ATLANTIC CITY — Frank Ferry’s relationship with the late, legendary Atlantic City powerbroker Enoch “Nucky” Johnson grew out of a 1964 legal case in which Ferry, then a young lawyer appointed assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New Jersey, helped Johnson beat an attempt by the U.S. Department of Justice to collect $20,000 from a tax-evasion conviction 23 years prior. The two remained close friends for the next four years, until Johnson’s death in 1968.

Attorney and author Frank J. Ferry

It is nearly a certainty that nobody still alive knows more than Ferry about the life of Nucky Johnson, who bestowed his memoir upon Ferry and is the subject of his book Nucky: The Real Story of the Atlantic City Boardwalk Boss. Ferry began writing the book 13 years ago and just released it in January during a book signing at A.C.’s historic Knife & Fork Inn.

Along with Johnson’s memoirs and a close personal relationship with him, Ferry researched his life through transcripts of FBI interviews, trial testimony, and recollections from stories told to him by his mother, who also knew Johnson well. This Saturday, March 9, at 11am, Ferry will discuss his book at the Atlantic City Free Public Library’s second-floor meeting room (1 N. Tennessee Ave.) The discussion is free and open to the public, and registration is not required.

Call 345-2269, ext. 3112, for more information, or to learn more about Nucky Johnson (whose fictionalized character in the award-winning HBO series Boardwalk Empire, Nucky Thompson, is based on Judge Nelson Johnson’s 2002 book Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City), visit the library’s Atlantic City Experience Web site at atlanticcityexperience.org.

ATLANTIC CITY — As part of Atlantic City Free Public Library’s (ACFPL) Meet the Author program, youth ages 11 to 17 are invited to meet urban fiction writer Torrey Maldonado on Saturday, Feb. 23, at 2pm.

Maldonado’s novel Secret Saturdays was selected in 2011 as an American Library Association Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers and was also featured on ABC, NBC, and CNN. The book is inspired by his experiences growing up in the Red Hook projects in Brooklyn, where he now teaches in the public school system.

Maldonado will share how writing has impacted his life, and how the craft served as a pleasant distraction from some harsher realities of his youth.

The ACFPL is located at One North Tennessee Ave. in Atlantic City. For additional information, call (609) 345-2269, ext. 3050, or visit acfpl.org.
— Christina Migioia

The Atlantic City Convention Center’s Hall A ballroom will again be transformed into a winter wonderland for Atlantic City children on Saturday, Dec. 15, from 1-3:30pm.

The second annual Atlantic City Winter Wonderland is co-sponsored by the City of Atlantic City and Atlantic City Free Public Library. Admission is free but tickets are required to gain admission into the event. Beginning Monday, Dec. 3, tickets will be distributed 10am-3pm Monday through Friday until the day of the event in the lobby at City Hall, located at 1301 Bacharach Blvd.

Tickets will be distributed only to adults, who must show a proof of Atlantic City residency. Tickets are limited and will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis.

The event is open only to Atlantic City children ages three to 12. All children attending the event must be accompanied by an adult. There will be plenty for children and their families to do and see at the Winter Wonderland, including magic shows, rides, games, moon bounces, face painting, arts and crafts, cookie decorating and more.

The event is funded in part by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. For more information, call the Atlantic City Recreation/Community Affairs Department at (609) 347-5643.

ATLANTIC CITY —  According to a release from the Atlantic City Free Public Library (ACFPL), A.C.’s historic Garden Pier is closed until further notice due to damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. Consequently, Atlantic City’s Historical Museum and Art Center — both housed in the Garden Pier — are also closed temporarily.

An inspection by the city detected minor damage but closed the pier until it can be determined that no severe structural damage was sustained. The Garden Pier, museum and art center are likely to be reopened by the end of the month. Additionally, the ACFPL has postponed its discussion, “Night Clubs and the Northside,” scheduled for Nov. 10 and to be moderated by prominent historian Ralph E. Hunter Jr., to a date yet to be determined.

Click here for updates about when the pier will reopen.

Gina Roché

ATLANTIC CITY — The Bartram Beach Block Concert Series event featuring Denise Black and Triangular Swing Band has been postponed from tonight — Friday, July 20  — and rescheduled for Friday, Sept. 14, due to severe weather conditions.

The next Bartram Beach Block Concert Series performance will be Friday, Aug. 3, featuring vocalist, guitarist and composer Gina Roché with percussionist Jim Hamilton. They will perform Brazilian, blues and original compositions, including those from Roche’s recently released second CD entitled Thankfully.

The Bartram Beach Block Concert Series is a joint venture between the City of Atlantic City and Atlantic City Free Public Library. The free shows are held at 7pm at Bartram Place and the Boardwalk. Those attending the shows are encouraged to bring their own chairs or blankets.

The Soul Survivors will be at Gardner's Basin on Sept. 17

The final show in the Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation’s series of summer concerts, scheduled for Sept. 1, was regretfully canceled according to event organizer Henrietta Shelton. However, Sheldon reminded fans of fine music that the fun ain’t over yet!

On Saturday, Sept. 17 (rain date Sept. 18), the third annual Doo Wop concert will return to historical Gardner’s Basin (800 N. New Hampshire Ave. in A.C.), featuring the Soul Survivors, the Illusions, the Jewels and a special guest.

The free concert will take place from 1-5pm and is presented by Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation, the Atlantic City Historical Waterfront Foundation, and the Atlantic City Free Public Library. Bring your lawn chairs and/or blankets and enjoy the show.

For more info, call (609) 348-2880 ext. 22.

Sandy Warren's will discuss her book at Saturday's event at the Atlantic City Free Public Library.

On Saturday, April 2, there will be a free concert and book discussion at the Atlantic City Free Public Library (ACFPL) focusing on the music and lives of late jazz greats Art Blakey and Johnny Andrews.

The event will take place at 2pm Saturday in the main library’s meeting room at 1 North Tennessee Avenue in Atlantic City.

Eddie Morgan will perform some of Blakey’s recordings and some of Andrews’ favorite tunes. Blakey’s longtime companion Sandy Warren will also be on hand to discuss her book, Art Blakey Cookin’ and Jammin’. Her book is filled with some their favorite recipes, rare Blakey family photos and remembrances of the drumming legend who passed away in 1990. Andrews passed away last year.

For more information, call (609) 345-2269 ext. 3115.

Sarah Spencer Washington

Upcoming Black History Month programs include book talks, jazz program

The Atlantic City Free Public Library began its Black History Month celebration in memorable fashion by debuting an exhibit – The Black Northside Empire: A Photographic Look at Atlantic City’s African-American Community – on Tuesday, Feb. 1. The local community filled the library’s meeting room to view the photo exhibit, created by African-American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey founder Ralph E. Hunter, Sr.

Hunter and several of the attendees — including Elwood Davis, Art Dorrington, Tyrone Hart, Joanna and Karlos LaSane and Ada McClinton — shared some of their memories of Atlantic City and the Northside.

A.C. Free Public Library director Maureen Frank and Ralph Hunter Sr. are pictured during Tuesday's opening of the exhibit.

The exhibit includes more than 60 photographs highlighting influential African-American people as part of  February being Black History Month.

For more on this story, go here.

The Atlantic City Free Public Library’s International Night performance scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 18, featuring Island Jam (pictured left) has been canceled due to inclement weather.
This performance will not be rescheduled as part of the International Night series, however Island Jam is tentatively scheduled to perform at the library’s Family Fun Festival on Saturday, Sept. 25 (on Tennessee Avenue next to the library, 11am-4pm).
The International Night Series finale (at Kennedy Plaza on the Boardwalk) is slated for 7pm Wednesday, Aug. 25, and will feature Bollywood Axion (pictured right).
For more information, call 345-2269, ext. 3112 or go here.

Dan Fogel

Margate resident and jazz organist Dan Fogel is back by popular demand to perform at the 11th annual Chicken Bone Beach Concert Series. The free weekly concert series takes place at Kennedy Plaza on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, located between Mississippi and Georgia avenues (adjacent to Boardwalk Hall). Fogel and his quartet, which includes Fogel on Hammond B3 organ, Pete Chavez on tenor sax, O’Donel Levy on guitar and Webb Thomas on drums, will perform Thursday, Aug. 11, starting at 7pm.
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