A couple of Saturdays ago, I spent four hours with 75 other volunteers at Gateway National Park helping clean up the beach at Sandy Hook.
There were a lot of rumors that the park was so heavily damaged by Hurricane Sandy, it might never reopen. Since that’s my favorite beach in all of New Jersey, and since I spend a lot of weekends there recharging my batteries from spring through fall, I was very concerned.
The good news is the park will be back. The bad news is there’s still a lot of work to be done, and not just at Gateway. Driving from Long Branch to Highlands, I was astounded at the level of devastation. Entire buildings were swept away; there’s still sand everywhere; every business and building in downtown Sea Bright was critically damaged.
It’s in our nature to have relatively short memories for disasters like this, especially when there are so many things competing for our attention. So please, don’t forget our neighbors at the Jersey Shore. If you can spare a couple dollars or a couple hours of your time, there are lots of people who could use a hand. Check out Waves of Action at www.fortheshore.org for more information.
Grand Dames & Brassy Broads
If you can’t get enough of that glamour stuff, then I prescribe a heaping dose of Grand Dames and Brassy Broads, 9 p.m. Feb. 1 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.
The hottest hostess in town, Notorious OMG, is at the top of the bill, with featured performer Goddess Isis and an array of special guests.
Cover is $10 and your first drink is on the house. Doors open at 9, show at 10.
V Lounge
Looking for a new night spot? Then make a date for 10 p.m. Feb. 2 at Stooges Exposed, 2372 Orthodox St. It’s in lower Northeast Philly, right off I-95, and it has plenty of free parking.
V Lounge is a new space on the second floor of the bar that is dedicated to lesbians, transgender women and all their friends. They’ll have drink specials, hot dancers and shot girls, and a hot new guest DJ every week. V Lounge will be a regular Saturday-night party and cover is only $5, so grab your friends and check it out!
Big Game Event III
If you like your men big, your commercials bigger and your halftime show bigger than Donald Trump’s ego, then don’t miss the Big Game Event III from 5-10:30 p.m. Feb. 3 at Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine St. It’s sponsored by the Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League and benefits ActionAIDS. Doors open at 6 p.m., with a VIP reception at 5.
Enjoy hot food, an open bar, a silent auction and raffle prizes, all while watching “the game that dare not speak its name” on the big screen. You know the one — it rhymes with “soup or troll.” (Don’t get me wrong. I really do love football, the Super Bowl and Beyoncé — though not necessarily in that order.)
Tickets are $40 in advance, $50 at the door, $65 for VIP or just $25 for fulltime college students with valid ID. For more information, visit www.phillyflagfootball.com or www.actionaids.org.
Broken Hearts Ball
Are you sick of Valentine’s Day? Had enough of silly love songs? Then join Brittany Lynn’s Drag Mafia for “You’re Dead to Me: A Broken Hearts Ball,” 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Feb. 8 at ICandy, 254 S. 12th St.
It will be a night full of vampires, zombies and ghoulish drag as they perform love songs full of nothing but anger, angst and agita (that’s right — heartburn!). Join in the costume content and find yourself going home with some really cool prizes.
Stupid Cupid Singles Party
Looking for a different kind of Valentine’s party? Then don’t miss the fun from 5-9 p.m. Feb. 9 at Stir Lounge, 1705 Chancellor St. Couples are welcome, but the focus is on sexy singles.
There will be $5 “Cupid Cocktails” and nibbly bits prepared by the fine folks at Villa Italian Kitchen. Chat up a member of the Philly Vax team for just five minutes and they’ll give you a $3 coupon good for anything at Stir. Well, anything, that is, except for JT, the hot cupid boy.
Valentine’s Party
Heading down the shore for the weekend? Then make a pit stop at the Valentine’s Party, 7 p.m.-3 a.m. Feb. 9 at Club In or Out, 19 N. Egg Harbor Road, Hammonton, N.J.
Chantel Curtis will be your hostess along with special guest dancer “The Captain” and amazing DJ Joey the Hatt from Studio Six. There will be a hot buffet, $2 Jell-O shots, plus $3 Coronas and Modelos. And get this — if you bring in a photo of your ex and stuff it in their shredder, they’ll give you a free Jell-O shot. That’s right, a free shot just for shredding your ex! With no cover and lots of free parking, this party is too good to pass up.
Questions, comments, birthday spankings you want to deliver in person? Careful what you wish for! Contact Jim at [email protected] or follow him on Facebook for links to back articles and totally bitchin’ classic-music videos!