There wasn’t a screaming cat-fight or a crush of paparazzi outside but as promised, DJ Samantha Ronson spun a set onstage at the Surf Club during the decades-old beachfront hot spot’s opening party. Clad in her signature fedora,  Lindsay Lohan’s ex looked super intense as she hovered over her Mac and DJ equipment.

I really couldn’t tell you what she played but it was vast array of music from lots of genres – no unntz-unntz techno at all! Sam’s beats even got my wallflower boyfriend dancing out on the floor (it also could have been the booze).  The night was a bit chilly so the entrance to the beach from the outer bars was shuttered but you could still see that beautiful Atlantic – easily one of my favorite things about the Surf Club.

Samantha Ronson’s Mac has gone political.

The Surf Club rolled out VIP cards for partiers with Monmouth and Ocean county IDs. Scrawled atop the cards in big red type is LOCAL’S ONLY. Ouch. Grammar’s not their forte but I’ll let it slide, since cheap beer is. Problem is, last summer’s Bring Your Own Mug promotion is out and alleged 24 ounce Coors Light drafts for $2 are in, but check this out –

Maybe not.

Does that cup look like it could hold the equivalent of two cans? I think not. Maybe if we all request the return of Mug Night we can bring back a local favorite. After all one should “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Think Margaret Mead ever dreamed her famous line would be applied to a bunch of cash-strapped booze-hounds?

You know we’re inching closer to summer when Joey Harrison’s Surf Club throws open the doors for the first time.  Kicking things off with a tabloid regular, Samantha Ronson - celebrity DJ and one-time Lindsay Lohan lover, is one hell of a way to start the season.

Everyone will be hoping for a LiLo sighting, but  Perez Hilton reports that she’s is trying her hand at surfing in Hawaii, so it looks like there won’t be any bitter ex-lovers quarrels in the DJ booth, but we’ll keep a look out just in case.

The opening party doubles as the Surf Club’s Cinco de Mayo fiesta and there’s festive deals to be had if you get there early. From 8-11 p.m., Coronas and Corona Lights are $3 and there’s free pizza and tacos to munch.

No word yet on whether or not the Surf Club’s Friday night mug promotion is back. Last year, Surf Club bartenders would fill any vessel (the liveforjerseyshore recommended Wawa large soda cup) up to 32 ounces with Coors Light for $2. This year’s Friday promotion looks like 24 ounce Coors Light drafts for $2 – still not a bad deal, but, c’mon Joey, we could use that extra 10 oz. of beer. There’s a recession on after all.

VIP cards for locals will reappear for 2009 with a giveaway on May 1. For Summer ‘08, Monmouth and Ocean residents skipped a $5 or $10 cover just by showing ID. Text PlanetSurf to 46786 for $5 cover before 11 on Friday.