Our community is getting a special visit from a Jersey Shore legend this weekend. Steven Van Zandt, the Middletown native better known as Little Steven from the E Street Band, is bringing his latest venture to Atlantic City for a free celebration that promises to be as unique as his career.
Van Zandt will host an event at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 9, at the Lobby Bar in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City to celebrate the launch of his new Malvado Maple Mezcal in New Jersey. The multi-talented musician, actor, educator, and deejay is expected to get behind the bar himself, just as he did at a similar event at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tampa on May 1.
The timing works perfectly with Van Zandt's touring schedule. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour has an unexpected break after their Philadelphia show, originally scheduled for Friday, May 8, was postponed to May 30 to accommodate the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks NBA playoff series. The tour resumes Monday, May 11, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Van Zandt's Wicked Cool Spirits has partnered with St. Johnsbury Distillery of Vermont to create Malvado Maple Mezcal, described as a "unique fusion of traditional Mexican mezcal and pure Vermont maple syrup that is smooth, smoky and irresistibly sweet." It's an unexpected combination that reflects Van Zandt's own eclectic career—from his decades with Springsteen to his acting role on "The Sopranos" to his educational work with the Teach Rock learning curriculum.
The free event offers fans a rare opportunity to meet the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer in an intimate setting. Van Zandt has remained deeply connected to his New Jersey roots throughout his career, regularly giving back to local communities through his educational initiatives and appearances at schools across the state.
The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City is located at 1000 Boardwalk, Atlantic City. For those planning to attend Saturday's celebration, it's a chance to toast with a hometown hero who's never forgotten where he came from—even as he's conquered stages around the world.
