Banner Lady | 01.29.09

by Richard Virgilio

There are so many reasons to look up and smile in Asbury Park – from the compelling architecture to the sweeping “cloud art” designed by Mother Nature hanging above the ocean every day.  

I also love walking around and seeing the fantastic watercolor images by Asbury Park resident Ray Sternesky on the lamppost banners around town.    

Last week, I had the pleasure of spending time with Asbury Park resident Sonja O’Brien and speaking with her about the lamppost banner program she originally spearheaded in 2006 for our city, which is about to enter it’s second phase.

Sonja is so inspiring.  Seriously inspiring.  She can do anything with the precious spare time she has in between commuting to and from the city for work, renovating a house and loving two adorable cats yet she chooses to dedicate some of her extra time to giving back to Asbury Park.

“Everyone has different skills they can and do bring to the table to help the city,” said Sonja.  “The talent pool found in our residents is so great it encouraged me.  Professionally, I coordinated the production of the banners for the Goodwill Games, so this banner program is an extension of what I know – it was a natural fit to do my part for a city I love so much.”

Sunday, the artwork for the second series of banners – themed “Imagine Asbury Park” – was unveiled at a beautiful, fancy-pants Watermark Lounge party.  (SEE ARTICLE PAGE XX)

“I am so excited about Phase Two of the banner program because it showcases a myriad of artists representing all facets of our community,” said Sonja.  “And because it is raising funds for vital non-profit organizations.”

Sonja developed the business plan for the program and secured 13 sponsors.  For a fee of $600 this is a no-brainer, cost effective, high-impact branding opportunity, with an extra-long shelf-life for local businesses.

The two installments of the initiative have raised $15,300 – with one-hundred percent of the proceeds of the first going to the Asbury Park Historical Society and the second split evenly between the Historical Society and ArtsCAP.  

“Her insights and energy are ingenious and invaluable,” said Johna Karpinski, president of the Historical Society.  “I can’t say enough about how wonderful she is.”

Sonja’s work has impacted many.

“Her work has been huge for ArtsCAP,” said Brett Colby, board president, ArtsCAP.  “Sonja has provided us with the single-largest donation we have received to-date.”

She will also coordinate the production of the banners and installation with Asbury Park’s Director of Commerce, Tom Gilmour.

“I could not have done any of this without the support of Tom,” said Sonja.

After looking up at our city, let’s follow Sonja’s lead and look around for new ways to contribute positive energy in 2009.  

Briefly:  A decadent, affordable departure from the standard box-of-chocolate fare for Valentine’s Day this year is the chocolate Bouchon (“cork” in French) mix and mold set exclusively from Williams-Sonoma.  

Previously, only available on the east coast at the Time Warner Center’s Bouchon Bakery in NYC, you can now make these amazing, small, rich, chocolate brownie-like treats at home.  Great winter comfort dessert.  Your love will “heart” them.   

Richard@TheBPlot.com

(GAY) BINGO!

Oprah and Gail. Donnie and Marie. Sonny and Cher. Jill and Aaron.

Yes, Jill and Aaron – the new talent team in town is Jill Potter and Aaron Coleman. The two Asbury Park residents who have brought you some of the most creative and popular events our city has seen in the past few years are joining forces.

Jill Potter, for the past seven years has served as the Chairperson of the Asbury Park Marketing Fund and coordinator of seven Road Trips. Aaron Coleman, most recently was the events manager at Mattison Park, producing the Halloween Parade in town and The Center’s Disco Ball.

With the founding of Jill’s Aww Mama Productions and Aaron’s Pyramid Productions, both are committed to developing exciting entertainment events for you, as original as Asbury Park, all year long.

“We met during the preparations for Road Trip 7 and realized we have the same drive to make the Asbury Park area a year-round gay entertainment destination,” said Jill. “Asbury Park has to have a variety of entertainment options for the community at-large all year long – not just squeezed in to a couple of weekends during the summer.”

I hear they are working on a number of events from outdoor parties to theatre and more.

Another platform of their business is producing original and memorable private parties and corporate events, such as a “Lordy Lordy He’s Forty” themed birthday extravaganza for forty great friends. (Actually, that’s my idea for my birthday in a few years. Jill and Aaron will create something better for you.)

“Our companies are more than basic event planning,” said Aaron. “Nothing we do, either a private party or a large public event, will be run of the mill. Everything will be a specialty production – with a memorable out-of-the-box uniqueness.”

Jill and Aaron have been planning their first event – Gay Bingo on Saturday, Feb. 7 at the VFW Hall – since September and it’s certainly not standard fare.

“Christy Girlington will be the host for the Mardi Gras-themed evening of Gay Bingo and she is bringing her friends, the Bingo Verifying Divas Aaliyah Kiara Du’mure and Lady Victoria,” said Aaron. “While this is billed as a gay event, everyone is always welcome to come and have fun.”

Each guest will receive Mardi Gras accessories, 10 bingo cards and a dabber. Cocktails will be available from the Harrison-hosted bar.

For years, I went to Gay Bingo in New Hope, Pennsylvania at the Firehouse and it was a guaranteed great time. You can only imagine what happens when “O 69” is called out.

And the VFW Post 1333 is organically the perfect place for Jill and Aaron’s premier production – it has a vintage number drawing machine and illuminated call board. The room even has the right “Bingo smell,” whatever that is.

Gay Bingo is 10 great games with 10 special prizes – including a very valuable one-year subscription to this newspaper, ReVision theatre tickets and a grand jackpot of $250, a portion of the proceeds benefiting The Center in Asbury Park.

“We are ‘dragging out’ bingo in Asbury Park,” said Jill.

AwwMama.com has advanced discounted tickets and more info. Doors open at 7.45 pm.

Briefly: Another fab event for a winter evening, Gay Bowling returns Saturday (Jan. 24) at Asbury Lanes, 7 pm. Ten dollars includes shoes, bowling, pizza, prizes from local businesses, fun, friends and more. It’s seriously the best entertainment bargain in town. Hosted by the Barron of Bowling Michael Delia.

Richard@TheBPlot.com

GAY CARD NOT REQUIRED

I was sorry to see the gay bar Cruisin’ close at the end of last year. It was a fun place filled with great people and wonderful, dedicated owners.

The buzz recently – both online at the Yahoo! Group and in person – from many in the gay community is that the GLBTI population is not supporting gay bars and businesses in town enough and there is a fear more gay-owned establishments will cease operation.

I want to spend my money with friends at clean establishments that have a fun atmosphere, serve great food and drinks for the price and whose bathrooms are not some kind of awful science experiment – regardless of who owns it.

I will, however, go out of my way not to patronize a business whose owner or business philosophy is built on homophobia.

In reality, most every bar in Asbury Park is a gay bar when a gay person is in it. And tons of straight men and women “tear it up” at the gay bars in town, too. Everyone is welcome to have fun and be themselves wherever they are – never is a “gay card” required.

That’s the great part of this issue. We GLBTI here define ourselves by our talents or lack thereof, not by our sexuality. Yet again, Asbury Park is a model community.

We are not a novelty here – no “token gays” in any crowd.
The GLBTI community does not need separate but equal playpens. It’s reverse discrimination to go out of our way to support a business solely because the owner is gay.

“Maybe the community would support the gay bars and restaurants more if they weren’t so overpriced,” said Garrett Giberson. “While some are reasonable, others are just ridiculous.”

Twelve dollars for a champagne cocktail that’s way more juice than bubbly or $11 for a simple produce-based appetizer that can be eaten in four bites? Almost three dollars per bite – the return on investment is just not there.

“In these times of economic hardship, adjustment is needed so that people will feel comfortable to come out to support our local businesses,” Garrett continued.

Quality and price trump gayness for many here. Possibly, it’s time for some GLBTI-owned businesses to reexamine their business plans – including renegotiating leases with landlords – and stop blaming the GLBTI community.

We should haul butts with our wallets to every and any area business that reliably shells out money to support Gay Bowling, Road Trip, Pride weekend and all the other fab events in town that skew GLBTI.

“Maybe if some of the establishments who cater to our community worked together rather than against each other these places could be even more successful,” said Garrett. “And they know who they are.”

Briefly: Happy 200th birthday to Edgar Allan Poe this week (Jan. 19). The wonderful Frank D’Allessandro and The Stephen Crane House are feting Poe Saturday (Jan. 17), at 5 pm, with a program of readings, including “The Raven” (one of my favorites), “The Tell Tale Heart” and “Annabel Lee” – and cake.

At 7 pm, there will be a screening of the 1962 film “Tales of Terror” starring Vincent Price. “The movie takes a rather droll, expansive view of Mr. Poe’s stories,” said Frank.

Donations benefit the Asbury Park Little League. Call: 732.775.5682

Richard@TheBPlot.com.

NEW JERSEY’S QUEEN

Ashley Fairfield, Miss New Jersey

The Superbowl is coming up soon. No, not the Superbowl with the beefy guys (well, that one is coming up too), I’m talking about what some consider to be the “gay” Superbowl, the Miss America Pageant 2009 – Saturday, Jan. 24 (on TLC).

I spoke with Miss New Jersey, Ashley Fairfield, 22, of Egg Harbor last week about her quest to become the first Miss America from New Jersey in 25 years.

TBP: What do you do when you are not busy being Miss New Jersey?

Ashley: I am a full-time senior at Richard Stockton College, so when I am not doing five days of appearances, I am usually studying…or sleeping.

TBP: What was it like helping Ellen DeGeneres try to fulfill her long-standing goal of getting George Clooney on her show?

Ashley: Ellen is amazing. She dances through the commercials with the audience. As we were leaving, she read my sash, smiled and said, “Jerseeeeyyyy.” She is so much fun.

TBP: Ellen is the best. What is something we would have never known about Ashley Fairfield, Miss New Jersey?

Ashley: I love football and am a raging Eagles fan. I also love to golf but I am no female version of Tiger Woods. I’m not the “girly girl” stereotype associated with beauty queens.

TBP: Jazz dance is your talent and Habitat for Humanity is your platform issue. Coastal Habitat for Humanity has helped many families here, just finishing a beautiful home in Wall.

Ashley: There is nothing like seeing a child’s face when they walk into their own house, their own bedroom for the first time. I would love to come to Asbury Park and help build a house.

TBP: Everyone’s heard about Vaseline on the teeth, what are some other beauty queen beauty tips from a non-girly girl?

Ashley: One day dirty hair always styles thirty times better. Also, a lot of the girls use “butt glue” – a spray adhesive so bathing suits don’t move out of place during the competition.

TBP: What’s it like being a beauty queen in New Jersey?

Ashley: The past five years competing in pageants has been amazing. Being Miss New Jersey is a dream come true and I am enjoying every second of this experience. I am so thankful. From your state queen, I want to wish everyone a happy, healthy and joyous New Year.

Briefly: Whitney Houston is back, looking amazing and shopping like a champ. Last Monday I walked into the Mall at Short Hills right behind Whitney. As she held the door for me, I told her she “looked fabulous” and she leaned over towards me and whispered “thank you” back.

Wearing Dolce & Gabbana jeans that her stunning body pulled off perfectly, a bolero Chinchilla coat, amazing black boots, a four-thousand dollar Dior handbag and no make-up or hair extensions (her hair was under a beret-type hat), she entered Neiman-Marcus with a imperial personal presence only matched, for me, by Howard Stern or Aerosmith’s Stephen Tyler.

It was like Brad Pitt secretly walking into a gay bar – reflexively every in-the-know security guard and employee greeted Whitney with weakly controlled excitement. No one recognized her. It was her eyes, her stunning eyes that really gave her secret shopping trip away to me.

As a fan of Whitney’s since “How will I Know” and a passionate lover of her Christmas abum (one of the best ever) it was a great Christmas gift to see her doing well and looking happy and healthy.

Richard@TheBPlot.com