Boy Howdy Music Fans. Welcome to the Coconut again for 2010! Old Man Winter has lately been puffing his chest out and leaving much of the Mid-Atlantic snow-bound and without power. None of this, of course, has been all that great for our resort as a whole, however, Spring is just around the corner. The OCHMRA is only weeks away and St. Patrick’s Day only a month!
    Mardi Gras certainly began a bit early down in The Big Easy! Congrats to The New Orleans Saints on the Big Game! The beloved musical Crescent City could not be more deserving, having shouldered their share of adversity in the last few years. According to  Christian dogma and ritual, Fat Tuesday (the real one) is this Tuesday 2/16.
    Love is in the air. Grab your sweetheart (you decide where) and hit the town for St. Valentine’s Day this weekend. It’s been my experience it’s not always neccessary to do this on the exact date of 2/14. Look for romantic dinners for 2 in the following pages and check out the ‘sweetheart’ deals in OC.  If movies are your thing for Valentine’s Day, check out ’The Blind Side;’ it’s worth a look. The film tells the Cinderella story of All American left tackle, Michael Oher. Plus Sandra Bullock is kinda cute too! Oh yeah, she can act pretty well also! The new release ‘Edge of Darkness’ with Mel Gibson is a plot twisting thrill ride of massive proportions. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, guess what - you don’t!
    Joe Mama and Dave Sherman did a little pinch hitting for Teenage Rust and their annual Pre-Game Party for Super Bowl. Several members of the Rust Band were house bound by the snow and without electricity. BJ’s Wednesday deck parties are still going strong. Happy Hour starts at 4, bands starts at 4:30-5:00. See you there.
    Our thoughts here at The Coconut Times are with Jimmy Sporer, an original singer with Teenage Rust, who succumbed to liver failure last week. Jim sang with the band until he left town in 1996.
    A chance to remember another of our Ocean City Family, long-time Coins bartender, Kathy Gorerra, will be held Feb. 20th. Our friend Kathy lost her battle with cancer a few weeks ago. A dedication of a boardwalk bench to her memory will be Sat. 2/20 at 11am on 18th St. A gathering at Coins Pub on 28th St. will follow. We miss you Kathy!
    Gary Beach and much of his Marlin Moon crew are back on Rt. 50, this time at Micky Fins! Much curiosity has beeen sparked by this move to their new digs. Opening officially in March to eat, drink, fish yet again! Details as they develop.
    Pickles Pub on 8th St. has started a weekly open-mic nite with Chris Button and Skip Dixxon. Add a dash of Monique, a spritz of Amber, a jigger of Dippy and a shot of Aaron and that sounds like fun to me! Pompous Pie will soon be joining the roster at Pickles on Sat. 2/27 at 10pm with our signature 4 piece band. Pompous will also be rockin the BJ’s Wed. Deck Party on 3/10 at 5pm. We can’t wait to be back!
    All you “Coco-Nuts” take it easy out there on the white stuff and remember, Spring will be upon us in two shakes. We’ll all come out of hibernation with a vengeance. See you all arond the campfire!
    Tah!! – Marco