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.

SOMERS POINT, N.J. — The Somers Point Jazz Society (SPJS) will be recognizing George Mesterhazy, in memoriam, as the organization’s 2013 Jazz Master of the Year. The award ceremony and reception will take place 5pm Sunday, March 10, at Sandi Pointe Coastal Bistro, 908 Shore Road in Somers Point. Following the ceremony there will be a jazz performance featuring Barry Miles on piano, Tim Lekan on bass and Bob Shomo on drums. The event is free and open to the public.

Mesterhazy (pictured left), a Cape May resident regarded as one of the finest jazz pianists and arrangers in southern New Jersey, passed away suddenly April 21, 2012, of natural causes at the age 59. The veteran musician was admired worldwide, and was nominated for a pair of Grammy awards for his work as a player and arranger with vocalist Shirley Horn. He was about to celebrate the release of his latest recording with world-renowned singer Paula West, Live at Jazz Standard, when he passed away.

Mesterhazy long time life partner, Vicki Watson, will accept the award for him. According to a release from the SPJS, “George was a multi-talented jazz musician who left a giant gap in the south Jersey jazz community with his passing last April.  He was a huge supporter not only of the Somers Point Jazz Society but of jazz in general.
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SOMERS POINT, N.J. — Top-flight jazz artists have returned to Sandi Pointe Coastal Bistro, with highly anticipated performances  once again turning the tiny coastal town of Somers Point into a sensational jazz hub.

The jazz nights are set to run every Tuesday through March from 8-11pm on the second floor of the Sandi Pointe Coastal Bistro, located at 908 Shore Rd., in Somers Point.
The featured artists for the events are as follows:

Rick Germanson, scheduled to perform in the Loft Nov. 27 with trumpeter Joe Magnarelli, is seen here (left) with legendary jazz guitarist Pat Martino.

November 20 – Mike Boschen (trombone) and Katie Cosco (piano)
Mike Boschen has recorded music for radio, television, and movies, as well as for artists including Wayne Shorter, Audra McDonald, Slide Hampton, Steve Tyrell, and Manhattan Transfer. His interest in all styles of music has enabled him to establish a career in various musical avenues.
A student of classical piano since age five, Katie Cosco has spent most of her life playing piano. She is also a composer of jazz, new age and indie music. Her fondness for many types of music has made her an extremely versatile and skilled performer. Kate has always been happiest performing live with high-energy bands and great musicians.

November 27 – Rick Germanson (piano) and Joe Magnarelli (trumpet)
Rick Germanson has been a in-demand pianist on the New York City Jazz scene for over a decade. A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rick moved to New York City on the heels of winning the grand prize at The American Pianists’ Association Jazz Piano Competition in 1996. His accomplishments have garnered much adoration from the media and led to him being chosen as Best of New Talent in 2004 by All About Jazz NYC.
Syracuse native Joe Magnarelli moved to New York City in 1986 and soon became a regular participant on the Manhattan-and-beyond jazz scene. He has performed with Jon Hendricks, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra, Ben Wolfe, and many others.

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SOMERS POINT, N.J. — Understanding the hardships so many southern New Jersey residents are facing after Hurricane Sandy’s recent assault on the area, Sandi Pointe Coastal Bistro in Somers Point will be hosting a “Band Aid for Sandy Victims” benefit Sunday, Nov. 11, from 4-11pm.

Dylan Martello and Mia Bergmann will be among several acts performing Sunday at Sandi Pointe.

Several live-music acts will be featured for a mere $10 donation, among them Dylan Martello and Mia Bergmann, Ben Clayton, Blondage, the Gina Roche Band, Maytrix, Jas Nature and several others. 

The event will feature a Chinese Auction and will include donation bins of non-perishable food items, pet food and supplies; clothing such as coats, gloves, socks, blankets and all other essential items are needed.

Gift cards are appreciated as well for first responders to such stores as Wawa and 7-11. Sandi Pointe is located at 908 Shore Rd. in Somers Point. For more information, call (609) 927-2759. — Carmella Shillito

Pedicin

OCEAN CITY, N.J. — This Sunday, July 29, the Ocean City Library Live Jazz Series continues with Michael Pedicin Quintet at the Ocean City Free Public Library (1735 Simpson Ave., Ocean City) from 3-3:30pm.

The quintet includes Pedicin on tenor saxophone, Vic Stevens on drums, Andy Lalasis on bass, Dean Schneider on piano and Craig Ebner on guitar. The ensemble spans the gamut of bossa nova, Latin jazz and Afro-Cuban music, and the performance will include songs made famous by Stan Getz, Joe Henderson, and John Coltrane.

Admission is free and the series is made possible by the Somers Point Jazz Society.

Other upcoming summer performances include Royal Palm Steel
 on Sunday, Aug. 5, from 2-3:30pm. Royal Palm Steel is a University of Delaware faculty jazz quintet playing a blend of Caribbean-inspired jazz. The quintet includes steel drums, vibraphone, drums, bass, and saxophone; features Steel Pan virtuoso, Victor Provost, Harvey Price, Craig Thomas, Tom Palmer and Todd Groves.

On Monday, Aug. 6 , from 7-10pm (and every first Monday at Sandi Pointe Coastal Bistro, 908 Shore Rd. in Somers Point) is Big Band Monday featuring the Ed Vezinho/Jim Ward Big Band with special guest vocalist Eddie Bruce.

Admission is $10 with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Somers Point Jazz Society. There will also be an auction of rare Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett photos from the Popsie Randolph collection, which will also benefit Somers Point Jazz Society. Other photos from the collection will also be on display and for sale.
 
For more information about the Somers Point Jazz Society, go here or call (609) 927-6677.

SOMERS POINT, N.J. — The works of abstract artists Michael Waters, Paul Harrington, Steve Kuzma and Katherine Mott will be on display from May 1 through May 27 at three Somers Point locations — Sandi Pointe Coastal Bistro (908 Shore Rd.), Latz’s By the Bay (801 Bay Ave.) and the Great Bay Art Gallery (829 Bay Ave.).

The works of Waters and Harrigton will both be on display at Sandi Pointe. Kuzma’s work will be at the Great Bay Gallery, and Mott’s will be on display at Latz’s through July in the establishment’s second-floor “studio” dining room. Light refreshments will be served at each location. Additionally, on Sunday, May 6, there will be an artistic walk-about and artists receptions at each location from 2-5pm.

Michael Waters' painting 'Morpheus'

For more information, call Sandi Pointe (609-927-2300), Great Bay Gallery (609-653-4991) or Latz’s By the Bay (609-788-8838), or go here.

NORTHFIELD — Come celebrate the dawn of a great New Year of music, as Tony Mart’s Presents Dr. Bobby Fingers at a holiday sing-a-long party Friday night, Dec. 30, at Formica Brothers Café, Kensington Square, 200 Tilton Road in Northfield. The show will be from 7-10pm and tickets are just $6 at the door. Of course, a selection of wonderful Formica Brothers delicacies will be available and, as always, you may bring your own beer and wine to accompany those marvelous tastes and treats.

The Billy Walton band of bassist William Paris, guitarist Billy Walton (both pictured above) and drummer Marcus Croan will have a CD release party at Sandi Pointe on Jan. 14.

A special concert event has been added for the first Friday of 2012 — Jan. 6 — as Hawkins Road Trio will be performing your favorite pop, rock and country tunes. The trio includes “Ernie T” Trionfo on guitar and vocals, Jimmy “Old School” Glenn on drums and vocals, and Brian “The Voice” Conover  on keyboards and vocals.

Then on Saturday, Jan. 14, the action moves to Sandi Pointe Coastal Bistro, 908 Shore Road in Somers Point, for the long-awaited CD release party of The Billy Walton Band’s Crank it Up — which features rock ‘n roll sounds reminiscent of Springsteen, Southside Johnny and, of course, the Rock ‘n Roll of Tony Mart’s.

And don’t forget Tony Mart’s Super Bowl Celebration on Friday, Feb. 3, as two of the greatest local legends, Danny Eyer and Bobby Campanell, perform at Formica Brothers Café from 7-10pm.
Save the date to support Frank Gross (from The Shakes) and his family on Sunday, March 11, at Sandi Pointe when we begin to feel the upcoming excitement of the spring-and-summer concert season with a special “Tony Mart’s All-Star Jam,” which will include The Shakes and several other outstanding outfits. Feel free to e-mail TONYMARTO@AOL.COM or call (609) 653-6069 for more information.

Let the Good Times Roll in the New Year!

The fourth annual Somers Point Jazz Society Benefit Concert, featuring the George Mesterhazy Trio (left) and special-guest pianist Barry Miles, is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 6, at Sandi Pointe Coastal Bistro (908 Shore Rd. in Somers Point).

The trio includes Mesterhazy on piano, guitar and melodica, Tim Lekan on bass and Bob Shomo on drums. Sets will be at 8pm and 9:30pm, preceded by a silent auction at 7pm. Admission is $20. Go here for tickets or more information.

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.

I love when local eateries get together and decide to present a restaurant week for a fixed price menu. I’ve enjoyed the Atlantic City Restaurant Week the past three years and now I can enjoy good food at great prices in my own neighborhood.

The second Somers Point Restaurant Week takes place Nov. 4-13 and features a special fixed price three-course dinner menu for $25.07 and lunch menu for $11.07. The participating restaurants are a nice cross section of local hangouts and fine dining establishments:  800 Bay, Charlie’s, Gregory’s, Point Diner, Sandi Pointe Coastal Bistro, Crab Trap, Doc’s Place, Fitzpatrick’s, Joe’s Mediterranean Grill, Subs & Pizza, Latz’s by the Bay, and Emilio’s. Some are offering dinner only and Fitzpatrick’s lunch only. The price doesn’t include beverage, tax or tip.

As I’ve been perusing the menus, it came as no surprise that Crab Trap topped my list for the diversity of their selections. CT features five appy selections including New England clam chowder and herb crusted goat cheese & roasted red beet salad, and a terrific choice of seven entrée selections. The one I’m leaning toward is Cape May scallops over a butternut squash and cashew risotto finished with an apple cinnamon beurre blanc. Other entrees include pistachio encrusted Mahi Mahi, stuffed Salmon Florentine (spinach, crabmeat) and swordfish Milanaise. Dessert choices include carrot cake, pecan pie and pumpkin cheesecake with cranberry glaze. The later sounds like a seasonal treat.

For the budget-minded, the Point Diner is featuring two dinners for $25.07. The menu is limited but the entrée choices are pretty good — sesame crusted salmon, panko fried pork chop and broccoli & cheese stuffed chicken breast with Alfredo sauce over linguini.

Fitzpatrick’s lunch menu makes the $11.07 price more than a bargain. They have three choices for each course. I’m considering the Reuben style egg roll with Russian dressing, sautéed pastrami spiced scallops or crab cake on a bed of field greens with Craisins & candied walnuts and for dessert a mini hot apple pie with ice cream and caramel sauce.

Other eateries with some terrific menu dinner options include Sandi Pointe (sautéed tenderloin tips & blue cheese as an appy, pan seared “day boat” snapper for entrée and raspberry lemon crème brulee for dessert); 800 Bay (gratin spinach and feta-stuffed mushroom buttons, Tampico flat iron steak in adobo sauce with sweet potato and plaintain mash and apple turnover with French vanilla ice cream) and Gregory’s (spring rolls with Boursin cheese, wild mushroom and baby spinach, veal Wellington with butternut squash risotto and lemon cream cake).

I’m getting hungry. For all the details go here.

Due to the impending inclement weather, Jim Morris and the Big Bamboo Band (above) will not be performing at the William Morrow Municipal Beach Park in Somers Point as expected tonight, Friday, July 8, as part of the Somers Point Beach Concert Series.

But don’t fret, Parrot Heads! Sandi Pointe Coastal Bistro, nearby at 908 Bay Ave. in Somers Point, has graciously offered to host the event indoors. The show starts 7pm, and features the Caribbean Steel drums and Key West Caribbean melodies of this popular, Jimmy Buffet-like ensemble. See them below.