to donate music to this great cause.

Here is the line-up:

Friday May 17, Le Grand Fromage-Rotating Stages
6-630-Down Chill And The Rabbits
630-700- Up The Knomadz
700-730-Down Barry Aishton
730-800- Up Horseman 5
800-830-Down Fools’ Pudding
830-900 Up Urethra Franklin
845-915-Down Empty November
915-945 Up Malcolm Tent And 1adam12
10-1030-Up The Mahlors
930-10 Down-Down Selva
1045-1115 Up Position 9
1015-1045 Down-The Daycations
11-1130-Down Lovelight
1130-12-UP The Secondside
12-1230-Down Yellow Tie Guy
1230-1-Up Daniel Ouelette And The Shobijn

(more…)

Rants and raves about burning topics that have caught my attention midweek, be it greedy corporate shenanigans, frustration or joy in regards to the Philly sports teams, a movie, show or DVD that has fired up my imagination, an intriguing personality, or what’s happening in the region. — Lori Hoffman, Associate Editor, Atlantic City Weekly

Our region is making a major effort to provide events this month to bring tourists into town before the real warm weather arrives. I’ll like to tip my hat right now to the staff at the Atlantic City Alliance (the DO AC folks) for organizing an early season event that should get us in the mood for a glorious summer to come. The Alliance has joined forces with all 12 casinos to present the DO AC Boardwalk Wine Promenade Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5, along the Atlantic City Boardwalk.

Ocean City is presenting its 30th Spring Block Party this Saturday featuring tons of tasty food and craft items for sale along a mile stretch of Asbury Ave.

Over in Sea Isle, the community is announcing its ready for the summer season with a “We’re Ready” Concert, also on May 4, at Kix McNutley’s, 63rd St. & Landis Ave, noon-6pm. The concert will feature the: Kenny Young Band, Alex Glover & Company, Real Diamond (Neil Diamond tribute) and more, and will take place under a giant festival tent. The cost is $10, available at the door.

Revel is honoring Cinco de Mayo with a weekend-long fun celebration of Mexico’s culture and traditions. The resort-wide fiesta will commence on the casino level and will feature authentic Mexican music, contests, giveaways and more.

Revel continues the culinary fun with its second Taste of Revel culinary weekend May 10-12. Revel’s chefs Alain Allegretti, Marc Forgione, Jose Garces, Luke Palladino and Robert Wiedmaier will host events, as well as Katie Lee, author of The Comfort Table, Recipes for Everyday Occasions, cookbook author and entertaining expert, who will serve as the weekend host.

Tropicana is changing the way you look at bacon with its first ever Bacon Week Sunday, May 12 through Saturday, May 18. The casino is mixing bacon in your martini, wrapping your steak in it, dipping it in chocolate and even making a bouquet of roses with it.

Caesars Entertainment’s four properties – Bally’s, Caesars, Harrah’s Resort and Showboat — are also going down the foodie road with specials to celebrate National Hamburger Month, the Kentucky Derby, Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, National Shrimp Day, National Wine Day, National Cherry Dessert Day and National Escargot Day.

Now that is a mouthful!

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.

ATLANTIC CITY — In celebration of the return of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus to Boardwalk Hall April 18-21, White House Sub Shop treated two of the show’s favorite performers, Dutchess and Patty the elephants, to a special delivery of a one-of-a-kind “Pachyderm Sub” consisting of the pair’s favorite fruits and vegetables.

Dutchess and Patty enjoying their Pachyderm Sub from White House Sub Shop. Photo by Christine Steiner

First-grade students from Atlantic City’s Our Lady Star of the Sea school joined Dutchess and Patty for brunch on Thursday morning, April 18, as they fueled up in preparation for their opening-night performance later that evening, 7pm.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey returns to Boardwalk Hall with its brand-new show Fully Charged, the Next Generation of Circus.

Fully Charged is a fresh, new, high-energy circus connecting audiences to electrifying performances from an international cast. 

The show appeals to the new age generation, as colorful LEDs and an incredible laser performance complement everyone’s favorite circus stunts, animals and acrobatics.

Fully Charged provides ticket holders with instant access to circus during the All Access Pre-show Power-Up Party and offers intimate floor seating to allow the audience to experience an up close and personal connection

Tickets range from $20-$80. A special $12 opening-night offer is also available. All seats are reserved and tickets are available at all Ticketmaster locations, by calling 800-736-1420 or going to ticketmaster.com. The can also be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall Box Office. For group rates and information, call (609) 348-7023.

See video preview of the circus below:

ATLANTIC CITY — The eighth annual Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival topped its forerunner again last Friday and Saturday, April 5-6, at the Atlantic City Convention Center. To see a photo gallery of the event, click here.

The ‘Celebration of the Suds’ satisfied over 20,000 beer-and-music fans with not only the latest in libations from over 100 craft breweries, but fantastic food from area establishments like Harry’s Oyster Bar, the Palm, the Mussel Bar & Grille, Tony Boloney’s, the Tun Tavern and others.

For a video of the event, click here.

Headline music acts included the Bouncing Souls, Rev. Horton Heat and Rusted Root, amusements featured a free see-sawing “mustache ride,” football place kicking contest, dunk tank, silent disco, giant sand sculpture, and seminars and vendors of all sorts.

Bagpipers, barbershop quartets and live original bands including Westgate, A Wilhelm Scream, Belgrade, Continental, Soihadoo and Cheers Elephant rounded out the live entertainment. One dollar from every ticket sold went to benefit the Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund.

Suds enthusiasts are already eagerly anticipating its 2014 return.

ATLANTIC CITY — In conjunction with the eighth annual Atlantic City Beer (& Music) Festival Friday and Saturday, April 5-6,  the Viking Cooking School at Harrah’s Resort — Atlantic City’s premier hands-on cooking classroom — will host nightly food and beer pairings with Brooklyn Brewery, Goose Island Brewery, and celebrated author and beer enthusiast Gary Monterosso for three days, Monday through Wednesday, April 7-9.

“The Viking Cooking School Atlantic City has a reputation for creating innovative, experimental, and desirable classes, and our April schedule featuring three beer specific classes is no different,” says Robert Schoell, executive chef of Harrah’s and Showboat Atlantic City.

“Over the last decade breweries like Brooklyn and Goose Island have really risen to prominence. Combine that with the consummate expertise of Gary Monterosso (pictured below right, with his book Artisan Beer) and you have an all-star lineup.”

Class details are below. Visit harrahsresort.com and click the “Things To Do” link to find more on the Viking Cooking School.

Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival Brooklyn Brewery Class
•    Sunday, April 7, beginning 4pm
•    $49 per person
•    Menu Highlights: Local 1 Beer paired with Crawfish Étouffée in Miniature Phyllo Cups; Local 2 Beer paired with Stove-Top Macaroni and Cheese with Smoked Ham, Jalapenos and English Cheddar; Sorachi Beer paired with Smoked Salmon “Nachos” on Wonton Chips with Herbed Crème Fraiche, Scallions, Red Onions and Red Peppers; IPA Beer paired with Spicy Jumbo Lump Crab, Spinach and Artichoke Dip with Homemade Chili Rubbed Pita Chips and Purple Potato Chips; Local 2 Beer paired with Chocolate and Cherry Fondue.
•    History: Founded in 1988, Brooklyn Brewery has made quite a name for itself over the last few years, literally quintupling in size and distributing to over 25 states and 20 countries.   Their year-round, seasonal, and specialty brews embody the life, tradition and culture of the New York communities that surround them and epitomize the American craft brewery.

Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival Goose Island Class
•    Monday, April 8, beginning 6pm
•    $49 per person
•    Menu Highlights: Sofie Beer paired with Edamame Puree in Wonton Cup topped with Ahi Tuna; Matilda Beer paired with Individual Seafood Pot Pie; Pepe Nero beer paired with Homemade Spiced Sausage Sliders with Pepe Nero Caramelized Onions and Black Pepper Fries; Père Jacques Beer paired with Malted Cookie and Caramel Ice Cream Sandwiches.
•    History: Founded in 1988, Goose Island was the brainchild of native Chicagoan John Hall. Hall felt he could create a beer even better than the ones he experienced on his travels throughout Europe. The public has agreed.  Goose Island offers guests over 50 distinct craft brews and is located next to historic Wrigley Field.

Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival — Gary Monterosso Beer Class
•    Tuesday, April 9, beginning at 6pm
•    $65 per person (includes Monterosso’s book Artisan Beer)
•    Menu Highlights: TBA
•    Biography: Monterosso is an award-winning writer, who has written for several national and regional publications. He currently appears on the History Channel special The Epic History of Everyday Things, and regularly appears on popular television programs, lending his insight and knowledge about the world of beer.

ATLANTIC CITY  — The official app for the 2013 Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival is now available for free! The app features more than 100 different craft breweries (pouring way more than 100 beers!), live music, local food, demos and mustache amazingness.

The app also features exhibitor descriptions, exhibitor table locations, artists info, a private beer flight schedule, a map of the expo floor, live social-media feeds and voting for your favorite brews to win the “People’s Choice” award!

Check out what’s on tap inside the app! Go to acbeerfest.com and scroll down to the bottom of the home page. And be sure to rate your favorite beers! This event benefits Hometown Heroes and Restore the Shore for Hurricane Sandy.