By   Thu, Mar 27, 2008

When superstar chef Eric Ripert of New York’s fabled Le Bernardin restaurant came to Atlantic City during the 1980s, he called the dining here—ahem—just a trifle sub-par.

Of Atlantic City restaurants, the good chef observed, “I’m sure … they have a good reason to be there. Myself, I haven’t found a good reason.” He went on to say he expected an experience “more like Monaco,” home of Monte Carlo, the Grand Prix and the royal Grimaldis. (Now who told him that?)

Twenty years later, no one would claim that Atlantic City has morphed into a facsimile of the French Riviera. But with new casino resorts, increased extracurricular fun and some downright sensational dining, it’s on a fast track to five-star status, even among epicureans.

Monsieur Ripert, it’s 2008! Please come back to Atlantic City and mangez, s’il vous plait.

Hidden Treasure

A good place to start is Peregrines’ at the Atlantic City Hilton—if you can get in. This elegant boite, named for the peregrine falcons that light on the penthouse ledge, has just 52 seats, and reservations can be hard to come by, particularly on a Saturday night. It’s worth the wait. Chef Robert LaBoy, who has presided for three years over this busy kitchen, describes his menu as “classical, continental, yet contemporary.”

The centerpiece is LaBoy’s Maine lobster, shrimp and scallop entrée, “a little spicy, a little Spanish,” served up with a traditional Mexican molé sauce, julienned chili peppers and (surprise!) a hint of shaved chocolate. The palm-sized scallops are mouth-wateringly succulent.

“That dish has really become a favorite with our guests,” says LaBoy, with the Hilton since 1991. “The sweetness of the butter-poached lobster and scallops and the tanginess of the red molé come together very nicely; the king crab paella is a perfect accompaniment.”

The splendid appetizers include a lump crabmeat Margarita served ice-cold in a cocktail glass with a tiny scoop of key-lime tequila sorbet, and Australian lamb, pan-seared in seven proprietary spices and grapeseed oil. The lamb recipe—understated, with a hint of black figs, port wine and almonds—is one that diners always want to take home. Does LaBoy ever divulge? “Never,” he says.

Peregrines’ dining room is classic European with dark woods, crystal chandeliers and platinum-tipped china, perfect for special occasions. LaBoy calls it “the best little secret in Atlantic City,” and the experts agree: the restaurant has earned Zagat's highest rating every year, as well as five stars from the American Academy of Restaurant & Hospitality Sciences.

Oceanfront Elegance

Just as opulent, with a menu that is pure self-indulgence, is Roberto’s at Trump Plaza. Under Executive Chef Antonio Campaniello, who grew up in the kitchens of Naples, Roberto’s dispels any notion that a casino restaurant cannot provide a peerless dining experience.

The setting is beautiful, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean; the décor is a restful peach and ivory with stone columns. Soft music—everything from Andrea Boccelli to Italian polkas—provides the appropriate soundtrack.

But of course, it’s the food—an artful fusion of Northern and Southern Italian cuisines—that deserves the applause. “I like to cook in a subtle manner, with freshness, simplicity, plainness,” says Campaniello.

He believes every ingredient on the plate is vital, and no single taste should overpower another. A good example is a bitingly tasty salad of mixed greens, crusted goat cheese, pears poached in port wine, golden beets and sugared almonds; the flavorful interplay of tart dressing, gently sweet pears and tangy cheese is almost symphonic.

Among the delicious appetizers is fried Gorgonzola polenta with sautéed chiodini, porcini and shitake mushrooms in a white wine sauce; an intriguing pasta dish is the pumpkin gnocchi with brown butter, sage, sausage and mushrooms. The chef recommends his chicken saltimbocca, a prosciutto-stuffed, Panko-and-sage-crusted chicken breast in a spinach, garlic and mushroom sauce. Another venerable entrée is the pan-seared halibut in tomato dust and saffron-truffle cream. And upcoming to the menu is the chef’s fettucine al ragu di coniglio, a very light, tender pasta with rabbit.

For dessert, consider the individual soufflés. The vanilla fragole is meltingly good with strawberries, a hot rum-based sauce and freshly whipped cream.

The attentive service at Roberto’s is second to none. A crew of black-clad waiters hovers solicitously among the tables, anticipating your requests and usually fulfilling them before you ask. This team makes the dining experience especially delightful.

Simplicity amid Excess

The Foundation Room, upstairs at the House of Blues at Showboat, is justly renowned for its décor, an incredible excess of bronzed Buddhas, Oriental rugs, overstuffed ottomans, piles of tasseled pillows and private “prayer rooms,” complete with elephant-headed gods.

Ethnic kitsch aside, the Foundation Room is building a solid reputation around the menu developed by Chef Edward Ledwon, who came here in September.

Ledwon’s credo: “Simple food done great. You see this room, and you think, ‘Wow, this place is really whacked out.’ But the food is contemporary and really simple.”

At a recent dinner to debut Ledwon’s spring menu, the chef served up some favorites: the “signature” filet mignon beef tartar with dried cherries and enoki mushrooms; a sensational saffron sea bass Bouillabaisse with mussels, shrimp and clams; and a grilled Karobuto pork chop in Grand Marnier sauce with a comfort-food essential, sweet potato mash.

A roasted beet salad with baby greens and goat cheese was perfectly dressed in thyme vinaigrette; seared diver scallops with charred tomatoes were big, juicy and sweet; the jumbo lump crab cake with Red Oak salad and Calabrese pepper aioli was delicate yet hearty.

This chef aspires to serve every palate, “from the guy who likes steak and potatoes to the guy who likes foie gras and sweetbreads.” He calls himself “an absolute food purist” who bans bases and synthetics of all kinds from his kitchen. “Nothing is bought,” Ledwon says. “Everything I do is natural.”

Same goes for the desserts, courtesy of pastry chef Deb Pellegrino. On the spring menu is a melt-in-your-mouth Bananas Foster cheesecake and crunchy-good apple cake with fresh berries and cinnamon wrapped in phyllo dough and served with ice cream.

The wine list at the Foundation Room is extensive; the educated servers are happy to help you make the perfect selection.

Steak Central

The Palm restaurant, located in the Quarter at Tropicana, is the place for “big cuts of beef, large sweet Nova Scotia lobsters, and Italian recipes that are three generations strong,” says General Manager Paul Sandler.

The original Palm was a hangout for writers and artists in Depression-era Manhattan. It begat more than 20 locations coast to coast, including The Palm in Atlantic City, which opened in 2005. No matter which locale you visit, you’ll find the same classic “white-tablecloth” steakhouse with tin ceilings, a long cherry-wood bar, and walls filled with caricatures of the stars who’ve stopped by to dine.

What they’re eating: hefty steaks in brandy peppercorn sauce, Tuscan grilled jumbo prawns over a white bean ragout, pan-seared Chilean sea bass filet in Pernod butter, Atlantic salmon and swordfish, and good Italian specialties like veal Martini (with shallots, mushrooms, fresh and sun-dried tomatoes, wine and basil), Tuscan broiled split chicken with lemon, garlic and rosemary, and linguine with clams.

All the seafood is “48 hours from boat to table,” says Sandler. “I’m a diehard Baltimore boy, and we beat the Baltimore crab houses hands down.”

A popular salad is the East Coast Gigi (named for onetime staffer Gigi Delmaestro): it includes shrimp, string beans, tomato and onion tossed in vinaigrette. For the West Coast version, add some iceberg lettuce, roasted pepper, egg and avocado. Or try the Monday Night salad, which, as Sandler says, “includes everything not used up on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.”

Don’t walk away without sampling the incredible Molten Chocolate Cake, a pitch-dark Belgian chocolate confection filled with hot melted chocolate and served with vanilla ice cream.

If you still think Atlantic City dining is nothing but 24-hour delis and all-you-can-eat buffets, read on for a list of good eats all over town.

Viva Italia

CAPRICCO at Resorts. A Zagat favorite, this Resorts mainstay emphasizes fresh seafood (grilled Mediterranean sea bass with Swiss chard, sun-dried tomato pesto and olive tapenade), and classic Italian (their signature is the bone-in, slow-braised ossobucco served with saffron risotto). Chef Steve Klawitter calls his style “traditional Italian with a twist.” For dessert, he recommends the Grandmother Cake, a lemon tart with pignoli nuts, powdered sugar, candied lime zest and fresh berries.

SPECCHIO at the Borgata. Modern Italian in a contemporary setting on two levels. The innovative menu includes potato gnocchi with prosciutto, parmigiana, snap peas and leeks; mezzaluna (half-moon) ravioli stuffed with lobster and crab in a tarragon cream sauce; and Colorado lamb chops Scottaditto with Tuscan kale and homemade fruit mustard. Desserts are a delight. Try the chocolate Dieci, a 10-layer chocolate cake with crème-fraiche Chantilly, summer berries and Frangelico.

Claim Your Steak

THE OAKS at Hilton. A gentleman’s retreat with lots of wood and brass, and of course that famous oak tree “growing” right in the center of the dining room, The Oaks offers New York-style steaks and seafood with a memorable 16-ounce cowboy-cut ribeye steak. Plenty of wines and single-malt Scotches to choose from.

MAX’S at Trump Plaza. This elegant steakhouse is renowned for prime Angus beef served up with burgundy demi-glace, foie gras butter and other enticing accompaniments. The seafood by chef de cuisine Gordon Greenlee is just as good—try the herb-crusted Atlantic flounder with lobster cream, or seared salmon and scallops with saffron basmati rice. You’ll be tempted to fill up on the bread, which could be the best in the city. If you can resist, you just may make it to dessert!

GALLAGHER’S at Resorts. Originator of the New York strip steak, Gallagher’s offers succulent dry-aged beef and seafood prepared on an open-flame mesquite grill; the jumbo lump crab cakes are to die for. The original Gallagher’s was reportedly New York’s first speakeasy.

RUTH’S CHRIS at the Walk. Superior steaks top the bill at Ruth’s Chris, but the carnivore’s best friend also features a marvelously fresh ahi tuna, seared and topped with colossal lump crabmeat, then served with red pepper pesto, and even vegetarian entrees like grilled portobello mushrooms on fluffy garlic mashed potatoes with asparagus, broccoli, tomatoes and lemon butter.

International

CUBA LIBRE at Tropicana. Among the most popular destinations at the Quarter, Cuba Libre replicates a ’40s Havana street scene, then conjures up cuisine to match. Chef Guillermo Pernot offers a contemporary Cuban menu full of flavor and flair. Sample the Mariquitas Latin America (plantain and yucca chips with black-bean hummus, garlic mojo and enchilada salsa), or the lip-smacking pomegranate and mango mojitos.

BUDDAKAN at the Pier at Caesars. Famed restaurateur Steven Starr brings an inventive french-Chinese fusion to this temple-like restaurant. Daringly delicious menu items: glazed Alaskan black cod with chili eggplant and black bean relish, crispy calamari with bitter greens and miso dressing, and wasabi-crusted filet. Specialty cocktails include the Bonsai (Grey Goose, cilantro and citrus) and the Geisha (orange Smirnoff with pomegranate and passion fruit). Exotic and appealing.

RED SQUARE at Tropicana. Stroll past a scowling Lenin into Jeffrey Chodorow’s Russian hideaway with red velvet banquette seating, sub-zero vodka lockers and fur coats for cozy dining. Red Square is a cultural and gastronomic “trip” with more than 130 frozen vodkas and so-called “perestroika-inspired cuisine” including an array of fine caviars, the wittily named Siberian nachos (wonton chips, smoked salmon, wasabi crème fraiche and citron caviar) and tasty fish dishes including salmon mousse and dill-seared salmon on puff pastry.

RI RA IRISH PUB at Tropicana. As close as you can get to an authentic Irish pub this side of Dublin, Ri Ra offers sinfully good specials like maple and mustard salmon and a savory chicken pot pie, as well as fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, Beef ‘N Guinness Stew, and a traditional Irish breakfast—“a proper fry-up of bangers, rashers, eggs, pudding…” Translation free.

Seafood by the Seashore

PHILLIPS SEAFOOD at the Pier at Caesars. With award-winning jumbo crab cakes, extra-large shrimp and fresh lobsters (plus sweeping views of the ocean from whence they came), Phillips can be counted on for great seafood and an inviting atmosphere. Try the awe-inspiring peanut-crusted mahi mahi, roasted Australian barramundi with wilted greens, or King Crab macaroni and cheese.

DOCK’S OYSTER HOUSE on Atlantic Avenue. Owner Frank Dougherty says this AC favorite started in 1897 as a “down-and-dirty oyster house.” Four generations later, the Doughertys still serve up exceptional seafood: super-fresh, and superbly but simply prepared. The raw bar includes a dozen varieties of oysters (try the sampler to taste each one); the lobsters are gigantic—up to eight pounds. “We hunt down the best products,” says Dougherty. “I try to have King crab in season, and we have great steaks and rack of lamb too.” There’s also a wine room on two floors with 3,000 bottles to choose from. Taste the tradition.

SEABLUE at the Borgata. Michael Mina’s amusingly creative sensibilities come through in offerings like lobster corndogs with mustard, Gulf prawn “poor boys,” and English pea soup with grilled prawns and crème fraiche. The entrees include a fabulous two-pound Maine lobster pot pie, phyllo-dusted Dover sole with Dungeness crab brandade, and “chips on fish” potato pompano with onion puree. Oysters are huge, up to four inches in diameter. The room is colorful, comfortable, rich.

RAISING THE BAR

By importing celebrity chefs, Borgata Casino Hotel & Spa has arguably set the standard for fine dining in Atlantic City. The addition of Michael Schulson, who will open Izakaya at the Water Club in June, is another jewel in the crown.

Nicolas Kurban, vice president of food and beverage, says, “There will be nothing like it in the United States—the whole level of dining is unique and amazing, with two Italian restaurants, one fine dining and one trattoria, Michael Mina for seafood and Bobby Flay for steak, Old Homestead, Wolfgang Puck—other than Mexican, we have every cuisine you can dream of.”

Asked how much oversight these busy chefs bring to each location, Kurban describes them as “very hands-on.”

“They all come here once a month or so and spend a lot of time in the kitchen.” When not in the area, they rely on “fine-palated” executive chefs who “understand the culture, and understand what food and beverage is looking for.”

A breakdown of the celeb culture at Borgata:

BOBBY FLAY. Flay adheres to the classic steakhouse tradition with a Southwestern twist and relies heavily on local produce for a top-of-the-line, very masculine experience. Kurban hails his spice-rubbed steaks like Filet Mignon Louisiana with crawfish and Béarnaise, and the luscious Philly-style strip steak with provolone and caramelized onion. Great sides: smashed baked potatoes with crème fraiche, goat cheese and green onions. Enough said.

WOLFGANG PUCK. Here’s to Wolfgang Puck, who stands tirelessly on the line each year at Borgata’s Women in Wine event, serving up his own delectable steaks, and chatting easily with each breathless fan. The chef whose brash, creative style made Spago a household word is in rare form at Wolfgang Puck’s American Grille. Who but Puck could have imagined cauliflower soup with golden raisins, almonds and curry? How about pan-roasted New England cod with shrimp, bacon, garlic spinach and potato puree? Pure yum!

MICHAEL MINA. The 2005 Bon Appetit Chef of the Year is synonymous with sensational seafood-plus. In addition to the Prince Edward Island mussels and bay prawn ravioli, Mina does a mean Kobe short rib with Moroccan-spiced barley, dried fruits and Devonshire cream, Georges Bank swordfish, and free-range California chicken.

MICHAEL SCHULSON. Izakaya is described as “a modern Japanese pub,” with what Schulson calls “a contemporary interpretation of Japanese fare.” Expect tempting cocktails and sharable plates (making this an ideal after-hours spot), lots of sushi and tea service. Menu highlights: poached sweet shrimp with sake Cherry Bomb; lobster ramen with lemongrass and tobiko; and tuna tartar with smoked ponzu and hamachi salad.

GEOFFREY ZAKARIAN. The renowned Town and Country chef has developed a fabulous room service menu for the new Water Club, including filet of bison, braised lamb shank with basmati rice and pomegranate, and a rib-eye dry-aged beef chop with potato puree and field mushrooms. With choices like these, you may never want to go home.

By Casino Connection Staff   Thu, Mar 27, 2008

Slot clubs were invented in Atlantic City, and the industry’s oldest player’s clubs are here. Many are being overhauled and re-tooled to current realties—the games on today’s casino floor, the modern customer base, innovations possible through new technology.

One of the most common possibilities discussed during a slot club overhaul is open-tiering: creating additional card levels, each based on a player’s action over a certain period of time. The reason for the word “open” is that all casinos already tier their benefits. The top players get the best goodies. Once-in-a-lifetime, low-potential visitors get almost nothing.

While no two casinos are alike—nor are two player’s clubs alike—most marketing executives confront similar issues when they decide to open-tier a club. Studying how others have handled these issues can help them avoid the most common pitfalls.

There are several reasons behind the increase in open-tiered player’s clubs. Most airline reward systems (a model for casino player’s clubs) are tiered, as are several high-profile casino industry leaders including Harrah’s Total Rewards. Technology has made the entire process easier.

But the most important reason is the tremendous growth of local-market properties, essentially all Atlantic City properties. Open-tiered clubs work extremely well in casinos that measure player worth based on a month, three months, six months or a year of action as opposed to those destination casinos that still use a theoretical per-trip measurement.

What is open-tier? Why do it?

Again, all casinos have tiered benefit systems. Comps are based on a percentage of theoretical win, and direct mail offers are split into three or four groups with the top tier getting a comped three-day weekend while the bottom tier receives a weekday discount.

So when a casino and its player’s club are creating a tier structure, they are not creating new benefits as much as they are telling the players what benefits exist and what they have to do to get them. This may be the perfect opportunity to create a special parking area for your platinum members, but most casinos already offer room and meal comps, line passes and special events.

A well-designed open-tier player’s club can accomplish several things. Most importantly, it tells your players what benefits they already have coming and what they can get by playing more at your casino. Most Atlantic City players, even the best customers, tend to play at more than one property. One goal of an open-tier club is to increase trips to your casino from four-out-of-10 to six-out-of-10.

An open-tier club can also improve the fairness of your overall comp distribution. There are many profitable customers on the floor who don’t use their fair share of benefits because they’re unaware that they earned them. If they took better advantage of what was coming to them, they would form a much closer bond to your property.

On the flip side, you have customers long past their prime playing days who get more than their share because they know how to work the system (i.e., your staff). An open-tier player’s club sends more benefits to the deserving than to the demanding.

Before you begin, do a formal study of your competition’s club—how they reward players at different levels, and the overall strengths and weaknesses of their reward system. If you’re able to address a problem in their reward setup (badly constructed tiers or a lack of coherent information given to members regarding their club), it could give you a competitive edge without a costly benefit war.

Setting Up Open Tiers

How many tiers should you have? Probably the fewer the better; there are successful player’s clubs with only two open tiers. For a first-time effort, three or four tiers are better, based on the following:

Top Tier—the top 1 percent of your database.

Second Tier—the next 9 percent of your database.

Third Tier—? If you have a third tier (with the base card being the fourth tier), consider aiming for the middle of your business—so everyone with this card is in the next 40 percent of your database.

Or do what Station Casinos does and make the third tier extremely easy to obtain ($500 coin-in every three months), thus putting the majority of your active customers into some sort of VIP status.

Run a list based on the percentages above (or similar scenarios) and see how many people fall into each category. Increase that number by 20 percent and decide what benefits would work (and what you can afford) based on those numbers. That will give you a good idea what to base your tier point minimums on.

It’s true there are still a few player’s clubs out there that don’t disclose exact point-earning information to their players. Please realize that a player’s enthusiasm in pursuing a goal is directly tied to his knowledge of what’s involved. At the very least, he should know how many points (or whatever) are needed to reach each tier—even if he doesn’t exactly know how to earn each point.

How long should the earning period and subsequent benefit period be? Much of it depends on your current technology and staff skills, but six-month periods are a good beginning. For example: players earning 12,000 points between January and June 2008 automatically become Diamond Members and maintain that status through December 2008 (or possibly June 2009). Three-month periods can be overwhelming to your staff and/or system, and one-year periods create too long a benefit period for declining players.

After they were up and running awhile, many open-tier player’s clubs including Station Casinos’ Boarding Pass, Harrah’s Total Rewards and My Borgata created an uppermost “stealth” tier for their absolute best players. Besides requiring at least $1 million in coin-in per year, the tiers are invitation-only, allowing management to completely review a player’s record including number of visits and overall profitability before handing out unlimited rooms, comps and entertainment.

Benefit Construction

The first area to research in setting up open-tier benefits is whatever the casino currently offers. If these benefits are in line money-wise and working marketing-wise, why not tell everyone about them? Yes, your benefits will (and should) increase because more people know about them, but the purpose of this entire effort is to increase awareness, to increase comp effectiveness, to increase player interest—and so increase profitable business.

Almost every benefit listed on an open-tier player’s club brochure falls into one of the four following categories:

Hard Cost Benefits that begin when a player attains the tier. These costly cookies include an additional cashback percentage or automatic point multipliers; cash bonuses or gifts given upon tier attainment; automatic meal discounts or point redemption discounts; guaranteed invitations to special tournaments and events; free self-parking and/or monthly car wash; and membership to an exclusive on-site club.

Although these are frequently the benefits that really sell a tier (especially to players who read the brochure very carefully), they can be very expensive, and require both marketing and financial analysis—especially for benefits that do not require continued play.

If your casino is like most (where the top 10 percent of players earn 90 percent of the points), think carefully before offering increased cashback. This goes double for casinos that also have low-hold (99 percent-100 percent optimal payback), $1-and-up video poker on the floor.

Priority Service—including line passes, VIP check-in, preferred restaurant and showroom seating, host assignment, VIP cashier/player’s club line, special parking area or priority valet parking. Managed correctly, these benefits benefit the casino as much as the upper-tier player (who has more time to play while not standing in line) at relatively low cost. And mixed properly with the list above it can create a very effective (and competitive) menu of benefits—with one caveat.

Make sure that your regular check-in, player’s club and cashier services are above-average. It’s bad enough to (overly) remind new customers that they are not among the elite. It’s even worse if they have been standing and waiting 10 minutes to cash in their voucher or pick up a player’s club card.

Benefits Based on Play (but not Tier)—this includes basic slot club cashback, comps and free play, special event invitations, room offers and discounts—almost anything sent through the mail. It’s important to realize that this type of benefit should not be tied to a tier but remain based on play over more recent periods of time—and in the case of direct mail offers, should not be completely spelled out.

When you guarantee too much direct mail cash or comped rooms or special events you are at best creating a player entitlement (completely destroying the surprise gift element of the benefit) and at worst inviting abuse. These benefits should be referenced in the club brochure but not overly emphasized as the reason to obtain a tier. Each one should have the appropriate “based on play” asterisk.

Puff! This includes benefits that no one understands (exclusive items in the casino’s annual gift catalog) or non-benefits benefits that no one understands (exclusive items in the casino’s annual gift catalog) or non-benefits (small discounts on the overpriced items sold in the gift shop, or free admission to the spa where anything else costs money). Too much puff can cheapen a good program and there should be no benefit listed that a first-month booth worker can’t explain.

Booth personnel should be trained to not only explain the benefits of the club and the benefits of each tier (yes, this is a tall order) but to convey the specialness of each tier. You are trying to sell a club and its tiers—not create a caste system.

By Heidi Heath   Thu, Mar 27, 2008

It’s spring. At this time of year, who among us does not daydream about daisies and day lilies, hyacinth and heliotrope? After all, as your car’s license plate proclaims, New Jersey is the Garden State.

A combination of sandy, slightly acidic soil and an exceptionally moderate climate (especially here in South Jersey) make it possible to grow an amazing variety of flowers and plants. Even if you’ve never picked up a spade before, try it this year, with these pointers from some of the region’s top gardening experts. The experts are:

• Hope Gaines, the proprietor of Garden Keepers and longtime gardener for the Physick Estate in Cape May. At the 19th century estate, she has faithfully recreated Victorian-style gardens as they appear in photographs of the era—including a front lawn oval garden planted to resemble an Oriental rug.

• Sally Burke, Atlantic City manager for Parker Plants, the landscaping and garden design company. Parker Plants is responsible for the street-side gardens of just about every casino in town.

• The aptly named Jack Aprill. He made his gardening dream a reality more than 30 years ago, when he and his family converted their 30-acre historic homestead into the largest annual garden in the United States, Leamings Run in Cape May Court House.

Laying the Groundwork

According to Gaines, the first thing you may need to do is condition the soil. Although sandy soil is preferable to clay-based soils, plants do need some type of organic matter to thrive.

“If you have really sandy soil, the water just goes right out of it and it pulls all the minerals and everything with it,” she says. “So you may need to condition your soil with compost and topsoil, or you can just stick with plants that do well in sandy conditions.” Some of the plants Gaines recommends for sandy soil: lavenders, salvias and many herbs.

Both Aprill and Burke recommend having your soil tested by your county extension service. Soil tests are offered through the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Service and cost about $15. (For more information call 609-465-5115 in Cape May County and 609-625-0056 in Atlantic County.)

“Especially for lawn care,” says Burke, “a lot of people think they need a four-step fertilizer system. But it’s often unnecessary. Before you waste your time and energy putting things on the lawn, make sure it needs it.”

Aprill recommends using your weekly grass clippings as mulch in your flower beds. “They’re the ideal mulch because they’re full of nutrients, they’re moist so they rot rapidly into rich soil, and they’re not in your way next year like bark mulch.”

Each week at Leamings Run, the gardeners place two inches of fresh grass clippings around all newly planted flowers. Aprill says each week’s two-inch layer prevents weeds from sprouting, and adds that residual lawn chemicals have never affected a single one of his plants (he uses clippings from a landscaper that originate in over 30 residential lawns). By mid-June, the plants will fill out and no longer need to be mulched.

For those who are short on time or don’t have a yard to work with, a container garden might be ideal.

“You can just go crazy with containers and window boxes,” says Gaines. “Anything that will grow in the ground will grow in a container. Even vegetables—you can put a couple of lima beans in a pot with a trellis and they’ll take off.”

Burke stresses the importance of using containers with drainage, and recommends placing a layer of crushed stone in the bottom topped by a good commercial potting soil.

“We also use a water soluble fertilizer like Miracle-Gro on our container gardens two or three times during the season,” she said.

Pick the Right Plant

When you start shopping for plants, you’ll see that most of them have labels indicating whether they’re suitable for sun or shade, and the zones where they’ll do best. South Jersey is zone seven, which means there are almost limitless options. According to our experts, some of the easiest flowers to grow are impatiens and begonias for shade, and marigolds or zinnias for sun.

Gaines suggests that beginning gardeners do two things before they start buying plants: find a reputable nursery and observe what looks good in your neighbor’s yard. “You may want to be different and try something unusual, but sometimes there’s a reason everybody has the same plant—they do well!” she says.

McNaughton’s in Somers Point sells between 4,000 and 5,000 flats of impatiens every spring. “They are our most popular flower for shade, by far,” says store manager Chris Miller.

Another of Miller’s favorite flowers for this area is the annual vinca flower, not to be confused with the perennial or vine vinca.

“It looks like an impatiens, but it can be put in the full sun and it’s drought- and salt-tolerant,” Miller says. “It takes three or four weeks to establish itself, but then it just takes off.”

If you’re interested in planting vegetables, just remember they need at least six hours of sun per day. Which vegetables grow best? “With our climate, you can grow just about anything you want to eat,” says Aprill. At the very least, all self-respecting Garden State residents should try their hands at growing Jersey tomatoes.

If you’re planting from seed, check the instructions on the packet and go by the directions for zone seven. Gaines’ general rule of (green) thumb is to plant lettuce and greens as soon as you can stand to be outside.

“For everything else, you need to wait until the nighttime temperatures are consistently about 60 degrees, which is usually the middle of May,” she says.

Aprill starts plants early in a cold frame and babies them along so that Leamings Run is ready to open to the public in the middle of May, but he doesn’t recommend it for the average gardener.

“One of the factors that causes plants to grow is day length,” he says. “Earlier in the spring, it can take weeks for a plant to grow the same size it would grow during a week in May.”

Aprill also recommends planting in a “muddy puddle.” After digging a hole with a trowel, fill the hole with water and push the plant down into the mud. “That way you don’t end up with an air pocket under the plant. We’ve never lost a plant with this system.”

Once your plants are in the ground, it’s just a matter of keeping them watered (about an inch per week should suffice) and checking for pests.

For the most part, however, the rest of your summer should be spent enjoying the fruits of your labor. Even gardening experts don’t like to spend too much time working at their gardens. “For me, if it’s not easy, it takes the fun out of it,” says Burke, “and it ought to be fun.”

VEGGIE TALES

Quick, name 10 good reasons to thank a Jersey farmer! It’s no secret. The colorful fruits and vegetables that abound here from spring through autumn are not simply the hallmark of the Garden State. They’re also a fast track to good health and long life. Here’s our Top 10:

• Tomatoes. High in vitamins C and A, tomatoes contain lycopene to protect cells and lower the risk of cancer and heart disease.

• Broccoli. High in vitamins C, K and A, this green leafy is full of phytonutrients, thought to have anti-cancer effects.

• Eggplant. High in fiber, potassium and manganese, eggplant also contains phytonutrients.

• Carrots. High in vitamins A, K, C and fiber, carrots have antioxidant compounds that help protect against heart disease and cancer and promote good vision as well. You’ll never see a rabbit wearing bifocals!

• Peppers. High in vitamins C and A, peppers of all colors are full of antioxidant compounds to guard against heart disease and cancer.

• Onions. High in chromium and vitamin C, these aromatic roots may help lower blood sugar.

• Strawberries. High in vitamin C and phytonutrients, strawberries are good and good for you.

• Watermelon. High in vitamins A and C, this summer favorite contains lycopene to protect cells and lower the risk of cancer and heart disease.

• Blueberries. An excellent source of vitamins C, K, manganese and fiber, blueberries are an antioxidant superfood shown to slow and even reverse age-related brain decline. Blueberry bonus: Along with their little red cousin, the cranberry, they may help ward off urinary tract infections.

• Corn. Mmm, there’s nothing like a fresh ear of Jersey corn! Forego the gobs of butter and salt and you’ve got a good source of vitamin C, thiamin and folate. Corn also helps maintain eye health.

By   Thu, Mar 27, 2008

For the best in fine dining with a family flair and a side of history, Atlantic City has a handful of landmark restaurants that have been here for generations. Their reputations precede them; the memories made there will endure for generations to come.

The Dougherty family has been in the restaurant business for well over a century, proving the aphorism, “Experience counts.” The Doughertys today run both Dock’s Oyster House and the Knife & Fork, two legendary dining halls that have stood the test of time, and still have customers lining up on a Saturday night.

At the turn of the 20th century, Dock’s was a neighborhood oyster joint with 12 fryers in back, green-and-white tile floors in front, no liquor license and little attention to “ambience.” Today it’s a wine connoisseur’s paradise (with 3,000 bottles) and a seafood lover’s nirvana. Perennial menu favorites at Dock’s include crab au gratin, freshly shucked oysters and 16-ounce to 20-ounce Brazilian lobster tails. New additions include pan-seared halibut with white wine, tomatoes and jumbo lump crabmeat; pecan-crusted salmon over sautéed spinach, apples and mushrooms with a horse radish drizzle; and flounder and crabmeat with tomato buerre blanc and asparagus. Soups are tried-and-tried: Maine clam chowder, lobster chowder and corn and crab chowder.

Owner Frank Dougherty is proud of Dock’s “fun, casual” atmosphere (there’s a piano bar too). “The tables are close together and it can be a little boisterous in here, but everyone likes it.”

The Knife & Fork, built as a men’s club in 1912, almost closed during Prohibition. When the Latz family took over in 1927, they quietly established it as one of the city’s first speakeasies.

By 2005, Mack Latz was ready for last call. He sold the Knife & Fork to the Dougherty family. Famous for its Flemish-style architecture, the historic restaurant includes a third-floor temperature-controlled wine room with 7,000 bottles, and a classic menu that emphasizes steaks cooked over a natural wood fire, plus lots of seafood. Dougherty recommends the salmon with black caviar lentils, lobster Thermidor, and the pan-seared halibut with sautéed wild mushrooms, crushed Yukon gold potatoes and tomato vinaigrette.

The desserts at the Knife & Fork are tantalizing: Mack’s lemon pie (named for Mack Latz), Joe’s cheese pie (named for Joe Dougherty), walnut-crusted cheesecake, pumpkin crème brulee and the mixed-berry Napoleon with white chocolate mousse, among others.

“The Knife & Fork is a little more upscale (than Dock’s)—quieter, but still friendly,” says Dougherty.

Answering rumors of a sale to casino developers Bashaw and Barr, who plan to build nearby, Dougherty says, “They bought the land that surrounds us and they have an option to buy the Knife & Fork through January 2009. If they do that and get all the approvals, they’ve proposed moving the building as opposed to demolishing it.”

A plea to the developers: Cherish this bit of Atlantic City history, and let it stand.

Angelo’s Fairmount Tavern, family-owned since 1935 by the Mancuso clan, boasts that it has “simply the best Italian food in the city,” and that claim would be hard to refute. Locals love it; visitors and passers-through make it a point to stop by. And the Zagat Survey has consistently hailed this friendly corner bar and restaurant with its Award of Excellence.

More than seven decades ago, Angelo’s began as a 35-seat corner bar and bistro in the city’s Ducktown section. Though the neighborhood’s fortunes have changed with the years—it is once again on the ascent—Angelo’s has done nothing but grow; it is now a multi-level restaurant with three banquet rooms and a reputation for great Italian food and decanters of fruity, full-bodied homemade wine.

The menu declares the baked lasagna is “just like Grandma used to make,” and you’ll agree. With five lip-smacking layers of beef, cheese and tender pasta, this is Italian food for purists: straightforward, unadorned, and just right in every detail. Ditto the eggplant Florentine, the chicken piccante, the spinach and artichoke hearts over linguine and the mussels marinara—classic recipes all, classically prepared, like matriarch Isabella Mancuso used to make.

Angelo’s 16-ounce aged steaks are all made Sicilian-style, seared on the edges in a cast-iron skillet to make sure the juices are sealed in. Try the New York Steak Angelo, topped with roasted peppers, sliced black olives and artichokes in a tangy balsamic vinaigrette; Steak Maryland is heaped with sweet jumbo lump crabmeat, bleu cheese and Gorgonzola.

The Mancusos continue to make their own desserts including (sigh) peanut cheesecake, ricotta cheese cannoli, chocolate tartufo and (of course) Italian rum cake.

With the requisite checkered tablecloths, framed photos of entertainment and sports greats on the walls and Sinatra playing in the background, Angelo’s gets the atmosphere right too, and the service is warm and welcoming. In short, you haven’t dined Atlantic City-style until you’ve been to Angelo’s.

On Albion Place is Chef Vola’s, a tiny basement bistro located, literally, downstairs at the Esposito family residence. The restaurant has attained cult status among foodies, not just for its menu but for the air of intrigue and exclusivity that surrounds the place.

Though the restaurant has been in business since 1921, for many years it was impossible to get the phone number at Chef Vola’s unless you (nudge wink) “knew” someone. The New York Times wrote, “We learned that at the beginning of each year most of the regulars send faxes with all their desired reservation times to a private line at the restaurant.” Supposedly a hangout for wiseguys of the ’50s and ’60s, Chef Vola’s was also a favorite of Frank Sinatra whenever he came to town.

But enough of the mystique. How about the food? One blogger on the Zagat website raved, “It’s worth the 400-mile round-trip drive from DC.” Another on Fodor’s wrote, “Chilean sea bass with tequila lime marinade is a slice of heaven, the filet with bleu cheese butter is superb and the pasta is great.”

These days, Chef Vola’s is an open secret, and the restaurant even has a website. But log on, and you’ll see this message: “This is not an advertisement. The phone number and address cannot be obtained from this website.”

Only in Atlantic City.

By   Fri, Sep 19, 2008

By Frank Legato   Thu, Jun 19, 2008

By Roger Gros   Mon, May 19, 2008

By Roger Gros   Mon, May 12, 2008

By David Schwartz   Fri, Mar 28, 2008

Atlantic City in the 1920s and 30s was a magical place. On its streets, the preposterous and the mundane walked side by side, with neither seeming out of place on the island resort. In this kind of atmosphere, no one was surprised when a restaurant that started out as a tiny Boardwalk clam bar ended up one of the largest restaurants in the country. Looking back, the success of Hackney’s seems incredible. But it’s true.

Harry Watson Hackney was born in 1873 in the town of Smith’s Landing (which was later absorbed by Pleasantville). He first staked his claim on the Boardwalk in the summer of 1912 when he opened up a tiny, 30-seat eatery on Maine Avenue and Melrose near the Inlet.

Hackney wanted more for his customers than a small seafood place—he wanted to give them a unique experience. So he bought the Keen Sea Breeze House and enlarged it, then built a pier across the Boardwalk from his shop, inviting patrons to fish—to catch their own lunch, so to speak.

It was an instant success. Hackney’s became a must-stop for gourmets visiting Atlantic City. The restaurant was particularly renowned for its lobster, a fact that Hackney was never shy about publicizing. In later years he christened himself the “Lobster King” and dressed his waitresses in full-size lobster costumes for a promotional photo shoot. Today, such a ploy would be considered the height of kitsch; at the time it was a fun, innovative press stunt. He also gave away scores of lobster ink blotters, spreading the word that Hackney’s was the place for fine seafood.

In the 1920s, Hackney played host to some of the biggest celebrities of the day, from Jack Dempsey to Douglas Fairbanks. Al Smith, the famous governor of New York, coined what became Hackney’s catch phrase: “Eat them where they’re caught.” To capitalize on the fresh-seafood theme, Hackney built an open pool from which diners could select their own lobsters.

After 1926, business was steady enough that Hackney’s stayed open year-round. In fact, throughout the decade, the Lobster King was steadily expanding his restaurant, sometimes to the brink of disaster. In April 1924, a wall in a building adjoining the restaurant suddenly collapsed; a sudden rain shower plus the stress of construction caused the wall to buckle.

Hackney himself shouted a quick warning. There were no serious injuries, but hundreds of diners scrambled for safety, and several women were reported to have fainted. Plenty of expensive crockery and fixtures were broken.

Despite the setback, expansion continued, and by 1929 Hackney’s laid fair claim to the title of “America’s largest seafood restaurant.” By this time, it took up an entire city block and seated 3,200 diners.

Hackney rose in stature in both the restaurant world and the broader community. In 1933 he joined the New Jersey Racing Commission and in the following year, the Atlantic City Press Club voted him Man of the Year. He also served as president of the New Jersey Restaurant Association and National Restaurant Association.

The famous restaurateur died in 1945 after a brief illness. He was 73. His son Edward took over the seafood restaurant. When Edward died, grandson Ralph was president of the Atlantic City Restaurant Association. The restaurant had become a true family business.

Edward only ran Hackney’s for seven years before passing away in 1952 at 60. His son Ralph then took over, but he was dogged by bad fortune. In 1963, a late-night blaze completely destroyed the restaurant. No one was inside at the time, but it was a tragedy nevertheless. By then, Atlantic City was in decline. The loss of Hackney’s was yet another reminder of the happy past that seemed to have disappeared.

Then Ralph rebuilt the restaurant, opening again in 1965. He remained a staunch Atlantic City advocate until his death four years later.

Like the rest of the city, Hackney’s languished in the 1970s, and the influx of visitors brought by casino gaming did not help: the restaurant closed for good in the early 1980s. Though Hackney’s is no more, for over a half-century it was one of the best-known restaurants in the United States.

What a fitting role model for today’s generation of Atlantic City eateries.

By Dave Bontempo   Fri, Mar 28, 2008

Tracy Kileen’s heart was in the right place three years ago. The Egg Harbor City native, who worked at Showboat from 1987 to 1996 before spending nine years at Mohegan Sun, returned to help her elderly parents.

Presto, the kindness was returned. Kileen was welcomed back to the casino she helped open, and now serves as its table games supervisor (the equivalent of the floor person’s job she left).

“It was wonderful to come back home,” Kileen says. “At first it looked like I may help in a family restaurant business, but when I saw the amount of work it entailed as opposed to the casinos, it looked like a 24-7 job. Fortunately, the casino manager at Showboat had worked with me at Mohegan Sun and came here as a casino manager. He suggested I apply if I was interested.”

Was she ever. Kileen had dealt in Atlantic City from 1983 through 1988, got a promotion at Showboat and was then hired on a whim, over the phone, to be a pit manager in Connecticut. She left Atlantic City on good terms and found the bridge open for a return.

“This was another great offer,” Kileen says. “One thing you notice is how expensive health care is when you’re on your own, and now it’s practically free. What you also notice is that this was a great job to come back to. People were waiting and welcomed me the first day. It was a comfortable thing to see that people had stayed at the property—it was a chance for me to come back to family.”

The family, meanwhile, has gone high-tech. Customer service has become a science, not simply a mindset. Technology has improved the capability of supervisors. A manager can touch a screen to rate players or record their actions, never taking her eye off the game.

“We’ve come so far in the area of customer service. With the screens, your attention is not taken from the game by having to write so much stuff down,” says Kileen. “It’s great.”

So is the diversity. Kileen deals with several cultures and realizes the importance of sensitivity, especially with the lucrative Asian market.

“You can have Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese or Russian players on a given day. We have the same players come in; you get to know them by name. Some bring you little candies and the Asian ladies bring in Asian pears. The job is a lot of fun. You understand what the players want and you know about the superstitions, which are very important.

“We’ve had Asian awareness training on our property. Some of the important things are not to touch them on the shoulder, the players don’t like the number four or 14, they do love the color red and they love to step up into something, like into the pit, rather than step down.”

Kileen believes a supervisor’s main contribution is to be fair with employees and back them up. Showboat recently tapped her to participate in the Employee Engagement Committee, which takes employee suggestions for improvement to top managers. It’s likely that a number of ideas will be implemented. This is, after all, her first quarter of a century in the business.

By Casino Connection Staff   Fri, Mar 28, 2008

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By Casino Connection Staff   Fri, Mar 28, 2008

By   Fri, Mar 28, 2008

She was the archetypal dolly-bird of the swinging ’60s, and inspired two of the era’s greatest love songs: “Something” by George Harrison and Eric Clapton’s “Layla.”

Pattie Boyd’s memoir, Wonderful Tonight (which takes its title from another Clapton ode), provides a perfect counterpoint to the legendary guitarist’s autobiography. Read them together for a fuller understanding of the lives they led, with seemingly limitless sex, drugs, celebrity and riches, none of which led to contentment or enduring love.

Both point to childhood trauma to explain some of their later recklessness. Boyd was raised in a chaotic household where, due to finances or infidelity, the cast of characters constantly changed. Clapton did not learn until he was nine that his parents were actually his grandparents, and his “sister” his mother; he never became close to her.

Surprisingly, these accounts dovetail almost perfectly. No “he-said-she-said” here; Boyd and Clapton are scrupulous in their acknowledgement of the flaws, mistakes and meannesses that marked their lives, together and with others.

They also admit that, for all its poetry and epic passion, the love they felt for each other was immature and largely illusory. A bond remains; Clapton even let Boyd quote extensively from his personal letters and verse (they’re glorious). And their relationships with George Harrison, fractured when Boyd left him to marry Clapton, were mended by the time Harrison died of lung cancer in 2001.

Clapton’s book contains horrific accounts of his drug addiction and painstaking recovery, and the final section sounds like something out of Recovery 101. The tragic death of Conor, Clapton’s son, is briefly but movingly recounted in both books.

Yes, read them together. You’ll walk away feeling you’ve met two people who struggled mightily to wrest from their profligate lives some sense of deeper meaning.

By Chris Borino   Fri, Mar 28, 2008

Who ever thought we would see the day when Mario gets the chance to take on Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog in a fighting ring? Well, Nintendo brings gamers just that opportunity with its immensely anticipated Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Just like its famous predecessors, SSB Brawl lets players duke it out against each other with some of Nintendo’s best-known characters. The game maintains its acclaimed method of winning the battle—knock the opponent off the stage and out of the screen. The players fly farther and knock around easier as you increase their damage percentage, and players can utilize an array of moves, items and stage conditions to accomplish this.

SSB Brawl brings the Smash Bros. franchise to new levels with the sheer number of options that players are afforded. Gamers can battle each other in the flesh or across the globe in the classic multi-player brawl mode, or just fight on their own all the way up to Master Hand. A player can also go solo with SSB Brawl’s new adventure mode, “The Subspace Emissary.” In this mode, you get to follow dazzling cinemas involving all the Nintendo characters as you complete missions in a side-scrolling gameplay setting.

The best part about SSB Brawl is simply the ability to play a game that brings together all your favorite Nintendo memories. Where else can you participate in a battle between Princess Peach and Donkey Kong in Link’s castle while listening to a remix of the age-old Mario theme?

Whether or not you’re playing to reminisce, SSB Brawl is also a stand-alone great fighting game. There are tons of characters you can choose from, the moves are simple to learn, and it’s downright fun to play.

By Casino Connection Staff   Fri, Mar 28, 2008

We all know Michael Jackson has battled some demons. Regardless what you think of him, his early ’80s talent is unquestionable. Twenty-five years later, the seminal album, Thriller, still holds up. The rights to the music may belong to him, but the magic on those tracks belongs to us.

Remember the first time you heard “Billie Jean?” The first time you saw John Landis’ video of the title tune, with Jackson in ghoulish make-up doing his signature steps? Those memories are part of a generation’s coming-of-age.

Seven of the nine tracks on Thriller were Top 10 singles; the album undoubtedly set the stage for the post-disco pop movement. Quincy Jones’ legendary production skills, along with Jackson’s singing, dance moves and charisma make this album the most important pop record ever made, bar none.

Thriller was also a veritable launch pad for MTV. It changed the way music was presented, and Jackson’s flawless act brought the concert experience to the consumer at home.

The re-issue’s appendix is a back-end filled with reinterpretations from the biggest names in pop music today: Fergie, Will.I.am of Black Eyed Peas, Akon and Kanye West. Kanye disappoints with his “Billie Jean;” hokey tunes like the Jackson-McCartney collaboration “The Girl is Mine” deserve to be updated, but “Billie Jean?” That's a masterpiece, and West’s efforts would have been better utilized on a different track. Fergie’s “Beat It” is a worthy effort, but overall, the best material on this record is Jackson’s original masterpiece.

The second disc is a DVD with some cool special features, like the original “Thriller” video and a Motown 25th anniversary special worth watching. If you’re one of the few people who don’t already own a copy of Thriller, you should at least download the new version.

By Greg Jones   Fri, Mar 28, 2008

Wes Anderson has a brilliant grasp on developing the dysfunctional character. From Boomer in The Royal Tenenbaums to Dignan in Bottle Rocket, he knows how to write for and develop the unconventional protaganist. The Darjeeling Limited showcases Anderson’s abilities better than any other movie he has done.

The movie is not nearly as comical as Anderson’s previous effort, The Life Aquatic, which was a flop by conventional standards. What it lacks in comedy it makes up for with a realistic development of the main characters.

The story centers around three brothers trying to find themselves during a train ride through India. Francis Whitman (Owen Wilson) is the eldest brother who is leading Pete (Adrien Brody) and Jack (Jason Schwartzman) on a journey of self-discovery. The brothers are heading across the Indian continent to see their mother (Anjelica Houston) a year after the death of their father.

What starts as a simple train ride fueled by Indian pharmaceuticals turns into an adventure that leads the brothers to find out who they really are and how they fit into the family and the world. The road to self-discovery is neither simple nor easy, especially after they are kicked off the train for what some would consider a simple brotherly fight.

While Anderson is very much the kind of director that people either love or hate, The Darjeeling Limited is definitely a movie with something to offer everyone. It’s moving and sentimental without being ostentatious and it’s comical without being overly irreverent or light. The movie is also a vibrant travelogue, capturing the brilliant colors and exotic locale of India.

Fans of Anderson will enjoy seeing how he has advanced in his abilities to develop characters and move along a story, while those unfamiliar with his previous works will simply be treated to a moving story about three brothers who find function in their otherwise dysfunctional lives.

By Casino Connection Staff   Fri, Mar 28, 2008

April 1-4

The Shirelles, Hilton

April 3

Ace Frehley, Edgar Winter and Rick Derringer, House of Blues

Antigone Rising, House of Blues

April 4

Def Leppard, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Borgata

Bo Bice, House of Blues

Vanessa Williams, Harrah’s

D.L. Hughley, Borgata

April 4-5

Smokey Robinson, Taj Mahal

April 4-6

Temptations with J.J. Walker, Tropicana

April 5

George Carlin, Borgata

Neil Sedaka, Resorts

Get the Led Out, House of Blues

Renzo Arbore, Taj Mahal

Ocean City Pops Orchestra, Dante Hall

April 6-7; April 9-11

Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Resorts

April 10

T-Pain with special guest, House of Blues

April 11

Pound for Pound Boxing, Tropicana

April 11-12

Howie Mandel, Harrah’s

Santana, Borgata

April 12

Boxing: Miguel Cotto vs. Alfonso Gomez, Boardwalk Hall

Joy Behar, Borgata

Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo, House of Blues

Air Supply, Trump Marina

Kevin Nealon, Trump Plaza

Sinbad, Hilton

Apil 13 & April 18

Steve Tyrell, Hilton

April 18

R&R with Rick Braun, Richard Elliott, House of Blues

April 18-19

Hall & Oates, Borgata

April 19

Etta James & the Roots Band, House of Blues

No Code, Monkey Wrench, House of Blues

Jackie Martling, Trump Marina

Collective Soul, Borgata

Brenda Bass & The Swingettes, Dante Hall

Battle Cage Xtreme IV, Tropicana

April 24

Wu Tang Clan, House of Blues

Yamma 1 Mixed Fighting Championship, Taj Mahal

April 25

Justin Currie, House of Blues

April 25-26

Frank Caliendo, Borgata

Dion DiMucci, Trump Plaza

Billy Crystal, Borgata

April 26

Lavelle Crawford, House of Blues

The Wallflowers, House of Blues

April 27-30

Debbie Reynolds, Hilton

April 29

WWE Smackdown, ECW, Boardwalk Hall

Revues

Ongoing

Yesterday: A Tribute to the Beatles, Tropicana

March 16-April 30

42nd Street, Tropicana

April 6-26

Frank, Dean and Sammy: Rat Pack Tribute Show, Harrah’s

By Casino Connection Staff   Fri, Mar 28, 2008

When Wu Tang Clan emerged in the 1990s, the world of rap music was turned on its head. They scrapped the notion of a standard music ensemble and decided on a plan that was more elastic: begin as a unit, achieve enormous success, and then branch out with as many side projects as possible to earn big royalties.

Crazily enough, the plan worked, and after Enter the Wu Tang Clan came out in 1993, the nine original members went their separate ways, influencing many current hip-hop acts in the areas of rapping, production technique, sampling and image.

After pursuing their individual careers, which involved classic antics and even more classic albums, the eight-man ensemble is back together with a fourth, titled 8 Diagrams.

By Casino Connection Staff   Fri, Mar 28, 2008

Etta James’ performances are lively, to say the least. She sometimes accompanies her bone-chilling, booming vocals with gestures that, some say, border on the obscene. Miss Peaches, now in her 70th year, will be bringing down the house with the Roots Band at the House of Blues.

Her life has played out like the bluesiest of ballads, and James has struggled with the stereotypical pitfalls of her profession (mismanagement, drug addiction, bad romances and problems with the law). But her voice, at once beautiful and brutally honest, gives us a glimpse into the harsh realities of life.

When she was just five years old, James was already considered a child prodigy, singing gospel at a local church and wowing the community with her powerful vocal sound. Six decades later, the singer’s still at it, recording and touring with a new band and a new body (James had suffered from lifelong obesity, but has recently lost 200 pounds with gastric bypass surgery).

She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for her rendition of “At Last,” a song originally recorded by Glenn Miller. But James’ legacy is farther reaching and includes three Grammys and dozens of groundbreaking hits.

Don’t miss this masterful artist, who will perform songs from her latest album “All the Way,” produced in part by her two sons. It features a smorgasbord of tunes including the title song (a cover of the Frank Sinatra standard), as well as Leonard Bernstein’s “Somewhere” from West Side Story and John Lennon’s “Imagine.”

By Casino Connection Staff   Fri, Mar 28, 2008

Good Charlotte is the alt-rock band fronted by Benji and Joel Madden, identical twin brothers from Maryland—the band’s curious name comes from a children’s book.

After playing the local club and bar circuit in the tiny hamlet of Waldorf, the siblings became known to deejays on the once-predominant Philly rock station, Y-100, which spun the song “Little Things” even before it was released as a single. On the station’s nightly “Cage Match” competition (where new songs were played for listener votes—sort of a precursor to American Idol), “Little Things” won 15 nights in a row. It was released as a single in 2001 and peaked at Number 23 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart.

Good Charlotte released its self-titled debut album on the Epic label. The second full-length album, The Young and the Hopeless, went triple platinum, selling more than 3 million records and landing them on Saturday Night Live and NBC’s Today program. The recent release, Good Morning Revival, is a follow-up to 2004’s The Chronicles of Life and Death.

The band’s members have since become vocal supporters of the animal rights group PETA.

Look for some tech-tinged, fundamental but edgy rock from these youthful rockers, in the midst of a world tour that also takes them to Prague, Munich, Capetown and Johannesburg.

By Casino Connection Staff   Fri, Mar 28, 2008

It took a lot of years for Daryl Hall and John Oates to become a duo. Both were music majors at Temple University back in the late ’60s, but as legend has it, they met in a service elevator at Philadelphia’s Adelphi Ballroom, while hiding out from gunfire after a gang fight.

They signed with Atlantic Records, which released three of their early albums. But it wasn’t until they left the label and signed with RCA that Hall & Oates achieved popularity, producing hits like “Sara Smile” off The Silver Album, and “Rich Girl,” which hit No. 1 in 1977, from the album Bigger Than Both of Us.

Hall & Oates achieved their greatest success in the early ’80s, with songs like “Private Eyes” and “Maneater.” In 1983, the Recording Industry Association of America named them the most successful musical duo in history.

By Casino Connection Staff   Fri, Mar 28, 2008

Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock, who met in 1975 while performing in the rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar, are the principal members of the soft rock band Air Supply, whose distinctive ballads dominated the FM airwaves back in the 1980s.

“All Out of Love,” the smash hit single from their debut album Lost in Love, was reportedly written in 15 minutes by Russell, then recorded in a tiny Australian recording studio where the musician says he had “half an inch between the end of (his) guitar and the studio wall.”

Luckily, the song caught the attention of Clive Davis of Arista Records, who released a remixed version of it in the United States, launching their career.

Expect an evening of romantic hits from the duo, including “Every Woman In the World,” and “Making Love (Out of Nothing at All).”

By Casino Connection Staff   Fri, Mar 28, 2008

Few would dispute that Carlos Santana is one of the greatest guitarists of all time, rising to fame in the late 1960s and 1970s with his namesake band and percussive Latin rock sound. Santana’s legendary Woodstock performance garnered early praise among critics, despite the fact that the group hadn’t even released an album yet.

His eponymous band, Santana, went on to sign with CBS Records, recording “Evil Ways” and Tito Puente’s throbbing “Oye Como Va,” both of which became monster hits.

Santana later launched a successful solo career. The 1999 album Soul Sacrifice, a collaboration featuring a number of other artists including Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty, won the Grammy Award for Best Album.

In 2002, Santana released Shaman, another collaborative affair. The song, “The Game of Love” with Chad Kroeger from Nickelback and singer Michelle Branch, went on to win the Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.

By Casino Connection Staff   Fri, Mar 28, 2008

Who could have predicted 35 years ago, when Billy Crystal played one of TV’s first gay characters on the ABC comedy Soap, that this nebbishy kid from Long Island would become a Golden Globe-nominated and Emmy-winning actor, a Tony-winning playwright, a bestselling author, and one of the screen’s most successful comic leading men?

But it all came true for the now-legendary comedian, who brings his stand-up act to the Borgata April 25 and 26.

In the autobiographical 700 Sundays, which was a hit one-man Broadway play and later a book, Crystal told the story of his zany New York family including father Jack, a jazz concert promoter friendly with the likes of Billie Holliday and Louis Armstrong; his songwriting Uncle Milt; and a host of other idiosyncratic-to-the-point-of-bizarre characters who encouraged his offbeat humor.

Tragically, Jack died when Billy was just 15; even as Crystal grieved, the loss spurred him to greater accomplishment. As an up-and-coming comic, he performed at New York’s Improv club and Catch a Rising Star, studied film and TV direction under Martin Scorsese at New York University, was slated to appear on the first-ever episode of Saturday Night Live (but was cut), and later developed a stand-up bit for that show based on suave ’50s leading man Fernando Lamas; it became a media sensation, and spawned the ubiquitous catch phrase, “You look mahvelous!”

Crystal later starred in hit screen comedies like When Harry Met Sally..., City Slickers, The Princess Bride and Analyze This. He hosted the Academy Awards more times than anyone except Bob Hope, and in 1986, along with pals Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg, started hosting HBO’s Comic Relief to raise money for the homeless.

Last month, the comedian realized another long-cherished dream, signing a minor league contract to play with the New York Yankees. On opening day he wore a uniform with the number 60 (in honor of his upcoming 60th birthday) and on March 13 led off as the designated hitter.

Expect plenty of comic home runs from Crystal, 2007’s recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor and an Atlantic City favorite.

By Casino Connection Staff   Fri, Mar 28, 2008

Vanessa Williams initially rose to the spotlight after being the first African-American woman crowned Miss America (and the first to be dethroned).

Today, she is justly renowned as a talented actress and singer with three Grammys, an Emmy and a Tony award to her credit.

Music was Williams’ first love, and her debut album, The Right Stuff, came out in 1988 to great success on both the R&B and pop charts. “Dreamin,’” the third single, was Williams’ first Top 10 hit. The album went gold and earned three Grammy nominations, including one for Best New Artist.

It was her second album, however, that gave Williams her only Number 1 hit, “Save the Best For Last,” which remains the biggest success of her musical career.

Williams is also a veteran actor, having performed in the Tony-nominated musical Into the Woods, and has also had roles in several other Broadway shows, including Kiss of the Spider Woman and Carmen Jones. She has appeared in feature films as well, including a role opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in Eraser. The multi-talented beauty currently plays the role of Wilhelmina Slater in the ABC series Ugly Betty.

By Casino Connection Staff   Thu, Mar 27, 2008

Are home prices in the Atlantic County area on the upswing, holding steady, or going down?

Of course prices have declined since 2005. We’ve seen some stability return to certain pockets of the market; for example, oceanfront and bayfront properties tend to hold their own. On the positive side, we’ll continue to see market growth due to all the incoming projects (Revel, Pinnacle, MGM). More people will relocate to join the workforce, more people will vacation here and come here to retire. These factors will continue to fuel the economy and drive the market up. We should see the market rebound as early as spring 2009. If you’re on the fence about buying, it’s a perfect opportunity to get low interest rates. For the most accurate market analysis, contact a professional realtor who possesses an in-depth familiarity of your current market conditions.

In an older home, which room would you remodel first and why?

According to the Cost Versus Value Report of the National Association of Realtors, the most cost-effective plan is a kitchen remodel. A minor remodel will provide an 83 percent return on investment; a major remodel will net a 78 percent return. Typical remodel projects include new cabinets (or cabinet fronts) with raised-panel wood doors and drawers, including new hardware. You can also replace wall ovens and cooktops with new energy-efficient models, laminate countertops, install mid-priced sink and faucet, repaint trim, add wall covering and replace flooring.

Does it make sense to take a longer mortgage to reduce monthly payments?

I do not suggest taking a longer-term loan. With a 40-year mortgage, you’re actually paying less principal over the period. Here’s an example: On a 30-year $350,000 fixed mortgage, the rate is 6.375 percent versus 40 years at 7 percent. On the 30-year, you’ll pay $2,495 per month. Over 40 years, the payment per month is $2,485. The difference is $10 per month, but on a 40-year term with principal and interest, it will cost you almost $1.2 million over the course of the loan. With a 30-year, it’s less than $900,000—a difference of $295,000. There are many programs available that can reduce monthly payments.

OPEN HOUSE

If you’re looking for an apartment community with the spaciousness of a home inside, the serenity of a park outside, and every imaginable convenience at your fingertips, Evergreen at Timber Glen is a great place to begin—and, for that matter, to end.

First, there’s the convenience factor. Situated in the center of it all (across from Consumer Square Shopping Center, near the Hamilton Mall), the Mays Landing community of luxury apartments and town homes is just 20 minutes from Atlantic City, close to shopping and all major thoroughfares.

Next, there’s the comfort factor. As you drive the broad, tree-lined avenue that welcomes you home, you’ll find an almost resort-like atmosphere that truly sets this community apart. The philosophy at Evergreen: If you’re going to rent, you might as well love it! And they’ve thought of everything.

Among the amenities: a 24-hour fitness center stocked with free-weights and exercise machines (of course, there are showers and lockers on-site). The residents’ clubhouse features a big flat-screen TV (great for their Super Bowl Sunday party and other resident events), and plenty of comfy sofas and easy chairs around the fireplace.

The fun continues outside with an enormous swimming pool with cabana, two tennis courts and two basketball courts, a jogging trail, and a tot lot for the little ones. Completing the serene atmosphere are ponds with fountains scattered here and there around the quiet, wooded property.

But it’s the warm, inviting apartments and town homes that make the difference here. The unique floor plans offer something for every family, and they’re big—the two-bedroom, two-bath apartments start at 1,164 square feet, and three bedroom units, with two and a half baths, go up to 1,750 square feet.

Each home is characterized by the kind of contemporary, open-space design and crisp, neutral palette that make decorating a pleasure. Ample living room and dining areas—you’ll love the private patios and balconies—flow into modern kitchens, equipped with Maytag appliances and plenty of gleaming white wooden cabinets.

The bedrooms are equally substantial, with oversized walk-in closets and vaulted ceilings. Master bedroom suites feature private baths with relaxing garden-style soaking tubs (in select homes), plus separate showers. Some vanities have twin sinks (no more fighting for face time at the mirror). With accoutrements like these, it’s not surprising to learn that the management company of Evergreen at Timber Glen were the primary builders of a home for a deserving family on TV’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

Importantly for those with physical challenges, the community offers disability access and elevators to second- and third-floor homes. Attentive concierge services include 24-hour emergency maintenance, valet dry cleaning, package pickup and coming soon—complimentary continental breakfast at their clubhouse. You’ll also enjoy the convenient 24-hour business center with free wireless internet —great for when you are at the pool and faxing service.

Short-term leases are available—good news for people between homes or transitioning in for a new job. Each unit has a full-sized washer and dryer in the separate laundry room and parking in the attached garage of the town homes.

Saving the best for last—pets are welcome.

The management at Evergreen at Timber Glen emphasizes a home-like but utterly carefree feeling at this contemporary community. Stop by and see if “resort-style living” is for you.

BY DESIGN

Most people have shoeboxes full of family photographs: baby pictures and school portraits, wedding photos and photos of long-departed ancestors, candid shots and “posed” pictures. How can you put them all together in a great-looking, cohesive wall gallery?

Use similar frames and the same color matting to tie together a disparate group of photos (and artwork). Don’t skimp on the number of images, especially when they’re 11x14 inches or smaller. A small selection on a large wall will get lost. Try a big grouping on the wall leading up the stairs. Guests will be fascinated by this family “wall of fame;” family members themselves will be flattered and touched.

Thu, Mar 27, 2008

Atlantic City’s Boardwalk was world-famous long before the advent of casinos in 1978. In fact, Haddon Hall, later the site of Resorts, played a major role in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor.

On December 7, 1941, the Hawaiian military base was attacked. The government found itself in need of another base—fast. The War Department decided to acquire hotels for military quarters, and here on the East Coast, two resort communities offered enough rooms: Miami Beach and Atlantic City.

The military took over 45 of our hotels, paying a $1 a day per room, and Convention Hall—the largest structure of its kind at the time—served as headquarters for the Army’s Basic Training Center No. 7, later known as “Camp Boardwalk.” Atlantic City had been drafted.

By the summer of ’42, Haddon Hall Hotel had been transformed into a general hospital servicing tens of thousands of Army Air Force recruits. In the first five months alone, it treated more than 5,000 patients.

Then came a setback. In September 1944, a hurricane struck, and Haddon Hall had to be evacuated. But the people of Atlantic City sprang into action. Volunteers joined staff, pumping water and removing debris. A month later, the hospital reopened. And by 1945, Thomas England General Hospital had evolved into the nation’s largest hospital, specializing in amputations and neurosurgery. The hospital also trained nurses for hospitals all over the world.

Other hotels including the Claridge and Ritz Carlton were turned into training, rehab and hospital sites. By day, recruits performed battle exercises and calisthenics on the beach; as far as the eye could see, soldiers were on the march to protect our country. At night—known as the “great dim-out”—Boardwalk lights were painted black so ships at sea would not be visible to offshore U-boats. To prevent automobile lights from shining out on the water, light-reducing “baffles” were built at the ends of streets.

In November 1943, the eyes of the free world focused on Atlantic City when it hosted a world peace conference with the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration. Germany surrendered May 7, 1945, and Japan three months later. World War II was over. Soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen began returning home. Those in need of treatment were still sent to Thomas England General Hospital; by June 1946, after treating more than 150,000 soldiers, it closed. Camp Boardwalk was over. It had been one of Atlantic City’s finest hours.

Now the Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce and the New Jersey WWII Memorial Commission are honoring Camp Boardwalk with an event to raise funds for the New Jersey World War II Memorial.

Atlantic City Salutes America’s Heroes: A Benefit for the New Jersey World War II Memorial & The Boardwalk will be held Friday, May 10 at Resorts Atlantic City. Comedian Joe Piscopo and a live band will entertain; Governor Jon Corzine and other invited guests will be on hand to honor our veterans.

Tickets are $125 for the show and a dessert reception, $75 for the show only, $60 for veterans including dessert reception. For more information, contact the Greater Atlantic City Chamber at 609-345-4524 or visit www.acchamber.com.

Thu, Mar 27, 2008

Rolling Stones fans, prepare to get your satisfaction. The Tropicana Casino & Resort kicks off the opening of Shine A Light: The IMAX Experience on April 3 with a midnight pre-screening of the extraordinary musical documentary by Martin Scorsese. Filmed at New York’s Beacon Theatre in 2006, the concert film captures the raw energy of the legendary band.

The kick-off event will start at 11 p.m. with a Mick Jagger and Keith Richards look-alike contest hosted by The Shark 103.7. The winner will receive a complimentary overnight stay at the Tropicana, dinner for two at Fiesta Buffet and two passes to the opening of The Dark Knight, coming to IMAX in July. For tickets, go to the Tropicana box office or call Ticketmaster at 1-800-736-1420.

Now you have another reason to look forward to Saturdays. It’s a Super Saturday Celebration each week as the Atlantic City Aquarium-Ocean Life Center hosts a series of interactive events for the entire family beginning with the live diver feeding show at 11 a.m. You can watch and interact with a diver in full scuba gear as he or she feeds the stingrays and sharks inside the 25,000-gallon tank. At noon, it’s lunchtime for the baby stingrays and bamboo sharks (one of the Aquarium’s newest exhibits), and they feed again at 3 p.m. Visitors can even hand-feed these little wrigglers by purchasing bags of food for $2 ($1 for members).

At 2 p.m. it’s the Aquarium’s new exotic animal show, featuring unusual species from around the globe including the largest scorpion and the softest furry mammal to be found on our planet. The Atlantic City Aquarium is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information, call 609-348-2880 or visit www.acaquarium.com.

Along with spring, the sweet sounds of jazz are in the air, with several events that will get you grooving. On Sunday, April 13 the Pattie Harris Atlantic City Dance Theater and the NJ Shore Arts Association host the Atlantic City Original New Orleans Jazz Brunch. The brunch begins at 11:30 a.m. on the Garden Pier at New Jersey Avenue and the Atlantic City Boardwalk. The event honors Sister Shamus Zehrer. Cover charge is $35. For more information, call 609-345-3091 or 609-345-3235.

You’ll find everything from the smooth sounds of cool jazz to the rocking crescendo of gospel and Dixieland at the 29th Cape May Jazz Festival. Held at locations throughout Cape May, this renowned festival begins on Friday, April 18, and concludes on Sunday, April 20 with a rollicking New Orleans-style all-star jam. The theme this year is “The Next Wave” as the festival showcases the legendary Rippingtons, featuring Russ Freeman. Another highlight is the Cintron Latin Dance Party at Convention Hall. All weekend, there will be plenty of workshops and jam sessions.

Admission varies per event; some are free of charge. For more information and a full schedule including pricing and times, call 609-884-7277 or visit www.capemayjazz.org.

Now in its 23rd year, the annual Doo Dah Parade is an Ocean City institution—and it’s hilarious. This year it’s scheduled for Saturday, April 26 at noon. The “off the wall” brigades will march along Asbury Avenue to the Boardwalk to the delight of onlookers. A highlight of the parade each year is the special Dog Dah division featuring more than 500 Bassett hounds. For more information, call 609-525-9300.

You don’t want to miss Somers Point’s fun-packed 20th annual Bayfest on Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine. With over 14 blocks to stroll, more than 120 crafters, 38 food vendors, 15 children’s activities, five live musical bands, bicycle giveaways and the Euro Bungie (just for daredevils!), Bayfest is the largest single-day festival in South Jersey. It’s held along Bay Avenue in Somers Point. For more information, visit www.somerspointbayfest.com.

On Sunday, April 20, the MAPS Foundation Walk-a-thon and Fun Run will be held on the Atlantic City Boardwalk to raise funds for local people living with multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Registration begins at 9:15 a.m. at Kennedy Plaza opposite Boardwalk Hall. The walk begins at 10 a.m. Minimum donation is $10 per walker and parking is free at Boardwalk Hall. Snacks and drinks will be available to all walkers. The event will be held rain or shine. All money raised goes to help area residents. For information call 609-822-9093 or go to www.mapsfoundationofsj.org.

Want to be a mensch? Why not join thousands of breast cancer patients, survivors, their loved ones and supporters at the Shirley Mae Run and Gilda’s Club Walk, Saturday, May 10 on the Atlantic City Boardwalk? This special event raises money for the financial, medical and emotional support of breast cancer patients of limited means. Online registration is $25 for adults; go to www.shirleymaefund.org. On the day of the event, registration is $30. First-place runners are awarded $750; second-place, $500; and third-place $250.

APRIL EVENTS 

Atlantic City Restaurant Gala April 3, 6:30 p.m. • Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, NJ 609-343-5674 • www.atlantic.edu

Barn Studio Alumni Art Exhibit To April 11 • Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts, 22 N. High Street, Millville NJ 856-327-4500 • www.barnstudio.org

Saxophonist Bobby Watson April 5, 7:30 p.m. (workshop 3 p.m.) Stockton Performing Arts Center Jim Leeds Road, Pomona, NJ 609-652-9000 • www.stockton.edu/pac

Photography Workshops April 7, 14, 21, 28 • Noyes Museum of Art 733 Lily Lake Road, Oceanville, NJ 609-652-8848 • www.noyesmuseum.org

13th Annual Hunger Relief Dinner April 8, 5:30 p.m. • Sea Oaks County Club 99 Golf View Drive, Little Egg Harbor, NJ 609-494-7211 • www.discoversouthernocean.com NWA

Professional Wrestling Showcase April 19, 7 p.m. • Wildwoods Convention Center, 4501 Boardwalk, Wildwood NJ 1-800-736-1420 • www.nwawrestling.com

Earth Day Celebration at Cape May County Park & Zoo April 19, 9 a.m. 5K Run and 11 a.m. 1 Mile Earth Walk (Park) • 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Zoo) 4 Moore Road - DN 801 Cape May Court House, NJ 609-465-5271 • www.capemaycountygov.net

Earth Day Celebration April 20, 12 noon – 4 p.m. • Bayside Center, 520 Bay Ave., Ocean City, NJ 609-525-9285 • www.oceancitychamber.com

Atlantic City Art Center Fundraiser April 24 • New Jersey Avenue and the Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 609-347-5837 • www.acartcenter.org

Cape May Art: “Mediums, Well Done: The World of Victorian Spiritualism” Opens April 25 • Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts, 1048 Washington Street, Cape May NJ 609-884-5404 • www.capemaymac.org

Sensational '60s Weekend April 25 – 27 (times vary) • Wildwoods Con-vention Center, 4501 Boardwalk, Wildwood, NJ 609.729.4000 • www.wildwoodsnj.com

Cape May’s Spring Festival April 25 – May 4 • Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts, 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ 609-884-5404 • www.capemaymac.org

ACUA Earth Day Festival April 27, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. • 6700 Delilah Road, Egg Harbor Township, NJ www.acua.com/earthday

By Dave Bontempo   Thu, Mar 27, 2008

Vince Donlevie savors two views of the Harrah’s Chester, Pennsylvania, gaming machine.

As senior vice president and general manager, he sees an unmatched synergy between racing and gaming. Harrah’s brought the formula to new levels by becoming a national harness-racing powerhouse. Its $500,000 stakes races and strong individual cards lure higher-end racing fans to the casino.

About 70 miles east lies the place where Donlevie first learned his trade. Atlantic City provided his gaming baptism at four properties between 1979 and 1993: Resorts, the Sands, Bally’s and Harrah’s made him a seasoned gaming jockey.

For Dunlevie, the distance between Chester and Atlantic City is a bridge between two eras. In Chester, which built its track in 2006 and had its grand opening in early 2007, he runs a first-class operation. Here, he learned to figuratively break from the gate, keep a fast work pace and keep his property ahead of the competition.

“Atlantic City was just an incredible place, unbelievably intense,” Donlevie says. “You learned very rapidly in that world, because it was extremely competitive. You have to be very strong in going after the customer. You’d think about how to get your piece, how to hold your piece. It was important to think hard about the service experience, making sure you built loyalty and developed long-term customer relationships.”

The experience served him well. Donlevie managed the Resorts bus programs, worked Harrah’s million-call reservation center and became attuned to customer nuance. He listened to patrons, found what they wanted and tailored programs for them.

“There was a lot involved in creating an exceptional environment for our players,” Donlevie says. “From the hotel accommodation to the check-in process, the VIP lounges and the slot tournaments, you needed to perfect every element of the experience and look after them from the start of their journey to the finish.”

The stakes were high in a market spreading its wings. Atlantic City competed nationally with Las Vegas and locally with emerging properties. Donlevie spanned a number of Atlantic City eras: baptism, expansion, the Roaring Eighties, the peak followed by stagnation. It gave him a wealth of tools to use in the future.

“Atlantic City was so dynamic, with so much happening: boxing, the overall growth of the industry, the newness of it all and the excitement of people in the Northeast corridor.

“What I really loved was the depth of the relationships you could make. You became an intimate part of the family in any property you worked at. You knew all the customers; they seemed to know everybody who worked in the casinos. It would go on like that year after year.”

Donlevie’s most significant relationship here was his last one. It developed with the Harrah’s corporation and propelled him across the country. He became vice president of casino operations for Harrah’s Reno, specializing in overseeing slots, table games and the race and sports book. Years later, Harrah’s tapped him for its Pennsylvania project.

The company built a state-of-the-art harness-racing track, the first of its kind in 41 years, plus a simulcast area to complement gaming. The entire property, about the size of a mid-sized Atlantic City casino, features live racing four days a week. The next racing season opens April 20.

Besides the major stakes, Harrah’s will be showcased on the Grand Circuit, a one-day national event highlighting the nation’s top tracks. Television coverage is a coveted de-facto free advertisement, creating demand for the brand, all under the powerful Harrah’s name.

“Our purse for harness racing this year will be in the $200,000 daily range—that’s as strong as anywhere in the country,” Donlevie says. “It enables us to attract the best drivers and put on a world-class harness meet.

“From a marketing perspective, racing helps with a lot of shared play between spouses, with perhaps the husband going for the races and his wife or girlfriend playing the slots. It brings more people in on both sides of the equation.”

Take it from a man who knows the angles.

By   Thu, Mar 27, 2008

Q & A with Marcus Evans, hypnotherapist at the Clinic of Total Relaxation in Bridgeton and Good 4 Life Wellness Center in Hammonton

What is hypnotherapy and how does it work?

Hypnosis is a state of altered consciousness where the brain is functioning below 14 electromagnetic impulses per second. In this state, the mind is highly suggestible.

You say you’ve used hypnotherapy to help boost the win record for Vineland High School’s swim team. Did you hypnotize the swimmers en masse, give them individual tapes to listen to?

I worked with the swim team as a group once a week during the swim season. The form used is called Cybernetics. I taught them to work with themselves every day. The team was undefeated during the 10 years I worked with them.

Must one believe in the benefits of hypnotherapy for it to be effective? In other words, will skepticism get in the way of results?

All of us are skeptical to a point. That’s fine. To totally disbelieve can cause it not to work.

Why do most people see a hypnotherapist—to quit smoking, lose weight, reduce stress, all of the above?

All of the above and more. I’ve worked with panic attacks, bed wetting, better grades, chronic pain… My area of expertise is behavior modification.

How long a commitment must one make to achieve lasting results?

It depends on the client. Normally, smoking is a four-session program. After the initial four sessions, I gradually move the client to a once-a-month program.

Explain the mind-body connection from your perspective.

I took the swimmers, for example, through a swim event in their minds. Afterward, their muscles were tested. The muscle test showed their muscles had been used. If you can ‘see’ it in your mind, you can make it happen.

What kind of credentialing is necessary for hypnotherapy, and how can people find a good practitioner?

The state of New Jersey has no regulations. My suggestion is to call around. Interview the therapist. Make sure you are comfortable with the person before you commit to sessions.

Marcus Evans can be reached at the Clinic of Total Relaxation at 856-453-1808 or through Good 4 Life Wellness Center at 609-704-0082.

SKIN QUESTIONS 

They say beauty’s only skin-deep, but the look, tone and texture of your skin is a vital part of looking (and feeling) your best. Here are some popular skincare remedies and what they can do for you.

FACIALS

Facials feel good, and they’re a great way to relax before preparing for your close-up.In the hands of an experienced esthetician, the regular facial takes about an hour and involves cleansing, massage to stimulate circulation and mild exfoliation. Facials can also be customized for your skin type.

For example, dry skin type might get an extra-hydrating mask, and a facial for acne-prone skin would consist of more extraction than massage (massage may over-stimulate oil production). With every season, facials are a good idea, as they help the skin prepare for dramatic changes in weather.

PHOTOFACIAL

Photofacials do not work with lasers but instead use an intense pulse light, or IPL, to treat redness and discoloration in the skin caused by broken capillaries and hyper-pigmentation. The pulse light breaks apart melanin in the skin and brings it to the surface, where it sloughs off like dead skin. Photofacials require several treatments and are usually followed with microdermabrasion for maximum benefit.

MICRODERMABRASION

Be advised: This ultra-exfoliating procedure feels like a cat has licked your face for 20 minutes! But the benefits outweigh the slight discomfort of the process. A diamond-encrusted tip passes over your face, shearing off dead skin cells and pulling out impurities, leaving your face thoroughly exfoliated. It’s a great maintenance treatment, and can be repeated every 4-6 weeks.

CHEMICAL PEELS

Chemicals peels use acids—mainly derived from fruits—to remove layers of skin from the face, bringing healthy cells to the surface and minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The procedure takes about an hour, and depending on the strength of the peel, up to one week of downtime may be required. It’s always wise to avoid direct exposure to the sun after any skin treatment, but for chemical peels this is especially true.

YOU OLD SMOOTHIE!

Aveda’s island-inspired Caribbean Therapy body scrub transforms skin by exfoliating it with salt and Caribbean cane sugar. Then it softens, smoothes and conditions with coconut, avocado and passionfruit oils. 16 oz. jar, $38

Aveda’s Sun Source self-tanner for face and body contains vitamins, antioxidants and natural moisturizers to make you look sun-kissed in just 2-3 hours. Natural softeners include aloe, avocado, almond and sesame oil extracts. $16.50 per tube

By Dave Bontempo   Thu, Mar 27, 2008

A dynamite doubleheader awaits boxing fans April 12. Boardwalk Hall, under the Caesars banner, presents a billing stuffed with irony and opportunity. It will command the eyes of the boxing world, the pockets of casino gamblers, the tables of nearby properties and the interest of a worldwide television audience.

Miguel Cotto defends his WBA welterweight title against Alphonso Gomez, and Kermit Cintron puts up his IBF welterweight crown against a man who previously beat him, Antonio Margarito.

That fight defines the irony. Margarito knocked Cintron out in a 2005 title bout, only to lose his crown and watch Cintron get a different championship. Who has the edge in this rematch—the champion, or the person who remembers scoring a knockout win?

Cotto, one of boxing’s superstars, brings a fanatical following. The 2000 Olympic representative for Puerto Rico sold out fabled Madison Square Garden in a victory over Zab Judah last June. He followed with a narrow victory there over Shane Mosley in November. His bout against Gomez completes a card furnished by Atlantic City’s fight maestro, Ken Condon.

Condon, formerly Bally’s Atlantic City chief executive, delivers this event in his new consultant’s role for all four Harrah’s properties. With up to 12,000 seats, this fight should connect with fans, major population centers and gamblers.

“Cotto has enjoyed a fine career fighting between New York and Atlantic City,” Condon says. “We’re also delighted about having Cintron (a Reading native), who for several years has enjoyed a good Atlantic City following. All four fighters, in fact, have great Atlantic City exposure. Everybody wants to see these fights.”

Condon ensured the participation of Bally’s, Showboat and Harrah’s Atlantic City along with Caesars before making this deal. Atlantic City’s casino quartet may soon redefine how boxing originates here.

In the meantime, this fight will get a lot of interest. Cotto, 31-0 with 25 knockouts, had one of his stiffest career tests in Atlantic City in 2005. He was dropped early by Ricardo Torres, but rallied to knock him out. Cotto also owns a 2006 title victory over Carlos Quintana in Atlantic City.

His opponent is a real-life Rocky. Gomez rose to prominence through TV’s The Contender, in which he finished third. The reality show, pioneered by boxing great Sugar Ray Leonard, was viewed as nothing more than a novelty. It gave boxing a niche for unheralded fighters, crowned its own champions and gave them the long shot dream of opposing boxing’s top talent.

Gomez changed the perception. He got a career-making opportunity last July, facing Gatti at Boardwalk Hall. The bout was viewed as a shot for Gatti to recapture lost skills and set up one last major fight. In pre-fight billing, Gomez was an asterisk. Yet he improvised his own script with a convincing knockout victory that retired Gatti. The upset further legitimized The Contender and propelled Gomez to another payday against former champion Ben Tackie, which he won. That helped produce this bout. Gomez resembles the gambler making a lifetime fortune on one hot roll. He’s an even bigger underdog now against one of boxing’s elite performers.

“He’s done an excellent job stepping into the limelight,” Condon says. “He should not be regarded lightly.”

Cintron elevated his reputation last July in Atlantic City with a rousing two-round knockout of Walter Mattysse to retain his title. He stands 29-1 with 27 knockouts and seeks to avenge the only loss of his career.

Margarito, 35-5 with 25 knockouts, must take a smaller role than anticipated on this Atlantic City trip. A high-profile showdown against Cotto was all but signed for the Hall before he faced Paul Williams last July in California. Against a tall, stylish lefty, Margarito fell behind early and could not rally. His setback ruined the Cotto matchup. The Mexican native can still make that happen. He must win impressively and hope Cotto does the same. The scenario is possible, but so are others.

 This foursome represents an elite slice of the welterweight division. What happens here will significantly affect boxing’s 147-pound division.

Companion Ticket

Promoters love piggy-backing one event on top of another. Top Rank Inc., which promotes Cotto-Gomez, brings in another bout April 11 at the Tropicana Casino and Resort.

Worldwide media assembled for Cotto can stroll down the Boardwalk and cover the Friday card. The multi-event concept also encourages casinos to target players for a longer period of time.

At the Tropicana, New York welterweight Chris “The Mechanic” Smith takes a 21-4-1 mark with 13 knockouts into a 10-round battle against Jesus Soto-Karass, 19-3-3 with 14 knockouts, from Los Mochis, Mexico.

In the 10-round co-feature, Ben Tackie takes his 29-9-1 mark with 17 knockouts against Henry Bruseles, 26-3-1 with 15 knockouts. The undercard will feature rising regional talent.

A June Jewel

Kelly Pavlik, who became a marquee fighter by knocking out Jermain Taylor here last September, will make a June 7 return. The WBO middleweight champion was set to face Ireland’s John Duddy in New York, but Duddy suffered deep cuts around his left eye and looked defensively inadequate in a February battle in Madison Square Garden.

Without Duddy, New York was much less interested in a Pavlik bout. New York’s loss became a huge Atlantic City gain. Pavlik’s come-from-behind triumph over Taylor was one of boxing’s premier 2007 fights. Atlantic City officials wanted the February rematch, but MGM in Las Vegas entered Godfather mode, making a financial offer that promoters could not refuse.

As for the bout in June, Pavlik will be facing Gary Lockett, the number one contender for the WBO.

Golf Tip of The Month BY MATT CALLAGHAN

 There’s no other club in your bag that is used more than the putter. The short game (chipping and putting) represents 65 percent of the game for most golfers and the majority of that is putting. Yet most golfers spend more time practicing their full swing on the driving range than they dedicate to putting. Becoming a better putter is the fastest way to improve one’s score.

To produce a successful putt, you must: a) roll the ball on the correct path or line, and b) do so at the correct speed. So to help lower your score, put more emphasis on putting. Go to the practice green and try one of these drills:

Pace Drill Purpose: To develop a stroke which can produce a consistent pace for various distances. Description: Place three balls on the putting green. Putt one ball to no particular target, but closely monitor the effort it took to get there. Putt each of the other two balls so they finish the same distance as the first.

Ten-in-a-row: Put tees at one foot increments starting two feet from the hole. Putt progressively from each location trying to make ten in a row. When there is a miss, return to the beginning.

By Robert Rossiello   Thu, Mar 27, 2008

Every good meal needs something to wash it down. Our dining guide would not be complete unless we turned our attention to that one beverage that enhances the culinary experience, wine. Wine is a mysterious elixir that when properly paired can bring out the best in food. From Italy to Argentina, from the south of France to the California coast, civilizations have made a religion out of fermenting grapes to bring forth their subtle properties.

The variety of wines available in this country is impressive, but sometimes when it comes to choosing wine people can be intimidated. So, with the assistance of an expert, we’ve outlined some steps to help you go from amateur to connoisseur.

Shawn Dore is the national education director for the Charmer Sunbelt Group, one of the largest distributors of alcoholic beverages in the country. Originally from Toronto, she ran her own business, Sommelier Services, where she bought wine for restaurants and private collectors, and taught about wine at a culinary college. From 2004 to 2006 she was the Wine Director for Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa. She has developed a program, “Taste Like a Pro,” which she presented at the 2007 Atlantic City Food & Wine Festival.

“I created the program as a quick and easy guide for retailers, but realized it works well for the average wine drinker,” she says. “People get a little intimidated when it comes to developing their taste. I wanted to show them how the pallet works—a guide to sensory adventure.”

The Nose & Taste Buds

Dore says that the key to wine tasting actually resides in your nose, not your mouth. The average person can smell over 2,000 different scents, so our ability to detect the aromas in wine is a critical component of tasting. Your nose can be trained, through practice, to tell you about the wine you are sampling.

Another critical component is the palate, which perceives four basic tastes: sweetness, sourness (acidity), salt and bitterness.

1. Sweetness—perception is on the tip of the tongue. If sweetness is a component within a wine, you will immediately taste it on the top of your tongue.

2. Sourness/Acidity—is sensed on the sides of the tongue and the cheek area. It can be a mouth-watering sensation.

3. Saltiness—perception is located in the upper forward area of the tongue.

4. Bitterness—is identified at the back of the tongue.

Other measurements include:

Body—the weight of the wine in the mouth, be it watery, light, very light, medium, full or very full.

Tannins—the sensation which is created is similar to the effect of black tea. Tannins are mouth-drying and you feel them primarily around the gums.

Alcohol—if a wine has too much alcohol the sensation is heat. Alcohol should be in balance with the other components in the wine.

Sensory Evaluation

Sight is the first sense you use in wine tasting. The color and condition give you the initial insight into the composition of the wine. When examining a wine’s color, hold the glass on a 45-degree angle against a white surface, like a white table cloth, and look closely. Whether the wine is brilliant, clear or cloudy can be your first indication of a fault. The color can tell you about the age, the grape variety and the way the wine was matured.

Different grape varieties have different color. In a wine’s youth the color will be dictated by the grape variety. As white wine ages it gains more intense color. As red wine ages it loses color. White wines range in color from pale yellow, to green, to brown. If a wine is aged in oak this can also affect color.

Smell is the second sense. Your initial smell is for identifying faults. You don’t want to corrupt your sense of smell if the wine is faulted, so this first smell should not be a deep smell but a surface smell.

The next step is to swirl your wine in the glass. Swirling releases the esters and aldehydes which combine with oxygen to yield the bouquet. In other words, swirling rapidly aerates the wine and gives it a better smell.

Then smell again. You have swirled to liberate the aromas of the bouquet, so this time stick your nose in the glass and smell. Short sniffs, one on top of the other, building the smell will help you to identify the smell. There are several terms for identifying scents, such as fruity, earthy, woody, etc. However, the best way to remember what a wine smells like is to develop your own custom wine vocabulary.

Now taste the wine. Without a doubt the most enjoyable portion of the experience, this is where you put your taste buds to work. You have taste buds all over your mouth. They are on both sides of the tongue, underneath the tongue, on the tip of the tongue, extending to the back of the throat. Ideally you want to draw air through your mouth while you taste, and you want the wine to be in contact with all of your taste buds.

While tasting, think about the wine’s sweetness, acidity and tannins. Think about the body. Do you like this wine? Is the wine balanced? These are some of the factors you should consider to determine if the wine is right for you.

Ultimate Dinner Date

Wine can be enjoyed on its own, of course, but serving it with food can elevate it to a new level. When it comes to choosing wines, Dore says to be adventurous.

“Don’t stick to what the magazines say, or the latest trend. Buy what you like and experiment with varieties.”

The simple rule of pairing red wine with meat and pasta and white wine with fish or poultry is meant to be broken. What is more important than the main course are the vegetables and sauce.

“Vegetables can bring a sweetness, acidity or bitterness to your taste buds, so its important to find the right wine with those components. The key is to find harmony—a good marriage of every aspect of the meal.”

As for introducing new wines, Dore has the solution to the ultimate dinner party. Invite friends to dinner and have each of them bring a wine from a different region of the world. Guests can do a presentation on the region, climate or grapes from information gathered on the internet. Then everyone can try the wine and discuss what they think. It’s the perfect way to keep the conversation going while introducing new wines.

Storing Wine

Ninety percent of wines are meant to be drunk within one to two years. Most wines will benefit by being slightly aged, but any wine that is kept for a long time needs to be stored under the right conditions or it can spoil. Using a wine cooler or cellar that captures the humidity helps preserve the wine at optimum temperature. It is also important that no light or vibrations disturb the bottles.

Most wines fare best at 55 degrees fahrenheit. Historically, room temperature was estimated at 60 degrees (pre-heating), so wines were traditionally served cooler. Wine served at the optimum temperature brings out the fruit quality and aromatics. However, the modern refrigerator is too cold for most wines, causing it to lose aromatics. A good recommendation is to take the wine out about 20 minutes before serving to let it warm.

By Frank Legato   Thu, Mar 27, 2008

Managing the food and beverage operation at Caesars Atlantic City is no small task. Food and Beverage Director Wil Lee and Executive Chef Joseph Giunta oversee a total of 15 kitchens and 1,100 employees serving the property’s 10 restaurants and employee cafeteria. Lee and Giunta met last month with Casino Connection Editor Frank Legato to discuss the growing importance of fine dining as part of a casino resort’s list of amenities. To hear a full version of this interview, go to www.casinoconnectionac.com and click on the button for Boardwalk Podcast.

Casino Connection: Fine dining has always been a major part of the casino experience. How has the cuisine evolved in Atlantic City, and what are some of the new trends taking place in restaurants?

Wil Lee: If you look at Atlantic City even back in the 1980s, people used to get dressed up in their suits and fancy dresses to come out to the casinos and have their fine dining experience. As we have started moving into a more global cuisine, you find that people are starting to have a little more of a relaxed environment. You want people to be comfortable in their environment, so when you walk into a fine dining establishment, no longer do you have to be dressed to the hilt.

Our food is moving toward a lot less pretentiousness. We’re trying to stay away from the heavy sauces, we’re trying to focus on more regionally grown ingredients. We also focus on more of the global cuisine. There are many varied ethnic groups in Atlantic City, and in our feeder markets of New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. With those ethnic diversities, cuisine has reached a more global crescendo.

Do you find yourself having to adapt to changing trends in the area of culinary tastes?

Joseph Giunta: Absolutely. TV has opened up a world of new flavors, so to speak, for our guests. And, they’ve become much more dining-savvy. That’s a great thing for us, because now we get to explore some of those areas which even five years ago were considered outrageous or over the top. Now, pretty much anything can go. We try to explore, and we try to focus on regional ethnic selections with flavors true to their origin, and try to work on big, bold flavors, which our guests, having seen (the foods) on TV, can see are not too far-fetched for them.

In addition to the high-end outlets, there seems to have been a resurgence in casual dining with the appearance of food courts and other less formal outlets. Do you see this trend continuing?

WL: At this point, if we look at our own families and our own lives, time is at a premium. I think the dining experience of sitting two or three hours in a restaurant is probably long gone. Many of the dining experiences are quickly turned around, within a 30-minute period. They want a quick-service experience, but also with great food. Whether it’s in Mia, or at Kwi, our noodle bar, we want to know that it’s going to be good, and healthy for you, as well as a fast experience, where you can pretty much come in and out without having to worry about staying in one place. Those have become incredibly successful here in Atlantic City, and we will probably see more of those types of operation coming up soon.

At Harrah’s, we recently opened up A Taste of the Shore, with a Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, a sub shop, and some pizza as well, all with very quick service.

How do you see the buffet fitting into the overall F&B mix? Do you see more high-end buffet outlets playing a role?

JG: Yes, I believe buffets will continue to play an important role in casino food operations. Just look at what’s been done at Showboat with the French Quarter Buffet and Harrah’s Waterfront Buffet. They are spectacular buffets. The difference from the past is that the food is no longer going to be prepared in a banquet kitchen, where it’s sitting in chafing dishes waiting to be served, maybe not at its freshness peak. Moving forward, (buffets) will be more chef-driven dining experiences—small portions, prepared right in front of you—in which it will continue to be much more personalized.

The other aspect of that is that instead of very recognizable comfort foods, buffets are digging into a little more diverse cuisine—cuisine from Spain, from Asia, from Italy.

Where do you recruit your employees? What is the typical path an employee will take to work his or her way up?

WL: Here at Harrah’s, we have a tremendous recruitment center that we opened a year and a half ago located at Bally’s. We also want to look at world-class areas for recruitment. In the culinary aspect, we recruit from the Culinary Institute, Indianapolis and New York. We also work through Johnson & Wales—we have a recruitment program directly with them. We also work tremendously with Local 54. They have a great apprenticeship program, in which they have individuals work on our culinary team. We partner with Atlantic Cape Community College as well. So our outreach is extensive, from here to New York through to California, even into Hawaii. We have a great company, and we have a great team to find the best possible people.

Food is only one component of the dining experience. What are the most important other components?

WL: When you look at the overall food experience, I think all of us can count our best food experiences on one hand. It’s not about price; it’s not about a lot of the other things we’d normally consider, but we consider that with guest recognition, the ambience, the service, the style, and being able to make you feel part of the family.

What would you say is the jewel among restaurants at Caesars Atlantic City?

JG: We consider several of our restaurants as jewels. If you want a very simple Italian meal that most of our local southern New Jersey employees long for, Primavera is a jewel. Nero’s is a great steakhouse. We serve prime steaks, and the freshest seafood we can buy. Mia is a wonderful restaurant, with a celebrity-chef background with Georges Perrier and Chris Scarduzio. I think Wil’s and my favorite restaurant is our noodle bar, Kwi. If you want to talk about staying fit, there is no butter, no cream, no fat used in that cuisine. We eat healthy vegetables every day down there. The flavors are across the whole Asian world, from Vietnam to Singapore to China. We love eating down there. That’s a jewel to our Asian guests. We have several different jewels.

Atlantic City is striving to become a dining mecca to rival Las Vegas, South Beach, New York—all the top tourist destinations. Has it fulfilled that promise?

WL: Those are some great cities, and I’ve been blessed to work in every single one of those cities and experience all the food they have to offer. Atlantic City is quickly on its way to that world-class cuisine. Where else within a half-mile radius can you get Chinese, to steak, to Bobby Flay, to McCormick & Schmidt?

With more casinos coming on board, we will only make the entire region that much better. We look forward to Atlantic City being the dining mecca of the East Coast, and probably one of the crown jewels very soon, surpassing some of those others.

By Casino Connection Staff   Thu, Mar 27, 2008

"This actually is something I know something about."
—New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, former Goldman Sachs chair, on tightening credit markets that are pinching casino investors

"From where you sit, it could either be a horse subsidy bill or a casino insurance bill."
—New Jersey Senator Jim Whelan, speaking in support of a bill under which Atlantic City casinos will subsidize New Jersey racetracks in exchange for a pledge by the tracks not to pursue video lottery terminals

"Floridians are so starved for gambling, they're willing to go to a casino without odds-friendly table games to pour their money into cash-hungry machines. People here even pay for drinks… in a casino! The horror."
—Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell, on the success of the Seminole Hard Rock’s new Class III games

"Most believe we are the canary in the mineshaft with regard to detecting point-shaving and fixing of games."
—Frank Fahrenkopf, president and CEO of the American Gaming Association, to Stephens Media, on why the NCAA no longer considers banning wagering on college sports a priority

By Casino Connection Staff   Thu, Mar 27, 2008

Gaming issues could be left dangling in New York following Governor Eliot Spitzer’s resignation. Spitzer quit following revelations he may have violated federal law by moving money to a high-priced prostitution ring.

Lieutenant Governor David A. Paterson has replaced Spitzer and will be involved in choosing a slot-machine operator for the state-owned Aqueduct racetrack, run by the New York Racing Association. He must also appoint several members of NYRA’s new board.

Paterson also faces the controversial question of allowing slots at NYRA’s Belmont Park, and he might have to deal with the threatened June shutdown of the New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation, whose wagers provide significant NYRA revenue.

“I kind of feel like the student who’s getting ready for the final exam but didn’t attend any classes,” Paterson said. He was referring to his immediate chore—getting up to speed on a complex state budget due April 1—but the remark applies to gaming issues as well.

The Aqueduct slot choice was planned for mid-March, when legislative leaders and Spitzer agreed on a 25-year extension of NYRA’s franchise to run three state-owned tracks, including Saratoga Springs. NYRA was due in court March 19 for a confirmation hearing on its plan to emerge from bankruptcy; franchise legislation crucial to its reorganization will stand, but documents necessary to the court’s approval were still being ironed out when Spitzer resigned.

Another complicating factor is Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno’s constitutional ascendancy to “acting lieutenant governor.” Lieutenant governors have little power, and Bruno is not used to that. As a Republican Senate leader, he often warred with Spitzer, who was also noted for a combative style.

The two recently came to terms on Belmont slots as Spitzer drafted his budget. Bruno spokesman Scott Reif said Bruno accepted the Executive Budget recommendation of $250 million to the state “for the sale of racetrack real estate and the rights to operate VLTs at Belmont.”

But Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver strongly opposes gaming at Belmont; ongoing negotiations involving Paterson will test Silver’s legislative power.

The Aqueduct slot decision “by law, requires approval by the Assembly speaker, Senate leader, and the governor,” says Bennett Liebman of the Albany Law School’s Racing and Wagering Law Program. “There could be a significant delay with the possibility that a new governor may take a longer look at that.”

By Casino Connection Staff   Thu, Mar 27, 2008

With a new mayor, Michael Nutter, and a nine-person planning commission that includes eight new members, city government in Philadelphia seems to be growing more and more skeptical about casino development along the Delaware River.

Though City Council’s rules committee is actively considering a commercial entertainment district for the upcoming Foxwoods casino, Councilman W. Wilson Goode Jr. conceded that Nutter’s approach is “a radical change on how we commit to doing development.”

Council members have voiced concerns about the project’s impact on traffic in the area and the operations of the port. Foxwoods General Manager James L. Dougherty says the company is willing to invest $7 million for traffic improvements, wider walkways and extra turning lanes, leaving “no reasonable justification for further delays” of the project.

Last year City Council tried to delay construction or even move the $560 million slots parlor, forcing Foxwoods to seek a zoning change. City Councilman Frank DiCicco last month offered a bill to provide Foxwoods its zoning only if it met a list of stringent conditions regarding impact to traffic, the environment and local economy.

The state Supreme Court ruled last fall that the city was obstructive in holding up Philadelphia’s other planned slots project, SugarHouse Casino. Last month, Nutter revoked SugarHouse’s license to evaluate if a 5,500-machine slot parlor is the best use of the Fishtown-Northern Liberties property. He told SugarHouse to reapply so the city could conduct a new study of a casino’s effect on waterfront infrastructure, roadways, storm water and traffic.

In a statement, SugarHouse responded that it expects the city, “regardless of a change in administration, to honor all of its contractual obligations.”

By Casino Connection Staff   Thu, Mar 27, 2008

John M. “Jack” Gallaway, a respected gaming industry executive, died last week after a long battle with cancer.

Gallaway was one of the first executives to recognize that gaming was only part of the equation in a casino resort. The transformation of the Tropicana to TropWorld occurred under his tenure as president. While less than successful at the time, it demonstrated Gallaway’s vision and understanding of the future of the gaming industry.

He was also recognized for launching one of the first loyalty programs at the Tropicana and Isle of Capri Casinos, where he was president from 1996 to 2003.

Gallaway’s greatest contribution to gaming, however, was directing the growth of his companies. At the Tropicana, the resort doubled in size between 1984 and 1990. At the Isle, the company went from three properties to 17 at his retirement. For his employees, Gallaway tried to keep it simple. His mantra was “It’s a people business, and you might as well have fun doing it.”

By Casino Connection Staff   Thu, Mar 27, 2008

New Jersey’s partial smoking ban, blamed by many for the casino industry’s first-ever revenue decline last year, may soon be imposed in competing states including Pennsylvania and Connecticut. And that could be great news for Atlantic City.

The Casino Association of New Jersey says smoking restrictions in Pennsylvania and at tribal casinos in Connecticut could help “level the playing field” and bring more players back to the shore.

In 2007, Atlantic City banned smoking on 75 percent of the casino floor. That ban, plus extra competition from Pennsylvania’s new slot parlors, was blamed for a 5.7 percent decline in Atlantic City gaming revenue last year.

In Connecticut, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal supports an extension of the ban for bars and restaurants that would include the tribal Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos. The tribes say such a move would infringe on tribal sovereignty.

Pennsylvania legislators could enact a full or partial smoking ban as early as May, and casino representatives in the Keystone State are up in arms, saying a ban could cause double-digit revenues drops and workforce layoffs.

“If this legislation… is passed without an exemption for casinos, it would severely hinder our ability to continue our early success and our role as an economic development engine for western Pennsylvania,” said Mike Jeannot, administrator at the Washington County track The Meadows. He added that his casino must compete with those in West Virginia that not only allow smoking, but have recently added poker and other table games.

Thu, Mar 27, 2008

Atlantic City is the home of the Oasis Drop Center. There, drug users exchange dirty drug needles for new ones. The new needles are paid for by taxpayers; even casino patrons contribute to the $50,000 in annual tax revenue Atlantic City gives Oasis to support drug habits.

Both state tax grants and city tax revenues fund the Oasis program, presenting an interesting dichotomy: it is illegal to possess hypodermic needles in New Jersey, yet it is legal to bring needles to Oasis. Here we have government talking out of both sides of its mouth: “Intravenous drugs and needles are illegal (psst, go to Oasis Drug Needle Drop Center for free needles, cookers and accessories).”

The dichotomy becomes worse when we look at the needle exchange’s effect on young people. The D.A.R.E. program (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) goes to public schools teaching that drugs are bad. School administrators and government policies have created drug-free school zones. What happens when Oasis’ “public health” officials want to present their free drug needle program to schoolchildren?

In addition to needles, Oasis hands out drug paraphernalia, including free cookers and cleaning materials. Everything short of the heroine rock is available, free, at Oasis.

The needle exchange clientele is not limited to Atlantic City residents. IV drug users come from near and far to avail themselves of the free goodies. Atlantic City is in this way the IV drug destination of New Jersey.

Most people coming to Atlantic City take a gamble at some point during their trip. The Atlantic City government has ensured that casino visitors both gamble their own money, and pay for the needles of intravenous drug users who are gambling with their lives.

The needle exchange program—supposedly an attempt to improve the public health—is part of a growing hypocrisy in government. Our city government subsists on a diet of tax money to cure AIDS and hepatitis for breakfast, tax money to cure poverty and housing problems for lunch, and tax money to give free vacations, vehicles and cell phones to employees for dinner. Throw in the many variations of President Hoover’s “a chicken in every pot” promise for dessert, and we have a gluttonous, unbalanced $205 million budget. Atlantic City’s government is too big and over-reaching.

New casino, hotel, entertainment and real estate developments are broadening Atlantic City’s appeal and improving the quality of life. Unfortunately, programs like free needle and paraphernalia distribution give new meaning to the city’s status as an all-purpose destination resort.

By Casino Connection Staff   Thu, Mar 27, 2008

The casino industry has given Atlantic City Race Course its best opportunity in years to revive an extended live meet schedule.

A new three-year, $90 million purse supplement will benefit New Jersey racetracks while keeping VLTs, which threaten casinos, out of the racing establishments. Atlantic City Race Course did not receive any of the $86 million casinos gave racetracks in a prior four-year agreement. But the New Jersey Racing Commission, which awarded Atlantic City a six-day live meet for 2008 in order to retain its simulcast license, indicated the track must have an expanded schedule in 2009. That means Atlantic City must receive some of the new purse supplement money or its upcoming meet, which begins April 23, will be its last.

The track has faced extinction several times before and remained afloat. The good news here is that state racing officials, primarily the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, will determine Atlantic City Race Course’s future. The track has good relationships with the authority and the state racing commission.

Atlantic City Race Course President Maureen Bugdon says the track has considered applying for 20 racing dates in 2009. They would either occur right before the Monmouth Park meet, presumably opening in May, or book-end the Monmouth meet with 10 dates before and 10 immediately after.

“This is a great track, which people have long loved,” Bugdon says. “Last year, with no advertising, and in mid-week, we drew 6,000 fans to our races. It would be awesome for us to have an extended meet once again.”

Atlantic City’s 63rd season runs April 23-25, April 30, May 1 and 2. Post times are expected to be at 3 p.m. with eight turf races per card.

By Casino Connection Staff   Thu, Mar 27, 2008

Trump Resorts is now offering shuttle service to and from its three Atlantic City casinos from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. Like shuttles to and from Resorts and its sister property, the Hilton, the Trump shuttles are provided in partnership with the Atlantic City Jitney Association. When Harrah’s Entertainment opted to offer its own shuttle service, it prompted a legal showdown in City Council that would have barred casinos from competing with the jitney business. The measure failed in November.

Jitneys have served as a mass transit staple since 1915; the name derives from a onetime slang word for nickel. Riders can catch the Trump One jitney at Trump Taj Mahal 20 minutes before the hour, at Trump Marina on the hour, and at Trump Plaza 20 minutes after the hour.

The service is free for Trump One cardholders with executive and chairman membership status. Visit any Rewards Center kiosk to print your ticket.

By Casino Connection Staff   Thu, Mar 27, 2008

The Senate Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee last month unanimously approved state Senator Jim Whelan’s bill to allow casinos to briefly self-regulate if the state closes, as it did for three days in July 2006.

That shutdown—the result of government’s failure to approve a budget on time—cost the casinos about $50 million at the height of the tourist season. Casino workers lost $10 million in earnings; the state lost $3 million in casino taxes.

As a guarantee of fair play, the bill would give the governor the right to suspend casino licenses for “serious violations of any state statute, regulation or policy” if the casinos had to run themselves.

Another bill would make casino employees “essential” workers, and therefore unaffected by an emergency shutdown. But Corzine’s press secretary made light of it.

“Emergencies are things like acts of God, insurrections, things like that,” said Lilo Stainton. “It's hard to make an argument that the revenue of casinos is essential to the health and welfare of the state.”

By Casino Connection Staff   Thu, Mar 27, 2008

A bill that would require Atlantic City to get state approval before it sells Bader Field passed unanimously in the New Jersey Senate last month.

The bill, which swept through 38-0 with a single abstention, would require state approval of any transactions of at least $50 million, or any transaction that amounts to more than a town’s previous annual budget. The 143-acre former airport has been valued at about $1 billion, and is considered one of the most desirable undeveloped tracts on the East Coast.

Bill sponsor Senator Jim Whelan said the measure enables state officials to review all large-scale transactions. But the former Atlantic City mayor also pointed to the city’s recent history of government corruption and instability.

Since late 2006, several City Council members have resigned after taking bribes. Former City Council President Craig Callaway is behind bars for peddling access to Bader Field. Former Mayor Bob Levy, a Vietnam veteran, resigned in disgrace after admitting he lied about his military record to collect extra government benefits.

Despite that disturbing history, the oversight measure is unpopular among Atlantic City officials, who charged the state with trying to usurp their power to sell Bader Field; Mayor Scott Evans accused Whelan of trying to secure Bader Field for casino mogul Steve Wynn.

The city had mulled an offer from Penn National Gaming to buy Bader Field for $800 million; the deal would provide $50 million upfront for local tax relief, but exclude an open bidding contest. CRDA Executive Director Tom Carver blew his stack when he heard about the offer. Carver accused the operator of “trying to wrest control of the most valuable piece of real estate on the East Coast of the United States” and “subverting an open, honest and decent process.”

The Whelan bill would be retroactive to March 1, and would virtually undo the Penn National Gaming offer as it was initially proposed.

By Casino Connection Staff   Thu, Mar 27, 2008

Governor Jon Corzine is optimistic that Pinnacle Entertainment will not pull out of Atlantic City, despite a headline-grabbing slowdown in the credit market—and a headline-making statement by Pinnacle Chairman Dan Lee.

“Markets go up and down,” Corzine told the Associated Press. “Whether it be six months from now, a year from now… we certainly hope the markets provide windows of opportunity.”

A second fourth-quarter earnings loss, plus steep development costs and a weakening credit market, prompted Lee to question aloud the timetable for the company’s $1.5 billion Atlantic City investment.

“I’ve been asked by a lot of people, ‘How the hell are you going to build in Atlantic City?’” Lee said during a conference call with investors last month. “The answer is, if credit markets don't improve, we won't build.” He quickly added that plans for the casino resort on the site of the old Sands Casino Hotel have not been shelved, and he has no plans to sell the oceanfront property.

“It's a big part of this company’s future,” Lee said. “And we do think the credit markets will improve. And frankly, what we have designed for Atlantic City is pretty spectacular.”

Pinnacle bought the Sands in 2006 for $270 million and imploded the structure last fall to make way for the new mega-resort. The company hoped to begin construction in 2008 and open in 2011. It then revised the schedule to open in late 2011 or early 2012.

In an indication of long-term confidence, CEO Kim Townsend of Pinnacle Atlantic City says the company will continue to acquire surrounding land to boost the size of its development site from 18 to 25 acres, so the company will have “a spectacular property on the largest canvas possible.”

Also erring on the side of caution these days is the Atlantic City Hilton, which just put the brakes on a planned $1 billion expansion. Some have wondered how Revel Entertainment, in the ground with a $2 billion casino project next to Showboat, will get permanent financing. Kevin DeSanctis, Revel’s chairman, says the company has lined up interim financing to begin construction, but will wait until the credit crisis abates before locking into permanent financing agreements.

Meanwhile, MGM Mirage has no plans to stop its proposed $5 billion gambling resort next to Borgata, which it co-owns with Boyd Gaming. MGM plans to spend $80 million on development plans this year and break ground in early 2009.

“Credit markets are tight, but we have an incredibly strong balance sheet and are confident of our ability to get project financing,” says MGM spokesman Alan Feldman.

Corzine thinks both projects are on solid ground. “I know quite a bit about the financing plans of MGM; they’re pretty secure. I think Revel’s pretty secure," he said.

The Sands’ self-parking garage on Kentucky Avenue is scheduled for demolition this month, and the casino’s valet parking garage on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard will be razed sometime this summer.

Neither demolition will match the spectacular October 2007 casino implosion, which attracted 100,000 cheering onlookers and media from around the world.

Also past tense: the well-known “people-mover,” a moving walkway that shuttled casino patrons between the Boardwalk and old Sands and Claridge casinos. It is scheduled to be quietly dismantled in early April.

By Casino Connection Staff   Thu, Mar 27, 2008

Let the good times roll. Atlantic City’s 10-month revenue dip ended in February, when gaming returns rose 1.5 percent to more than $380 million, according to the state Casino Control Commission. (See page 12.)

In keeping with recent trends, slot revenues rose less than one percent to $264 million, while table games jumped almost 5 percent to $119 million. Some observers attribute the gain to the fact that it’s Leap Year, and gamblers had an extra day to contribute to Atlantic City coffers.

By Casino Connection Staff   Thu, Mar 27, 2008

A new bidder for the Tropicana Casino Hotel went public late last month: Gomes+Cordish, an alliance of former Trop president Dennis Gomes (onetime president of the Casino Association of New Jersey) and Baltimore-based developer Cordish Company, which developed the Walk retail center in Atlantic City. Details of the latest bid were not public at press time.

A host of big names declined to bid on Tropicana, perhaps due to uncertainty in the credit market. They include Harrah’s Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National Gaming, Pinnacle Entertainment and Mohegan Sun. Cape May hotelier and former CRDA head Curtis Bashaw also passed.

The casino resort went up for sale in December when the Casino Control Commission stripped former owner Columbia Sussex Corp. of its license, citing poor performance and regulatory non-compliance. By law, Tropicana must be sold within 120 days of the December 12 denial, but the CCC can extend the deadline if necessary.

Analysts originally set Tropicana’s asking price at $1 billion, but the recent credit crunch—including the meltdown at Bear Stearns, which is fielding offers for the Tropicana—may deflate those expectations.

By Casino Connection Staff   Thu, Mar 27, 2008

Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump and Governor Jon Corzine were to be among the luminaries at a ceremonial topping-off March 31 to mark the final phase of construction at the Tower at Trump Taj Mahal.

The $250 million, 40-story tower, expected to open in June, will add more than 750 rooms, including 70 suites with ocean views, to the Taj.

“As the Atlantic City market has been changing, we want to position ourselves at the highest end,” says Taj General Manager Rosalind Krause. “More luxurious gaming areas are a significant face-lift and we are really proud of the product we are developing.”

With the upcoming debut of the Trump tower and the recent unveiling of Harrah’s new Waterfront Tower, Atlantic City is one giant step closer to becoming a resort destination to rival Sin City.

“We are on the right track to tell Las Vegas and any other competing resort destination, ‘Stand by, Atlantic City is on its way,’” said Corzine, who helped cut the ribbon at Harrah’s grand opening ceremony March 6. “This renaissance, this transformation, is in place and is moving.”

The Waterfront Tower is the latest—and to date, the tallest—addition to Atlantic City’s ever-evolving skyline. A gleaming blue glass structure with 960 rooms, it includes high-end retail, restaurants and nightclubs and a tropical-themed pool under a glass dome. It’s the culmination of a $550 million expansion for the casino, and other operators are keeping pace.

Borgata, considered the prototype for successful operation in Atlantic City, will open its sister property, the $400 million Water Club hotel this June, adding 800 rooms in a boutique-style hotel. Also upcoming: a 330-room luxury non-casino hotel called the Chelsea, slated to open this summer on the Boardwalk.

“The lesson in Atlantic City continues to be that if you invest and you add hotel rooms and fine-quality amenities, you will do well. And if you don’t, you have a hard time,” said Harrah’s Chairman Gary Loveman at the Waterfront Tower opening. “The arrival of this tower today, and the one at the Taj Mahal and the Borgata, will enhance the ability of the city to meaningfully compete for the convention and meeting business.”

Thu, Mar 27, 2008

It’s a tradition we started last year, and I’m happy to say that this year’s Second Annual Marketing Review, held March 18 at the Atlantic City Convention Center, was just as successful. The Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority invited industry leaders and ACCVA marketing partners to review the successes of 2007 and hear what the authority has planned for the future.

Since not everyone could attend that meeting, let’s reiterate our past successes and future goals here. We all know that 2007 was a very challenging year for Atlantic City. But while the environment is changing, I think the ACCVA staff and Atlantic City as a whole are rising to the challenge in a host of important areas.

Convention Development

The ACCVA’s Convention Development Department enjoyed major successes in 2007. Bookings of future conventions, trade shows and meetings have all increased thanks to the hard work of our dedicated staff. Estimated room nights generated in 2007 for future dates increased by 32 percent as compared to 2006. Delegate spending was also up by 51 percent, and attendance increased by 42 percent. Booked in 2007, future delegate spending will be more than $171 million. Convention development is a forward-thinking business. The future is definitely bright because these large increases show that the convention center business in Atlantic City is growing.

For 2008, Vice President of Convention Development Gary Musich and his sales team are looking to grow convention business by 5 percent and hotel-based convention room nights by one-fifth. Convention Development also projects a 40 percent growth in convention center square footage sold. To accomplish this, they will renew their efforts in New York and Atlanta.

Also, with the reopening of the ACCVA’s Washington, D.C., office, the Convention Development Department projects a 15 percent growth in leads generated out of that market. We will continue to optimize internet marketing targeted to group buyers with the redesigned www.meetinac.com as the total meeting resource.

Marketing and Media Relations

As vice president of marketing, Maureen Siman also related many successes in 2007. Maureen oversees many departments: Media Relations, Tourism, Graphic Services, E-marketing, Golf Marketing, Visitor Services and Marketing Partnership.

Let’s begin with Media Relations. By working with individual media inquiries and visits, four familiarization group tours, our annual New York City media event and outreach to major news outlets, this department helped generate a tremendous amount of interest in Atlantic City. In 2007, the department hosted 45 members of the media, which helped account for the 533 articles written about Atlantic City—that includes 43 million in print circulation and nearly 85 million online.

Among other goals for 2008, Media Relations will aggressively seek coverage for Atlantic City by expanding outreach to Washington, D.C., the Baltimore metropolitan area, central Pennsylvania and southern New England with the help of its public relations agency, Lou Hammond & Associates.

Membership in the ACCVA’s Marketing Partnership program increased dramatically in 2007. We signed 70 new members in 2007, an increase of almost 20 percent. And we will continue to offer enhanced services to our partners including educational seminars, networking events, mailings and cooperative advertising opportunities.

Tourism

Tourism will continue to educate the motor coach market, group tour leaders, multicultural tour operators and niche markets about Atlantic City in 2008. One of the most exciting projects we’re working on is the new Visitor Profile Study currently under way. Results will be released later this year. We’re in the planning stages of an Atlantic City Restaurant Week for 2009. Also in 2009, the Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Championships at Boardwalk Hall will continue, to the delight of all involved.

The ACCVA has made tremendous strides in promoting the area as a golf destination by continuing to market the Greater Atlantic City Golf Association (www.gacga.com). In 2007, there were 13,587 total rounds booked through the GACGA—that’s an increase of 16.6 percent over 2006 and includes 11,079 package rounds and 2,508 tee time-only rounds. We will continue to maximize our new role to help promote Atlantic City as a great golf destination in 2008.

The Visitors Centers on the Atlantic City Expressway and on the Boardwalk at Boardwalk Hall had 174,000 visitors walk through the doors, as opposed to only 166,000 in 2006. Inquiries by e-mail increased to 61,000 over 43,000 the previous year.

Our website, www.atlanticcitynj.com, also saw an increase in visitors by 10 percent. Of those who visited the website, nearly 1.6 million people soon came for a visit, an increase of 18 percent compared to 2006.

Among the many awards the ACCVA and Boardwalk Hall garnered in 2007 are a few that mean the most because they come from the public and the media. They include the readers of the Baltimore Sun who agreed Atlantic City has one of the Best Boardwalks. Sherman’s Travel named Atlantic City one of its Top 10 Gambling Getaways. And Billboard Magazine named Boardwalk Hall the highest-grossing mid-size arena in North America, the third highest in the world. No wonder Atlantic City is the fourth most-visited destination in the United States.

Thu, Mar 27, 2008

Our industry is at a critical juncture. On one hand, the future is bright, with billions of dollars in investments over the next several years, and billions more planned over a slightly longer time frame. These investments will transform Atlantic City into a true destination resort, the capital of East Coast gaming and entertainment.

At the same time, our industry faces some serious economic challenges. Last year we experienced the first revenue decline in our 29-year history, primarily due to competition from Philadelphia racinos. In the midst of these struggles, our industry has been asked to provide a $90 million subsidy to the horse racing industry over the next three years.

At this juncture of short-term difficulties and long-term success, the Casino Association of New Jersey believes it’s imperative for our state’s elected leaders to ensure that this incredible opportunity to take Atlantic City to a higher level is not squandered.

We suggest the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategic plan that, in the short term, helps the casino industry regain its momentum in the face of the current challenges. The long-term objective is to maintain a stable economic and regulatory environment to spur the continued investment we need to reinvigorate our industry.

We suggest several legislative initiatives to jump-start this process:

Tax Incentives. To help the industry address the current challenges, legislation was conceived that would allow licensed casino operators to take a tax deduction for certain promotional gaming offers or cash offers that we provide to our customers to encourage increased visitation to our casinos, particularly now that they have other options.

Currently, we are required to pay the 8 percent gross gaming revenue tax on these offers, even though they’re only promotional credits to our customers. Other gaming jurisdictions, notably Nevada, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Mississippi and Michigan, do not tax these credits in this way. This change will permit us to market more aggressively, particularly to customers we’ve lost to Pennsylvania.

OTW facilities. We also support legislation that would require the expeditious build-out of horse race off-track wagering facilities throughout the state. In 2001, New Jersey lawmakers enacted legislation that permitted 15 OTWs here. Last year, two of these facilities were finally opened and are reportedly doing quite well.

Until New Jersey horse racing takes full advantage of the tremendous opportunity presented to it by this legislature seven years ago, the horse racing industry will not have a sustainable revenue base to support its survival. We suggest that the OTW bill be put on the fast track, given the dire circumstances surrounding the horse race industry and the almost immediate benefits it achieves from these facilities. Our industry will have provided $176 million over a seven-year period by the time the horse race subsidies expire in 2011. With that in mind, we believe this legislation is critical.

Non-closure legislation. With the possibility of another budget impasse, the importance of this legislation cannot be underestimated. Even if there’s not another state shutdown, the mere threat of a budget impasse will likely alter the plans that our customers make for this upcoming July Fourth holiday.

Creation of an independent Atlantic City Convention Center and Tourism Authority. There is pending legislation that would separate the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority from the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. This is advisable, given that the AC market is large enough to justify an independent agency to focus solely on attracting visitors and tourists to our region.

Regulatory Reform. We advocate a comprehensive review and updating of the Casino Control Act and related regulations. The New Jersey regulatory system is one of the most comprehensive in the United States, and we would never support any change that would adversely impact the integrity of the oversight process. Still, the regulatory system needs to remain current to properly reflect operating practices and transparencies that exist in today’s business and financial worlds.

CRDA. Like our industry, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority is at a crossroads. This is an appropriate time to revisit its mission, its priorities and its policies to ensure optimal support for the gaming industry and the state of New Jersey as a whole.

While we’re in a temporary slump, our industry is undoubtedly on the verge of breaking through to the next level and beyond. We believe it is incumbent upon our industry and government at all levels to do what is necessary to ensure that this potential becomes reality.

Thu, Mar 27, 2008

When I first got into writing, back in the dawn of pre-history, we communicated by scrawling crude representations of beasts and bipeds on the inside of caves. We called these drawings petroglyphs, and if you read them backward at twice the speed, you’ll get secret insights of the universe, as well as some handy decorating tips.

Later, we upgraded to hammer and chisel, then to wood-cuts, then to the CompuGraphic 9000 machine, which was as big as a restaurant freezer and as balky as a Sunday mule.

I’m slightly embarrassed to admit that, as each streamlined and time-saving innovation came along, I resisted (a bit like that mule, I’m afraid). I didn’t want to switch from the Gutenberg press to linotype. I didn’t want to advance from pedal power to steam power. And when that big old CompuGraphic was hauled into the composition room at Town Talk Newspapers in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, I said, “No way am I going to set type in blocks! I set type one sentence at a time, and then paste it all together! It just looks better that way!”

It all goes to show you how set in their ways people can become, and how comfortable with the status quo—even when the status quo has exceeded its expiration date.

Today I can happily report that, though I am much older and supposedly more resistant to change, I welcome the great changes at Casino Connection magazine.

First, look at our cover. The talented art and editorial teams here and in Las Vegas joined forces to create a whole new look for the industry’s premiere monthly, with a great new logo and a cover format that I hope you’ll agree is simple but elegant.

What’s inside is even better. We’re enhancing our content to offer even more information each month about your industry—from its innovators and leaders to the rank-and-file—everyone out there on the floor and behind the scenes, making the vision of Atlantic City come true.

Expect to see even more entertainment, lifestyle features, news and opinion, plus the latest in dining, recreation and local fun. Check out our real estate section, with expert tips on managing and maximizing your assets. Take a look at a new monthly department, Mind, Body & Spirit, packed with information to keep you healthy, vigorous and in balance—a must for those in our often-frenetic industry. See our regular contributions from the Casino Association of New Jersey and the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority. Read in-depth monthly interviews with people of note, and don’t miss our sports columns (with the ultimate insider, Dave Bontempo).

We’re also available online at casinoconnection.com and the Casino Connection Blog, the only blog dedicated to the worldwide business of gaming. Each day the experts weigh in on our industry, sparing no sacred cows. Be a guest blogger or post your perspective by clicking on the comment button.

And while you’re looking through the pages of Casino Connection, look for yourself. More and more, we’re going out to meet and talk with the men and women who make this town tick. Have a story idea? Just give a ring. I’ll be happy to take your call.

But don’t call me on the cell phone. I hate those things. They don’t even have a regular ringer. And I can’t figure how to turn up the volume. My kid says I should have one, in case I get lost in the forest. I had a Princess phone once. Powder blue. It was the last phone I really liked.

By Roger Gros   Mon, Mar 10, 2008

By Roger Gros   Wed, May 23, 2007

By Roger Gros   Wed, May 23, 2007

By Frank Legato   Tue, May 22, 2007

By Roger Gros   Tue, May 22, 2007

By Frank Legato   Thu, Mar 01, 2007

By NBC 40 WMGM   Tue, Feb 02, 2010

Convention Center:  Feb 3-7 is the International Power Boat Show. Feb. 20 Spirit Unlimited Cheerleading Competition. February 26th to 28th is the Atlantic City Classic Car Show & Auction.

Boardwalk Hall: February 27 Show of Shows, featuring the Philadelphia Mummers String Band Association, 12:00 noon and 5:00 p.m. in Boardwalk Halls arena. 

February 25 9th Annual Men R Cookin at Atlantic City Boys & Girls Club to benefit Boys & Girls Club

It's the Second Annual Atlantic City Restaurant Week from February 28th to March 6th.  70 restaurants with prefix menu's at prefix prices... mark your calendar NOW!

For more information go to http://www.acrestaurantweek.com/

January 30 2010 Casino Connection Magazine update with Lisa Johnson on NBC 40

By NBC 40 WMGM   Fri, Jan 29, 2010

By NBC 40 WMGM   Fri, Jan 22, 2010

By NBC 40 WMGM   Thu, Jan 21, 2010

Late last month the founder  of Beal Bank, who is also known as a high-stakes poker player, made a surprise move by joining billionaire Carl Icahn in a new bid for Trump Entertainment. Beal hopes to convert his multimillion-dollar loan into equity in the company.

“Trump jumped ship at the last minute,” Icahn attorney Edward Weisfelner said in court, “and left Mr. Beal standing at the altar.”

see entire article here:  http://casinoconnectionac.com/issue/january-2010/article/games-the-same-but-players-have-changed

By NBC 40 WMGM   Wed, Dec 02, 2009

http://casinoconnectionac.com/issue/november-2009/article/ac-outlets-the-walk-your-holiday-headquarters

By NBC 40 WMGM   Wed, Sep 30, 2009

By NBC 40 WMGM   Tue, Sep 22, 2009

FAREWELL TO A LEGEND

Atlantic City bids goodbye to a favorite adopted son, the late Arturo Gatti, September 19 at Bally’s. A professional card has been established, with fights being sandwiched around highlight presentations, speeches and tributes to the most prolific fighter in Atlantic City history.

Gatti, based first in Montreal and then in Jersey City, became the only sure thing in a town known for gambling. Twice a year, he’d fill up Boardwalk Hall against any opponent, and his loyal fan base substantially spiked the drop in nearby casinos. Gatti was responsible for nine consecutive sellouts here, including the second and third bout of his famed trilogy against Micky Ward, and a matchup with Floyd Mayweather that established a non-heavyweight record for gross sales receipts in Atlantic City.

Gatti’s appearance was the brainchild of Bally’s then-President Ken Condon.

“We should have a special day for Arturo,” Condon said while Gatti was still alive. “I’d be the first to put that together.”

The tribute is appropriate. While earning about $20 million for himself, Gatti performed some other memorable deeds. He stayed with one promoter, Main Events, for his entire 16-year career. That’s now unheard of. He waged several Fights of the Year in boxing and created high paydays for Ward, Ivan Robinson, Mayweather, the gaming industry and HBO.

Gatti died under mysterious circumstances July 11 in Brazil (authorities first believed he was murdered by his wife, then changed the determination to suicide, which the boxing community does not believe).

He is sorely missed, not only for the exciting boxing, but for his effervescent, approachable personality. Gatti could laugh at himself, display respect for his opponent and make good copy for the media. He reminded those around him why they loved boxing.

Casino Connection salutes the athlete who symbolized the boxing-gaming marriage and carried a presence we may never see again.

By NBC 40 WMGM   Tue, Sep 22, 2009

By NBC 40 WMGM   Mon, Sep 21, 2009

Here is a link to the written article "Colony's Atlantic City Headache" on casinoconnectionac.com.

By NBC 40 WMGM   Fri, Sep 11, 2009

Don Marrandino named president of Harrah's Eastern Division Tides Story