LONG BRANCH, N.J. -- Cheers to you, Dorothy Parker… and your little dogs, too!

That was the mindset of the loyal literary-minded crowd that gathered on a crisp sunny Sunday recently to celebrate the life and loves of the writer, critic, civic rights activist, dog lover and humorist with a notoriously dark demeanor who, out of pure happenstance, was born in the West End section of the city.

PARKER DAY 2007 From top: The signage, dog catcher reads Parker, the dog walk, visitng Dottie's birthplace. See the photo gallery.

Though Parker, whose family summered in West End, was actually born there on a stormy day in August (22) of 1893, the organizers of the second Dorothy Parker Day here felt that this Oct. 14 simply made for a better time and season to gather for a fall day full of festivities in honor to their idol of sardonic wit, wisdom and had a "woofing" good time.

Parker is fondly remembered for having a few loves that accompanied her wherever she went: men, Chesterfield cigarettes, cocktails and dogs, predilections that were considered to be complements to her humorous, jaded writing style.

Parker, who had been wronged by many a man, owned and adored 20 dogs during her lifetime, each of which she was proud to call, in her special way, the best companion anyone could have.

"You are God’s kindliest gift of all - a friend. Your shining loyalty unflecked by doubt. You ask but leave to follow to the end (Couldn’t you wait until I took you out)…" she expressed in her poem Verse for a Certain Dog.

The Dorothy Parker Society of Long Branch felt that that kinship was one of a few things that needed to be celebrated in her honor. So, after Dorothy Parker fans, from officials to literary buffs, gathered at the city’s library Sunday morning to recite some of her most famous works and lunched Algonquin round-table style at restaurants in West End, they brought their dogs to Lake Takanassee for a blessing by St. Michael’s Church Deacon Eugene Somma.

He gave a short sermon on the incomparable value of unconditional love and loyalty animals give us, said a prayer and splashed the 25 pups with holy water. Then the pack, a couple of which were dressed up as literary figures, took a stroll past Parker’s birthplace on Ocean Avenue and around the lake… woofing and panting all the way!

Despite the fact that each dog got a goodie bag filled with treats, a commemorative Dorothy Parker Society bandana and a plastic bag in which to "scoop their poop" or "take care of their business," some, in true Parker spirit, still had a few things to say.

Little Nick Charles (of Thin Man fame) - a 14-year-old cocker spaniel owned by Dorothy Parker Society of Long Branch President Joelle Aponte - donned a dapper bowler hat and a plastic martini glass, yapped up a storm and wasn’t the least bit intimidated by the largest breeds in the mix that he chatted up. Unfazed, tail wagging, martini glass flopping from side to side and bowler flipping in the breeze, the little ol’ guy fearlessly approached every mutt and pure breed in the crowd. He had something to say, and he was going to say it! A dog after Parker’s own heart, Aponte said, fearing that he may be a bit too old for such excitement that he seemed to enjoy so, anyway.

"His comments were ‘biting’," quipped Aponte, joking that, like Parker, while her dog is fearless, energetic and quite gregarious, he has a very gentle soul and would probably never even hurt someone who hurt him.

Toby, the very large yellow Labrador, gave Nick a few subdued barks back, as did a couple of dachshunds and a beagle.

Nick, all asunder and not in the slightest bit weary from all the walk and talk, won the costume contest. Though, his owner had a hard time getting him through the crowd to accept. Parker may have responded to him with this other verse from her Verse for a Certain Dog poem: "Whatever is, is good - your gracious creed. You wear your joy of living like a crown. Love lights your simplest act, your every deed. (Drop it. I tell you - put that kitten down!)."

It was about that time, 3:45 p.m. or so, that Long Branch Historical Association member Beth Woolley (who helped organize the day) told everyone to "take (their) dogs home and join us for a speakeasy at the Mix cocktail lounge on Brighton Avenue."

Parker fans poured into the small lounge known for its specialty martinis. They even had a special martini menu in celebration of Parker’s love of a good happy hour, even though her favorite drink was a "whiskey sour, straight up," according to the research of author Kevin Fitzpatrick, who wrote the book A Journey into Dorothy Parker’s New York and heads the Dorothy Parker Society in Manhattan.

"Dorothy’s Speak Easy Happy Hour Martini Menu" sat on the bar and was filled with specials such as the Dorothy Parker Martini, Dottie’s Toddy, the Vicious Circle Martini and the quote from Parker to go with them: "That’s me… The toast of two continents - Greenland and Australia."

As people toasted Parker, they remembered her fondly and quite vividly, even though she died in 1967, before many of the celebrants were even born.

"Men always make passes at girls who hold glasses," Aponte said, raised martini glass in hand, as a play on Parker’s famous one-liner, "Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses."

By pure virtue of the size of the crowd and people’s ability to recite any of her famous quotes and verses of poems and prose at will, Parker was more popular in this ocean-side city than you’d ever realize. But why spend an entire day in tribute to an admittedly witty author with a sniping sense of humor? Someone who tried to kill herself three times and, besides her birthday, lived in West End only a few summers until she was five, never to return? No one can think of one reason why not, said Fitzpatrick, who is also a Manhattan resident, and proud of it, like Parker.

"Because she was born here and her birthplace, where the Fountain Gardens apartments sit (near Sternberger Avenue on Ocean) was the first national literary landmark in the state," he said. "After researching the exact spot of the home where she was born, through surveys, we dedicated a plaque to the spot in 2005. This is the second year we’ve gotten together and had the Dorothy Parker Day here. We have Dorothy Parker events in New York. We’d like to see this evolve into a large-scale festival. People do take literary vacations. They go to Key West to visit Hemingway’s former home and his favorite spots. They come to New York intentionally during the time that we are having our Dorothy Parker Fest. She is a great literary figure around whom to revolve a festival. She loved books, animals, lunching with friends and cocktails. Her interests run the age gamut. Just about anyone could enjoy activities centered on her life. Just as Asbury Park is known for the Boss (Bruce Springsteen), I’d like to see Long Branch known as Dorothy Parker’s birthplace."

Parker was born to Henry and Eliza Rothschild, who were from the upper west side of Manhattan, but summered in West End. Eliza died right before Parker’s fifth birthday and "all indications are that the father never brought the family back to West End," Fitzpatrick said. "The father gave the house to his brother, Martin, who died on the Titanic when it sank." So, despite rumor that Parker really didn’t care much for her birthplace, she really knew little of it, because she was just a child the last time she was probably around. "She did make light of it in an essay in The New Yorker, Fitzpatrick said.

Rather than concentrating on her love or lack thereof of West End, the event is the real focus, he added, calling it a great way for the interesting, quirky people in the area to band together, have some insightful discussion and exchange "Parkerisms." And they did.

Her subject manner is timeless, many agreed, which is why it is so easy for people to relate to and respect her work.

"Take care of the luxuries and the necessities will take care of themselves," Fitzpatrick recited as his favorite Parker quote while doing just that and enjoying a decadent day.

"She was a man-hating wit," said local poet Gregg G. Brown. "And that’s good for women, no matter what era. She was a strong female personality and a model for all. And she was obsessed with death and dying, and I like that!"

Also raising a glass to Parker’s unconventional inspirational qualities, Woolley called her a supreme wit with a quirky, admirable way of looking at life. "She saw the humor in bad things," Woolley said. "It just lifts you up."

That continues on in death. On the plaque atop where her ashes are buried in Baltimore, MD, outside the NAACP headquarters, it aptly reads "Excuse my dust," a Parker’s choice farewell, though no one is letting her spirit die any time soon, especially in West End.

2007 Parker Day Photo Gallery.