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One of the best events of the year comes to town this weekend as the Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival takes over the Atlantic City Convention Center on Friday and Saturday, April 5 and 6 (see story on Page 4).

While the members of the Friends of the Arts circle gather at the Seagull Inn to plan their next fundraising event, a tropical storm threatens the South Jersey shore. Guests trapped in the dining room fear coastal flooding, heavy rains, fierce winds — plus a storm brewing inside.

WHO ARE THEY: Ring of Combat is a mixed martial arts competition organized by world kickboxing champion Louis Neglia. The events have proven to be quite popular and successful in Atlantic City. Past events have been set up as a Tournament of Champions, with the winners receiving cash prizes. Several top fighters including Matt Serra, Frank Edgar, Josh Koscheck and Kurt Pellegrino began their careers with Ring of Combat.

For anyone who thinks professional wrestling is fake, WWE star Ryback can point to the ankle he broke in three places during a match and vouch for it being all too real.

Get your eyes and ears ready for a big 3D show, as Duality returns to the facade of Boardwalk Hall for the spring.

WHO ARE THEY: World Series of Fighting is a professional mixed martial arts promotion that is based in Las Vegas. It features elite fighters from around the world in fantastic matchups. It is presided over by six-time world kickboxing champion and two-time Hall of Famer Ray Sefo.

The best movie-going experience in South Jersey is about to get better. The IMAX inside The Quarter at the Tropicana Casino and Resort is temporarily closed so it can revolutionize its theater experience with major upgrades.

Between her work as a chef, a teacher and a busy mom, Christina Martin is certainly used to juggling. So the recent graduate of Atlantic Cape Community College’s Academy of Culinary Arts is more than prepared to pitch in at what is arguably one of the biggest restaurant parties of the year.

Enjoy a three-course meal, support good causes and some of the best comedic and dramatic shorts from the 2012 Atlantic City Cinefest with Quick Flix at The Palm on Sunday, March 10.

WHO ARE THEY: Run by president Sampson Lewkowicz, Sampson Boxing is one of the sport’s most prestigious promotional firms. It represents a host of the world’s top fighters and well as up and comers.

The successful 3D light and sound show, Winter Sweet, is finishing up its run at Boardwalk Hall.

WHO ARE THEY: Asylum Fight League is an amateur mixed martial arts league dedicated to nurturing, preparing and showcasing East Coast talent. Several Asylum fighters have gone on to successful professional careers. "The goal has always been that today's Asylum stars are tomorrow's UFC stars," AFL promoter Carl Mascarenhas says. "That's what the Asylum is all about.

Caesars Entertainment’s Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival will return for the fifth year beginning July 25, and they will celebrate by bring back an Atlantic City favorite as its headliner: Robert Irvine.

Resorts Casino Hotel will host the first Mohegan Sun Reality Check, an interactive event that brings reality TV stars to the resort, 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, at the 25 Hours Bar with Kyle Richards of Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.”

For Dan Marakowski, it’s all about respecting a time-honored, Philadelphia tradition — playing the accordion while dressed as the bride of Frankenstein is just a bonus.

WHO ARE THEY: Patrick Majewski is the reigning NABF middleweight champion and holds a professional record of 20-1 with 13 knockouts. Originally from Poland, the 33-year-old Majewski first came to America on a student visa exchange. His most recent fight was a 10-round decision over Latif Mundy in Atlantic City, where he won the WBO Inter-Continental belt.

On Saturday, Feb. 16, Flying Fish Brewing Company, New Jersey’s largest craft brewery, will debut Forever Unloved (F.U.) Sandy, at taphouses throughout South Jersey, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to victims of 2012’s Hurricane Sandy.

Looking for something to do this Valentine’s Day? Well, if you’re busy on the big day, Atlantic City has an entire weekend of options from great headliners to dining to special events. Here are some things that caught my eye.

The Tony Day Quartet will pay homage to the artistry of the great Duke Ellington with a free concert on Sunday, Feb. 17, in celebration of Black History Month.

Couples looking for an economically friendly way to share a romantic date are invited to the South Inlet in Atlantic City for DeLIGHTful Date Days from Thursday, Feb. 14, through Sunday, Feb. 17.

Atlantic City’s Mardi Gras casino — Showboat Casino-Hotel — always kicks off Mardi Gras on Fat Tuesday in a big way, and this year is no different.

Check out the latest trends in boating at the 2013 Progressive Insurance Atlantic City Boat Show, coming to the Atlantic City Convention Center Wednesday, Feb. 6, through Sunday, Feb. 10.

Jimmy Blewett has always had a need for speed.

Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa’s Winter Poker Open tournament got off to a record start last week as the tournament’s $1 million Guaranteed $560 Big Stack No Limit Hold ‘Em tourney drew the largest number of participants in East Coast poker history as 3,871 players entered the opening event generating more than $1.9 million in prize money. The opening tourney shattered the previous record of 3,705 participants in September’s Borgata Poker Open and nearly doubled the $1 million guaranteed prize pool.