Gig Watch

- Mike’s duo returns this summer to a very special room: the Urban Word Café, in Trenton, N.J.

The guitar-and-bass twosome, which went over big with patrons at the arts café and bar last summer, has again landed several bookings for the warm months.

As of this writing, the next known appearance at the Urban Word will be Fridays, Aug. 16th, Sept. 27th and Oct. 25th, from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m.

For updates and directions, call the club at (609) 989-7777, or email mike@mikebarris.com.

The club features entertainment most every night. But it’s much more than that: It’s on the cutting edge of both the redevelopment of downtown Trenton and the revitalization of the state capital, a former manufacturing giant.

Before the Urban Word opened in 1999, its neighborhood was home to companies like American Wire and Steel, which made the cable for the Golden Gate Bridge.

The manufacturers departed, leaving a void. But now the Urban Word is trying to bring a sense of artistic purpose back to that section of Trenton.

So far, it’s succeeding: The club, at 449 South Broad Street, at the intersection of South Broad and Ferry streets, offers a mixed program of jazz, blues, rock, folk, bluegrass, poetry readings and art exhibitions, among other things.

It also has great food.

Its healthy, wholesome lunch and dinner menu includes appetizers, sandwiches, fresh entrees, salads and desserts.

Its bar features locally brewed beer such as Flying Fish and Riverhorse, as well as Martinis and a varied selection of wines.

Reservations are required on weekends.

Co-owner Roland Pott said the club provides "something for people who want something of a big city, want something urban and sophisticated, and want something cool. They might go to New York or Philadelphia on a Saturday night to get it, but they can actually get it right in Trenton."

"The basis under which we are operating is that art is necessary to revitalize cities, and that art is the cornerstone of urban revitalization," Pott told the Princeton Packet. "Artists create community, either through their ability to get people to think about interesting things or their ability to get people to start a dialogue."

-  Mike also is playing vintage solo acoustic jazz and blues this summer at a delightful vegetarian restaurant in swingin’ Belmar, down the Jersey Shore. It’s VeggieWorks. Next known performance date: Saturday, Nov. 16th.

The music sounds great in this intimate little room at 817 Belmar Plaza (732-280-1141).

VeggieWorks has been serving fine international and original vegetarian cuisine to the public since 1994.

It has received critical acclaim from such publications as The New York Times and the Vegetarian Times.

So far, the Boss hasn’t shown up at one of Mike’s gigs. But with the community-minded Springsteen, you never know…