What’s Happening in Ocean City

OCEAN CITY – Both of the City’s Art Centers are offering interesting free shows in February.
The Art on Asbury Gallery, 608 Asbury Ave., will host “Anything Goes,” along with its annual Arc student Exhibition and Sale. Entry is free to both exhibits which will feature an array of work by the Art Center’s talented members and a themed show highlighting Dogs by Arc students.
Arc is a private, non-profit agency that makes a positive difference in the lives of people with intellectual and development disabilities. You will find their work amazing and heartwarming. Ocean City Fine Arts League (Art on Asbury) artists have been teaching Arc students for over nine years once a week for three hours.
Artists Susan Rau, Jennifer Bird and Thelma Snyder spearhead the program and instruct students on how to paint and draw in a variety of mediums including acrylics, pastels and pencils. As a result of the students’ love of art, they have become quite talented and have displayed and sold their art at various fund raisers and events. This teaching program was initiated by the late Jim Penland, an Ocean City legend and prominent artist and business man.
A Meet the Artist reception is set for Feb. 8 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and is open to the public. You will be able to meet both the Art on Asbury and Arc students. Light refreshments will be served. For information call (609) 814-0308.
The Ocean City Arts Center, 17th and Simpson Ave., will present the work of talented photographer, Macy Zhelyazkova, in February. The artist will exhibit her magical images of Bulgaria. A Meet the Artist Reception is scheduled for Feb. 8 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The public is invited. (Times have been scheduled so that you can visit both the Art on Asbury and Ocean City Arts Centers receptions)
Zhelyazkova decided to become a photographer when she was in high school. She attended the Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, California, returning to Philadelphia to complete a degree in Multimedia and Web Design. She visited Bulgaria in 2009 with her husband, Niklay, a native of the country and fell in love with its culture.
Zhelyazkova’s photos of Bulgaria take her audience back in time to visit with stone walls and cobblestone streets. Bulgaria is located in southeastern Europe and borders the Black Sea to the East. Turkey and Greece border the country to the South and Macedonia and Serbia are to the East of Bulgaria. (And that’s your geography lesson for today).
The photos will be for sale and range in price from $150 to $375. For information, call (609) 399-7628 or visit www.oceancityartscenter.org.
The Ocean City Free Public Library continues its free film series 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the Library Lecture Hall. Films include Feb. 11, Roxanne; Feb. 25, The Color of Money. The Library has a continuous program of free events. Call (609) 399-2434 or access www.oceancitylibrary.org.
(Feb. 6) Ocean City will host a City- Wide Blood Drive on Feb. 6 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ocean City Civic Center, 6th and Boardwalk. All are invited to donate. You must be 17 years of age, in general good health, weigh at least 110 pounds, and have not donated for 65 days. O blood type donors are especially needed.
Appointments are preferred but not required. Call City offices (609) 525-9365 or sign up at City Hall Reception area, 2nd floor, Mon-Fri. from 8:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sign-ups are also taken at www.redcrossblood.org , enter code 0221272. For more info and eligibility requirements call 1-800 RED CROSS or visit www.redcrossblood.org.
(Feb. 8) The 12th Annual CHARLES KNOX Memorial Scholarship benefit will be held from 6 to 11 p.m. at the Flanders Hotel, 11th and Boardwalk. The event will star comedians Joe Matarese and Chris Rich.
Charles Knox was a high school student who passed away at the age of 16 in 1998. His dad, a Philadelphia police officer, was killed in the line of duty in 1992. Charles was 9 at the time. He grew up to be a fine student and compassionate individual who helped others. He exemplified good will. The scholarship is made in his memory and awarded to students in financial need and a desire to pursue higher education.
Ways you can help: Donate a gift certificate or items for Silent Auction, attend benefit or donate money. Tickets are $100 and include dinner, dancing and show. For reservations, information, or to donate, call Arlene’s on Asbury (609) 399-3639.
(Feb. 9) The Annual Children’s Tea will be held at the Ocean City Historical Museum, from 2 to 4 p.m. at 17th and Simpson Ave. This year’s theme is “Life in the Sand.” There will be music by Leslie Clark. Members can buy tickets for $4 per person. Non-members $6. Best to order in advance, call (609) 399-1801 or stop at Museum.
(Feb 16) I Love New York! Is the theme for the Valentine’s Program by Michael Hartman’s Ocean City Theatre Company. It will be a cabaret of Broadway love songs. Celebrate love with some of the most enchanting, unforgettable melodies ever to grace the stage. Professional performers will provide an entertaining, intimate evening of favorites from the “Great White Way,” Feb. 16, with 8 p.m. show preceded by a 7 p.m. dessert reception at the Hughes Performing Arts Center, 6th and Atlantic Ave., OCHS. Tickets purchased before 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 14 are $18, after that $20, Call (609) 525-9300.