By Marjorie Preston   Tue, Feb 02, 2010

It’s sweet. It’s savory. It’s sensational. It’s Atlantic City’s 2nd annual Restaurant Week, a celebration of fine and casual dining that showcases the resort’s many great chefs.

For seven delicious days, Sunday, February 28 through Saturday, March 6, more than 75 restaurants in and around the city will take part with prix fixe lunches and dinners for just $15.10 and $33.10.

To tempt your appetite, some of the area’s best chefs tell us what’s cooking. (Remember, save room for dessert!) View the full Restaurant Week lineup at www.acrestaurantweek.com.

ANTHONY AMOROSO
Executive Chef, Michael Mina’s SeaBlue, Borgata

Atlantic City’s latest culinary triumph was served up by Chef Anthony Amoroso of SeaBlue at Borgata. Last fall, the Jersey City native took down Iron Chef  Masaharu Morimoto at the Food Network’s Kitchen Stadium. His weapon: a simply sublime branzino (Meditteranean sea bass).

Morimoto cooked his goose by using too much wasabi. Amoroso chose subtler ingredients (avocado, pernod), displaying the same skill that’s made SeaBlue one of Atlantic City’s great restaurants.

As a kid, Amoroso worked at his family’s Italian ice business. “I got to work with my hands at a fast pace,” he says, “all the things you do in a professional kitchen. Then I went to culinary school, where they gave me knives and a uniform, and that was that.” He perfected his craft in some of the country’s best kitchens: Fiamma Trattoria in Vegas; Michael Mina at Bellagio; and Oceana in New York. In 2008, he was named a Star Chefs Rising Star. Fortunately for us, that star continues to rise in the east.

SEABLUE STAPLES: “Tuna tartare, for sure, is a signature. The Chilean sea bass and lobster pot pie are here to stay. And we go through a lot of root beer floats.” 

CUSTOMER APPRECIATION: “When I tell people what I do, so often they say, ‘Lobster pot pie!’ followed by some joyful expletive.”
 
COLD WEATHER COOKING: “In the winter, I have a lot of fun with sausages and beans and braises and root vegetables.”

COME ON IN: Amoroso & Co. have introduced a nightly social hour that includes super-affordable apps (that famous tuna tartare’s just $6, cheeseburger sliders are $7), along with $8 cosmos and ‘tinis.

OTHER SEABLUE CLASSICS: “American Kobe” beef shortrib, and paella served with braised rabbit, shellfish, chorizo and sofrito (the secret ingredient in many great Latin-Caribbean dishes).

ARAM MARDIGIAN
Chef, Wolfgang Puck's American Grille, Borgata

“I grew up in a restaurant,” say Aram Mardigian, of Wolfgang Puck’s American Grille at Borgata. “For me, this life was a natural.”

As a youngster, he worked at the family diner in Albany. After college, he “packed up, drove cross-country and started banging on the door at Spago,” Wolfgang Puck’s flagship restaurant in Beverly Hills.

It took a year, but persistence paid off. Mardigian was hired at Spago, later opened Spago in Chicago, and in 2007 headed to the Puck outlet in Borgata. “I was unbelievably excited,” he says. “After zigzagging all over the country, it was great to be close to my family again.”

One of his most popular menu items: slow-braised Kurobuta pork shank. “People are just freaking out over it. It’s a big portion of pork cooked in pomegranate and burgundy wines. What’s better than a big pork shank sitting on a plate?”

Mardigian also pushes the seasonal soups. “Seasonality is how we define Wolfgang Puck. I love to see people try the root vegetable soups and love them.”

For dessert, he suggests 15-layer carrot cake served with ginger ice cream, and warm milk and chocolate truffle cake. “When you cut it, it melts right on the plate. We serve it with 50-bean vanilla ice cream—very intense.”

ON PUCK: “He’s been incredibly motivating for me, an inspiration. It’s so apparent that he was put on this earth to do exactly what he does. And he never stops.”  

ON HOSPITALITY: “Wolfgang is constantly on the floor, talking to guests. I learned how important it is to make people feel like they’re a guest in your house.”
 
ON BEING A ‘FOOD GEEK’: “When I clean an artichoke, it amazing to me to see the vegetable in its pristine state. To me, that’s art.”

TOM RAMSEY
Chef, Foundation Room, HOB

When he took the reins at Showboat’s fabled Foundation Room in 2008, Chef Tom Ramsey pledged that each meal would be “not just dinner, but an experience.”

 He’s inspired by the venue itself, with its bronzed Buddhas, Oriental rugs, overstuffed ottomans and private prayer rooms. “It’s a beautiful place,” Ramsey says. “My aim was to match the beauty of the food to the room.”

The chef describes himself as a food “purist” who never obscures essential flavors with sauces or fats. “I’m straightforward. I showcase the food, and I don’t try to change what it looks and tastes like. My pumpkin and lobster bisque has absolutely no flour, no cornstarch, nothing—there’s like six ingredients in the entire soup.”

He loves to dazzle diners by whipping up fresh ice cream and sorbet at tableside, using liquid nitrogen to instantly freeze ingredients like strawberries, passionfruit, port wine and heavy cream. This is one floor show you don’t want to miss.

HIS FAVORITE THINGS: “Fresh herbs are my main thing right now, and playing with molecular gastronomy.”
 
WHAT’S COOKING FOR RESTAURANT WEEK: Ramsey recommends the crispy-skinned, wild-caught sterling salmon, served with small, sweet rock shrimp and mango salsa with red onions and cilantro.

ED BATTEN
Executive Chef, Harrah’s Resort

“Every chef has a Type-A personality; it’s in our genetic makeup,” says Ed Batten, executive chef at Harrah’s Resort. “We could never be accountants; we need instant gratification, and you can’t get that from a spread sheet.”

In Type-A fashion, Batten started at 13 as a diner prep cook. By the time he left high school, he was managing the place. When the ambitious chef came to Atlantic City, he vowed to get an executive position within five years—“unheard of” for someone new to the city—and did it, with six months to spare. Harrah’s was in the midst of a multi-million-dollar property transformation that included every food outlet; Batten helped reconfigure and reopen them all.

Of his job overseeing more than a dozen dining establishments, he says, “I won’t minimize it. It’s not easy, it’s hard. But it’s also fun and exciting. You can’t be an executive chef without that kind of drive and the passion to inspire others.”

For Restaurant Week, Polistina’s will offer a three-course dinner starting with spinach-mozzarella salad followed by stuffed chicken breast in vodka cream sauce over risotto. The finishing touch: ricotta cheesecake with orange marmalade, fresh berries and whipped cream.

At Reflections, dinner starts with candied walnut and gorgonzola salad, followed by herb-grilled Delmonico steak topped served with asparagus and roasted potatoes.

FOOD FADS: “I’m not a fan of ‘confusion cuisine.’ We stay on the cusp of trends without getting caught up in things that make no sense.”  

KITCHEN GODS: “Thomas Keller, of the French Laundry and Bouchon in Napa Valley. And I grew up keeping an eye on Charlie Trotter.”  
 
THE SPICY SIDE: “When it comes to ingredients, I always grab the pepper. It’s plain and it’s not sexy, but I put it in almost everything. My secret ingredient in apple pie? White pepper. It wakes it up so people say, ‘What’s in there?’ And Chohula hot sauce. It spices things up without overheating them. Try it in potato salad.”

JOE LaPORTE
Executive Chef, Tropicana

“A fantastic meal at a great value—that’s what everyone is looking for,” says Joe LaPorte, executive chef at Tropicana Casino & Resort. Each day, LaPorte provides precisely that for thousands of diners at more than 20 Tropicana restaurants.
    The South Jersey native, who began his career at 13 in a family-owned restaurant, worked professionally at Harrah’s and Trump casinos before signing on as sous chef at the Trop in 1989. He became top chef there in 2005, and under his leadership, the Tropicana has won a shelf-full of culinary awards.
    He describes Il Verdi as “my baby,” and reminds adventurous
diners that the fine Italian restaurant now has table seatings in the kitchen, an extraordinary up-close experience that foodies will love. You can dine among the chefs Friday and Saturday nights (there are two seatings, at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.).
    Though the economy has taken a bite out of the restaurant business, LaPorte is still bullish on the career. “I tell kids coming up, ‘Stick with hospitality. No matter what the economy is, you’ll always have a job, and you’ll never go hungry.’” 
 
TRY THIS: Il Verdi’s pastry ravioli stuffed with marscapone cheese and chocolate, served with warm raspberry sauce.  

FAVORITE PASTA: “Pappardelli, called a woodsman’s or peasant’s noodle. It’s four times the width of fettucine and very hearty, especially if it’s freshly made.”  
 
HE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT: “Spell-check. Try spelling pappardelli.”

EUGENE ESS
Pastry Chef, Trump Taj Mahal

Born in Austria near the Swiss and German borders, Pastry Chef Eugene Ess grew up at the intersection of three lands where chocolate is king and exquisite desserts are part of the daily diet. “Food is a huge part of life there,” says Ess.

He started his apprenticeship at 14, graduated at 17, then took a job at Washington’s Watergate hotel. Next came hotels in Florida and Atlanta, followed by the prestigious Inn at the Park Hotel in Canada.

In 2005, he became executive pastry chef at Trump Taj Mahal, where he supervises a staff of 14 cooks and bakers along with two sous pastry chefs. The recipient of numerous gold and silver medals, Ess was the American Culinary Federation’s 2008 Pastry Chef of the Year.

For dessert, he recommends his Southern banana cream pie. “It’s very simple but very good, put together at the last minute in a homemade coconut basket. That and the pine-apple upside-down cake served with warm caramel sauce.”

Does Ess himself ever get tired of sweets? “I love them,” he says. “I like a good coffee cake. I could even go out and buy an Entenmann’s and be happy.” 

FAVORITE INGREDIENTS: “Very basic and simple: chocolate, hazelnut and raspberry. Sometimes all at the same time.”   

BEST PART OF THE JOB: “I like everything about pastry, period. I love working with chocolate and sugar and sculpting figurines of marzipan.”  
 
“TOO PRETTY TO EAT”: “I hate that comment. I know it’s flattering and a compliment, but I want people to eat my food! That’s the biggest compliment for me.”

GEORGEANN LEAMING
Chef, Casa di Napoli, Showboat

Before she became a chef, Casa di Napoli’s Georgeann Leaming
was a schoolteacher. Today, the kitchen is her classroom, and her staff and guests are the better for it.

Leaming came to Harrah’s in 1999, under legendary food and beverage exec Mike Bowman. She earned her master’s in Italian cuisine at Florentino’s, one of the best restaurants of the era, and in 2009 took the helm at Casa di Napoli at Showboat. Her menu includes a wildly popular sea bass with roasted tomato risotto and rock shrimp scampi, and an intoxicating Italian rum cheesecake. Another popular dessert: warm chocolate-hazelnut cake (“filled with Nutella—gooey and delicious”).

On tap for Restaurant Week: a delectable grilled salmon with mustard glaze and whole wheat capellini-light, heart-healthy and fabulous.

Her favorite pupil today is daughter, Kirsten, now 12. “I trained her palate, and she was eating sushi and calamari at 4,” says Leaming. “She’s already a better cook than some chefs I’ve seen.”  
 
CULINARY HEROS: Avec Eric’s Eric Ripert and Tex-Mex master Rick Bayless.  

FAVORITE FOOD NETWORK SHOW: “I’m a Top Chef junkie. I’ve even been to open calls, but I haven’t been chosen—yet.”  
 
FAVORITE INGREDIENTS: “I put garlic in everything. In the summer, it’s fresh Jersey tomatoes, basil and herbs. I also love the deep, earthy smell of porcini mushrooms.”

STEVE KLAWITTER
Chef, Capriccio at Resorts

Don’t tell anyone, but Chef Steve Klawitter, of the famed Capriccio at Resorts, has been known to purloin ingredients from other kitchens on the property. If a spice is nice, he may just borrow a pinch. If the herbs and oranges look good, he might just help himself.

If that’s a crime, the affable chef justifies it with his food, which has been hailed time and again by Zagat as “one of the original Italian fine dining experiences in AC,” in a venue so beautiful it’s “like dining in an Italian villa.”

Finding ingredients on the fly, says Klawitter, is in keeping with the name Capriccio (Italian for caprice, or whimsy). In the summertime, he tends his own herb garden on the restaurant’s balcony. All year long, he prowls local markets (Santori’s for produce, Bob’s for seafood) to provide the very best for his customers, many of whom he considers family.

For Restaurant Week, Capriccio is serving up five separate entrees, including four-cheese ravioli with truffle cream, and a classic veal scaloppini. Desserts include a splendid Meyer lemon semifreddo and vanilla-chocolate cheesecake mousse, topped with raspberry preserves and pistachios. Whimsical, and wonderful. 
 
THE PRIMARY INGREDIENT: “In my job, it all comes down to passion.”  

THE REWARD: “My applause is when my customers walk out smiling, when they say, ‘That was fabulous, see you next week.’”  
 
HIS REPUTATION: “It’s true. They call me the thief of ingredients.”

GORDON GREENLEE
Chef, Roberto’s, Trump Plaza

Talk about an upbeat attitude. After more than 25 years in the kitchen, Gordon Greenlee of Roberto’s says every day is “exciting, different, challenging and fun.”

Following an apprenticeship at the famous Breaker’s Hotel in Palm Beach, Greenlee came to Trump Plaza. He spent 13 lucky years at Max’s Steakhouse, then took over Roberto’s. “I love it,” he says.

His recommended appetizer: the braciola, thinly pounded beef rolled with garlic, stuffed with golden raisins, pine nuts and garlic, simmered in marinara sauce and served over polenta. Among the entrees, Roberto’s salmon “outsells everything,” and no wonder: crusted with a five-peppercorn blend, it’s served over spinach, sauteed onions and potatoes in a ruby port-balsamic reduction.

While he enjoys the buzz around Restaurant Week, Greenlee points out that Roberto’s offers a $35 dinner menu year-round. “So does Max’s, and the 24 Central Cafe has an early-bird special,” he says. “We’re always trying to give people more for their money.” 

CAREER PATH: “I started at 15 and just fell in love with the kitchen. The chefs were like gods. They were so cool, working the hot line, and I said, ‘Man, I gotta do that!’ They moved me off pot-washing onto prep and then onto the line. I was sold.”   

QUICK DISH: “At home, I love steak—a nice, sliced New York sirloin and a salad.”  
 
JUST DESSERTS: Roberto’s can’t-miss blueberry cheesecake.

TIM HAMILL
Chef de Cuisine, The Continental

“You could say I’ve had on-the-job training,” says Tim Hamill. “I was practically raised in a kitchen.” His parents babysat him by bringing him to Harold’s, a Seaside Heights restaurant named for his uncle. Hamill began working there at the age of 8.

After a brief stint in the Navy, he turned a small catering company into a thriving business. He became a certified executive pastry chef (one of only three in New Jersey), specializing in wedding cakes, and was voted the American Culinary Foundation’s Chef of the Year in 2003.

Hamill, who’s worked with renowned chefs like Cuba Libre’s Guillermo Pernot, began his relationship with the Starr restaurants at the Continental Midtown in Philadelphia, and was the opening chef for Teplitzky’s at Atlantic City’s Chelsea Hotel.

His talents are put to the test at the Continental, where a non-traditional approach is encouraged.

“I love it here. It allows me to step outside the box and use my imagination. Because we continually refine our menu, I get to employ many different techniques, taking food out of its traditional element but still making it comforting.”  
 
ON HIGH-VOLUME COOKING: “I like to be challenged. I’m used to working 1,600 covers a night. To me, that’s fun.”  

WHAT’S ON FOR RESTAURANT WEEK: “We’re offering a sampling of our menu and change it every day. We’re also including a heart-healthy choice—seared salmon with ginger garlic scallion and sauteed bok choy.”

PAUL DREW
Chef, Phillips Seafood, Pier at Caesars

In high school, when most of the boys in his class were required to take metal shop, Paul Drew convinced the principal to let him take home economics.

“Five of my classmates came along,” says Drew, who was born in Sussex near London. “We did it to meet girls, but the experience was important; four out of five of us became chefs.”

Drew cooked in renowned London hotels including the Hotel George and the Dickens Inn, then came to the U.S. in 1980 to open Philadelphia’s version of the Dickens.

 “There are things you can only do when you’re young,” he says. “I was eager for the opportunity, and made this country my home.” In 1984, Drew became assistant executive chef at Atlantic City’s Sands Hotel, and in 2006 landed at Phillips Seafood at the Pier Shops at Caesars. Along with leading the team at Phillips, he’s had an impact on the menu with the “Chef’s Creations,” which expands the traditional seafood menu.  
 
THE CUSTOMER’S ALWAYS RIGHT: “I’m always open to suggestions. If my customers re-quest something special, I’m more than happy to make it.” 

POPULAR CREATIONS: Citrus-crusted cod on a bed of yellow squash with rum-marinated sun dried tomatoes, and Asian tempura shrimp with green chili chutney.

LES BENDER
Executive Chef, Trump Marina

Les Bender didn’t begin his career in the kitchen—far from it. Trump Marina’s executive chef started out in criminal justice, and worked for the probation department before opting for a fun, less felonious line of work.

One of the first graduates of South Jersey’s Academy of Culinary Arts, he’s spent 18 years at the Trump casinos, and is now in charge of every food outlet at the Marina. A successful chef, Bender knows, is more than a good cook.

“You have to be a great supervisor, a willing mentor, a good businessman,” he says. “There are a lot of shoes to fill.”

His entrees for DJ’s Steakhouse (named for the Donald) includes man-sized porterhouses, filets and cowboy steaks, innovative sides (baked lobster mac and cheese, smashed sweet potatoes) and a delectable dessert menu (white chocolate cheesecake).

At the Harborview, chef’s favorites include osso bucco alla Milanese with saffron risotto. For a hearty lunch, he recommends the smoked applewood cheeseburger.  
 
FAVORITE INGREDIENTS: “A great olive oil, fresh garlic, fresh ginger.”  

FAVORITE CHEFS: “I enjoy the classics, like Julia Child. And Jean Louis Palladin was my idol.”   
 
ETHNIC INFLUENCE: “I get an Asian flair with things like sea cucumbers, abalone, Chinese chives and lemon grass. And I love to cook squab and duck.”

WARNER R. CHRISTY IV
Executive Chef, Steve & Cookie’s By the Bay

Chef Warner Christy first met restaurateur Cookie Till at the Crab Pot in 1993. It was just a summer job for the Linwood native, but, inspired by the experience, he went on to study at the Culinary Academy at ACCC, graduating in 1996. His professional career began at the Atlantic City Country Club and continued at the Sands, where he worked at the gourmet Italian restaurant Medici.

In 1999, Till and her husband opened Steve and Cookie’s By the Bay in Margate. As executive chef, Christy has helped develop and maintain the restaurant’s sterling reputation.

“What sets us apart is our consistency, “ he says. “Some of the guys have been working here for 9 years. It’s more than a business, it’s a family.”

When it comes to food, Christy believes in an understated approach—nothing flashy or stuffy, just excellent comfort food prepared with care.

“We have an eclectic mix. Every night we offer a three-course special: Mexican on Wednesdays, turkey on Thursdays. We serve beef bourguignon, pasta and meatballs. Our customers love it.”

The menu is seafood-driven, but changes with the seasons; Christy takes advantage of summer produce, when Steve and Cookie’s hosts a farmer’s market.

“I love coming to work. For me, it’s like a second home.” 

FAVORITE INGREDIENT: Aleppo pepper. “It’s a Syrian pepper, like a cross between cyan and chili, with a unique Middle Eastern flavor. We make lemon comfit with it—whole lemons buried in salt and sugar for three weeks until the skins are tenderized. Its great to add to dishes and for sauces.”

HOT STUFF

For your dining pleasure, here’s a cook’s tour of three local favorites

Everybody knows Carmine’s at the Quarter, where the mood is so festive and the portions so huge that strangers at separate tables have been known to share entrees.

“People are always passing the food, passing the wine,” says General Manager Neil Terjessen. “It’s like being at Grandma’s house for Sunday dinner.”

But Grandma never cooked like this. For dinner, the entrees include a chicken cutlet parmigiana that’s so zesty and flavorful, it really redefines the classic dish. You’ll also love the chicken Marsala, penne pasta Bolognese, and country-style rigatoni. And remember, these portions are so hefty, you can always count on a doggie bag.

For dessert, we say take the cannoli. The crisp chocolate-dipped shells are stuffed to brimming with homemade cannoli cream (ricotta, powdered sugar, chopped candied fruits and chocolate chips), then garnished with crushed pistachios.

Under award-winning Executive Chef Jeff Gotta, Carmine’s serves up scrumptious Southern Italian food that will make it a popular choice during Restaurant Week.

The New York Times Magazine called Il Mulino the Big Apple’s “very best Italian restaurant.” Now a hit in Atlantic City (and 14 other U.S. cities), Il Mulino offers rustic Old World Italian food made with the best fish, lamb and cured meats along with homemade cheeses and pastas.

At each Il Mulino, Executive Chef Michele Mazza insists on daily deliveries, so everything is fresher than fresh. The kitchen staff makes each dish to order, and follows Mazza’s strict rule for pasta: Al dente or else!

The Sorrento-born chef has lots of goodies planned for Restaurant Week, including Il Mulino’s renowned Ravioli Porcini served in a cream champagne sauce, and Pollo alla Scarpariello (country chicken sauteed in white wine with garlic and mushrooms). Desserts include a terrific tiramisu (Chef Mazza’s choice), with espresso-infused lady fingers, mascarpone cream and shaved chocolate.

When Chelsea Prime calls itself “the ultimate boutique steakhouse,” that’s no brag, just fact. Under Chef de Cuisine Jason Hanin, the place for prime at the Chelsea Hotel offers not only great surf, turf and cocktails, but a superbly realized ’40s-style supper club atmosphere and, with its beachfront location, the city’s loveliest point of view.

Hanin’s multicultural background (he is both Russian-Jewish and Italian) informs his menu, with appetizers like asparagus-Parma ham salad in a champagne vinaigrette; Maine Diver Scallops with crispy maple pork belly and hickory-smoked caviar; the prime aged 12-ounce Kansas City strip steak; and steamed black bass with spring vegetable fried rice, rhubarb-ginger compote and a honey-citrus vinaigrette.

A veteran of fine dining establishments from Aspen to Turks and Caicos, Hanin has a philosophy that is simple yet exacting: to “create the perfect dining experience for our guests. Everyone who travels to Atlantic City should enjoy fine cuisine. Chelsea Prime offers that.” Find out for yourself during Restaurant Week.

By Marjorie Preston   Tue, Feb 02, 2010

Question: What do firefighters, fishermen, musicians and casino workers have in common?

Answer: They all work in 24-hour industries that sometimes require them to work in the evening and overnight hours. As a result of this flip-flopped schedule, they may also share the condition known as shift work disorder.

Shift work disorder (also known as shift work sleep disorder and shift lag) is a disruption of the natural sleep-wake cycle that can lead to a chronic lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, increased irritability, increased work-related errors, and sometimes, serious accidents.

The 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska has been blamed on sleep deprivation; when the tanker went aground, spilling 10 million gallons of oil into Prince William Sound, the on-duty officers had been deprived of mandatory time off before their shift. Fatigue also played a role in a 2009 commuter plane crash near Buffalo that killed 50 people. Both the pilot and first officer were seen catnapping in the crew room shortly before takeoff.
   
Eyes Wide Shut

While occupational catastrophes like these can’t befall casino workers, anyone who’s ever worked while the world sleeps knows there’s a price to be paid for going against the body’s circadian rhythms. Symptoms of shift work disorder, including insomnia, headaches and depression, take a big toll on security guards, long-haul truckers, wait staff, actors and anyone who works non-traditional hours (typically between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.).

“Some people are able to adapt to some extent, but others, even when they get an adequate amount of sleep, simply cannot readjust their internal body clock,” says Dr. Ryan Dammerman, associate medical director with Cephalon, Inc., manufacturer of medications prescribed for sleep disorders. “I had to deal with it in medical school and during my residency, and it’s tough.” 

For one thing, Dammerman says, daytime sleep simply may not be as recuperative as nighttime sleep. “Think about it. If you nap on the beach on a sunny day, some sunlight will get through the eyelids and hit the retina, disrupting sleep, and that sort of situation is not as restorative. It’s the same thing if you sleep at home during the day. You’re hearing daytime noises—the kids playing, traffic in the streets—and your brain is getting mixed messages” that prevent quality sleep.

Unfortunately, human beings cannot really “catch up” on sleep on the weekends or on days off. In fact, trying to make up for a sleep deficit by spending your day off in bed may only confuse the body more.

And the problem is worse for those who work swing shifts. Each time a worker has to adjust to a new sleep-wake cycle, it can take up to a week for the body to fully adjust. Constant rotation of the cycle can lead to undersleeping, oversleeping or restless sleep, in which the body loses its sense of when to shut down and when to wake up. It’s much harder to deal with rotating shifts than to work the same shift over a prolonged period.

Day for Night

If you must work nights, there are ways to practice what doctors call “good sleep hygiene,” and your employer can help.

“Some workplaces allow you to take intermittent naps on the job,” says Dammerman. “Other places will allow you to have exercise breaks. Those regimens are helpful.”

Adequate indoor lighting, which simulates daylight after dark, helps fool the mind into believing it is on a normal, diurnal schedule. And for those who work rotating shifts, it is much better if work shifts move forward in time rather than backward (i.e., going from a 7-to-3 schedule to a 3-11 schedule, and then to an 11-to-7 time frame if necessary).

Tips For Surviving the Night Shift

• “The No. 1 thing is not adding the second problem of sleep deprivation,” says Dr. Dammerman. “Try to get seven to eight  hours of sleep.”

• Establish a sleep schedule and stick to it, even on weekends and days off.

• Use blackout shades in the bedroom or wear a sleep mask. The darker the environment, the better for restful sleep. Ear plugs or white noise tapes block out extraneous sound and promote healthy rest.

• Avoid caffeine and cigarettes for at least four hours before you plan to sleep, and stay away from alcohol. Though a drink or  two will seem to relax you at first, alcohol disrupts dreaming and can keep you from getting deep, restful sleep.

• Ask your family to be quiet when you’re sleeping. Have them wear headphones to listen to music or watch TV. Encourage them to avoid vacuuming and other noisy activities. Put a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the front door so that delivery people and friends won’t knock or ring the doorbell.

• If you must be up during the day, consider wearing dark, welder-style goggles or sunglasses; remember, sunlight cues your brain for wakefulness. If you wear goggles, be extra-careful while driving.

• Decrease the number of night shifts worked in a row. People on the night shift sleep less than day workers, and become progressively more sleep-deprived over several days. You’re more likely to recover from sleep deprivation if you limit your number of third shifts to five or less, with days off in between. If you work a 12-hour shift, limit work to four shifts in a row. After a string of night shifts, you should have more than 48 hours off, if possible.

• Avoid prolonged shifts and excessive overtime.

• Never drive sleep-deprived. Some studies indicate that drowsy driving is a factor in up to one-third of road accidents. Like drunk driving, fatigue reduces coordination and response time, which are critical to safety on the road, both for you and for other motorists.

• Take naps whenever you can, but remember, naps do not take the place of seven to eight hours of sustained sleep.

• Watch your diet. Have you ever found yourself wolfing down food or drinking too much cola when you’re tired? Researchers believe that sleep deprivation disrupts the hormones that regulate glucose metabolism and appetite. Get more sleep, and you could avoid an unwelcome weight gain.

• Ask your doctor if medications would help alleviate the symptoms of shift work disorder in your case. Provigil (modafinil) and Nuvigil (armodafinil) improve wakefulness and have also been prescribed for narcolepsy and sleep apnea. “But remember, the purpose of any of medication is not so you can stay up for 36 to 48 hours,” says Dr. Dammerman. “It’s an essential principle of good health to get eight full hours of sleep.”

For more information about shift work disorder, visit www.SWDaware.com or www.sleepfoundation.org.

By   Fri, Sep 19, 2008

By Frank Legato   Thu, Jun 19, 2008

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By Frank Legato   Tue, May 22, 2007

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By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 03, 2010

They’re not the Grateful Dead, but fifteen years after the death of paterfamilias Jerry Garcia, band alums Phil Lesh and Bob Weir are making sure Deadheads get the good stuff with their newest group, Furthur.

The most active surviving members of the Dead, both Weir and Lesh have kept busy with personal projects. Weir has toured continually with his band RatDog, while Lesh has satisfied his musical ambitions with the group the Other Ones. This month at the Taj Mahal, the two road veterans share the stage once again.

With all-star backup that includes drummer Jay Lane (RatDog), guitarist John Kadlecik (Dark Star Orchestra), drummer Joe Russo (Benevento Russo Duo, Trey Anastasio) and keyboardist Jeff Chimenti, the new group keeps the Dead ethos alive with ambling improvisations and trance-inducing renditions of Grateful Dead classics like “Truckin,’” “Touch of Grey,” “Box of Rain” and “Hell In A Bucket.” Dead concerts are still among the friendliest, most laid-back events around, so come and get your contact high with Furthur.

Furthur will appear February 27 at Trump Taj Mahal. Tickets are $49.50.

By David Schwartz   Tue, Feb 02, 2010

Donald Trump’s name is synonymous with Atlantic City casinos, and his larger-than-life personality has been part of the city for a generation. But the Donald’s introduction to Atlantic City was never a sure thing.

In 1980, the New York developer planned a hotel and casino on 4.5 acres next to Convention Hall (now Boardwalk Hall). But with interest rates high, financing was hard to come by. And due to regulatory hurdles, Trump did not start building his empire for years.

Trump was leery of the Casino Control Commission. It had forced Caesars World’s founders Clifford and Stuart Perlman to step down before giving Caesars Boardwalk Regency a license. It had denied a license to Hilton after the company had already built its casino. And it caused so many problems for Hugh Hefner that the Playboy founder torpedoed the Atlantis casino.

Trump refused to turn so much as a shovel of dirt until commissioners voted yea or nay on his license. In March 1982, he got his wish—and his license—in hearings that lasted two hours (by contrast, hearings for the Atlantis dragged out for two months).

Trump was still hesitant. He didn’t doubt his ability to build a top-quality hotel, but he had no experience in casinos. He needed a partner to handle the gaming end.

In the early 1980s, Holiday Inns, Inc. owned three casinos: Harrah’s Marina in Atlantic City, Harrah’s Reno and Harrah’s Lake Tahoe. Seeing a cost-effective way to grow in the Atlantic City market, the company agreed to partner with Trump. 

Trump proved a formidable negotiator. He agreed to supply the land if Harrah’s paid him to build the casino, gave him an equal share in the profits, and did not hold him liable for operational losses in the first five years. The negotiation sealed Trump’s reputation as master of the deal.

In November 1982, work began on Harrah’s at Trump Plaza. The casino—which cost $210 million—opened in May 1984. At 39 stories high, it was Atlantic City’s tallest building, and its 60,000-square-foot casino was the city’s largest. It looked to be a moneymaking machine.

The casino’s debut was not without its problems. Less than an hour after opening, a smoke alarm forced the building’s evacuation. And flaws in the slot accounting system forced the closure of several machines. These glitches foreshadowed trouble in the relationship between Trump and Harrah’s. The Harrah’s team wanted to focus on middle-market customers. The Trump side, which preferred to court high rollers, did not build a parking garage, a necessary component of the Harrah’s plan.

There were some positives. An enclosed walkway connected the Plaza to Convention Hall, and events there, including heavyweight boxing and professional wrestling, attracted casino business. But observers soon wondered if Harrah’s and Trump executives might be climbing into the ring themselves.

Behind the scenes, the two sides wrangled over the name. Was it Harrah’s or Trump? Trump won that round: five months after it opened, the casino was renamed Trump Plaza.

Tensions reached a boiling point in April 1985, when Hilton was denied a gaming license. Trump bought the Hilton Hotel, Harrah’s marina neighbor. This made Trump a direct competitor to Harrah’s bread-and-butter Marina District casino. Three months later, Harrah’s Marina launched an aggressive advertising campaign, dropping its former slogan (“The Other Atlantic City”) and renaming itself “The Better Atlantic City.” 

In fact, Harrah’s executives filed a lawsuit in federal court to have Trump’s name removed from his new hotel, which he had dubbed Trump’s Castle, on the grounds that a second Trump property would create confusion among customers. The suit also charged Trump with deliberately mismanaging the Boardwalk property and refusing to build a garage to depress its value. 

Donald Trump brushed off the suit as “disgraceful.” Phil Satre, then president of Harrah’s, claimed that Trump was attempting to engineer Harrah’s into selling its share at a reduced price, or to buy Trump’s share at an inflated price. Trump charged that Harrah’s was attempting the same thing, either by design or ineptitude. 

“I gave them a Lamborghini,” he told the New York Times, “and they didn’t know how to turn on the key.”

In September 1985, a federal judge sided with Trump, allowing him to keep his name on both casinos. There was no reconciliation between the parties, and rumors swirled that one group would buy out the other.

After months of speculation, in March 1986 Trump signed an agreement to buy Harrah’s share in the Boardwalk casino. He immediately announced plans to build a $25 million parking garage and new suites. 

Trump’s organization became the first to own more than one property outright in Atlantic City, with more than twice the casino space of his nearest rival. For the moment, he was the undisputed king of Atlantic City.

Trump Plaza, the first casino to bear Donald Trump’s name, would be no stranger to glamour or controversy in the coming years. It was a fitting fate for a property that epitomized its namesake.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Feb 02, 2010

Their job requires them to be good-will ambassadors and all-around cheerleaders for Tropicana’s new IN Card rewards program. That’s no problem for Lisa Karsko of Brigantine and Brittny Derrickson of Absecon, who have all the personable persistence of Girl Scouts at cookie time.

Both have worked as spokesmodels, game show hostesses and dancers, but their ambitions do not begin and end with show biz. Lisa, an
elementary school teacher with two degrees, is currently pursuing her master’s. Brittny has a teaching certificate and a realtor’s license, and may go back to school to be an x-ray technician. (Take that, Vanna White!)

Casino Connection talked to Lisa and Brittny about their unusual line of work and what it takes to be an IN Card girl.  

How would you describe your role here at the Trop? Sales? PR? 
Brittny: Both, sort of. We walk around, greeting customers and talking up IN Card rewards, which include free admission to nightclubs like Providence, discounts at hot spots like Cuba Libre and 32 Degrees, free desserts at the Palm, and plenty of other nightlife perks.
Lisa: You definitely have to be friendly to do this, but I think it’s fun to approach people and talk to them. 
 
Is it tough to achieve that glam look night after night?
Brittny: I have very curly hair, and it takes time to blow it dry and straighten it before I curl it again. I probably spend an hour and a half right there.
Lisa: It takes me about an hour to get ready. I wear a lot of eye makeup.

Your dresses are great. Are they tailored to fit?
Lisa: Don’t you love our dresses? Melissa Rodio, Tropicana’s marketing consultant, picks out different outfits for us.
Brittny: Everything is right off the rack, from Cache at the Quarter. All the girls we meet love our dresses, so it’s something to talk about with people.

And how about those mile-high shoes? Ouch!
Brittny: Mine are the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever had. It’s something to do with the thickness of the heel. Stilettos don’t have to be killers.
Lisa: We even did the Running of the Santas in them, and we booked it ahead of the crowd.

Do gentlemen, ahem, ever hit on you on the job?
Lisa: There are times when they’re very interested.
Brittny: They say they’re filling out the card just to talk to us.
Lisa: It makes it fun.
Brittny: We just go with it.
Lisa: It’s part of our job.
Brittny: Anyway, I’m engaged.

So women also relate well to you?
Brittny: If I’m talking to a guy and girl, I always look to the girl first, to be polite.

How do you spend your days off?
Brittny: We have girls’ days, where we’ll do lady lunches and go shopping. We have another friend who does this kind of work, and we’re like a little threesome. Every day is an adventure. 
Lisa: It’s all for one, one for all. Wherever there’s a good time, that’s where we are.

Tue, Feb 02, 2010

During my mayoral campaign, a wise man told me that one key to Atlantic City’s future is its new immigrant population. I agree.

When you think of the places people visit in major cities, many are marked by a distinct cultural flair. It’s especially true of neighborhoods where immigrants settle. From San Francisco to New York, visitors and residents flock to the Chinatowns and Little Italys. In Atlantic City, we have many neighbors who have traveled from every corner of the world to improve their condition, earn their fortunes, and pursue the American Dream.

There’s much talk lately about the future of Atlantic City and what new things can be brought to town. The fact that ideas are being proposed in public forums is great. It indicates that Atlantic City’s major stakeholders (the people, casinos, government and businesses) are finally focused on long-term feasible planning.

But one attraction doesn’t need to be brought here. They’ve brought themselves. They’re the new immigrants, and they need to be showcased.

Atlantic City’s Ducktown neighborhood confirms that sections of town featuring great food, people, music, and culture from a particular ethnic group are a winning idea. An Atlantic City “Asiatown,” an international nightlife corridor, a Latino section and other ethnic-themed neighborhoods can transform our town into a standing World’s Fair. That ethnic flair will complement what Atlantic City already does right in its casinos, at the Walk, in the Irish neighborhoods and on the Civil Rights Trail.

Sometimes the answer to complex problems is right in front of our faces. Today’s new immigrants already contribute to Atlantic City as workers and merchants. It’s time for us to let them shine, showcasing the music, goods, culture and food of the new immigrants in ethnic communities.

By doing so, we add a cultural flair for both visitor and resident alike. By doing so, we bring a much-needed vibrancy to our city neighborhoods.

Jesse O. Kurtz is a lifelong Atlantic City resident and host of the Jesse Kurtz Show, heard every Saturday at 2 p.m. on WIBG 1020AM and www.wibg.com. For more information, visit www.JesseOKurtz.com.

By Robert Rossiello   Tue, Feb 02, 2010

Encounters with aliens have been a popular subject with movie-makers since the invention of film. Often these visitors from outer space have been bent on mankind’s destruction. But what if these creatures were simply lost, starving and marooned above our atmosphere with no clear intention but to fix their ship and go home?

That is the premise of District 9, an absorbing sci-fi drama that turns the notion of evil aliens on its head, and manages to say something about the nature of man in the process. Director Neill Blomkamp, filming in his native South Africa, explores the political ramifications of segregation and apartheid without skimping on the thrills and adventure we’ve come to expect with the best science fiction movies.

The aliens in District 9—called “prawns” by humans because they resemble over-sized shrimp—have been corralled into a shantytown, where they feast on cat food, trade weapons with local warlords, and search through garbage heaps for remnants of their own technology. A nerdy, mid-level bureaucrat named Wikus (the excellent Sharlto Copley, in his first starring role) is put in charge of relocating the aliens. But when he is accidentally infected with an alien substance, Wikus begins to mutate. His spiraling transformation is the film’s main focus. Wikus becomes a pawn of the government, while his sympathies for the stranded creatures begins to grow.

Employing cutting edge special effects with raw, documentary-like footage District 9 breaks new ground in the sci-fi genre, and is a treat for anyone who likes a good story.

BY ROBERT ROSSIELLO

By Marjorie Preston   Tue, Feb 02, 2010

As Steve Martin himself once observed, you can’t play sad songs on the five-string banjo. The prolific comedian-author-actor proves it with this sparkling CD, in which his virtuosity on the instrument is front-and-center, and the mood is one of sheer delight.

For those who’ve followed Martin over the years, his love of the banjo is no surprise; in the “wild and crazy” phase of his career, when his onstage uniform was a white suit and an arrow through the head, he often punctuated goofy comic bits with fast-and-frenzied banjo breaks. It was funny stuff. The Crow isn’t funny, but it’s sure fun, and darned impressive. Musician-composer David Amram, who wrote the liner notes, hailed the album’s complexity and subtlety, calling it an “ambitious and sophisticated work,” with Martin taking listeners “into the world of his imagination, where harmony, joy and impeccable musicianship reign supreme.”

A picker since the age of 17, Martin’s developed a startling fluency on the 5-string. He plays plunky and homespun on some tunes, and with Scruggs-like speed and intensity on others. In fact, the master himself, Earl Scruggs, accompanies Martin on “Daddy Plays the Banjo,” with Grammy-winning bluegrass artist Tim O’Brien lending the vocals. Other stars on hand here include Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Mary Black and Tony Trischka.   

Just one selection on The Crow was not composed by Martin. “Clawhammer Medley,” a blend of popular American songs like “Simple Gifts,” showcases his dexterity in the clawhammer style of playing, which is tougher than Scruggs style. (For Hee-Haw fans—are there any of you still out there?—Grandpa Jones played clawhammer style.)

The question now is: do we refer to Steve Martin as a comedian first? He’s proven himself a great writer (Born Standing Up, Shopgirl), a credible playwright (Picasso at the Lapin Agile) and a good comic actor. But man, what a hell of a banjo player!

By Marjorie Preston   Tue, Feb 02, 2010

Have A Little Faith
Mitch Albom  • Hyperion

Most people know Mitch Albom through the bestselling Tuesdays with Morrie, a moving account of Albom’s relationship with dying professor Morrie Schwartz, and his fictional follow-up, The Five People You Meet in Heaven.

Albom’s latest, Have A Little Faith, is another sentimental favorite. Like its predecessors, Faith has a high-fructose content. An aging rabbi from Albom’s youth asks the writer to deliver his eulogy, even though the men haven’t seen each other in years. At the same time, Albom encounters a onetime drug dealer and convict who has redeemed himself as a minister to Detroit’s poor. As he gets to know both men and both faiths, the author learns life lessons that he imparts to readers.

To my surprise, I enjoyed this latest from the onetime Sports Illustrated writer. While I have to scratch my head about Albom’s serial encounters with Central Casting characters (Morrie Schwartz and Faith’s Reb and Pastor Henry), the book serves up simple lessons that are hard to resist. Put away your cynicism and you may feel likewise.           

BY HOWARD WILLIS

Noah’s Compass
Anne Tyler  • Knopf

Fifth grade teacher Liam Pennywell, recently laid off, is attacked in his apartment, and awakens with no memory of the incident.

To regain his memory, 60-year-old Liam engages a free-spirited “rememberer” he meets in a neurologist’s office; as their relationship deepens, he is forced to confront the isolation of his own life, which has been marked by unfulfilled ambition and fractured relationships.

Tyler, who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1989 for the masterful Breathing Lessons, specializes in closely observed, carefully wrought portraits of unremarkable characters, often people in mid-life who are forced to question their own purpose. Noah’s Compass hews to that recipe. While most of the action is interior—there’s Liam’s growing awareness of a chronic, low-grade sadness, and his fumbling attempts to change—for Tyler fans, that’s not a problem. This is another treat from an exceptional writer.

BY EDWARD N. HEALY

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Feb 02, 2010

February 3-7 30th International Power Boat Show, Wed.- Fri. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
AC Convention Center, One Convention Blvd., Atlantic City
609-449-2000, www.atlanticcityboatshow.com
 
February 5 2nd Annual Festival Carnivale, 6 p.m.-10 p.m.
Tropicana Casino And Resort, Atlantic City
609-340-4020, www.tropicana.net

February 6 Afternoon of Jazz, Blues and Poetry with the Tony Day Ensemble, 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m., Noyes Museum of Art, Lily Lake Rd., Oceanville, 609- 652-8848

February 4 Wine Tasting & Art Show, 5 p.m.-8 p.m.
Carisbrooke Inn, 105 S. Little Rock Ave., Ventnor
609-449-7156

February 7 Chocolate Making Workshop, 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
Tuckerton Seaport, 120 West Main Street, Tuckerton
609-296-8868, www.tuckertonseaport.org

February 12-14  [Heart] by Atlantic City
Feb. 12-14 Bally’s: Chocolate by Jacques Torres
Feb. 13, 7 p.m. Showboat’s Club Worship: Rock ‘n Roll Wine
Feb. 13, 12 p.m. Harrah’s: A Guide to Love with the Wards
Feb. 14 4 p.m. Caesars’ Dusk Nightclub: Speed Dating
Feb. 14 10 p.m. Showboat’s Foundation Room: Champagne & Lingerie, www.heartac.com

February 12-14  Cape May Wine Weekend
(Wine dinner, vineyard tour and class) Throughout Cape May
609-884-5404, www.capemaymac.org.

February 13 ”I Love NY: A Cabaret of Broadway Love Songs,” 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m., Ocean City Music Pier, Moorlyn Terrace and the Boardwalk, 609-525-9300, www.ocnj.us

February 13-14 An Evening of Romance & Renewel, 7 p.m.
Absecon Lighthouse, 31 S. Rhode Island Ave., Atlantic City
609-449-1360, www.abseconlighthouse.org

February 13-14 Crafts and Antiques in Winter, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Cape May Elementary School, 921 Lafayette St., Cape May
609-884-5404, www.capemaymac.org

February 14  Valentine’s Day Group Wedding, Civil Union and Vow Renewal Ceremony, 4 p.m., Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall
609-449-7126, www.atlanticcitynj.com

February 20 Pan Asian Parade, 2 p.m., Atlantic City Boardwalk, from Showboat to Hilton (with shows in Caesars ballroom and theater), 609-289-8652, www.betteratlanticcity.com

February 21 “Black, Blue & True: To the Tune of Inspiration,” exhibit & panel discussion (show runs through April 18),
Carriage House Gallery, Emlen Physick Estate,
1048 Washington St., Cape May, 609-884-5404

February 25 Men ‘R Cookin, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City, 317 N. Pennsylvania Ave., www.acbgc.org

February 25 Fishing at the Pier: Benefit Event,
5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. One Atlantic, 4th floor
Pier Shops at Caesars, Atlantic City, 609-343-9902

February 26-28  Atlantic City Classic Car Show,
Fri.-Sat. 8:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.,
AC Convention Center, 609-449-2000, www.acclassiccars.com
 
February 28 Ceramic Birdhouses and Bird Feeders (Parent & Child Workshop), 1 p.m.-3:30 p.m., Appel Farm Arts & Music Center, 457 Shirley Rd., Elmer, 800-394-8478

February 28-March 6 Atlantic City Restaurant Week
75 Atlantic County restaurants offer lunch and dinner specials
www.acrestaurantweek.com

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Feb 02, 2010

February 4
See There In The Distance, Ruby Hinds’ Tribute to Marian Anderson, Stockton Performing Arts Center

February 5
Killswitch Engage, with The Devil Wears Prada and Dark Tranquillity, House of Blues
Runa, Appel Farm Arts & Music Center

February 5-6
Lewis Black, Borgata

February 6
Joe DeGuardia’s Boxing, Tropicana
The Wailers, Taj Mahal
New Breed Fighters, Resorts

February 8
The Bad Plus, Stockton Performing Arts Center

February 12
Yes, Tropicana
The Used, House of Blues 

February 13
B.B. King & Buddy Guy, Caesars
Jay Leno, Borgata
Fab Faux, Harrah’s
Dru Hill, House of Blues
Frank Reyes, Bally’s

February 13-14
Engelbert Humperdinck, Trump Plaza
Aaron Lewis, Borgata

February 14
Kid Rock, Borgata
Rufus Wainwright, Borgata
Peter Lemongello, Hilton
Air Supply, Bally’s
Steve Winwood, Caesars

February 14 & 28
House of Blues Gospel Brunch

February 18
Rondell Sheridan, Stockton Performing Arts Center

February 19
New Found Glory, House of Blues
Lou Neglia’s Ring of Combat XXVIII, Tropicana

February 25
Dropkick Murphys, House of Blues
Philadanco, Stockton Performing Arts Center

February 26
Ray Davies, Borgata

February 27
An Evening with the Levon Helm Band, Harrah’s
Furthur, Taj Mahal
Musiqsoulchild, House of Blues
Asylum Fight League Mixed Martial Arts, Trump Marina
Mummers Show of Shows, Boardwalk Hall

Casino Revues
Ongoing
Yesterday—A Tribute to the Beatles, Tropicana

February 8-March 24
Crocodile Rock with Christian Marc Gendron, Tropicana

By   Tue, Feb 02, 2010

If the names Ferko, Fralinger, Hegeman and Greater Kensington ring a bell for you, you must be a fan of the world-famous Mummers. For more than 100 years, the bedazzled musicians have high-stepped and strutted their way through the streets of Philadelphia to ring in the New Year. If you missed last month’s sub-zero celebration, here’s your chance to enjoy the comics and fancies without freezing.

This month, the Philadelphia Mummers’ String Band Association will present its 2010 Show of Shows at Boardwalk Hall. Sixteen bands will perform, using the unique instrumentation of the Mummers (saxophones, banjos, accordion, bass fiddle and glockenspiel!). If you’ve never seen the Mummers live, this is old-time entertainment that’s hard to find these days, and a good time for the whole family.

The 2010 Mummers Show of Shows will appear February 27 at Boardwalk Hall, with performances at noon and 5 p.m. Tickets are $18 to $35. Family packages and group discounts are available.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Feb 02, 2010

He’s a legendary drummer, songwriter, singer, actor and producer. Though the extravagantly gifted Levon Helm has spent half a century in music, he’s probably best known as the man who put the beat in the Band, one of the most influential groups of the ’60s and ’70s.

The folk-rock ensemble with Robbie Robertson, Richard Manuel, Garth Hudson and Rick Danko left a musical legacy that includes 1968’s Music from Big Pink and 1969’s The Band. The former featured “The Weight,” still an FM staple; the latter, the group’s masterpiece, included “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” and “Up On Cripple Creek.”

But the Band is only part of Helm’s story. This son of an Arkansas cotton farmer was first inspired by musicians like Bill Monroe, Sonny Boy Williamson, Johnny Cash and Elvis. Through numerous musical incarnations—from the Band to the RCO All-Stars to the Barn Burners to the Levon Helm Band—the multi-instrumentalist has remained true to his origins. His music has a down-home, folkloric flavor supported by driving rhythms, sweet harmony and intricate instrumentation.

In recent years, a bout of throat cancer left Helm unable to sing, but he’s recovered, and the release of two hit solo albums brought him back to the spotlight. The acoustic Dirt Farmer won a Grammy for best traditional recording of 2008; the follow-up, Electric Dirt, was named one of NPR’s best albums of 2009. Helm has been called a “master storyteller.” After 50 years of music-making, from the Arkansas 4-H circuit to the world stage, oh, what stories he can tell.
   
An Evening with Levon Helm comes to Harrah's February 27. Tickets are $35, $45 and $55.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Feb 02, 2010

The seminal symphonic rock band of the ’70s, English super group Yes has quit, split, divorced and reconciled many times over 40 years of performing. But the core ensemble has never really called it a day, and throughout February, the band will be roaming up and down the East Coast, from New York to New Orleans, from Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania to Boca Raton, Florida, and points in-between.

They’ll travel without vocalist Jon Anderson this time around—he’s going solo, at least for now—but new lead singer David Benoit has the same keening, ethereal quality that made Yes hits like “Roundabout,” “I’ve Seen All Good People” and “Owner of A Lonely Heart” so memorable.    

With founding guitarist Steve Howe, original bassist Chris Squire, longtime drummer Alan White and keyboardist Oliver Wakeman (sitting in for his dad Rick), the latest lineup has all the punch and power of the Yes of old.

Yes will appear February 12 at the Tropicana. Tickets are $35, $45, $55 and $75.

By   Tue, Feb 02, 2010

At last, the tour that’s been thrilling audiences across the U.S. for more than a year is landing in Atlantic City. Legendary guitarists B.B. King and Buddy Guy have been headlining together on and off since late 2008, when King released the Grammy-winning CD One Kind Favor.

These elder statesmen of the blues guitar—King is 84, Guy a mere 72—have been venerated by musicians from Jimi Hendrix to Eric Clapton, John Mayall to Johnny Winter. Both have been enshrined in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. King placed No. 3 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists. And Guy has racked up more W.C. Handy Blues than any other artist. 

The show will include selections from Favor, in which King paid homage to Blind Lemon Jefferson, T-Bone Walker, John Lee Hooker and others, and music from Guy’s most recent CD, Skin Deep.

Fans are fortunate these masters of the genre keep extending the so-called “blues summit.”
As Guy observed, “Blues cats don’t retire, they just drop.”

B.B. King and Buddy Guy will appear February 13 at Caesars. Tickets are $65, $75
and $85.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Feb 02, 2010

The son of famous folkies Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle, Canadian singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright began his musical career at age 13 on tour with the McGarrigle Sisters and Family, went on to study classical and modern piano, and along the way fell in love with opera and orchestral composition.

His self-titled 1998 debut album astonished listeners with its soaring vocals and lush arrangements, but Wainwright’s breakout CD was 2001’s Poses, which he wrote while struggling with drug addiction. Later albums bore testament to his newfound sobriety. In 2006, Wainwright performed sold-out shows at Carnegie Hall, singing the entire Judy Garland concert album recorded there in 1961, which led to a Grammy-nominated live album.

Wainwright, who recently completed his first opera, Prima Donna, spoke last month with Casino Connection Staff Writer Caitlin McGarry. The interview took place days before the death of his mother, Kate McGarrigle, who died of cancer at 63.

Your new album, All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu, will be released this spring. Who’s Lulu? 
Personally, I’m referring to Louise Brooks from the movie Pandora’s Box from the ’30s—a German movie. It’s the ultimate flapper fantasy, about this very beautiful and reckless femme fatale who leaves a string of blood and destruction wherever she goes. That’s my personal Lulu.

I think for the general public, Lulu is any kind of dark, demonic woman living inside you that needs to eat things and spit them out rapidly. For instance, on the album there are three Shakespeare sonnets, this famous figure, the Dark Lady, and the brooding and difficult love that the poet experiences with this woman. There’s also an aria from my opera, Prima Donna, and that, too, is about a very complicated woman. It’s that force that I think lives in all of us. It has nothing to do with whether you’re a man or a woman, it’s a reckless female side that all people have.

Would you describe Songs for Lulu as a conceptual album?
I would categorize it more as an offering or sacrifice. I’ve been known to exhibit certain wild tendencies, but over the years I’ve really harnessed my life to serve its purposes. I’ve become quite responsible. I’m in a loving relationship, I take very good care of my mother, I make a good living and so forth.

But across the street there’s always this streetwalker person I can see out of the corner of my eye. Someone I know will always be there—this destructive force. These songs are for her. They’re to appease her; they’re to pacify her in a way, so she doesn’t cross the street and push me into the river.
 
What does the new record sound like?
One thing that could be argued is that Lulu is also my piano. The album is all piano/voice. It’s a real opportunity for me to face headlong that instrument and try to build a language that suits us both.

I’m pretty ambitious when it comes to the piano, and I’m naturally drawn to the more dramatic side of the instrument. But then again, you have to sing over it as well. It’s trying to meld this union between two very strong forces: my voice and the piano.

About Prima Donna. What was it like to write an opera? 
Pretty daunting. But due to many extreme circumstances in my life at the time, I didn’t have a moment to think about it, so it was possible.

At that point, the Metropolitan Opera had pulled out of the project, so I was sort of high and dry for two seconds and needed to find a home—and quickly. Also, my mother’s health wasn’t very good. There were just all these factors that seemed to propel it forward, and it happened. In retrospect, I’m shocked that it occurred. If I’d actually had a couple weeks to sit and ponder what I was doing, I don’t think I would have been able to finish it. Just don’t think about it and it’s fine.

Have you ever considered becoming a classical musician? 
I went to music school for about a year and a half, a conservatory in Montreal called McGill. I went in guns blazing and ready to wear glasses and not bathe and everything. I soon discovered that all the punk boys were at the bar. And I’m really not that into violinists.

What can Atlantic City fans expect from your Borgata show this month?
I’m going to perform a lot of the songs from the new album. I always love playing New Jersey, I have to say. The state has always been tremendously generous to me. The shows are always full of appreciative, unpretentious, excited fans. So I love New Jersey—I don’t care what they say. The guys are cute, too.

Rufus Wainwright will appear at Borgata February 14. Tickets are $65.

By Michael Bruckler   Tue, Feb 02, 2010

In honor of Black History Month, the Atlantic City Free Public Library will offer a Club Harlem Pictorial and “The Way We Were” exhibit, highlighting the African American community of the mid-1900s and Atlantic City’s legendary club scene. The display will feature more than 100 photos from the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey and the Alfred M. Heston Collection. Free.

The library will host a Hip Hop Writing Workshop Wednesdays, February 10 and 17 at 6:30 p.m. Atlantic City Weekly columnist Raymond Tyler will discuss hip hop’s widespread impact on urban culture. Free. Comic Book Drawing Lessons will be held Thursdays, February 4, 11, 18 and 25 at 3:30 p.m. Marvel Comics illustrator Joe DelBeato will teach kids 8-16 how to draw superheroes like the Black Panther. Free. For more on library activities, call 609-345-2269.

The Noyes Museum of Art in Ocean-ville will feature a Jazz Concert with the Tony Day Quartet Saturday, February 6 at 2:30 p.m. Dessert and refreshments are included. Tickets are $7 for members, $10 for non-members. Reservations are suggested. For information, call 609-652-8848 or visit www.noyesmusem.org.    

The Stockton College Performing Arts Center will feature Ruby Hinds’s stunning one-woman multi-media show, “See There In The Distance,” Thursday, February 4 at 7:30 p.m. Comedian Rondell Sheridan  of TV’s That’s So Raven will appear Thursday, February 18 at 7:30 p.m. And Philadanco will perform Thursday, February 25 at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, call 609-652-9000 or visit www.stockton.edu/pac.

At Tropicana, life’s a carnival. Festival Carnivale de Tropicana, Friday, February 5, 6-10 p.m., features salsa dancers and hourly drawings for rooms, dinners and show tickets. Enjoy $5 specials at participating venues including A Dam Good Deli, A Dam Good Sports Bar, A Time For Wine, Alto Vino Wine Bar, Carmine’s, Corky’s B-B-Q, Firewaters, Hooters, Il Verdi, Palm Restaurant, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Planet Rose, Red Square, Wellington’s and Zeytinia.

Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar will host the official after-party, Noche de Carnivale, featuring Brazilian dancers, a master percussionist, a DJ playing tropical beats, and complimentary giveaways, including masks and beads. Tickets are available at the IMAX box office or the New Member Center in the Quarter on the day of the event. Call 800-THE-TROP or visit www.tropicana.net.   

Of course, February is also the month of love, and the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority will celebrate with the Atlantic City Group Valentine Wedding, Vow Renewal & Civil Union Ceremony Sunday, February 14 at 4 p.m. at Boardwalk Hall. The ceremony is free for all couples and their guests. A non-denominational ceremony will be accompanied by a champagne toast, wedding cake and photos. The ceremony will be performed by Jean Muchanic, executive director of Absecon Lighthouse. Preregister at www.atlanticcitynj.com through February 11.    

Couples must obtain their own New Jersey marriage or civil union license (there’s a three-day waiting period for licenses). For details, e-mail ACWedding@accva.com or call 609-449-7126.
   
Muchanic does double duty with An Evening of Romance & Renewal, Saturday and Sunday, February 13-14, 7 p.m. to
10 p.m. at Absecon Lighthouse. She will perform wedding vow renewals along with a tower climb for breathtaking views of Atlantic City’s skyline. Light refreshments will be served along with dessert, drinks, flowers and photos. Room packages are available. Tickets range from $125 to $250 per couple.

Harrah’s Entertainment is hosting the citywide event [Heart] by Atlantic City, Friday-Sunday, February 12-14 at Harrah’s Resort, Caesars, Showboat and Bally’s. The schedule includes Chocolate by Jacques Torres all weekend at Bally’s (tickets: $40); Rock ’n Roll Wine hosted by VH1’s Tough Love duo Steve Ward and Joann Ward at Showboat’s Club Worship, Saturday February 13 at 7 p.m. (tickets: $40); A Guide to Love with the Wards at Harrah’s Resort also on Saturday (tickets: $30); Speed Dating with the Wards Sunday at Dusk Nightclub at Caesars (tickets: $50); and Champagne & Lingerie hosted by the Girls of X-Burlesque at Showboat’s Foundation Room on Sunday (tickets: $40). For information, visit www.heartac.com. For tickets, call 800-736-1420 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

By Dave Bontempo   Tue, Feb 02, 2010

Super Bowl Sunday is a multi-billion dollar mid-winter classic and de facto national holiday. A record audience of nearly 100 million people watched the 2009 game, and more food is consumed on this day than any other besides Thanksgiving. Scores of Super Bowl parties, block pools and friendly side wagers have transformed the game into a happening.

Sports sometimes plays second fiddle to sideshows like the Bud Bowls, Lingerie Bowl, Super Bowl commercials and halftime concerts (Jagger and Springsteen have performed in years past; this year, it’s the Who). But at the center of the hoopla is the big game between the NFL’s top teams.

It no longer matters whether your team is playing. Proposition betting has become a religion unto itself, whether you wager in Las Vegas or compete at a Super Bowl party. There are an estimated 300 bets you can make in Vegas that have nothing to do with the final score! Wacky wagers include choosing the first team to call a timeout or issue a challenge flag.

For anyone traveling to Vegas, remember that the Lakers play in Memphis that day. Why? Because there are props along the lines of Kobe Bryant’s point total versus the final Super Bowl score, etc.
   
Boxing Bookends

Three interesting battles, one in Newark and two here, open and close the February weekend schedule.

Tomasz Adamek, New Jersey’s only world champion, continues his move from the light-heavyweight division into the heavyweight ranks by facing 2004 Olympian Jason Estrada at the Prudential Center in Newark on February 6. It’s worth the two-hour ride up the Parkway because Adamek, the IBF light-heavyweight champion, has become one of boxing’s most exciting fighters.

The native of Poland has settled in Jersey City. He won the light-heavyweight title in 2008 and made two successful defenses before defeating countryman Andrew Golata for the IBF’s continental heavyweight championship in October. Adamek has kept his light-heavyweight options open but hopes to advance in the lucrative heavyweight division.

Estrada, 16-2 with four knockouts, was highly touted in 2004 and represented the United States in Athens. He has never been down and could score an upset if Adamek has made too much of a jump in weight.

The same night, Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing returns to the Trop in a 10-round welterweight showdown between AC’s own Shamone “The Truth” Alvarez and Alexis Camacho. The co-feature bout stars heavyweight favorite Vinnie Maddalone taking on Dominique “Diamond” Alexander in eight thrilling rounds.

On February 27, Bally’s opens its boxing schedule, hosting Mike Jones against Henry Bruseles in a welterweight contest. Jones, 19-0 with 16 knockouts, is an exciting fighter who’s risen to eighth in the World Boxing Association. Bruseles, 28-3-1, has not lost since 2005 and will become Jones’s toughest test.

Mixing It Up

Mixed Martial Arts is all over town this month.

On February 6, Resorts welcomes the New Breed Fighters with three title fights. In the welterweight match, James “Jimbo” Hoffman takes on Patrick Sabatini; light heavyweight Kyle Rigby will battle Thomas “Sick” Murphy; and super welterweight Aaron Sifflet will go for the title against Frankie Perez.

On February 19 at Tropicana, Ocean City’s Robert Cunane will represent LA Boxing when he appears on the undercard at Louis Neglia’s famous Ring of Combat. A kickboxing and mixed martial arts instructor, Cunane focused for 30 years on boxing and kickboxing. Three years ago, he got the MMA bug. Cunane will compete this month in a caged match, featuring a blend of stand-up striking, ground striking and jiu jitsu. If the ground action gets too slow, the referee will stand the fighters up to start over. Cunane anticipates a large local turnout.
   
“There are amateurs and professionals training here,” he says. “Whenever one of us has an event, the rest of us come out in full force to lend our support. It’s really nice to have that when you fight.”
   
On February 27, the Asylum Fight League will return to Trump Marina. Asylum has been called the No. 1 amateur MMA organization on the East Coast, and more than a few of its fighters have moved on to the pros.
   
“The goal has always been that today’s Asylum stars are tomorrow’s UFC stars,” declares promoter Carl Mascarenhas. “That’s what the Asylum is all about.”

Super Bowl Stats

• The first Super Bowl took place on January 15, 1957 at the Los Angeles Coliseum with the Green Bay Packers beating the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10.

• The Pittsburgh Steelers have the most Super Bowl titles, six.

• Buffalo and Minnesota own the futility record for Super Bowls at 0-4.

• There are 13 other teams that have never taken one: Cincinnati, Tennessee, San Diego, Seattle, Arizona, Cleveland, Houston, New Orleans, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Carolina, Detroit and of course, the Eagles. They’re 0-for-2.

• Five teams (Cleveland, Jacksonville, Houston, Detroit and New Orleans) have never played in a Super Bowl.
• If the NFL stood for National Futility League, the Eagles would be one its top franchises. This marks 50, count ‘em, 50 years since the Eagles captured an NFL championship. The all-time futility mark, however, goes to the Detroit Lions, who haven’t won a championship since 1957.

• According to Nielsen Media Research, Super Bowl XLIII in 2009, was the most-watched game in history. 98.7
million people watched the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals 27-23.

• For what it’s worth, there’s never been a Super Bowl shutout or a scoreless first half. Only one team, the 1987 Washington Redskins, have recovered from a double-digit deficit to win. They overcame a 10-0 early disadvantage to win 42-10. Three years later, the Giants won the closest game in Super Bowl history, 20-19 over Buffalo. The final play featured a missed Buffalo field goal.

By Julie Dods   Tue, Feb 02, 2010

It’s the workout that feels like a party. Zumba classes merge Latin music and easy dance moves with aerobics, allowing participants to burn up to 700 calories in one hour of pure fun.

“Zumba is better than any cardio machine out there,” says Erin Carpenter, group instructor at Tilton Fitness. “The one-hour class flies by because you feel like you’re out dancing with your friends.

The aerobic interval training sessions include fast and slow rhythms and resistance training that tone and sculpt your body while burning fat. Add some Latin flavor and international zest into the mix, and you’ve got a workout that’s easy to love.

“I love the music, the energy and the people. We give each other the extra oomph to keep going,” says Cinthia Fiorentino, who does Zumba at Tilton Fitness twice a week. “I feel healthier, toned and full of life. I think I look great and have lots of confidence. I never knew I could move like this!”

Buoyed by the popularity of TV shows like Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance, the Zumba program has spread like wildfire, becoming a phenomenon in the fitness world.

Celebrity fitness trainer Beto Perez stumbled on the concept of Latin-inspired dance-fitness by accident in his native Colombia. One day in the mid-1990s, he walked into his aerobics class and realized he had forgotten his traditional aerobics music. Thinking fast, he grabbed the tapes in his backpack: the traditional Latin salsa and merengue music he’d listened to all his life. From this last-minute improvisation a revolutionary new concept in fitness was born.

After his success in Colombia, Perez brought the class to the U.S. In 2001, he met entrepreneurs Alberto Perlman and Alberto Aghio, who wanted to create a global company based on his fitness philosophy. The three young entrepreneurs trademarked the word “Zumba” and have since expanded the brand all over the world. It is now taught by some 20,000 instructors in 35 countries.

“People need a workout they’ll look forward to doing every day or a few times a week, and that’s what Zumba delivers,” says Carpenter. “You leave feeling happy and energized. The music is awesome, and I encourage the class to shout out to let me know they’re having a good time.”

After just a few Zumba classes, you’ll feel firmer and stronger, with a noticeable increase in your endurance. All ages, shapes, sizes and levels of ability are welcome. All you need is a fun-loving attitude and the desire to move.

 “It’s addictively fun,” says Carpenter. “That’s what keeps people coming back.”

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 Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Feb 01, 2010

On Thursday, February 25, the region’s “Positive Place for Kids” will host a positively delicious event. The ninth annual South Jersey Men R’ Cookin’ benefit will feature more than 70 chefs, all serving up their specialties to support the Atlantic City Boys & Girls Club.

Helping to put it all together is Tina LoBiondo, a realtor, advocate for cancer organizations, and wife of 2nd District New Jersey Congressman Frank LoBiondo. Tina recently spoke to Casino Connection Managing Editor Marjorie Preston about this special evening. For more details and tickets, or to vote for your favorite chef, visit www.acbgc.org.

How did you become involved with Men R’ Cookin’?
LoBiondo: I attended last year and had such a great time that I wanted to get more involved. My job is basically to round up some men and force them into the kitchen, where they belong!

Do you resort to strong-arm tactics?   
Basically the committee finds new chefs and coerces those who participated in past years to participate again. It’s fun, because oftentimes when you’re involved in a charity event, the big thing is raising money. With Men R’ Cooking, we’re really raising chefs—begging and pleading with all our friends, family, coworkers and colleagues, saying, “Does anyone know a man who likes to cook?”

Does the congressman like to cook?
My husband likes to cook, but he’s a little afraid of cooking for 300 people. Plus he always up being called to Washington, and that makes it challenging. So he won’t be wearing an apron this year, but we do have representation from the Republican party: Frank Formica. He loves to cook, of course, and he’s a wonderful baker. 

Are there any Democrats on KP? 
We don’t check their party affiliation, but I’m sure they’ll be well represented. We’re still fine-tuning our list. A couple of our new chefs are Don Marradino from Harrah’s and a wonderful chef named Carl Redding, who will be opening a restaurant in Atlantic City soon. He has a very famous restaurant, Amy Ruth’s in Harlem. He’s the new celebrity chef in our area, so we’ll get a little preview of what he has to offer.

You have a mix of amateur and professional chefs. How do you know the amateurs can cook?   
We don’t vet them to make sure they pass the taste test, but some of the amateurs are wonderful chefs. We’ve had some men who maybe get a little help from their wives or significant others (or a store or restaurant) but we’re not that stringent in the rules. We don’t send anyone to make sure they’re behind the stove with a chef’s hat on.

How do you know you won’t end up with 20 fruitcakes or 20 green bean casseroles? 
It all kind of works out in the end. We ask each chef for a bio, a photo and a recipe, and we’ve always lucked out with a nice assortment of appetizers, entrees and desserts. What’s great about this event is that it’s the kickoff for Restaurant Week. So it’s all food, all the time.

How does Men R’ Cookin’ benefit the Boys & Girls Club?
All the money we raise goes directly to support the programs at the Club, which has six locations in our area. As everyone knows, funding for many organizations like this has dried up, so every penny goes a long way to keeping these programs alive.

The kids who go to the Boys & Girls Club often come from broken homes, where they don’t have a lot of adult interaction. It’s not that their parents don’t care, but often these are families with single parents who work two and three jobs, who are worried about paying the rent and buying the
groceries.

Sometimes all these kids really want is somebody to talk to and learn from. The alternative for them is to be hanging on streets, and that’s not a great place to learn about life.

But so many success stories come out of the Boys & Girls Club. At the last event I attended, they had a video of some of the children who, as adults, are now back as volunteers. That’s a testament to what the Boys & Girls Club has accomplished. 

Do you have any tips for navigating the room at the event? 
Keep in mind, the selection is overwhelming. Last year I had no strategy at all. I started like a buffet at the beginning of the line and tried to eat my way through. I made it halfway and ended up missing out on so many goodies. I advise people not to fill up too fast, and try a lot of things.

What do you hope to see on the menu?
I love homemade mac and cheese. And the crab cakes last year were delicious. Usually I try to eat the healthy stuff, but that night I plan to go for the goodies.

You’re president-elect of the Every Breath Counts Foundation for Lung Cancer Awareness. Tell us about it. 
I got involved about four years ago, when my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. EBC has a grass-roots, ground-level strategy for raising awareness about lung cancer. We support the South Jersey Cancer Fund and help families dealing with the disease here in our community. On a research basis, we support a group called LUNGevity out of Chicago. And the third prong is advocacy. We donate to the Lung Cancer Alliance in Washington, which lobbies to get the big money for lung cancer research. Although lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, the money it receives is very low for the proportionate number of people who die each year.

Another very good cause. Thank you, and see you at Men R’ Cookin’.
We hope to see everybody there. Everyone who comes will get to see and feel the way their support benefits these wonderful children. There is definitely magic that happens in that building.

By   Mon, Feb 01, 2010

"It was inevitable that with banks acting like casinos, casinos would act like banks, placing bets they couldn’t quite cover."     
—New York Times writer Peter Applebome, on the inability of the Mashantucket Pequot Indians of Connecticut to pay their creditors

"Nothing is going to produce the kind of money for the state that a gaming mall at the Meadowlands would produce."    
—Thomas Luchento of the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey, who hopes Governor-elect Chris Christie will support racetrack slots

"We don’t think anything material changes until a healthier consumer emerges."   
—Trump Entertainment CEO Mark Juliano, commenting on the company’s drastically slashed value. Assessed at $2 billion last February, the company is now worth less than $460 million

"We love him. What Barney Frank is doing is wonderful."     
—Martin Shapiro, a professional online poker player, applauding the congressman’s efforts to legalize online gaming in the U.S.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Feb 01, 2010

Despite talk of a possible Shinnecock tribal casino in New York City or the Catskills, the Long Island tribe apparently has not ruled out a gaming site in its own backyard in wealthy Southampton. Some tribal members prefer to have the proposed gaming facility closer to the reservation so more members can work there.

A former U.S. Navy testing facility near Riverhead Town has been cited as a potential resort site for the tribe, which is due for federal recognition this year. Town fathers wary of a tribal casino in their vicinity have already made legal provisions against gaming in the community, but Supervisor Sean Walter said they might be persuaded to rethink their opposition if the deal is enticing enough.

“If you were going to build a large development, you’re talking about taxing it at $3 million a year or more,” Walter said. “If the Indians, who don’t pay taxes, came in and said they’d pay you $12 million or $15 million instead of taxes, then, well, that would be something to consider.”

“I think the state is going to have to sit down and talk at some point—that’s what everybody hopes happens,” said Tom Shields, an attorney for Gateway Casino Resorts of Detroit, which has financed the Shinnecocks since 2005. “At this point, all the possibilities are possibilities—and, of course, maybe none of them are.”

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Feb 01, 2010

Former MGM Mirage executive Gary Jacobs, who resigned his post in December, may have done so to ease concerns of New Jersey gaming regulators about a link between MGM and the Ho family of Macau.

For several years, New Jersey regulators have been investigating a joint venture between MGM and Pansy Ho, daughter of billionaire Stanley Ho. The elder Ho has been accused of having ties to organized crime in China.

Though Nevada regulators approved the MGM-Pansy Ho partnership in 2007, New Jersey regulators continue to be concerned about the alliance, which enabled MGM to get a foothold in Macau’s booming casino industry. They have recommended that MGM Mirage divest of its 50 percent stake in the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City. MGM co-owns Borgata along with partner Boyd Gaming.

Jacobs structured the China deal as MGM’s general counsel. It included payments to Stanley Ho’s casino company in the form of a secondary license or “sub-concession,” according to reports. Reports say Jacobs’ departure might pave the way for a more favorable outcome in a New Jersey regulatory hearing.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Feb 01, 2010

Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives voted 103-89 last month to bring table games to the state’s 14 casinos, which now offer only slots.

The measure was hailed by lawmakers as a way to balance the budget and bring thousands of jobs to the Keystone State.

Democrat Dante Santoni of the House gaming committee called the bill “a common sense, bipartisan piece of legislation that makes our gaming facilities more competitive, improves the public’s confidence in gaming, raises money we desperately need in these tough financial times, and—most importantly—helps put thousands of people to work in a brand-new industry.” The new law will allow big casinos to have 250 tables and resorts to have 50.

It’s not good news for Atlantic City, where the casino industry has lost much of its customer base in a perfect storm of recession and competition—and the dismal news may not end with Pennsylvania.

The Delaware House last month voted 27-5 to permit poker, blackjack and craps at racinos in the First State. The bill would authorize card and dice games at the tracks, which already offer slots and limited sports betting. It also would create a state lottery commission to regulate and oversee table games and a new division of gaming enforcement. The measure now goes to the state Senate.

Members of Maryland’s slots panel, too, eager to keep up with surrounding states, recommended in January that lawmakers allow table games at the five slots locations already approved by voters; the move would require legislation plus a public referendum.

“It’s apparent we are well behind the curve,” Commissioner D. Bruce Poole said. “We’re running catch-up with other states.”

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Feb 01, 2010

The election of Chris Christie as governor of New Jersey will have a dramatic impact on the way business is conducted in the state, as illustrated by the transition in Trenton. At one minute before 5 p.m. on the last day of his lame-duck session, former Governor Jon Corzine made appointments that demonstrated the cronyism that has been business as usual for years. Among them:

• Michelline Davis, whom Corzine named to fill a vacant seat on the board of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. Her appointment coincided with new legislation signed by Corzine (and opposed by Christie) that allows former government staffers to move on to casino-related work.

• Union official Richard Tolson, named to fill a seat on the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority board. If approved, the appointment would break precedent, as the board is required by law to include two representatives of the casino industry. Presently, the only other casino official on the board is Mark Juliano, CEO of Trump Entertainment Resorts.

• State Police Captain Edward Fanelle, named to the five-person Casino Control Commission. If confirmed, Fanelle will serve five years at a salary of $125,000; his appointment comes despite suggestions from Republicans that the commission be pared from five members to three to save money (commissioners’ salaries are paid by Atlantic City’s 11 casinos).

Fanelle, who has no prior casino experience, would assume the seat previously held by Michael A. Fedorko.

On his first day in office, the new governor signed an executive order making Casino Control Commission workers essential state employees who cannot be furloughed. While several bills were introduced during the Corzine administration to safeguard those positions, no one issued an executive order until now.

Christie’s move is in response to a 2006 state government shutdown that closed Atlantic City casinos for three days over the busy July 4 weekend. The costly shutdown occurred when the budget for fiscal 2007 was not approved by the June 30 deadline, effectively cutting off funding for “non-essential” government agencies and departments.

Casinos could not operate because regulators, then considered non-essential employees, were not on the job. Christie’s action assures that that will never happen again.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Feb 01, 2010

On Saturday, February 20 at 2 p.m., celebrate the Year of the Tiger at the Pan Asian parade on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.

The colorful display, which starts at Showboat and ends at the Hilton, will include 500 performers in ceremonial garb offering non-stop entertainment with decorated floats and traditional dragon and lion dances. For information, visit www.betteratlanticcity.com. 

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Feb 01, 2010

The First Annual Ray Kot Poker Open Tournament, named for the floor manager who died  on the job last May, was held January 18-24 at Trump Taj Mahal.

Donations to the Ray Kot Memorial Fund will benefit his only son, Drew Kot, and be used for his education and support. Donations can be sent directly to the fund at: Trump Taj Mahal Ray Kot Memorial Fund To Benefit Drew Kot, c/o TD Bank, 15 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ  08401.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Feb 01, 2010

A lucky Delaware man won the biggest bad-beat poker hand in Atlantic City history last month. Steven Gedney of Dover was playing no-limit Texas Hold’em at Caesars when he won $276,979, half of a total pot of more than $550,000.

Chris Dobrzanski of Bridgeton, who held the winning hand, won $138,889, and seven other players at the table won almost $20,000 apiece. The previous bad-beat jackpot record of $361,244 was cashed in at Harrah’s Resort earlier this year.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Feb 01, 2010

Atlantic City’s three-year losing streak started in 2007, so the gaming revenue results for 2009 should not come as a
surprise to anyone.

The 2007 decrease was blamed on increased competition from Pennsylvania racinos, Indian casinos, and racinos in New York and Delaware. In 2008, a planned smoking ban had a discouraging effect on the customer base. Now, increased offerings in Delaware and Pennsylvania—table games and sports betting—threaten once again to cut into the Atlantic City pie.

But the big reason revenue declined so steeply for the past two years is the recession, which affected almost every area of the economy. Regional casinos held up relatively well, but “destinations” such as Atlantic City and Las Vegas have been slammed. Making matters worse, the
valuation of gaming company shares also plunged, hitting a new low in March
2009 and pushing some companies to
the brink of bankruptcy. While stock prices for the major companies have rebounded, revenues have not.

Revenues in 2009 were $3.9 billion, a 13.2 percent decrease from 2008, which in turn was 7.6 percent lower than 2007 (revenues then were $4.5 billion). In all, revenues are down almost 25 percent from 2006, when the Atlantic City record of more than $5 billion was set.

In response to the dire results, casino executives, city officials and others have begun meetings on how to re-position Atlantic City and market the non-gaming assets of the town, including many features that no other gaming jurisdiction has.

Atlantic City Gross Gaming Revenues, December 2009

CASINO                     Dec. ’08      Dec. ’09       % Change
Borgata                      $55.3           $49.3           -10.8%
Caesars Atlantic City    $34.7          $36.2             4.4%   
Harrah’s Atlantic City   $38.9          $34.7            -10.8%   
Bally’s Atlantic City      $36.9          $33.5            -9.2%   
Trump Taj Mahal          $32.6          $28.0           -14.1%   
Tropicana                    $23.8          $22.4           -5.8%   
Showboat                   $22.3          $21.5           -3.4%
Trump Plaza                $16.0         $13.0           -18.9%   
Resorts                      $13.8          $11.9           -14.3%
Atlantic City Hilton      $14.1          $11.7           -17.1%
Trump Marina             $13.4          $10.1           -25.2%
TOTAL                        $302.0        $272.1           -9.8%

Atlantic City Gross Gaming Revenues 2009

CASINO                     2008          2009           % Change
Borgata                      $738.8        $695.3        -5.9%
Caesars Atlantic City    $543.8        $460.2        -15.4%   
Harrah’s Atlantic City   $544.7        $488.5        -10.3%   
Bally’s Atlantic City      $568.1        $474.3        -16.5%   
Trump Taj Mahal          $482.4        $446.0        -7.6%   
Tropicana                    $357.0        $313.6        -12.1%   
Showboat                   $362.2        $316.7        -12.6%
Trump Plaza                $262.3        $202.3        -22.9%   
Resorts                      $233.2        $191.7        -17.8%
Atlantic City Hilton      $249.1        $192.0        -22.9%
Trump Marina             $203.6        $162.6        -20.2%
TOTAL                        $4,454.6     $3,943.1      -13.2%

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Feb 01, 2010

One of the most spectacular wedding venues is here at last atop the Pier at Caesars. The long-awaited One Atlantic opened last month and already has 45 weddings booked.

With 10,000 square feet of space jutting 100 yards over the water, One Atlantic can accommodate 10 to 1,000 guests for cocktails and up to 500 for seated dinners, all in a setting of matchless charm and sophistication. The center offers world-glass gourmet catering, a full array of entertainment options, and a staff of expert planners who can help couples realize the wedding and reception of their dreams.

One Atlantic is also the perfect choice for corporate events and private parties. For more information, call 609-343-9902 or visit www.oneatlanticevents.com.

Starting Valentine’s Day weekend, Resorts will open its award-winning Boogie Nights disco club for Vegas-style weddings and vow renewal ceremonies.

“Thousands of people fly from the East Coast to Las Vegas for non-traditional weddings every year,” says Kathleen McSweeney, senior VP of marketing. “Now they can drive to Atlantic City and get married or renew their vows at Boogie Nights—a place that has defined non-traditional since the day it opened.”

Boogie Nights can accommodate gatherings of all sizes; the offbeat ceremonies will be presided over by characters like Mr. Boogie, with special guests including “Madonna” and “Michael Jackson.” For more information, call the Boogie Nights hotline at 609-340-7698.

Rockin’ couples can also vie for a Valentine’s Day Rock n’ Roll Wedding at Borgata’s Gypsy Bar, officiated by Rev Run of Run DMC.

The winning couple will enjoy bachelor and bachelorette parties on February 13 (at MIXX and mur.mur nightclubs, respectively), followed on Valentine’s Day by a day of pampering, a Kid Rock concert with up to 12 guests at the Borgata Event Center, and a late-night wedding at the Gypsy Bar with all the trimmings, including a custom cake by Executive Chef Thaddeus Dubois. The happy couple will be the guests of honor at a reception at MIXX before retiring to the honeymoon suite.

How to win? Tell your love story at www.borgatanightlife.com. Complete details can be found at http://tinyurl.com/yax3mga.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Feb 01, 2010

In a ploy to attract more players, Resorts Atlantic City has resurrected $2 blackjack games. The Boardwalk casino-which revived cash slots for a time last year-will assess a 25-cent fee per hand for bets between $2 and $5 at its new Retro Blackjack tables, which are set to return to the casino this month.

The low-stakes games are great for beginners, Resorts officials told the Casino Control Commission. “Retro Blackjack gives them an opportunity to become familiar with the game while playing with others who have a similar skill level,” said Kevin Brown, executive director of table games for Resorts.

Commissioners approved the 25-cent fee, which Brown said will help defray costs for the games.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Feb 01, 2010

Redenia Gilliam-Mosee, former senior vice president at Bally’s Atlantic City, died January 1 in Philadelphia. She was 60.

The longtime Atlantic City resident once worked as a hotel chambermaid. In an interview last year with Casino Connection, she recalled “cleaning 22 rooms a day with two double beds at $30 a week.” From those humble beginnings, Gilliam-Mosee rose to become the city’s first female African-American casino vice president and a tireless force for good in the community.

Gilliam-Mosee once said she was driven to “deliver things back to the community from whence I came.’” She did so in more ways than one, as a champion of casino-funded housing, longtime president of the Atlantic City Boys & Girls Club, and the first and only woman to lead the board of the Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce. Most recently, the former Livingston College professor was business administrator for the city under Mayor Lorenzo Langford. She was named the Businesswoman of the Year by the Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce (which has now renamed the award in her honor), a Glamour magazine “Success Choice,” and a member of the Atlantic City Women’s Hall of Fame.

Gilliam-Mosee was an active member and trustee of the St. James AME Church in Atlantic City. At her funeral service, Langford said she could be summed up in two words: “Quiet dignity.”

A marker at the corner of Maryland and Arctic avenues will be named in her honor, and a portion of Pennsylvania Avenue near the Boys and Girls Club will be renamed Redenia Gilliam-Mosee Way.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Feb 01, 2010

As Carl Icahn reveals details of his plan to buy Trump Entertainment Resorts, Trump bondholders, who are also vying for control of the company, say a winning bid by the billionaire could give him too much power in Atlantic City. Last June Icahn—one of Forbes magazine’s 50 richest people—bought the Tropicana Casino & resort out of bankruptcy by forgiving $200 million in debt.

Icahn has agreed to buy $500 million worth of Trump Entertainment debt and sell $225 million of equity in the reorganized company. If he cannot attract enough investors, Icahn has guaranteed an equity investment of $80 million and an additional $45 million for the company, which owns three casinos in Atlantic City.

“Icahn Partners is putting its money where its mouth is and demonstrating its level of confidence and commitment,” his company said in court papers.

The bondholders, who own $1.25 billion in Trump Entertainment notes,  have offered $225 million for the company. They also would sell stock in Trump Entertainment and could sell at least one of the three casinos for $75 million, most likely Trump Marina, which at one time was set to be sold to Coastal Development of New York and rebranded as a “Margaritaville.”

Bondholder attorney Kristopher Hansen said regulators should reject Icahn’s newest license request because it would give him too big a stake in Atlantic City’s casino industry.

“Given the contraction in the Atlantic City market, Icahn’s possible control becomes even more exaggerated,” Hansen said in an e-mail cited by Bloomberg News.

Icahn and his partner, Dallas banker Andy Beal, say the bondholders don’t have enough experience in gaming to merit a license; if regulators reject their application, Trump employees and creditors would suffer “all of the economic harm,” according to court papers. The bondholder plan is supported by Trump Entertainment’s board and former chairman Donald Trump.

Hearings in the case are scheduled to begin on February 16.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Feb 01, 2010

New Jersey is considering a hefty tax break for Atlantic City’s newest casino, Revel, which is slated to open in 2011. The proposal would offer a 75 percent abatement on sales and room taxes for the first 20 years of operations at the casino. The tax break, which is worth an estimated $300 million, is currently before the state’s Economic Development Authority.

Supporters say the plan could help Revel secure its final piece of funding; while exterior construction continues, interior construction of the casino has been suspended while the company hunts for financing.

But President Bob McDevitt of UNITE-HERE Local 54, the city’s largest casino union, publicly slammed the plan as “corporate welfare” that will compel a financially stressed city and state to underwrite a $2 billion mega-resort.

McDevitt says the opening of Revel could mean that two or more lesser-performing casinos in the city could fold, meaning the loss of hundreds of jobs and making the whole deal “a wash.” Representatives of other trade unions in the city disagree with McDevitt, saying he is trying to force Revel to the bargaining table before the casino even opens. They insist that the opening of Revel will create many more jobs than exist today.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Feb 01, 2010

Senator Ray Lesniak has proposed a bill that could put the Garden State in the forefront of the flourishing online gaming industry, now illegal in the U.S. Lawmakers elsewhere, including Nevada, Florida and California, are also working to legalize the virtual games.

Some in Atlantic City’s casino industry fear that legal online gambling could mean more competition in an already super-competitive industry. Though the legislation requires that internet gambling equipment be based in an Atlantic City casino or “within the territorial limits of Atlantic County,” the Casino Control Commission could also allow racetracks to have internet gambling terminals, which may be “identical in appearance to slot machines,” according to the bill.

Atlantic City’s casino industry has long fought slots at the racetracks, but Lesniak believes the revenue generated by the games would help, not hurt, the city, which has suffered double-digit revenue declines since Pennsylvania introduced slot parlors in 2006.

Sentiment against internet gambling is softening among U.S. lawmakers. In December, the Obama administration delayed a federal crackdown on internet poker and casino sites; Obama gave Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank until June to draft a bill that would regulate and tax internet gaming, a $16 billion-per-year industry that could, by some estimates, generate up to $42 billion in tax revenue over the next decade.

But analysts say the bill could be a hard sell during a mid-term election year. And according to sources in the gaming industry, nothing will pass without the OK of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, who has in the past opposed internet gaming.

Mon, Feb 01, 2010

Atlantic City Restaurant Week is back Sunday, February 28 to Saturday, March 6 with more than 70 fine restaurants offering value-packed meals ($15.10 per person for lunch, $33.10 per person for dinner). Check online for each restaurant’s schedule, menus, reservation information, and biographies of the chefs.

Restaurant Week gift certificates are appreciated by relatives, friends and clients, so share the fun. Certificates are available at Boardwalk Hall, the Expressway Informa-tion Center, at 1-888-228-4748, or at www.acrestaurantweek.com.

Sponsors of Restaurant Week include Casino Connection, Philadelphia Magazine, the Press of Atlantic City, the Pier Shops at Caesars, Harrah’s Resort, TD Bank, Trump Entertainment Resorts, the Atlantic City Special Improvement District, the Greater Atlantic City Chamber and AC Central Reservations. The Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority also receives funding for the event from the State Division of Travel and Tourism.

By popular demand, the Philadelphia Mummer’s String Band Show of Shows is back at Boardwalk Hall Saturday, February 27, with shows at noon and 5 p.m. Come relive the pageantry and excitement of New Year’s Day as the String Band Show of Shows struts into Boardwalk Hall. Tickets are $18, $25 and $21 (some $35 VIP seats are available). Family packages are $60 and $80 and include four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas and a complimentary program. Group discounts are also available; call 609-348-7021 for information.

Save the date for these spectacular Boardwalk Hall events in March: NJSIAA New Jersey State High School Wrestling Championships, March 5-7; Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Championship, March 12-14; and Carrie Underwood in concert, March 19.

February and March are some of the busiest months for public shows at the Atlantic City Convention Center. The popular Atlantic City International Power Boat Show returns Wednesday through Sunday, February 3-7. Come see more than 700 boats, from luxury motor and sailing yachts to sport fishers, performance boats, inflatables and personal watercraft for every lifestyle and budget. Admission is $12 for adults and free for kids 15 and younger with a paid adult. For more information, call 212-984-7000 or visit www.acboatshow.com.

On Saturday, February 20, the Spirit Unlimited Cheerleading Competition returns to the Convention Center. The national competition for Spirit Unlimited will attract East Coast teams from Conn-ecticut to Florida. Admission is $20 for those 11 and older, $10 for kids 6-10, and free for children 5 and under. For more information, visit www.spiritunlimited.com or call 888-737-2221.

Book your tickets early for the Atlantic City Classic Car Show, Friday to Sunday, February 26-28. The show will feature more than 1,000 classic, custom and collectible cars in a whirlwind weekend of buying and selling. Admission is $20 for adults, $5 for children under 12. For more information, visit www.acclassiccars.com or call 856-573-6969.

Next month, don’t miss the return of these great public shows: Atlantic City Recreational Vehicle and Camping Show, March 5-7; the New Jersey Home & Garden Show, March 5-7; the 4th Annual Bliss Bridal Show, March 7; the Celebration of the Suds Beer Festival, March 20-21; and an all-new Atlantic City Antiques and Collectors Show produced by JMK Shows & Events, March 27-28.

Addicted to Facebook? You’ll be happy to hear that Atlantic City is now up and running, collecting fans each day. Check it out at www.facebook.com/AtlanticCityNJ.

Mon, Feb 01, 2010

Carpe diem (Latin for “seize the day”) is my motto, my modus operandi, as it were. In a time of transition, with a struggling economy, new gaming competition and new leaders in Trenton and Washington, it’s also time to reflect on what’s happened and what lies ahead.

The job of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority has always been to take the long view—to provide reinvestment funds that support economic development and improve the lives of our people.

Atlantic City has always had its ups and downs, so consistent investment is required. Major infrastructure projects take time to plan and implement; they cannot easily be turned on and off. In its first quarter-century of existence, CRDA has reinvested $1.8 billion in over 400 projects across the state, with $1.5 billion invested in Atlantic City alone. CRDA has managed to link the celebrated past of Atlantic City to a present and future that we’re building every day.

A perfect example is the restoration of Boardwalk Hall, financed by CRDA funds, which preserved this landmark and made it the No. 1 mid-size venue in the country. The restoration received numerous architectural and historic preservation awards.

CRDA saved another Atlantic City landmark from the dust heap of history. The Carnegie Library has a new life as a Stockton College satellite, providing education and community meeting space in the heart of Atlantic City. The Carnegie Library Center was recently named one of the top 150 Buildings and Places in New Jersey by the American Institute of Architects of New Jersey.

Over the years, CRDA has rebuilt entire neighborhoods, particularly the Northeast Inlet, a blighted area identified by citizens in the early 1980s as an area most in need of rehabilitation. CRDA has spent more than $350 million on 1,500 housing units in Atlantic City. Drive down New Hampshire Avenue and you’ll see firsthand the transformation of an entire section of the city.

CRDA is now engaged in its eighth road widening/corridor improvement project with the South Inlet Transportation Improvement Project. We’ve reinvested over $200 million in the entrance corridor at the Expressway both for highway improvement and for the development of Atlantic City Outlets, the Walk. Continuing our partnership with the Cordish Group, we’re continuing to expand the Walk across Columbus Boulevard in Phases III and IV.

Our 2010 agenda also includes the Corridor Garage, the widening of Martin Luther King Blvd. and Mississippi Avenue, the repurposing of the Armory for community use, the Walk expansion, the Dwayne Harris recreational area, the Boardwalk and Virginia Avenue facades, and the continuation of our housing program.

We’re concentrating, too, on the Aviation Research and Technology Park, being built on 55 acres adjacent to the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center and Atlantic City International Airport. Not only will it provide upwards of 2,000 permanent jobs, this project will be a major economic operator for the region. CRDA is providing over $1.6 million in seed money to jump-start this development.

Despite the economic downturn, we’re optimistic about the future of Atlantic City. This is precisely the time to continue our investments. We want investors to share our optimism in Atlantic City and New Jersey as good places to do business. Each dollar we invest leverages additional dollars and provides economic activity and opportunity that may not have existed but for the CRDA.

These projects, along with those that came before it, bear testimony to the fact that government can work for the benefit of its people. As long as I have anything to say about it, we’ll continue to employ the motto “carpe diem” every day.

Mon, Feb 01, 2010

When times are tough in business, it’s important to be creative and innovative. I’m not a big fan of the expression “think outside the box,” but that’s exactly what we have to do in Atlantic City. That’s why I’m considering three suggestions that I once would have rejected out of hand.

The first is to reduce the number of hotel rooms required for a casino in Atlantic City to 200 rooms. All 11 casinos opened under the existing 500-room mandate. It was a great idea, because casino gaming was supposed to return first-class hotel rooms to the city, which it has done. The new plan is for an initial 200 rooms that must be raised to 500 by the end of five years, so in the long run it adheres to the Casino Control Act.

The 200-room proposal is attractive for one reason: jobs! It will create jobs building and/or retrofitting buildings as casinos. It will create permanent positions (or whatever we call “permanent” these days) with the possibility of advancement. There are already a couple of companies contemplating this path, so it would be an immediate gain.

The second proposal, which as a free-marketer I would ordinarily oppose, is the $300 million tax credit for Revel Entertainment. In our September cover story, we outlined five steps for Atlantic City’s revival, and the first was the opening of Revel. This hasn’t changed, even if it takes a tax break spread over 20 years. It’s more important to get that facility open than to worry about a few dollars—OK, a lot of dollars. Revel jobs will help revitalize the entire region, and the buzz it will bring to Atlantic City will be well worth it. Many cities and states have provided similar rebates for projects that would produce a lot less than Revel promises.

And finally, the proposal to allow internet gaming to be conducted in Atlantic City for residents of New Jersey is, I believe, a necessity. Now, I would normally think that additional gaming may keep people away from Atlantic City, which is not a good thing. But that horse has long since left the barn.

Internet gaming is a reality around the world. Offshore companies on Caribbean islands and small Central American companies are raking in billions from illegal wagers made by Americans. They are barely taxed and have few of the controls that keep problem gamblers and minors away. Online gaming is not going away anytime soon. So let’s get our piece of the pie and at the same time help Atlantic City.

How does that work? In several ways.

First, it creates a new revenue stream for cash-starved Atlantic City casinos. Second, it creates jobs, albeit for a small skilled workforce. Third, it can be used to promote Atlantic City and lure online gamblers to the Boardwalk. Like the bricks-and-mortar casinos, online players join the loyalty clubs, and the real-life casinos can offer them cash-back, free buffets, discounted rooms, show tickets and more that can only be redeemed by visiting that casino. What player is not going to cash in a free coupon?

Even better, internet gaming in the U.S. is in its infancy. Congress is currently considering legalizing internet gaming because it has come to the same conclusion: it’s already operating, taking U.S. dollars without generating taxes. And there’s no way to stop it.

If an acceptable law is passed that limits the operation of internet gaming to Atlantic County and doesn’t include any major “strings,” like slots at racetracks, the casinos could be on the cutting edge of a U.S. internet gaming industry, establishing a loyal customer base that would expand quickly if and when Congress passes any internet gaming legislation.

If times were good, I would not be in favor of any of these options. They go against everything I’ve ever believed about gaming in New Jersey. But today, they can help save our gaming industry. Let’s continue this creative thinking so we can return to prosperity.

By NBC 40 WMGM   Fri, Jan 29, 2010

By NBC 40 WMGM   Sat, Jan 23, 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   Sat, Sep 12, 2009

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