Today was Jake the Alligator Man’s Birthday Jam.  Holy gators, Batman!  Event coordinators Gayle Borchard and Wendy Murry put together a day that had something for everyone.  I had the pleasure of being on the cake serving team.  The Cottage Bakery created a cake to beat all cakes!  8 full sheet cakes in size, 180 pounds and serving 400, with Jake himself the full length of the chocolate and vanilla wonder.  It arrived at the City of Long Beach pocket park in front of Marsh’s Free Museum by police escort, carried by four strong men like a woman on a palkhi. Ice cream was donated by Scoopers and the Big Dipper and both were served to the enjoyment of all after a rousting round of the Happy Birthday Song in Jake’s honor.

Don Nisb

Nisbett, of Ilwaco’s Crew House Gallery, did an outstanding job on the poster art.  I think Gayle and team are putting the original artwork up on eBay.  The t-shirts and sweatshirts bore the artwork and looked great (zap a note to jake@funbeach.com if you want to buy one), but the art posters are the really impressive part.  Don signed a limited edition of 400 and they’re only $25!

Things heated up in the evening with Wendy Murry’s adult program.  There was a body art show, quite the burlesque show (at least one City Council member was seen with blushed cheeks…), music by the Portland’s own psychedelic garage punk band “Snow Bud” and then there was Dingo… I’m not sure how to describe that delightful freak of nature.

Jake has been a favorite of visitors to Long Beach for as long as I can remember.  I see Jake bumper stickers all over Portland and even saw one in Los Angeles last month.  It’s great to see him getting his due.  Thanks, Gayle & Wendy, for putting together such a great event!  If you didn’t catch Jake’s interview with the Chinook Observer, or see the photos of him visiting friends around the Peninsula, it’s worth a click.

Photos of Jake’s birthday Jam are on funbeach.com/events/jake.