By   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

For many, a jaunt to the Jersey Shore consists of a few days at the beach, a few nights in the casinos or at the Boardwalk, a box of saltwater taffy and a souvenir T-shirt.

Those experiences are not to be missed—in fact, they should top your to-do list. But this year, once you’ve absorbed the requisite rays and shaken the sand out of your shoes, look around. You may discover unexpected summer fun far beyond the beach.

1. STARRY, STARRY NIGHT. Light pollution has made it impossible for most of us to see the planets and constellations as our agrarian ancestors saw them. For spectacular views of the Milky Way, join the South Jersey Astronomy Club’s free public sky watch Friday, August 29 at Belleplain State Forest. Bring folding chairs, extra clothing and a flashlight with a red filter (cellophane will work nicely) to find your way without illuminating the landscape. The experts will gladly share their telescopes and explain what’s up there. 7:30 p.m. For information: www.sjac.us. (For do-it-yourself stargazing, the Perseid meteor shower is Tuesday, August 12. Drive to any country road far from man-made lights, spread a blanket and watch a dazzling display of natural pyrotechnics.)

2. INTO THE WOODS. Parents, drag your kids away from the computer and experience the primal thrill of rugged outdoor life. Several nearby state forests offer plentiful hiking, boating and fishing, along with camping in cabins, lean-tos, shelters and “yurts.” They also offer the incomparable opportunity to see the grandeur of nature close to home. Bass River State Forest, home of Lake Absegami, also includes the Pygmy Forest: 4,000 acres of unique stunted forest with a canopy height of only four feet. Belleplain State Forest includes 26-acre Lake Nummy and miles of marked trails. Wharton State Forest offers tent and trailer sites as well as sites accessible only by foot, by canoe or on horseback. Camping at most state parks, which usually includes fire rings for cooking, is remarkably affordable—as little as $20 a night. For information: www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests.

3. SOMETHING FISHY. No, it’s not Camden’s huge Adventure Aquarium with its hippos, penguins and 4-D theater. But the Ocean Life Center at Gardner’s Basin is convenient, affordable and, in its pocket-sized way, just as much fun. See more than 100 varieties of marine life in a low-key environment—perfect for the little ones. The live feeding show at 11 a.m. each Saturday is a real crowd-pleaser. A diver jumps into the big first-floor tank to feed the sharks and giant stingrays; the diver is equipped with a headset so he or she can talk to kids and answer their questions. The newest attraction is the Tropical Rain Forest exhibit with two hands-on freshwater touch pools and rays native to the Amazon River. Also at Gardner’s Basin: a crafter’s village, boat rides from the marina, and one of Atlantic City’s original diving bells. Parasailing and party cruises are available from Atlantic City Cruises. For information: www.acaquarium.com.

4. CURTAIN’S UP. There’s nothing like live entertainment and there’s always something onstage in and around Atlantic City. They’ll be making some noise at Dante Hall this month when percussionist Michael Hoebler brings Rhythm Kitchen to the historic theater, June 20-21. This dynamic event allows the audience to play along with the Atlantic City Percussion Group. That’s just the start of an exciting summer season. For information: www.dantehall.org. The Performing Arts Center at the Richard Stockton College has an impressive summer lineup, with pianist Jim Brickman July 7; Riders in the Sky, a “comedy and Western” ensemble July 14; and much more. For information: www.stockton.edu/pac. Cape May Stage is one of the best Equity theaters in the country. This season starts out strong with Fully Committed (through June 28), one of the comic one-man shows for which Cape May Stage is justly renowned; Private Lives, Noel Coward’s hilarious comedy of manners and morals (July 2-August 16); and the provocative Doubt (starting August 20). Productions at Cape May Stage are consistently excellent, and the bucolic backdrop—this gorgeous leafy shore town—makes the trip especially memorable. For information: www.capemaystage.com.

5. TRICKS ARE FOR KIDS… And grownups too! Thrill to the antics of illusionists Mark Kalin and Jinger Leigh when they bring their Real Magic Show to the Shell at Trump Marina, June 25 through August 17, with shows at 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday. Kalin and Jinger (of NBC’s World’s Greatest Magicians) are no strangers to Atlantic City. In 1997, they produced Before Your Very Eyes, a spectacular show at Trump Marina, and later earned headlines with their biggest stunt: the vanishing of an American Airlines jumbo jet during the Illusionarium show in Reno. The latest production includes levitation, transformation and Houdini-like escapes. For information: www.trumpmarina.com.

6. BERRY DELICIOUS. Are you sweet on strawberries? Bananas about blueberries? On Saturday, June 7 the town of West Cape May converges on Wilbraham Park for the annual Strawberry Festival, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Come out for fun, food, music and crafts at one of the most charming small-town festivals around. For information: www.westcapemaytoday.com. Red, White & Blueberries is the clever name of the Hammonton Blueberry Festival, now in its 22nd year, which celebrates the community’s distinction as Blueberry Capital of the World. On Sunday, June 29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Hammonton Middle School, this old-fashioned festival features a classic car show, music, arts and crafts galore, and of course, a blueberry pie-eating contest. For more information: www.hammontonnj.us.

7. FRUITS OF YOUR LABOR. There’s something so great about spending a few hours in the country picking your own fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, peaches and berries. The Garden State has lots of pick-your-own farms; here are a few within an easy drive of Atlantic City: B&B Farms in Egg Harbor City; Butterhof’s Shady Brook Farm in Egg Harbor; Fraleigh Farms in Mays Landing; Lindsay’s Pick Your Own Blueberries in Hammonton; Surf and Turf Farm in Pomona; and the Allen Family Farm in Belleplain. Some of these farms offer free leaflets on drying or canning, plus corn mazes, hay rides and picnic areas. For information, visit www.pickyourown.org/NJ. To learn how South Jersey’s famous blueberry crop is harvested, take a Blueberry Farm Tour out of the Blueberry Factory, 218 Bellevue Avenue in Hammonton. You’ll visit a real working farm, see how blueberries are cultivated, picked, cleaned and packed for market, and get a pint of fresh blueberries for the next morning’s cereal. For information: www.blueberryfactory.com

8. TALK TO THE ANIMALS. They may not talk back, but at the 80-acre Cape May County Park and Zoo, you and your family can enjoy the excitement of seeing lions, tigers and bears up close. Admission is free at this small but respected zoo, which is 30 years old this year and has been accredited since 1989. As you rove its winding wooded paths, you’ll find beautifully maintained exhibits and more than 550 animals including camels, bison, monkeys, reptiles, exotic birds, and—arguably the most magnificent—Rocky, the beautiful Bengal tiger. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. during the summer. For information: www.capemaycountyzoo.org.

9. HALLELUJAH TRAIL. Visit the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting for a fascinating glimpse back at the late 1700s, when early Methodist tent communities sprang up all over South Jersey. The original lodgings here were indeed tents where the faithful gathered to hear itinerant preachers. One-room shacks were built to serve as kitchens, and gradually striped awnings, garden fences, lanterns and birdcages were added. Today a warren of tiny wooden homes is clustered around the square, which also includes a meeting hall where the congregation gathers to worship. The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association calls it “God’s square mile at the Jersey Shore,” but you don’t have to be a member to attend the ice cream socials, quilt bees, concerts and other entertainments. For information, visit www.ogcma.org.

10. PLEASE WALK ON THE GRASS. That’s the message at Leaming's Run Gardens, the largest annual garden in the United States in nearby Swainton. Leaming’s Run is actually 22 themed gardens: a colonial garden, an English garden, a “Down Jersey” garden, a hibiscus garden and a Sweetheart Garden (with blooms of pink and purple). This lovely natural enclave also has goats, chickens, hummingbirds and a colonial farmstead museum like one built in 1706 for the original landowners. Special events include a 30th birthday celebration, Saturday, July 12 (with special $2 admission), and the Colonial Hearth and Home Festival Sunday, August 31, with open-hearth cooking demonstrations and a harpist to provide the lilting music. For information, visit www.leamingsrun.com. ALL ABOARD. It takes a train nut to do what Tony Macrie did in the early 1990s, when he almost single-handedly brought passenger rail service back to South Jersey. Though it is for recreational purposes only—the Cape May Seashore Lines run from Cape May Court House to Cape May City, and from Richland to Tuckahoe—here’s a rare chance to experience train travel as it was in the mid-20th century, when these iron horses were built. The historic Budd diesel cars chug along railroad tracks once used by the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines in the 1930s; if you take the Tuckahoe line, stop at the South Jersey Railroad Museum. Charters and seasonal excursions also are available. For information: www.capemayseashorelines.org.

12. EASY RIDERS. Here’s a super-cool way to get around—on a Segway, the personalized, motorized two-wheel vehicle that gets the equivalent of 450 miles to the gallon! In Wildwood, tours by Segway Solutions take you through historic Anglesea, by Hereford’s Inlet Lighthouse, and near the Boardwalk and beaches. In Long Beach Island, LBInet Segway Rentals offer guided tours of the bay area. Riders must be 16, weigh at least 100 pounds and wear a helmet. At about $40 per person for a 90-minute tour, these tours are not cheap, but they’re memorable, exciting, and especially fun for teenagers. For more information, visit www.segwayguidedtours.com.

13. A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT. The serene Mullica River, which meanders from Camden County to Great Bay just north of Atlantic City, is the presumed hangout of the Jersey Devil, so brush up on your Pinelands lore before you take the kids canoeing or kayaking. For anglers, the shallow waterway banked by miles of scrub pine and sugar sand is also jumping with striped bass. The Pinelands Preservation Alliance offers natural history and wilderness skills programs and “Jersey Devil hunts” led by naturalist Russ Juelg. According to mythology, the devil was actually the 13th child of Mother Leeds. He was cursed by his mother before birth and emerged a winged, cloven-hoofed demon. Scary! The next hunt is Friday, June 27. Admission is $15. For information: www.pinelandsalliance.org.

14. SUNSET CINEMA. Do you hate overpriced multiplexes (the kind where you overhear the action pic while you’re watching the chick flick)? Do you hate spending a day’s pay for a box of popcorn or Goobers? There are better ways to enjoy a night at the movies. First, pack a picnic supper and head to Wildwood, where first-run movies are screened right on the beach. No reservations are needed; buy your tickets at the kiosk near the Wildwood Convention Center. Then enjoy the film from the comfort of your beach chair. For information: www.sunsetcinemainc.com. Your second choice is just as much fun. Delsea Drive-In in Vineland is the only operating drive-in movie theater in New Jersey; its Cinema Under the Stars series runs on weekends all summer long. For information: www.driveinmovie.com. Sea Isle City also offers occasional movies under the stars. For information: www.seaisletourism.org.

15. RIDE ’EM, COWBOY! Cowtown Rodeo is the longest-running regular Saturday night rodeo in the country. As its website notes, Cowtown is not a circus, carnival or traveling Wild West show, but one stop on a professional circuit, and one of only two weekly rodeos sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (the other is in Mesquite, Texas). Cowtown offers calf roping, bareback riding, steer wrestling, brahma bull riding and barrel racing—this is grass-roots Americana as we seldom experience it today. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for children. For information: www.cowtownrodeo.com.

16. GLASS HOUSES. Summertime is always lively at Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center near Millville. Make a day of it and visit both Wheaton, where you can watch the fiery process of glassblowing, and downtown Millville, known in its industrial heyday as Glasstown, now a center of the fine arts. At Wheaton, kids can make their own paperweights or glass beads, see the largest Coke bottle in the world, and attend special events like Fantasy Faire (June 7-8) and Marble Weekend (June 21-22). For information: www.wheatonvillage.org. The best time to visit Millville may be on 3rd Fridays when the galleries are open late, artists are available to talk about their work, and the bars and restaurants feature live entertainment. For information: www.3rdFriday.org.

17. ‘A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND.’ Imagine finding diamonds by the dozens on the beach. So-called “Cape May diamonds”—in fact, quartz crystals—are yours for the taking at Sunset Beach at Cape May Point. (A gift shop offers plenty of polished crystals in pendants and earrings, or you can polish your own in a special tumbler). Sunset Beach is also the site of the sunken ship Atlantus, which went aground in 1955; its concrete body is still visible, jutting out of the water at the tip of the Cape May peninsula. A special treat: Every night at sundown, there’s a flag-lowering ceremony to the tune of “Taps.” All the flags, which have flown every summer for more than 40 years, are donated by veterans’ families. For information: www.sunsetbeachnj.com.

18. DOO-WOP REDUX. Wildwood is renowned worldwide for its campy mid-20th century architecture. USA Today called its Jetson-style motels and diners “beach blanket bingo territory” and “screamingly retro”; US News & World Report says it’s “a paradise of plastic flamingoes.” Thankfully, a massive effort was undertaken to save these classic structures, and even the new Wawa and Acme have adopted a Doo-Wop style. Starting June 17, the Doo-Wop Preservation League offers regular tours, $10 for adults, $5 for kids. For information: www.dowopusa.org or call 609-523-1958.

19. SEAFARING FUN. It’s not just the easiest way to travel between New Jersey and Delaware. A ride on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry is 90 minutes of sheer relaxation, with panoramic views of Delaware Bay and lots of pleasant company (a variety of sea birds and occasionally, dolphins). Take your car or travel on foot; either way, it’s almost always smooth sailing, with comfortable indoor lounges and snack facilities—even a bar. Dogs are welcome on exterior decks. You’ll see a number of lighthouses along the way. For information: www.capemaylewesferry.com.

20. BIRDLAND. Because South Jersey is in the migratory path for hundreds of types of birds, including many rare and endangered species, birding is a popular activity hereabouts, and a destination for birdwatchers from around the world. To see bald eagles, herons, red-tailed hawks and shore birds in profusion, visit Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in Brigantine, the Cape May Bird Observatory (home of the annual Hawk Watch) in Cape May, Corson’s Inlet near Ocean City, the Stone Harbor Causeway, Seawatch at Avalon… The list is almost endless. For information: www.camacdonald.com/birding/us.

21. CRABALICIOUS. Why pay for a pricey crab dinner when you can catch it yourself for free? The crabbiest people around head for Sea Isle City (especially Ludlam’s Landing) where the blue claws are plentiful and the fishing is fantastic too. If you’re serious about it, take a fishing charter boat for a half-day or full-day excursion. But you can also crab off the bridges, bulkheads and piers for the price of a crab trap and a little bait (usually, raw chicken parts, weighted on a fishing line).

22. BAT DAYS. On June 14-15, the largest free festival in the tri-state area is held along the scenic Maurice River, near towns whose maritime history is reflected in their oddly picturesque names—among them, Shellpile and Bivalve. Starting with a parade through the historic oyster town of Port Norris, Delaware Bay Days attracts up to 10,000 visitors to celebrate the region’s culture and natural resources. Activities include bivalve blue crab races, horseshoe crab mask making, river tours and guided wetlands walks. You can also board New Jersey's official tall ship, the historic schooner A.J. Meerwald. For information: www.ajmeerwald.org.

23. A BIT OF THE BUBBLY. No, it’s not Napa or the Champagne Valley, but New Jersey enjoys a surprisingly good reputation for its wines, grown at more than 30 vineyards around the state. On July 12 and 13, the Garden State Wine Growers Association presents its annual Walk in the Vineyard Wine Trail Weekend, which allows you to customize a traveling tour of participating New Jersey wineries. Locally, they include the Cape May Winery, Panther Branch Vineyard in Vineland and Renault Winery in the Egg Harbor-Galloway area. Don’t forget to designate a driver. For information: www.newjerseywines.com.

24. CLANG, CLANG, CLANG… Wherever you travel, a trolley tour is one of the most comfortable, congenial ways to see the sights. The Great American Trolley Company offers trolley tours of Atlantic City that include Absecon Lighthouse, the AC Aquarium, Historic Smithville, etc. For information: www.gatrolley.com. The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts in Cape May offers trolley tours of the resort’s historic district, seaside mansions, the Cape May Lighthouse, and themed tours focused on Victorian spiritualism, ghosts and more. For information: www.capemaymac.org.

25. THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE. Your summer fun list wouldn’t be complete without the aforementioned lighthouses, which in eras past guided mariners in from the sea and now exemplify all that’s beloved about the Jersey Shore. In our own backyard is the Absecon Lighthouse, the state’s tallest with 228 steps to the summit. Going up can be a little claustrophobic—the tower is narrow, and the spiral staircase can invoke a touch of vertigo. But once at the top, the view is exhilarating. Also open to the public: Cape May Lighthouse and Hereford Inlet Lighthouse in North Wildwood. Visit their respective websites or www.state.nj.us.

By Felicia Lowenstein   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

From clambakes to crab cakes, summer at the Jersey shore is all about seafood. Whether you like your chowder red or white, your fish fried or blackened, New Jersey dishes up some of the freshest around.

“New Jersey is in an ideal position along the Atlantic,” says Linda Odierno, coordinator of fish and seafood development for the state Department of Agriculture. “We have both the northern and southern species—about 100 different species in our waters.

And New Jersey is one of the leading suppliers of surf clams and ocean quahogs, providing them to the nation and the world.” And the state is beginning to proclaim those facts. A group of local clam and oyster harvesters in New Jersey have started to label their products, which go to supermarkets, with the Baymen’s Pride brand. In addition, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture has launched a Jersey seafood logo that promotes the fish from this region.

“A set of quality and environmental standards back up this logo,” says Odierno.

Commercial fishing operations, like Viking Village out of Barnegat Light, follow strict regulations on the local, state, federal and international levels—for good reason.

“We pride ourselves in locally sustainable seafood,” says Operations Manager Ron Vreeland. “We are purveyors of the ocean. We don’t want to catch all the fish.”

Viking Village sends out three types of boats: Scallop boats (scallops are “red hot locally,” says Vreeland); the “in shore gillnets boat,” which catches bluefish, weakfish and croakers; and the long line boats, which go after tilefish, swordfish, tuna and mahi-mahi.

“Everything we catch, we ship fresh,” Vreeland says, and Viking Village supplies restaurants in Las Vegas, California and Chicago as well as locally. Their fish is available at Steve and Cookies restaurant in Margate; scallops and other fresh fish will be part of the restaurant’s farm market this summer.

Want to see the operations up close? Every Friday morning at 10 a.m. during the summer, the local chamber hosts dock tours at Viking Village. Of course, most of us would rather eat, and there are plenty of local options.

FIN-TASTIC DINING

Dock’s Oyster House has been an Atlantic City institution for more than a century. Harry “Call-Me-Doc” Dougherty first opened its doors in 1897. The restaurant is still managed by the Dougherty family and features the same seafood classics from those early days.

“Our seafood comes from all over the world,” says owner Frank Dougherty. “When possible, we do try to use locally sourced products, and in the summer we typically get scallops, flounder and, every now and then, tuna locally. Lobsters are also available and we get almost all our clams locally. Some great oysters called Cape May Salts come out of the Delaware.

“Our specialty is fresh seafood,” he says. “We offer 10 to 12 different oysters, usually have six to seven different types of fresh fish as well as scallops, clams, shrimp and crab meat. We offer a 16-to-20 ounce lobster tail from Northern Australia, and in the summer months we’ll have fresh king crab flown in from Alaska.”

Dock’s serves both Manhattan clam chowder and a creamy Maine chowder, the restaurant’s take on the traditional New England style. Menu classics since 1897 include lobster tail, crabmeat sauté, and Dock’s Seafood Fry.

From one of the oldest to one of the newest: Michael Mina’s Seablue at the Borgata offers fresh fish from all over the world, oysters from Canada, Gulf prawns from Mexico, lobster from Maine and Middleneck clams from Virginia.

A restaurant with roots along the Chesapeake Bay is now at the Pier at Caesars. Phillips offers specialties like Salt & Pepper Calamari, Crab & Herb-Crusted Ahi Tuna, King Crab Mac & Cheese and Lemon Pink Peppercorn-Crusted Mahi.

The Flying Cloud at Gardner’s Basin is also known for its seafood, says owner Mary Anne Costantino.

“We’re known for our snapper soup,” she says. “It used to be a Bookbinders favorite. It’s a real hearty soup. If people like it, they’re crazy over it. We also have salmon, tilapia, catfish, flounder, mahi-mahi, clams and lobster. Our lobsters come from Casino Lobster, our clams from Randall Seafood in Pleasantville.”

Guests can eat right on the water. “We have an enclosed patio outside now,” says Costantino. “And almost every table inside and out has a water view.”

If you haven’t been to the Clam Bar (a.k.a Smitty’s) at Smith’s Marina in Somers Point, you’re missing great affordable seafood. Now in its 35th season, the Clam Bar attracts a standing-room-only crowd. If patrons can’t get a table, they jockey for position at the outside counter.

“When we first opened, there was just the counter, no dining room at all,” says co-owner Patrice Popovic. She and husband Peter expanded the restaurant about the time that the casinos opened.

“Our seafood comes from various places,” says Popovic. “Our scallops are from Cold Spring out of Cape May. Our clams are local from Clamdaddy. Years ago you could buy it off the local boats but with regulations today, you can’t do that.”

The Clam Bar menu changes daily. New England and Manhattan clam chowders are offered every day, and variations include seafood Creole on Wednesdays. A best-seller is the lobster, shrimp and crabmeat potato skins, served on Thursdays. Customers also like the mako shark in soy, olive oil, garlic and ginger, says Popovic. “Scallops, clams and flounder are the three biggest local ‘fish,’” she said. “Later in the summer, you can get tuna.”

The Lobster House in Cape May has it all, from raw bar and fish market to take-out and a gift shop. The restaurant maintains its own fleet of boats. The menu features such classics as baked crab imperial and baked clams casino. The Lobster House specialty is comprised of lobster tails, scallops and shrimp served over linguine with garlic butter.

Cape May’s Congress Hall serves up its share of succulent seafood. At the Blue Pig Tavern, you’ll find Blue Pig Fish & Chips featuring beer-battered local fish. Jersey Shore Steamed Mussels are served with spicy white wine tomato broth for starters. The Ebbitt Room offers market oysters with “iced champagne” and caviar and a seafood tasting of calamari, chilled blue crab salad, tuna tartare and oysters.

HOME COOKIN’

If you’re a whiz in the kitchen, it’s easy to find fresh seafood to cook at home.

At Cleo’s Fish Palace in Ventnor, owner Mike Gromadzyn offers two options: “the fresh fish that’s delivered daily and the takeout menu with fried and broiled platters, pasta dishes, homemade soups and salads and sandwiches.” In season, there are soft-shell and hard-shell crabs, and the shop makes its own crab cakes.

Try the Crabby Tuna, a tuna steak topped with fresh jumbo lump crabmeat and finished with a roasted garlic herb butter, a chef’s specialty. The seafood combination features flounder, scallops, shrimp and a three-ounce lobster tail.

“Some of it is local fish but we import salmon, halibut and swordfish,” says Gromadzyn. "We can cook it here or you can bring it home and cook it.”

If you like crab cakes, you’ll want to pop into Bobby Chez in Margate. Chez (a.k.a. Robert Sliwowski) has become known for his signature jumbo lump crab cake, a six-ounce, lightly breaded and hand-rolled delicacy. The menu also features lobster mashed potatoes, shrimp puffs, Bobby’s Famous Spicy Barbeque Shrimp, seafood salad and more.

CATCH OF THE DAY

If you’re feeling adventurous, catch your own dinner. There are plenty of places to charter a fishing boat in the Atlantic City area, starting with Highroller Fishing in Gardner’s Basin. At Highroller, most everyone catches a fish and no one gets seasick, according to your host, Captain Mike.

“We’re a pontoon boat and we travel the back bay in calm waters,” he says. “The combination makes it very comfortable.”

Of course, there are regulations as to what you can catch, and how many.

“We have to throw them back if they’re under the legal limit,” says Captain Mike. “That’s 18 inches for a fluke, for example. We primarily catch fluke or flounder, bluefish, weakfish and stripers. We rent the poles and supply the bait. We’ll teach you how to fish if you don’t already know.”

Highroller Fishing runs two trips daily, seven days a week in season. True to its name, it offers the area’s only progressive fluke pool, the Fanta-sea Fluke. Fishermen can enter for the cost of $5. The jackpot has been as high as $3,800, according to Captain Mike.

A FUNDRAISING FEAST: CHEFS AT THE SHORE V

There’s no such thing as too many cooks. At least that’s true at Chefs at the Shore V, an annual fundraiser that brings together some of the region’s best chefs and most innovative seafood dishes. The Atlantic City Aquarium and Historic Gardner’s Basin serve as the backdrop for this culinary event, which spotlights area chefs and raises money for both the Atlantic City landmark and chef scholarships.

This year’s theme is “Five Years, Five Chefs and One Fantastic Evening.” The chefs will prepare signature dishes to be served with premium wines and beers. Featured chefs include Chef Peter Guzzo of Showboat and Harrah’s; Pastry Chef Debra Pellegrino of Showboat and Harrah's; Chef Jim Scarpato of Showboat; Chef Willie Lewis of Romanelli's; Chef David Goldstein of iMark of Pennsylvania; Chef Eugene Ess of Trump Taj Mahal; Chef Paul Drew of Phillips Seafood; and Chef Mike Carmody of Greate Bay Country Club.

“Chefs at the Shore is a great way to support and see a real Atlantic City gem—the waterfront and the aquarium,” says Gary Hill of the Metropolitan Business and Citizens Association. “It brings together wonderful foods, chefs and people with a beautiful setting.” Sponsored by Commerce Bank, the event is part of Professional Chefs Week and is organized by the American Culinary Federation, Professional Chefs Association of South Jersey.

RESTAURANTS

Dock’s Oyster House, 2405 Atlantic Ave., Atlantic City 609-345-0092 www.docksoysterhouse.com

Seablue Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa One Borgata Way, Atlantic City 609-317-1000 www.theborgata.com

Phillips Seafood Pier Shops at Caesars One Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic City 609-348-2273 www.phillipsseafood.com

The Flying Cloud Gardner’s Basin 800 N. New Hampshire Ave., Atlantic City 609-345-8222 www.atlanticcityflyingcloud.com

Clam Bar at Smith’s Marina 910 Bay Ave., Somers Point 609-927-8783

The Lobster House Fisherman’s Wharf, Cape May 609-884-3064 www.thelobsterhouse.com

Cape May’s Congress Hall 251 Beach Ave., Cape May 609-884-8421 www.congresshall.com

SEAFOOD MARKETS

Barbera Seafood & Produce 2243 Arctic Ave. Atlantic City 609-345-0671

Cleo’s Seafood 7307 Ventnor Ave. Ventnor City 609-822-5858

Crab Shack 1112 E Brigantine Ave. Brigantine 609-266-3009

Brigantine Seafood 3312 W Brigantine Ave. Brigantine 609-266-6926

 Bobby Chez Seafood Specialties 8007 Ventnor Ave., Margate 609-487-1922

Randall’s Seafood 301 Ansley Blvd. Pleasantville 609-641-0927 x 0180

Bob’s Seafood Market 1121 Tilton Rd., Northfield 609-646-2486

Bob’s Seafood Market-Absecon 606 Mill Rd, Absecon 609-641-2224

Mike’s Seafood and Market 4222 Park Rd. Sea Isle City 609-263-3458

Avalon Seafood & Produce Market 2931 Ocean Dr., Avalon 609-967-3909

CHARTER & PARTY FISHING BOATS

Atlantic City Sport Fishing & Charter 600 Huron Ave., Trump Marina Frank Farley State Marina, Atlantic City 609-226-8500

Kammerman’s Atlantic City 447 Carson Ave., Atlantic City 609-348-8418

Highroller Fishing 800 N. New Hampshire Ave. Atlantic City 609-348-FISH (3474)

Fish Finder II At Fish Finder Marine 3645 Atlantic Brigantine Blvd. Brigantine 609-264-0918

Keeper Back Bay Fishing Party 9605 Amherst Ave., Margate 609-823-6428

North Star Party Boat 232 Bay Ave., Ocean City 609-399-7588

Duke O’Fluke 34 Higbee Ave., Somers Point 609-926-2280

Starfish Deepsea Fishing 42nd Ave., Sea Isle City 609-263-3800

By Frank Legato   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

If a casino space could have an identity crisis, the East Tower Casino at Trump Plaza certainly fit that bill in its first decade. Opened a few months after the East Tower hotel addition in 1995, the space, an escalator trip down from the main casino, went through several transformations over the years. Originally it was sandwiched between a foyer leading to the main casino and the Warner Brothers Boardwalk store. The backside of a huge Daffy Duck statue on the outer façade greeted players through its smoked-glass walls.

First, it was a casino extension—tables and slots, along with a long video poker bar (one of the few in Atlantic City). Next, the tables were removed and the entire area was spruced up with a space-age design and a clubby atmosphere, to go along with the newfangled multi-line video slots that appeared in the late 1990s. Finally, a lounge area was added on the ocean side.

Over the years, the room received mixed reviews at best from players, and after the Rain Forest Café replaced the Warner Brothers store several years ago, the casino was downsized from its one-time contingent of around 600 machines. The original version of the room closed for good in February 2007.

This summer, the East Tower Casino gets a new lease on life—and a new identity. This one should stick, since it will be one of the most unique gaming spaces in the city.

At its center: the city’s first automated poker room—12 “PokerPro” tables, which are fully automated, multi-player Texas hold’em and Omaha poker games. There also will be two “Heads Up” versions of the hold’em game, which are two-player automated poker face-offs.

The games, produced by North Carolina-based PokerTek, Inc., are electronic poker tables with a game identical to the live version. The multi-player PokerPro is a standard-sized poker table with 10 embedded player stations and a central video display to represent the deal and the flop. The mechanics of the game are the same as the live version. Players wager against each other just as in the live game. A video monitor in front of each player displays the hand, and includes a touch-screen that allows players to “peek” at their hold cards. Bets proceed just as in live poker.

This electronic version deals 50 percent to 60 percent more hands per hour than a manual table. Casinos love it because it increases the rake by the same amount, without labor costs. The two-player Heads Up version, of course, provides a faster poker experience than you’ll find anywhere outside of video poker—only in this case, it’s a competition between players instead of player vs. house.

Players love the game for the same reason—speed, according to Chris Halligan, CEO of the game’s manufacturer, PokerTek. “The biggest benefit players get from this is more hands per hour, and it costs them less to play at our table,” Halligan says. “It is still a live environment so they can pick up tells, see their opponents and so forth. But because the deal is automated, they don’t have to tip the dealer, and that can save a lot of money.”

“The speed of the game should definitely be an attraction for the true poker player,” says Anthony Spagno, Trump Plaza casino manager. “And, the technology will attract that new, younger segment of customer that doesn’t currently come into the Plaza.”

Halligan says players also like the running statistics provided by the electronic game. Players can view their own statistics and table statistics—how many hands have gone to the river, average pot size and other informational tidbits.

The PokerPro table has been proliferating around the world since its introduction in 2005. According to Halligan, there are currently 210 tables installed around the world, including 10 fully automated poker rooms. (That doesn’t count cruise ships; more than 40 use PokerPro exclusively.) This will be the first appearance of the tables in Atlantic City—pending final regulatory approval, which was expected before the start of this month.

“We saw a great opportunity to introduce automation that’s been available to customers in other places to this marketplace,” says Dave Polizzi, vice president of casino operations at Trump Plaza. “We thought it would be a great idea for Trump Plaza to be the first casino in a major market to introduce an automated poker casino.”

Polizzi is quick to note that the Plaza has never had a live poker room. “Although Poker Pro is completely automated and requires no actual dealers, we will, however, need to increase our supervisory staffing levels in order to operate the room,” he says.

Spagno says the automated poker operation actually stands to increase play at live tables. “You take a group of people coming into town on the Atlantic City Expressway—a slot player, a poker player and a blackjack player,” he says. “They all want to go to the same place. Currently, that car won’t pull into the Trump Plaza parking garage, because we don’t have poker. The new room will bring more players not only for poker, but the other games—which will generate more tokes for those dealers.”

Part of the reason for Spagno’s confidence is what’s going into the East Tower Casino along with the poker.

New Room

Automated poker will be the centerpiece of the new East Tower Casino, which will be a space transformed. The automated poker tables will be accompanied by live table games—11 blackjack tables and a Big Six wheel, with lower limits than in the main casino. The video poker bar also is reopening, this time with a Jokers Wild progressive link.

There’s more. A full kitchen will serve the area. Machines will cover half the poker bar; the rest of it will be a café-style counter. On the ocean side of the room will be two lounge areas, with sofas, chairs and tables, and multiple giant plasma TV screens for sporting events. To cap it all off, the gaming offerings will include stand-alone video poker machines, including Five Play and Ten Play Poker, Wheel Poker and Multi-Strike Poker.

In the end, the East Tower Casino will be a combination poker room, video poker center, sports bar, lounge and café.

“We took a lot of different things into account when we considered the room,” says Polizzi. “Because of the size—14,000 square feet—we had the opportunity to have multiple offerings in that room, to add amenities we don’t offer at the Plaza otherwise.”

The main draw, though, is the automated poker. “We’re definitely going after a customer segment Trump Plaza doesn’t currently serve, and that’s the poker player,” says Spagno, “but at the same time, the tables are so user-friendly that once people see and learn it, we will attract all types of players.”

Halligan from PokerTek notes that in addition to experienced poker players who simply love the speed of the automated version, the PokerPro table has brought many new players to the game of poker. “A poker room can be kind of intimidating,” he notes. “With the PokerPro table, you can never bet out of turn, you can never make a mistake.”

One additional attraction for players to PokerPro is the fact that the automation allows for games like Omaha, which have all but disappeared from live poker rooms.

“Omaha is a great game—complex, interesting—but no house in the world will deal it because it’s slow, 15 hands per hour,” Halligan says. “We get nearly 40 hands per hour from Omaha, which is unheard-of. Omaha players who had given up on the idea of being able to play the games in a casino love PokerPro, because it brings those games back.”

According to Polizzi, the Plaza will soon seek regulatory approval to hold various tournaments in the new room, to add another element of excitement. Halligan says he’s excited about the atmosphere the Plaza is creating around the PokerPro offering.

“The number-one thing we look for in a (casino) customer is a real vision on how to implement automated poker,” he says. “The folks at Trump Plaza just brought an infinite amount of energy and vision to that room. They’re a great customer for us to launch this product with in New Jersey.”

Will automated poker catch on in Atlantic City? “I don't believe that the other casinos will offer this type of product to this extent,” says Spagno. “We’ve made a total commitment to open up an entire automated poker room. The rest of the casinos have live poker; I don’t know if they’re going to replace any tables.

“I’ve been in the business for 30 years, and this table is one of the best offerings I’ve ever seen.” “It’s very exciting to be able to offer something new,” Polizzi adds. “I think this will be an overall amenity that will add excitement to the city.”

By   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

Atlantic City, of course, with its casinos and high-end resorts, is the area’s adult playground, but come summer there are plenty of activities for families. Most of the outdoor fun, of course, revolves around the Boardwalk. Our recommendation: the nightly entertainment series at historic Chicken Bone Beach in front of Boardwalk Hall. From karaoke to big bands, it’s all free, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you want to wear out the kids, go to world-famous Steel Pier for amusements like the Crazy Mouse Coaster, Double Decker Carousel and Flip-n-Fly Trampolines.

Margate is chiefly renowned for its pulchritudinous pachyderm, Lucy the Elephant, a favorite of kids who marvel at the fact that they can walk through this architectural oddity and peek out the window in her rear end! Lucy tours begin every 30 minutes ($6 adults, $3 kids, free for kids under 2). Margate is also known for the stretch of clubs and restaurants along the water on Amherst Avenue, including Memories Lounge with Philadelphia’s famous “Geator with the Heater,” Jerry Blavat, who spins all the old tunes (on vinyl, no less!) for fans who have followed him for decades. Go here to learn to line dance.

Ocean City. With its Boardwalk, blue laws and old-fashioned Music Pier, Ocean City prides itself on its reputation as a family resort. Experience the essential OC at this island’s annual Night in Venice, Saturday, July 19, one of the world’s largest boat parades with extravagantly decorated cabin cruisers going up and down the bay (to an appreciative audience ashore). On Saturday, August 6, check out one of Ocean City’s more whimsical events, the Miss Crustacean Hermit Crab Beauty Pageant (winner receives the coveted Cucumber Rind Cup) followed by hermit crab races.

Wildwood, as the name suggests, is a walk on the wild side, with plenty of fun for the teens, and corner clubs and bars by the score for the Saturday night party crowd. With 38 blocks of action-packed Boardwalk (and some of the biggest rollercoasters around), along with a famous broad white beach, Wildwood celebrates its pink flamingo origins with plenty of tributes to the artists of the ’50s and ’60s, a new Doo Wop Museum, and an almost non-stop schedule of summer fun, on and off the boards. Each Friday all summer long, there are fireworks on the beach, and the huge Wildwoods Convention Center welcomes entertainment from Ashlee Simpson (June 28) to the WWE (August 8).

Cape May is a must to visit for its tree-lined streets, horse-drawn carriages and fabulous 18th century architecture. This hub of Victoriana is American’s oldest seaside resort, frequented in the past by luminaries including John Philip Sousa, Diamond Jim Brady and (supposedly) Abraham Lincoln. It’s even been said that Henry Ford and Louis Chevrolet once raced their new-fangled horseless carriages on the beaches here. Today, Cape May is a beautifully restored and lovingly maintained paean to America’s Gilded Age, with pastel-colored Victorian homes on almost every street. For your visit here, start at the Physick Estate on Washington Street, where most of the island’s tours originate.

By   Fri, Sep 19, 2008

By Frank Legato   Thu, Jun 19, 2008

By David Schwartz   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

Just as it’s renowned for its casinos today, Atlantic City was once famous for its nightclubs. These were intimate, smoky lounges where visitors could see some of the day’s biggest stars, live and in person. Atlantic City had many legendary rooms, but the most famous was the 500 Club.

The “Five,” as it was popularly known, had humble beginnings. Phil Barr, a former trolley conductor and boxing promoter, moved to Atlantic City from Philadelphia in the mid-1930s, intent on opening a nightclub. In 1936, he bought and demolished two houses at 6 South Missouri Avenue, then built a two-story brick building. The nightclub occupied the ground floor, and above it Barr lived in a comfortable apartment.

The 500 Café, as it was initially known, was a small operation. During the day, a race-betting operation (illegal, naturally) attracted a stream of horse-lovers. At night singers and dancers graced its small stage. At the time, horse betting was rampant throughout the city, but there were not many full-fledged casinos. In 1941, Barr approached Paul “Skinny” D’Amato, the young part-owner of Luigi’s, the most popular illegal gambling den, with a proposition: bring his magic to the Five. Though D’Amato initially rebuffed Barr, they eventually agreed on terms and D’Amato opened up a major casino behind the Café.

After a gambling raid that sent Barr to prison, the Café closed for several months before D’Amato assembled a partnership to buy it. In May 1943, Skinny and his partners assumed control of the small club. Opening night was a fraught affair: D’Amato was so undercapitalized, he had to send his brother to a liquor store to buy bottles of liquor, a few at a time, barely balancing the cash register with his customers’ drink orders. But the new ownership was a success, and business was good.

In June 1946, D’Amato bought out one of the partners, and the venture was renamed the 500 Club, and that’s when the Five’s glory years began. Through his connections in the entertainment community, D’Amato brought the biggest stars of the day—from Liberace to Sammy Davis Jr.—to perform in his club. It’s impossible to estimate, but many people visited Atlantic City in these years just to see the acts at the 500 Club.

D’Amato did more than showcase existing performers: he launched new acts, most famously on July 26, 1946 when Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis first performed together on his stage. Martin and Lewis spent much of the next decade as one of the most popular attractions on radio and television, and starred together in 16 movies.

Martin and Lewis’ runaway success helped elevate D’Amato’s star as well. Even those who didn’t know much about Atlantic City learned that the 500 Club was one of the country’s top entertainment venues.

D’Amato’s biggest star, though, was Frank Sinatra. The two became friends in the late 1930s and though Sinatra’s career dimmed in the late 1940s, the nightclub owner maintained an unshakeable conviction in the singer’s talent. When Sinatra was at a professional and personal low point in the summer of 1951, D’Amato brought him in to sing at the 500 Club. The crowds overflowed into the street, proving Sinatra’s continuing appeal.

Later, when Sinatra’s career revived, he continued to perform at the 500 Club out of gratitude to D’Amato for his friendship. Each year, his August stints at the Five drew tens of thousands of visitors, despite the city’s waning popularity.

But Sinatra and D’Amato couldn’t hold off the wolves forever. Sinatra made his final 500 Club appearance in 1964, the same year that coverage of the Democratic National Convention revealed to the public just how dilapidated Atlantic City had become. The 500 Club continued, but part of the magic was gone.

What the city’s declining appeal couldn’t squelch was claimed by disaster. On June 10, 1973, a massive fire gutted the 500 Club, ending an Atlantic City institution. In many ways, it was the day the old Atlantic City died.

It would take another three years and the successful casino referendum for the resort to begin building for the future. Though Skinny D’Amato didn’t reap the bonanza of legal casino gaming, he was one of its boldest proponents. Without Skinny, it’s safe to say that Atlantic City’s post-war silver age would not have had the same luster. His 500 Club kept the resort afloat in tough times and pointed the way to the future.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

By Dave Bontempo   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

Rarely does one see fledgling ideas become full-fledged policy. But David Fox, named vice president of marketing at Trump Plaza in April, now devises strategy to lure the players he once recruited as executive director of player development.

“I’m thrilled with the new position,” says the Sea Isle City native. “After seeing how player development runs, then progressing to casino marketing and special events, you watch everything come together for the players. You listen to focus groups, you listen to the players, then you give them something they want. Our focus groups tell us that revenues are driven off special events, whether it’s a handbag giveaway, dishes, televisions, etc. We had an unbelievable first quarter and we’re looking for that to continue.”

Fox was exported to Las Vegas in 2003 by Rosalind Krause (now GM at Trump Taj Mahal) to bring big players to Caesars Palace. He spent nearly three years there before returning with the equivalent of a specialized certificate in amenities. Listening to, interpreting and anticipating the needs of premium players prepared him for his current industry niche.

“It’s a thrill to watch the ideas that drive the business,” Fox says. “When you get your employees buying into something, then being good ambassadors to your customers, it’s terrific. I feel fortunate to be in this business for so long. You never forget where you came from.”

Fox started with Caesars in 1985. Stints at TropWorld, the Sands and Resorts preceded the Las Vegas excursion. He returned to lead a property competing with the Harrah’s financial machine. Like many businesses in a competitive market, Trump Plaza must capitalize with less capital. The property invested $100 million to upgrade, and now seeks to out-hustle those with deeper pockets.

“We take advantage of being center Boardwalk, right next to the Pier, and with good proximity to the Walk,” Fox says. “We talk to more people, we do a monthly mail piece and we have a promotional booklet with my face on the inside cover. Now I’m known as the guy in the booklet,” he adds, laughing.

“We’re trying many new things to make customers happy. We’re re-doing the carpet in the parking garage and negotiating to put a Starbucks there.”

Then there’s automated poker, named PokerPro, set to debut June 13. Several tables will have seats for up to 10 players. A minimum of two players is required to activate the table.

“This will be the first of its kind in Atlantic City,” Fox says. “It gives customers more reason to come here as a group. Maybe the wife plays slots and the husband goes somewhere else for poker. Well, now they can both come here.”

Fox has developed expertise in operations management, marketing, public relations and player development for more than two decades. No wonder he got promoted.

“David has managed fast-paced changes in technology, shifts in structure, strategy, and culture,” says Trump Plaza President Jim Rigot. “He is innovative and fully understands and believes if customers and employees are satisfied, bottom-line results will follow.”

By Roger Gros   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

When I heard that Christina Binkley was coming out with a book about Las Vegas and the tycoons who today dominate the industry, I was excited. After all, Binkley was a reporter for the Wall Street Journal for 10 years, and during that time delivered more scoops than a Baskin-Robbins on a hot summer day.

To say I was disappointed with the results is an understatement. Binkley had full access to Wynn and Loveman, but didn’t interview Kerkorian, as the reclusive 90-year-old billionaire isn’t very publicity-friendly. She’s compiled a wonderful array of anecdotes on her three major subjects, but has been roundly criticized for leaving out Sheldon Adelson, the boisterous chairman of Las Vegas Sands, which owns the Venetians in Las Vegas and Macau.

I can forgive that exclusion. Binkley’s crime, in my eyes, is her tendency to play fast and loose with the facts. You’d think the accuracy demanded by the nation’s premier business newspaper would have been reflected in her book.

The book is accurate in its descriptions of its subjects’ business styles. Since each has a different focus—Wynn relies on luxury, Kerkorian goes for size, and Loveman conducts his business scientifically—budding entrepreneurs will glean nuggets of information usable in almost any business situation. Add the wonderful stories about each man, and this should have been an entertaining book.

But she makes some rather easy-to-fix errors like misspelling entertainer Danny Gans’ name as “Ganz,” and calling Gillian Wynn the eldest daughter of Steve and Elaine, though she is the youngest. But when you add up the mistakes (at least 12, according to Las Vegas journalist Steve Friess), it makes you wonder if all these fascinating stories are true.

The most egregious error is Binkley’s contention that casinos make most of their profits from problem gamblers. This has been disproved many times, and the fact that she repeats it in what should be a serious business book calls into question the entire tone of Winners Take All.

By Joe Legato   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

What do you get when you combine an intense, cutthroat racing game with the lovable, family appeal of the Nintendo cast? Well, Nintendo shows us with its newest installment to its go-kart racing franchise: Mario Kart Wii.

Like its predecessors, Mario Kart Wii allows players to choose from a variety of famous Nintendo characters and puts them in a go-kart to either race or battle other opponents. Speed and acceleration are determined directly by the character you choose. These characters range from fast-pick-up powerhouses such as Bowser to little speedsters like Toad. Players also can choose from a mix of racetracks to zip around on, and can utilize items to defend against or slow down their opponents.

Mario Kart Wii includes a few new features that makes it unique to the series. For one, this is the first Mario Kart game that gives players the option to ride a motorbike as opposed to a go-kart. The motorbike handles similar to the go-kart, except players can do things such as pop wheelies for speed boosts. Another cool addition to Mario Kart Wii is the Wii Wheel, which you can use as your controller to feel like you’re actually the one driving. Finally, Mario Kart Wii includes a much larger cast of characters than before and an imaginative mix of old and new courses.

I’ve been a fan of the Mario Kart series since its beginnings on Super Nintendo. Whether you’ve had a long day and you just need to de-stress with some close friends or you’re at an awkward party with complete strangers, you can just turn the game on and everybody will jump in.

Even if you’ve never played before, Mario Kart Wii is definitely worth trying out. You might even be a natural. You’ll know you’re playing too much, though, if you start throwing parties just to show off your Grand Prix Cups.

By Chris Borino   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

The legendary Roots are back with their eighth studio release, Rising Down, inspired by William T. Vollmann's 2004 book, Rising Up and Rising Down: Some Thoughts on Violence, Freedom, and Urgent Means.

As always, the Roots offer biting social commentary via Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson’s ability to rock the tympanic membrane like none other, and Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter’s masterful vocals, combining intelligent, conscious lyrics and the best flow in hip-hop.

Thompson calls the CD “probably our most political album to date, dealing with addiction, nihilism, hypocritical double standards in the prison system and overall life in Philadelphia. I’d say it’s more mature and intense than all of our efforts, but not a downer.” The Roots are true pioneers, the forerunners to bands like Linkin Park and P.O.D. but with a lot more soul. The full-fledged five-piece rock band has some of the best drumming since the heyday of rock, and some of the most politically relevant lyrics as well. In “Rising Down,” Thought sings, “Between the green house gases/And earth spinning off its axis/Got Mother Nature doin’ backflips.”

Another unforgettable track is Thought’s 75-bar freestyle, an actual “Look Ma, no notebook” masterpiece. In it he uses the n-word more times than a Quentin Tarantino movie and delivers a poignant message. Other highlights include cameos from Malik B, Dice Raw, Mos Def, and Talib Kweli.

Rising Down is the best record you'll never hear on the radio—so buy it, download it, or catch The Roots live at Penn's Landing on June 7 for the first annual Roots Picnic.

By Robert Rossiello   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

Charlie Wilson is a cavalier congressman from Dallas who loves his women and his whiskey—a man who, during the 1980s, almost single-handedly dealt a major military defeat to the Soviets.

In this astute political satire directed by Mike Nichols, Tom Hanks takes on the title role. This is a departure for Hanks, who typically plays characters with an All-American niceness—a far cry from the real Charlie Wilson, whose five successive terms in office made him a cynical Washington insider. But Hanks is up to the challenge in Charlie Wilson’s War, giving this lovable rogue charisma and a cause.

The cause: the Russian invasion of Afghanistan, where Charlie is in a unique position to fund the Afghan resistance. Aiding him in this covert operation is a seasoned CIA operative (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) and the sixth-richest woman in Texas played by Julia Roberts. Roberts really sinks her teeth into the role of a platinum blonde grande dame whose sense of privilege and humanitarianism spurs Charlie to the fight.

Hoffman also shines as a portly Greek espionage expert named Gust. Charlie and Gust form an entertaining partnership. In their initial meeting, director Nichols shows his flair for comic timing in a well-crafted scene that plays like a parlor farce. The script by Aaron Sorkin (The American President, TV’s West Wing) crackles with snappy dialogue. The movie is a history lesson disguised as a smart character study.

No one can dispute that he United States succeeded in driving the Russians from Afghanistan by arming the rebels, perhaps one of the last acts of the Cold War. The movie makes clear that this limited strategy had dire consequences, leading directly to our present political predicament. Charlie Wilson’s War ends on a cautionary note, but it’s an entertaining journey

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

June 1-6

Diahann Carroll, Resorts

June 2-5

The Nelsons, Hilton

June 6

Rhett Atkins, House of Blues

June 7

Manhattan Transfer, House of Blues
Clint Black, Tropicana
Roger Hodgson, Resorts

June 6-7

Engelbert Humperdinck, Trump Plaza

Frank Sinatra, Jr., Hilton

June 7

Boxing: Kelly Pavlik vs. Gary Lockett, Boardwalk Hall

Jay Leno, Caesars

Mitch Fatel, Lynne Koplitz, Trump Marina

Sound of Philadelphia with The O’Jays, Borgata

Jeffrey Ross, Borgata

June 8

Robert Plant & Allison Krause, Borgata

moe., Borgata

Lil Wayne, Boardwalk Hall

June 8-13

The Duprees, Hilton

Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge, Resorts

June 12

Maceo Parker and Project Logic, House of Blues

June 13

Brett Michaels, House of Blues

June 14

Chuck Mangione, Spyro Gyra, House of Blues

Billy Ray Cyrus, Hilton

Nick Dipaolo, Jim Florentine, Trump Marina

James Taylor, Borgata

Nikos Makropoulos, Resorts

Dine and Dish with Jackie Collins, Caesars

June 15-19

Debbie Reynolds, Hilton

June 17

Little Feat, House of Blues

June 20

Sergio Mendes, House of Blues

Natasha Bedingfield with Veronica & Kate Voegele, Borgata

June 20-21

Stevie Nicks, Borgata

June 21

Bob Saget, Borgata

Laughter and Reflection with Carol Burnett, Caesars

Cedric the Entertainer, Resorts

Stevie Wonder, Borgata

June 22-27

Charo, Hilton T

oxic Audio, Resorts

June 25

Peter Murphy, House of Blues

June 26

Chrisette Michele and Raheem Davaughn, House of Blues

June 27

Daniel Tosh, Borgata

Ring of Combat XX, Tropicana

Dave Koz & Friends, House of Blues

Steely Dan, Borgata

June 28

Ringo Starr, Taj Mahal

Chicago, The Doobie Brothers, Borgata

Blues Traveler, Tropicana

Tracy Lawrence, Tracy Byrd, Pat Green, Rachel Bradshaw, House of Blues

Joan Rivers, Harrah’s

Revues

Ongoing

Yesterday—A Tribute to the Beatles, Tropicana

To June 25

Best of Broadway, Tropicana

To August 31

Tony ’n Tina’s Wedding, Showboat

June 1-21 Le Grand Cirque, Harrah’s

June 14 - July 4  Thunder From Down Under, Trump Marina

June 24 - August 31 Defending the Caveman, Bally’s

June 25 - August 17  Kalin & Jinger’s Real Magic, Trump Marina

By   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

The hard-touring, hard-jamming former garage band known as Blues Traveler touches down at the Tropicana Showroom on Saturday, June 28 for a night of rock-the-house blues.

The Princeton guys who first got together in the 1980s have remained true to their band’s name, which reflects both its philosophy and its marketing strategy. From the early days, they built their fan base at the grass-roots level, with a non-stop tour-and-travel approach that eventually attracted the attention of concert promoters, then record executives.

They signed with A&M in 1989, released a self-titled debut album shortly thereafter, and by the mid-1990s had earned international recognition through the album Four, which went platinum six times over and spawned their most enduring hits.

Though the band no longer grinds out 250 shows a year, the members continue to criss-cross the country each year, with popular frontman John Popper, his signature harmonica, and a repertoire of wittily contagious hits including “Runaround,” “But Anyway,” and “Hook.”

By   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

Cedric “Ceddy Bear” Kyles, better known as Cedric the Entertainer, brings his crowd-pleasing comedy to Resorts on June 21.

Born in Jefferson City, Missouri, Cedric was an insurance man before taking the leap into full-time comedy. His breakthrough came in 1992 when he co-starred on TV’s It's Showtime at the Apollo, and his star quickly rose. He soon appeared on HBO’s Def Comedy Jam and BET’s ComicView, which he would later host. In 1994, Cedric won the Richard Pryor Comic of the Year Award.

By 1996 he had turned his attention to acting both on television (The Steve Harvey Show) and in films (Big Momma’s House, Barbershop, Johnson Family Vacation and Madagascar, in which he provided the voice of a lemur). Cedric traveled the country as a headliner with Harvey, D.L. Hughley and Bernie Mac, a tour which inspired the Spike Lee documentary The Original Kings of Comedy.

For all his multi-media success, it’s great to see Cedric where he started: standing up, facing a mic and an audience full of fans.

By   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

TV’s Carol Burnett Show, a Saturday night staple for more than a decade on CBS, always included a question-and-answer portion in which audience members chatted with the comedienne, and she usually found a reason to do her famous Tarzan yell.

On June 21, the legendary performer, playwright and actress will come to Caesars for a program called Laughter and Reflection with Carol Burnett. The evening will include a retrospective of Burnett’s career followed by the tried-and-true talk- to-the-fans segment.

Born to alcoholic parents, Burnett and her kid sister were raised in near-poverty by their grandmother, first in Texas, then in a Hollywood boardinghouse where young Carol’s show business dreams first took hold. Though her mother told her she was too plain to be a star, Burnett was stubborn enough to succeed. She was a featured player on TV variety and game shows by the time she was 20. A star turn in the Broadway musical Once Upon A Mattress led to a recurring role on TV’s Garry Moore Show, and ultimately to her own series.

Burnett was equally at home in motion pictures, earning an Emmy nomination for the wartime drama Friendly Fire and providing able support in comedies like The Four Seasons. She has also amassed five Golden Globes, a clutch of People’s Choice awards, and a Kennedy Center Honor. As active as ever in her 70s, she continues her presence on TV on shows like The Office and Desperate Housewives. Want to hear that Tarzan yell? Come to Tropicana, and brace yourself.

By   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

If you love jazz standards and silken harmonies set to exquisite arrangements, don’t miss the vocal quartet Manhattan Transfer at Showboat’s House of Blues on Saturday, June 7.

The brilliant quartet has been making beautiful music since the early 1970s, when New York cabbie-cum-singer Tim Hauser picked up a fare, Laurel Masse, who would turn out to be the first member of his fledgling group.

Word of mouth was critical to the success of the Manhattan Transfer, which faithfully revived a genre neglected since the big band era. They developed a cult following at New York clubs like Trude Heller’s, Reno Sweeney, and Max’s Kansas City. Their 1975 debut album led to a CBS television show, and they were huge in Europe, where the albums Coming Out and Pastiche made it to the Top 10.

Masse was forced to leave after a serious auto accident. The final ensemble—Hauser, Janis Seigel, Alan Paul and Masse’s replacement, Cheryl Bentyne—still set the standard for other vocal groups (conspicuously the New York Voices), recreating the romance, soulfulness and jazz-inflected spunk of the 1940s and ’50s in classics like “Blue Champagne,” “Tuxedo Junction,” “Four Brothers,” “Candy” and “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square.”

Though Manhattan Transfer enjoyed just one mainstream hit, “Operator,” the group has earned ardent fans everywhere. Here’s your chance to hear some sweet, sophisticated jazz, the old-fashioned way.

By   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

In the 1990s, Billy Ray Cyrus became famous for three things: the cornball country hit “Achy Breaky Heart,” a line dance of the same name, and his magnificent mullet, which fortunately did not catch on among most of the listening public.

Later, though Cyrus’ musical star seemed to slide, he did earn a measure of respect for the TV show Doc, in which he played a homespun rural doctor. Today, of course, he is far more famous as the father of teen star Miley Cyrus, who stars with him on the Disney Channel show Hannah Montana. He also performed on Dancin’ with the Stars, and raised a few eyebrows with his on-screen dustup with judge Bruno Tomioli.

But when he comes to the Atlantic City Hilton on June 14, Cyrus will revert to form with a good old country set. He’s got plenty of crowd-pleasers to choose from: “Ready, Set, Don’t Go” (recorded as a duet with Miley), “Wanna Be Your Joe,” “Storm In the Heartland,” tunes from 2007’s Home At Last, his 10th studio album, which debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard country albums chart, and of course, “Achy Breaky Heart.” Thankfully, the mullet is long gone. Billy Ray Cyrus looks and sounds better than ever.

By   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

Celebrated singer-songwriter-guitarist James Taylor has come a long way since Sweet Baby James. But over the course of 40 years he has never peaked, only grown in stature, musicianship, maturity and perhaps most important, musical curiosity. To his credit, Taylor never rests on his hard-earned laurels, and just keeps exploring.

On the heels of his One Man Band acoustic tour of Europe, Taylor comes to the Borgata June 14 in support of the upcoming Band of Legends CD. Though the Atlantic City show will feature obligatory classics—Taylor wouldn’t get out of town without singing “You’ve Got a Friend” or “Fire and Rain”—his full catalogue is so rich and tuneful that the hits are just the start.

Backed by more than a dozen industry greats including sax man “Blue Lou” Marini, drummer Steve Gadd and percussionist Luis Conte, Taylor will present his versions of Big Mama Thornton’s “Hound Dog,” Chuck Berry’s “Memphis,” Junior Walker’s “Road Runner,” and, hopefully, some homegrown stuff like “Carolina In My Mind” and “That’s Why I’m Here.”

By   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

This tour is one for the record books, joining legendary rocker Robert Plant with soulful bluegrass artist Allison Krauss. The unlikely duo comes to Borgata for one night only, Sunday, June 8.

Plant, the caterwauling Led Zeppelin frontman who looks as if he’s led at least nine hard lives, first met Krauss through visionary producer T Bone Burnett, perhaps the only man alive who thought this team could work.

It works all right. Since the tour kicked off down south in April, reviews and audience response have been almost ecstatic. Before they hit the road, Plant and Krauss collaborated on the album Raising Sand, a collection that blended urban blues, Texas country, bluegrass and folk-rock. Cover tunes included the Everly Brothers’ “Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On),” Doc Watson’s “Your Long Journey,” and even Zeppelin’s “Black Dog,” which was sung to the accompaniment of (gasp) the five-string banjo.

Expect the duo to perform most of that CD’s lineup, including “Killing the Blues,” “Fortune Teller” and “Through the Morning, Through the Night.”

Burnett has said his aim in bringing together the hard-core rocker and the country troubadour was to “take them out of their comfort zone.” He has successfully done that, persuading Krauss to wail and Plant to pray. It should be great to hear Krauss kick ass on the Zeppelin standard “Black Country Woman,” and Plant sing with a gospel quartet on “Down To The River.” Now this was worth waiting for.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

With lenders qualifying would-be homebuyers more strictly, what are the standard requirements for those who want to buy these days?

For conventional lending, a great credit score (in the low 700s) and larger down payments (10 to 20 percent). Other options are available for first-time qualified buyers with low or no down payment through FHA financing and 100 percent rural financing. I don’t want buying a home to leave me cash poor. How much in savings should I have after I’ve made the down payment?

In addition to a down payment, you’ll need closing costs of around 3 percent of the purchase price, and some conventional lenders require at least two months’ mortgage payments in reserve. I would recommend at least two months in reserve (or more) as a cushion. Are fixer-uppers really bargains? How can I be sure I’m not buying someone else’s problems?

Fixer-uppers sell quickly, as they’re usually priced below market value, and yes, there are definitely bargains out there for the knowledgeable buyer. But buyers, beware! Most fixer-uppers are sold “as is” with no warranties or guarantees. Buyers are usually responsible for all certifications, inspections and certificate of occupancy. If the agreement to purchase includes a home inspection by the buyer, that’s one way to determine if problems exist. But inspections sometimes cannot be completed because the utilities are off and the home has been winterized.

What’s the truth about buying a foreclosed home? So many infomercials portray this as a simple way to get a great property for a small investment. True or false?

Buying a foreclosed home or a home in foreclosure (a short sale) is like buying a fixer-upper. Again, buyers must beware, as they are buying the property “as is,” with no warranties or guarantees. At some foreclosures like sheriff’s sales, most times you don’t have the option of being able to inspect the inside of the property. These sales take time and can be complicated. I recommend calling a realtor experienced with foreclosures.

How long do you anticipate the buyer’s market will last?

It’s been a buyer’s market for at least the last 18 months. Right now there is more supply of housing than demand. Once the supply dwindles down then it will become a seller’s market again. I would predict the spring of 2010 at the earliest.

Michele L. Jackson is a broker with 29 years in business in Atlantic County. She specializes in resales, land development and new construction. 

By Design: Curb Appeal Forget about attracting buyers. The main reason to enhance your home’s curb appeal is so it will appeal to you! Think of the approach to your front door in three parts: the foreground (where fencing and flower beds can add color, structure and interest); the middle ground (ideal for flowering trees and shrubs) and the background (the porch that leads to the entryway). Your goal should be to enhance what’s great about your property and disguise or minimize its flaws. Shrubbery, artful lawn décor and furniture are great ways to mask what’s wrong and add eye-pleasing accents.

But first things first. Get your lawn in good shape by raking, edging and mowing. Illumination is always a good idea; lampposts are beautiful night and day, as are solar walkway lamps or other attractive light fixtures. A fresh coat of paint or a new, brightly colored front door can add a jolt of new energy to your home, making it feel more attractive. And don’t forget the welcome mat!

Mon, Jun 02, 2008

New Jersey is struggling to overcome another budget deficit. If the state shuts down again, as it did in 2006 when government failed to pass the budget on time, the casino industry will suffer anew from Trenton’s ineptitude.

By law, non-essential state services shut down when a budget is not adopted by July 1. Casino regulation is classified as non-essential. And every day that Trenton politicians spend arguing over the budget equals another day out of work for casino employees.

There are bills and constitutional amendments proposed to keep casinos open in the event of another government shutdown. Senate Bill 307, sponsored by Democrat Jim Whelan of Atlantic County, provides that if the state shuts down due to “failure to enact appropriation act (read: a budget), casinos will remain open and state police will replace Casino Control Commission inspectors.”

Whelan’s bill has several problems. Having state police regulate casino gaming invites a lawsuit, and having an essential agency assigned to a non-essential task circumvents the state constitution.

Two state agencies regulate gaming: the Division of Gaming Enforcement and the Casino Control Commission. The state police would have to be trained in casino regulation, at the cost of the taxpayers. Why create yet another state agency to duplicate existing services?

S307 grants discretionary power to Superintendent of State Police Colonel Rick Fuentes, who would determine if troopers can be spared to regulate casinos. In a budget impasse, casino gaming would be held hostage not only by the legislature and the governor, but by the superintendent as well.

Senate Bill 970, sponsored by first-term Democratic Senator Jeff Van Drew of Cape May, Atlantic and Cumberland counties, provides for the funding of casino regulation “when the annual appropriation act is not in effect.”

Van Drew’s solution—to make the Casino Control Fund independent of the state treasury—shows a high degree of legislative ingenuity. Assembly Bill 2410 provides that “in the event of emergency … casinos may remain open under certain conditions.” The measure allows casinos to regulate themselves if the government shuts down; this proposal enjoys bipartisan support.

The idea of self-regulation and personal corporate responsibility is remarkable coming from Trenton. Governor Corzine would have the ability to discipline any casino violating state regulations during a shutdown; all offenses would carry a fine 10 times more severe than usual. The governor would also have arbitrary power to close down a casino that violates state regulations.

Two constitutional amendments are also on the table. If passed by both the Senate and Assembly and signed by the governor, voters can vote on them in November. ACR155 provides for the continued operation of lotteries, casinos and horse racing in the event of a shutdown. A constitutional amendment eliminates the debate over essential and non-essential services; this amendment has enjoyed success by bringing together casino gaming, state lottery and horse racing interests.

ACR135 is straightforward. It would make casino regulatory agents essential employees. This simple amendment most directly solves the problem, keeping casinos open during the next state government shutdown.

But nothing becomes law in Trenton without the blessing of ranking Democrats. The best hope for this measure is for Senators Van Drew and Whelan to introduce a companion resolution.

By   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

Do you spend hours at work standing behind a table or staring at a screen? Do you head home with an aching back, a headache or a stiff neck?

Chiropractor Jason Towey from Egg Harbor Chiropractic—known to his patients as “Doctor J”—says there are ways for casino workers to alleviate some of the stiffness, strain and fatigue caused by repetitious movements and poor posture.

“It all depends on your job,” he says. “People who stand for long periods behind tables should use their break time to walk around, get the blood circulating and do a few quick stretches. It’s inevitable to put more weight on one leg, but keep shifting, lean against the table occasionally and don’t stay in one position for the whole time.

“Sitters tend to have a lot of joint and muscle imbalance in the neck or back and chronic shoulder problems. If they’re on the phone, I encourage them to get a headset. If they use a computer, adjust the height of the chair, the keyboard and monitor to make sure everything is directly in front to avoid twisting and turning. The computer screen should be slightly below eye level, to minimize neck and eye strain.”

Ergonomic disorders are the fastest growing category of work-related illnesses, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The chief complaints of casino workers: low to mid-back pain, headache, and numbness of the hands and feet.

To stay fit as a fiddle on and off the job, Towey offers these tips:

Stretch. “When people are in sustained postures for many hours, the muscles tend to shorten and get a little tighter—the body is compressed and actually grows shorter,” says Towey. “Stretching before and after work for a solid 10 to 15 minutes (and whenever you can in-between) is very helpful.”

Stay hydrated. “The body is approximately 60 percent to 70 percent water, and hydration plays a big role in muscle and joint function. When people say, ‘I’m drinking 10 cups of coffee a day,’ they don’t realize that coffee is a diuretic, so you’re not getting that water.” Heed that old rule about drinking eight glass of water per day. Your body will thank you.

Move it. If you are tied to one station at work, be sure to exercise at home or the gym, and again, drink lots of water. “The more circulation and movement and fluid exchange you have within the muscles, cells and joints, the better off you are,” Towey says. “Your body is meant to move, not sit or stand for hours.”

Get a grip on your emotions. “Many people overlook the fact that emotional stress has a huge impact on the body,” says Towey. “When you have to deal with stressful deadlines or angry patrons, the body stores that tension and doesn’t (easily) dissipate it. Take a deep breath, get up and walk around.” Now doesn’t that feel better?

Jason M. Towey, DC is a chiropractic expert with over 25 years experience.  He can be reached at 609.965.5533

By Dave Bontempo   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

‘You can’t always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, you’ll find you get what you need.’

The lyrics define a life journey for Suze DiPietro. The Pennsylvania native, now in Upper Township, had been in an all-girl heavy-metal group that once inked a brief recording deal. She opened for Cinderella and Britney Fox, performed the rock opera Tommy and wanted the big musical break. It never came.

So DiPietro became a media specialist, serving 11 years in public relations and marketing for major bands at the Trump casinos. Today the wife, mother and author is marketing director for the Stockton Performing Arts Center, has her own production outfit, released a CD, Look At Me, this year, showcased it at Borgata, and will soon publish a book-CD combo, Between Keys.

“It’s about a rock and roll band, with many twists and turns,” she says. “It’s also a murder mystery, with comedy and vampires.”

Unlike other projects, the vampire whodunit brought little pressure, and big results.

“I’m 47, a never-was, a has-been who just put together a CD which I didn’t think would go anywhere. Well, it’s selling like crazy on i-tunes. Now, with no expectations, there is more success than at any time. It seems like everything is happening for me.”

Often caught between life’s big keys, or opportunities, DiPietro scrapped for success. She completed a theater scholarship at Penn in the ’80s, but stared at a $25,000 debt and an uncertain future. When husband Glen, a WAYV DJ, told her of the Trump job, she entered the new world of promoting someone else.

“It was the most fabulous, exciting time ever,” DiPietro says. “I know they credit Borgata with bringing in the hip movement, but I think it happened at the Marina. Larry Mullin was there and they had Rock the Dock. You’d call media people and say, ‘We just booked Prince’ and they couldn’t believe it. And our demographic got younger. We had Van Halen, Sting… great acts.”

Some stars were surprisingly nice, others standoffish. Then there were the pranksters. DiPietro recalls lobbying ZZ Top to sign a guitar—no small feat, even for a PR person.

“Guys are funny about signing things; they don’t want it to end up in the Hard Rock,” she says. “So it required going through hoops, hoops, hoops to get this done. Finally it happens. Then a man came up asking for another guitar signed for his son, who is dying from cancer. He says Don Henley approved the idea. Don and Dusty from ZZ Top are friends, so this guy gives his cell phone to Dusty, who talks to Don, then Dusty signs the guitar.

“Some time later, I told Don Henley the story. He said, ‘My dear, you’ve been had.’ Whoever spoke on the cell phone convinced Dusty that he was Don Henley and that’s how the guitar got signed.”

DiPietro enjoyed casino energy, but in 2002 got “the big ka-BOOM” via layoff. The downsizing sent her to the Merriam Theater in Philadelphia, then to Stockton, where she generates attention for about 40 shows per year.

Casino contacts, meanwhile, remain intact. When DiPietro gave a benefit for the Upper Township music program, Borgata President Larry Mullin provided the venue. DiPietro has seen jobs, circumstances and arenas change over the years. But the music and the stage never die.

By Michael Bruckler   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

June has it all, from toe-tapping music to food festivals that celebrate the best of the Garden State. Check out the new Out & About calendar for everything going on in June. Here’s a taste:

Music: The Appel Farm Arts & Music Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary with musical guests including They Might Be Giants, Suzanne Vega and The Smithereens, among others.

The Southern Shore Music Festival features a long list of acts including Dr. John, David Bromberg & the Angel Band, Jim Lauderdale, Robert Hazard, and Final Vinyl.

Under the baton of principal conductor Jed Gaylin, the Bay-Atlantic Symphony returns as the orchestra-in-residence at the Cape May Music Festival.

If you’re into vintage rock and roll (The Who, Fleetwood Mac, Kiss, U2) you won’t want to miss the popular Fakefest at the Deck at Trump Marina, where tribute bands pump up the volume over one ear-splitting weekend.

Food: The 22nd annual Red, White, and Blueberry Festival in Hammonton features blueberry pie-eating contests, blueberry bake-offs, and homemade treats.

The Annual Baymen’s Seafood and Music Festival at Tuckerton Seaport offers delicious New Jersey fresh clams, crabs and shrimp, and beer from New Jersey breweries.

The Toast to the Coast Food and Wine Spectacular in Atlantic City features celebrity chef demonstrations by Giada DeLaurentiis, Guy Fieri, Ingrid Hoffmann and Roland Meisner, along with gourmet products, restaurant samplings, wine and beer tastings.

Events: Bring your inner DaVinci to the Atlantic City Chalk Challenge & Craft Show, June 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Create a masterpiece in chalk on the sidewalk and enjoy many hand-made items for sale. Proceeds benefit after-school programs in Atlantic County.

The 85th Annual National Marbles Tournament in Wildwood features marbles champions, ages 8 to 14, competing for scholarships, prizes, and the coveted titles of King and Queen of Marbles.

Community Events

June 1-15 Cape May Music Festival, Cape May, NJ 609-884-5404 • www.capemaymac.org

June 4 Hassan Abdullah Quartet, 6 p.m. • Atlantic City Free Public Library, Atlantic City, NJ • 609-345-2269

June 6 IMAX Premier: Kung Fu Panda, Tropicana Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, NJ • 1-800-736-1420

June 6-8 World War II Weekend, Cape May, NJ 609-884-5404 • www.capemaymac.org

June 7 Strawberry Festival, West Cape May, NJ 609-884-8382 • www.capemaymac.org

20th Annual Appel Farm Arts & Music Festival Elmer, NJ 856-358-2472 • www.appelfarm.org

June 7-8 Celtic Festival Weekend, Cold Spring Village, 720 Rt. 9, South Cape May, NJ • 609-898-2300

Fantasy Faire: A Festival of Medieval Arts & Folklife Wheaton Arts & Cultural Center, Millville, NJ 800-998-4552 • www.wheatonarts.org

June 11-14 Miss New Jersey Parade & Pageant, Ocean City, NJ 609-525-9300 • www.oceancitychamber.com

June 12-15 Batanga Beach Weekend, Wildwoods Convention Center, Wildwood, NJ • 888-833-5754 • www.batanga.com

June 13-15 Skimmer Festival Weekend, 29th Street and the Promenade, Sea Isle City, NJ 609-263-8687 • www.sea-isle-city.nj.us

June 14 Victorian Fair, Emlen Physick Estate, Cape May, NJ 609-884-5404 • www.capemaymac.org

June 14-15 Mummers Brigade Weekend, Wildwood, NJ 609-522-7722 • www.wildwoodsnj.com

June 15 Family Wheelin’ Bike Ride, Wildwood, NJ 609-523-0202 • www.wildwoodsnj.com

June 15-18 85th National Marbles Tournament, Wildwood, NJ 304-337-2764 • www.wildwoodsnj.com

June 20-22 Cape May Harbor Festival, Cape May, NJ 609-884-5404 • www.capemaymac.org

June 21 Baymen’s Seafood & Music Festival Tuckerton Seaport, 120 W. Main St. Tuckerton, NJ 609-296-8868 • www.tuckertonseaport.org

Southern Shore Music Festival, Cumberland County Fairgrounds, 3001 Carmel Rd., Millville, NJ 856-455-0328 • www.southernshoremusicfestival.com

Quilt Show, Cold Spring Village, 720 Rt. 9, South Cape May, NJ • 609-898-2300 • www.hcsv.org

Antique Auto Show, Tabernacle grounds, Ocean City, NJ 609-525-9300 • www.oceancitychamber.com

June 23-27 July Jubilee, Ocean City, NJ 609-525-9300 • www.oceancitychamber.com

June 26-29 Toast to the Coast, Food & Wine Spectacular, Atlantic City, NJ • 800-736-1420 • www.gourmetshows.com

June 27-29 Fakefest Tribute Bands, Deck at Trump Marina, Atlantic City, NJ • 800-777-8477 • www.trumpmarina.com

Italian-American Festival, Wildwood, NJ 609-729-4533 • www.wildwoodsnj.com

June 28 Chalk Challenge & Craft Show, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Boardwalk at Albany Ave., Atlantic City, NJ • 609-287-8655

June 29 Red, White & Blueberry Festival, Hammonton, NJ 609-561-9080 • www.hammontonnj.us

By Robert Rossiello   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

Sofia’s Seafood Plaki

This traditional Greek delicacy comes from Sofia’s in Margate. It’s baked in a terracotta pot to help infuse the flavors, but a covered baking dish can be substituted. Serves four.

Ingredients:

4 pieces of fresh cod (8 oz. each)

8 peeled & deveined shrimp (size 16-20)

10 diced, medium-sized vine ripe tomatoes

1 cup tomato puree

8 garlic cloves (sliced)

1 cup of Chablis (or white wine)

1/4 cup basil

1/4 cup parsley

1 tblsp. Old Bay seasoning

1/2 cup whole kalamata olives

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup chopped scallions for garnish

To Prepare:

Saute garlic in olive oil. Add the diced tomatoes and simmer 10 minutes. Add wine and tomato puree. Season with salt, pepper, basil, parsley and Old Bay. Simmer for another 5 minutes.

Arrange cod and shrimp in the terracotta pot or baking dish with black olives and feta cheese. Add the stewed tomato mixture to the top of the fish and cover.

Bake at 400 degrees for approximatly 30 minutes or until the fish is tender. Garnish with chopped scallions.

Crispy Crab Cakes with Roasted Corn & Key Lime Buerre Blanc

Here a classic crab cake from the Crab Trap in Somers Point, with the perfect accompaniment.

Ingredients:

1 lb. fresh jumbo lump or backfin crabmeat

1/2 cup quality mayonnaise

 2 eggs

1 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. Old Bay seasoning

1 ear of white corn (if available; yellow is fine)

1 small onion

2 medium red bell peppers

1 tsp. chopped cilantro

1/2 tsp. ground cumin juice of 1 lime

bread crumbs

To Prepare:

Cut onion in half and roast on grill with corn and red pepper. After roasting let cool. Remove corn from ear and dice pepper and onion, place in a bowl. Add cilantro, cumin and lime juice.

Combine crabmeat, eggs, mayonnaise, salt and Old Bay seasoning. Mix together gently. (Note: some of the roasted corn salsa can be added to the crab meat for a twist on the traditional crab cake; serve the remainder as a side-dish.) Form into cakes. Coat with bread crumbs. Saute in oil over medium high heat until golden brown.

For Sauce:

1 diced shallot, juice of 2 limes, 1 cup white wine and 1/2 cup water reduced in saucepan by half.

In a separate pot, melt 1/4 lb. butter. Add 1/2 tblsp. flour, whisk vigorously to create a roux. Add 1/2 pint half & half and wine and lime juice reduction.

Plate: Spoon 2 ounces of sauce on serving plate, place crab cakes on sauce and roasted corn on each side. Garnish with lime slices, chopped chive or a sprig of cilantro.

Pan-Seared Scallops with sauted broccoli rabe, oven roasted tomatoes and Yukon mashed potatoes

This simple and healthy dish comes from Dock’s Oyster House in Atlantic City.

Ingredients:

5, 8 oz. sea scallops

1 cup broccoli rabe

2 Yukon potatoes

1 tomato, quartered

1 tsp. garlic

1/4 cup olive oil

Dash crushed red pepper

To Prepare: Season tomatoes with salt and pepper and a little olive oil and roast in a 350 degree oven for a half hour. Boil potatoes until tender. Mash by hand or with mixer, adding butter and milk.

Blanch broccoli rabe in boiling water for approximately 10 seconds. Place in cold water to stop cooking process, drain. Coat a pan with olive oil and saute garlic and red pepper until golden brown. Add broccoli rabe and heat through (do not overcook), season with salt and pepper.

Saute scallops in a smoking hot pan of olive oil, searing on both sides aprroximately 2 minutes until firm. Serve scallops on top of potatos, with tomatoes and broccoli rabe on side.

Wasabi Crusted Sea Bass with Asian Drop Dumplings

For fish with an Asian twist and a bit of heat, try this sea bass recipe from The Inlet in Somers Point.

Ingredients (for fish):

8 oz. sea bass filet

Equal parts mayonnaise and wasabi paste

Panko (Japanese) bread crumbs

Ingredients (for dumplings; makes 4)

1 baked potato, peeled

1 egg

1 tblsp. chopped chives

1 tblsp. wasabi powder

Half cup flour, salt & pepper to taste

To Prepare

Brush fish with mayo/wasabi mixture on top side. Coat with panko bread crumbs. Bake in 400-degree oven for approximately 12 minutes.

For dumplings, finely grate the baked potato. Add the remaining ingredients and knead the mixture until it becomes a dough. Separate into four 1 oz. balls, then flatten into patty. Boil in salted water for about 30 seconds, until the dumplings float. To add crispness the dumplings can be finished off by sauteing in oil for about one minute on each side.

(Note: The Inlet serves this dish with sauteed vegetables and a miso and orange ginger vinaigrette. A quality soy sauce can be served in place of the vinaigrette. The dumplings can be made in advance and frozen after boiling for future use.)

By Dave Bontempo   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

Chris Carminucci, new president of the Surf baseball team, knows that every minor league team in Atlantic City history has lost money here. But he’s not complaining.

“If you tell me 500 people are in the ballpark, then those 500 people will have the best night of their life,” Carminucci says. “If you give us a chance to show you a ballgame, I guarantee you’ll want to come back. This is one of the best venues in all of minor league baseball.”

Carminucci is more concerned about the actual fans than the would-be fans. “You want to take care of the people who do come to your ballpark, not be concerned as much about the people who are not there. You go out, you hustle, you bust your butt and people will support the hell out of you.” Carminucci brings much-needed Type A energy to the team, which began its home slate in the summer Can-Am League last month at Bernie Robbins Stadium. The Surf cut staff and services to the bone last year and needs to have its product identified differently.

“Just like you make players accountable, you can make owners accountable,” he says. “If we have a crappy product, you blame me. If we haven’t done a great job, you blame me. The players on this team and in the organization have always been great, but we need to improve our product off the field.

“That’s why we sent out 5,000 e-mails and listened to our customers. They want the quality of food to be better and the stadium to be cleaner. We’ll have fewer things on the menu, but what we do, we will do well.”

Game activities, meanwhile, are a Surf asset. Promotions, kids running bases, styrofoam balls air-gunned into the crowd and access to players have been a staple.

“We told our entire staff that any request from a ticket holder, if it’s reasonable, should be honored,” Carminucci says. “You want a ball signed? We’ll sign it. You want to sit close to the players? We want you to sit close to the players. We’ll make you feel you have ownership of a place.”

This year the Surf brings a major figure to the dugout. Cecil Fielder, who hit some of the most prodigious home runs in history, is the new manager. Nicknamed Bid Daddy as a player, Fielder is one of only four batters to hit a home run over the roof in Tiger Stadium, and the only player ever to send a blast clear out of Milwaukee County Stadium. He was a three-time All Star and won a World Series ring with the Yankees in 1996. He and his son Prince are the only father-son combination in major league baseball history to clout 50 homers in a season.

Though Fielder’s gambling problems once led to a lawsuit by the Trump properties, those days are gone, and players will listen to a big man who makes them bunt.

“Cecil with his pinky finger is better than I ever was as a player,” Carminucci says. “He’s hit a home run in the World Series and he is a great person for these young guys to learn from. A player needs to play selflessly. If you won’t bunt or hit and run, you can’t play here. Some guys have been released by organizations for not knowing how to do those things. We’ll teach them.”

In that sense, the Can-Am circuit is a departure from the Independent League, Atlantic City’s home until last year. In a league stocked with former big league players, the take sign was an edict from baseball hell. Managers spoke about letting their players gain valuable stats and return to the majors.

Not here. The Can-Am league, which has less talent than the Independent circuit, has a different mindset.

“I would agree that the Independent League had more seasoned players,” Carminucci says, “but the difference is they are on their way back down. These players are on the way up.”

Did You Know?

Carminucci is a hustler who practices what he preaches. He managed the Surf into the postseason last year and was named the Can-Am League Manager of the Year. He also has a scouting relationship with the Phillies. Any player in the league who catches his attention will get the Phils to take a look at him.

Anthony Granato is a notable Surf returnee. The third baseman hit .329 last year, with seven homers and 50 RBIs. Joe Burke, who hit .333, is back too. So is pitcher Brian Rodaway, who was 15-3 last year.

Atlantic City has a strong June schedule with 12 home games on June 1, June 6-8, June 10-12 and June 20-26. Fireworks follow games on the 6th and 20th.

The league also includes teams in Brooklyn, Nashua, Ottawa, Quebec, Sussex, Worcester and the New Jersey Jackals. Carminucci listed Harrah’s, Trump and Tropicana as major sources of casino support. The league schedule consists of 94 games. It ends September 1, with the playoff schedule to follow.

Round II for Pavlik

Atlantic City boxing fans love Kelly Pavlik, the Youngstown, Ohio middleweight who made a sensation with his stirring come-from-behind knockout over Jermain Taylor last September at Boardwalk Hall. Las Vegas got the rematch in February, but Boardwalk Hall will showcase Pavlik’s middleweight title defense against No. 1 contender Gary Lockett on June 7. Pavlik, 33-0 with 29 knockouts, is one of boxing’s hottest commodities. He’ll bring a frantic Ohio following that will jam the gaming tables afterward.

Lockett, the No. 1 contender for Pavlik’s WBC and WB0 titles, is 30-1 with 21 knockouts. The native of Wales has been a pro since 1996.

By Frank Legato   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

Curtis Bashaw is one of the most dynamic developers in and around Atlantic City. He began his career in Cape May, where he transformed historic Congress Hall into one of the gems of that Victorian town.

As former director of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, Bashaw worked closely with casino executives and public officials to extend the influence of Atlantic City across the entire Jersey Shore. His dedication to improving the Boardwalk has already paid dividends; his sense of style will become evident when the Chelsea, a boutique non-gaming hotel, opens this month in Atlantic City.

But Bashaw’s big play is a $2 billion project he is directing with former Caesars Entertainment CEO Wally Barr at the western end of the Boardwalk. While the scale and design are still being planned, it’s evident that Bashaw will remain a player in Atlantic City for many years to come.

He met with Casino Connection Editor Frank Legato in May. To hear the full version of this interview or others, go to http://www.casinoconnectionac.com/podcast

Casino Connection: What will the Chelsea offer that casino hotels do not?

Curtis Bashaw: One thing is intimacy, in that it is on a much smaller scale. Second, we won’t have the constant din of slot machines as a backdrop. Finally, we’re really able to focus on the core competency of a hotel, which is service. Because we’re renovating two older buildings (a Howard Johnson and a Holiday Inn) there’s not just a small lobby and rooms and a restaurant. There are several restaurants, a big spa, two lobbies, the 5th Floor destination space with additional living room/game room, two bars… There’s a lot of elbow room at the Chelsea.

What kind of market are you targeting?

Folks who may not be card-carrying rated gamblers, the more casual gamer who comes to Atlantic City for a weekend to take in some of the shows and the new shopping or dining opportunities here. There’s a demand for an upscale non-gaming property. Instead of your choice being a casino or a B- or C-rated motel, we offer something in between. The casino hotels are very full in the summertime and on weekends. We want to capture that overflow.

Talk about the rooftop “destination,” one of the unique aspects of the Chelsea.

Absolutely. There’s a rooftop swimming pool on top of the parking structure of the old Holiday Inn. That floor used to be the meeting room floor. We’ve converted that entire space. There are two large living rooms with comfortable furniture, and Chelsea Prime, an upscale steakhouse operated by Stephen Starr with the vibe of a 1960s supper club—very black and white. There’s a great bar overlooking the ocean.

Facing the bay is a game room with a pool table, an oval-shaped bar completely upholstered in crushed velvet walls—very Old World and romantic—and the Terrace Lounge. It’s a place with a DJ, an opportunity to cut loose. All that spills out to this 15,000-foot roof deck with a pool, cabanas and an outdoor bar and circles back to the outdoor dining part of Chelsea Prime. So it’s an entire destination that we think is going to be like the town’s living room.

What kind of music? Clubby?

Not thump-thump-thump, so loud you can’t enjoy a cocktail and a conversation. We want to be a little bit more low-key in the vibe. Maybe it’s a place people go before they go to dinner or that late-night spot, or where folks who are a little older than their 20s may go for their last stop. There will be classic music, some jazz and blues, certainly American rock. It will be a nice spot for people to get together.

Restaurateur Stephen Starr is opening two places in the Chelsea. How did you first get together with him?

Stephen Starr is a terrific person, a visionary in his own right. He’s done a great job in Philadelphia, took New York City by storm a couple of years ago with Buddakan and Morimoto, and brought some good restaurants to Atlantic City. When we were negotiating to buy the Chelsea with Howard Johnson’s and the Holiday Inn, there was an article in Philadelphia magazine saying, “We wish somebody like Stephen Starr would come to a cool hotel in Atlantic City.”

It wasn’t long before we met through mutual networks. I showed him the properties and he immediately grasped the vision. We definitely were sort of soul mates on the notion of bringing a really fun, independent boutique hotel restaurant product to the Atlantic City scene.

Let’s move on to the proposed casino resort, the Atlantic Beach Resort.

Well, we haven’t named the casino per se. The real estate partnership that bought the land was called the Atlantic Beach Gateway, because we feel the Albany Avenue corridor is a wonderful gateway to Atlantic City. We love the location; it’s on a great beach on a great end of town. We think there are synergies with the prospects of what might happen at Bader Field too. So the project will be 1,500-2,000 keys out of the gate with a large gaming floor, meeting space and all the amenities you’d expect from a new casino project.

You’re planning a huge development—a larger gaming floor than any current casino—210,000 square feet?

Yes, we have a fairly large gaming floor. If you’re going to go through the process of doing a development like this, you should make sure you have the capacity to really do well. The critical mass is important to attract the right customer base and mix.

You will have 300,000 square feet for retail, dining and other non-gaming amenities. Is this is an important trend?

Absolutely. Atlantic City was a resort before it was a gaming town. To really re-emphasize the resort component is important; in fact, it’s essential. As all the states around us work to get their hands on gaming revenue, it’s eroding our former base, the four-to-five-hour visitor who came to play the slot machines. So our view is that Atlantic City will move back to its resort roots as some of the four-hour visitors are siphoned off to other markets.

Bashaw/Barr is partnering with major investment banks on this project. Will that make it easier to finance in this tight credit market?

The credit markets are bleak for all development right now. That choppiness needs to settle down, and it will. That said, having partners with real muscle in the financial community makes a lot of sense, and if you have a shot at getting something financed, it’s good to have partners who understand the markets and are well-versed in manipulating and managing them to help projects get done.

I don’t think anybody will rush into something when rates are too high or the debt-to-equity ratios make it tough to take a project to pencil.

Bashaw/Barr declined to bid on the Trop. Did you consider it at all?

It seemed to us at the time there were lots of numbers swirling around that seemed a little rich. Wally obviously has a lot of experience in the marketplace here, and with the credit markets the way they are and the fact we’ve got all this other stuff we’re doing, we felt it wasn’t our time to step to the forefront. We’ll see what happens at Trop, and we’ll look forward to meeting our new neighbors, whoever they may be, as we open up the Chelsea this June.

Will you move the war monument and the Knife & Fork as discussed by the planning board?

In conjunction with the city planners and the state transportation folks, we’ve submitted a plan we think vastly improves the access from the bridge into town, reconfiguring those intersections to soften them and make the traffic flow better. We have also proposed relocating the monument to Memorial Park. We think it’s a really great spot. Obviously, we’re going through a whole public process on that.

We’re way out front with historic preservation, so the plan with the Knife & Fork would be to actually relocate the building a block a way, and as the new roadway configuration curves into town, the new location of the Knife & Fork will feel exactly like where it is now. It’s a neat plan.

What’s your general outlook on the Atlantic City market?

Vegas has shown us there is plenty of room for growth here. We’re a tank of gas away from 25 or 30 percent of the U.S. population. That’s staggering. We have to rise above the stereotype that the place is a little unorganized and seedy. We’ve got to believe in ourselves as a community and raise the bar on the sort of press that goes out from here nationally. We need to get past scandals and have leadership that’s setting a new standard to help lead this resort well into this century.

For additional information about The Chelsea visit their website at http://thechelsea-ac.com/

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

"You could roll a bowling ball down Pacific Avenue and not hit anybody. The town was nothing. It had no hope, no future, no vision, no anything." —Tom Carver, Executive Director of New Jersey’s Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, on Atlantic City before casinos

"I’m not going to lie and say that I’m not a little nervous. There are so many kooks out there, you never know what to expect." —Mark Brown, president of the Venetian and Sands casinos in Macau (and former president of Trump Hotels), who participated in Macau's leg of the controversial 2008 Olympic Torch Relay

"Horses are lovely animals. But it’s not clear to me why I should have to pay for them."—Gary Loveman, head of Harrah’s Entertainment, during a response to a question about Harrah’s Chester, Pennsylvania racino, following his keynote address at the Canadian Gaming Summit.

"We’ve made our bet in Atlantic City. I think we’ve made a big enough bet, and we don't need to up it again."—Pinnacle Entertainment Chairman Dan Lee, on the company’s decision not to bid on the AC Tropicana

"I’m sure there are lots of husbands who would like to ban ATMs at shopping malls. But it’s not going to happen."—Cheryl Teamer of Harrah’s New Orleans Casino on failed legislation that would have banned ATMs in Louisiana casinos

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

Jackie Gaughan is selling his interest in the El Cortez and walking away from the tables.

Nevada regulators granted permission for the longtime casino owner to sell his stake in the property he has headed since 1963.

Gaughan’s Las Vegas activities span back to 1951. Since then, he has held a part of the Flamingo, Showboat, Plaza, Golden Nugget, Las Vegas Club, Gold Spike, Western Hotel and the oldest continuously operating hotel in the Las Vegas Valley, the El Cortez.

He is known best for the hospitality he brought to his casinos, for offering gamblers a fair game, and for knowing most of them on a first-name basis. Gaughan got started in gaming as a sports and horse bet runner in Nebraska. His first casino ownership was a small interest in the Boulder Club on Fremont Street. After amassing a collection of Downtown casinos, he began selling them in 2004.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

Station Casinos announced plans for a major development that is not only the most ambitious project in the company’s history, but also the most expensive project in the city of Las Vegas.

The company has tentative plans to build a meta-resort near Tropicana and the I-15—the current site of Wild Wild West—that will be bigger that MGM Mirage’s CityCenter, now estimated to cost more than $8 billion.

The project, with the working title “Viva,” would carry a price tag of $10 billion. It will be built on 110 acres—CityCenter is on 66 acres—and feature at least three casinos and three hotels with as many as 10,000 rooms.

The first phase of the project would open with three hotels and 5,200 rooms accompanied by one large casino.

“As we started looking at the site, originally we were talking about one hotel-casino,” Station Casinos President Lorenzo Fertitta said. “But as we got more property we decided we have the ability to put multiple properties on there and create a whole development.”

He added that the company has been working on plans for the project for the past year, and that it is on top of the company’s list of developments.

Of course, just because some details of the project have been released doesn’t mean that it will be taking shape anytime soon. “It takes years to get a design completed,” said Station Casinos Chairman and CEO Frank Fertitta III. “Point of fact is we’re going to be in a position where CityCenter is going to be open. We’re going to have some visibility on how they’re doing before a project like this is even going to be in the ground.”

The company has no time frame for the project right now, but a statement from Lorenzo Fertitta sheds some light on the construction timetable: “It will be a pretty significant development and a significant property that will keep us busy for the next 10 years.”

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

Barden will keep Pittsburgh promise

Developer Don Barden said last month he will keep his pledge to contribute $3 million in redevelopment funds for Pittsburgh’s economically depressed Hill District neighborhood.

Barden dropped his petition to Pennsylvania’s Gaming Control Board to withdraw the pledge, made when he was competing for Pittsburgh’s sole slot license with Isle of Capri Casinos. Isle had planned to donate a hockey arena to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Hill District and build a casino on the same parcel, along with millions in redevelopment funds.

In a compromise, Barden said he will spend the $3 million on development elsewhere in the Hill District, on projects that will spur economic development over the next five years.

Deutsche Bank takes Cosmo

After investing nearly $1 billion in the project, Deutsche Bank is expected to take over financially troubled Cosmopolitan Resort Casino project in Las Vegas, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The project is heading to foreclosure with developer Ian Bruce Eichner defaulting on loans earlier this year. Discussions last month between Eichner and Deutsche Bank were expected to end with Eichner relinquishing all involvement with the property.

A New York-based developer, Related Cos., has reportedly contacted the bank about buying the project out of foreclosure.

Pennsylvania eyes gaming board

Pennsylvania House Republicans last month asked the state attorney general to investigate whether high-ranking officials of the state Gaming Control Board violated the law by deliberately changing information in a background investigation.

The investigation lawmakers want probed is one that resulted in unanimous approval of a license for Louis DeNaples, who was subsequently indicted for perjury and stripped of his gaming license.

Lawmakers cite an article in the Allentown Morning Call newspaper that revealed the “suitability report” prepared by the board’s staff was changed six times to hide or delete information pointing to DeNaples’ ties to Scranton mob boss William D’Elia.

Onex eyeing Tropicana Entertainment

Toronto’s Onex Corporation, a private equity firm specializing in corporate buyouts, reportedly is interested in the struggling Tropicana Entertainment LLC.

According to Canadian news reports, Onex is teaming up with Alex Yemenidjian, former president of MGM Grand in Las Vegas, to explore potential buyout targets that include the casino company, which recently filed for bankruptcy protection.

Tropicana Entertainment is being forced to sell the Atlantic City Tropicana after being denied licensing by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission. The company also sold its Casino Aztar riverboat. Onex has offered the company $100 million in financing to aid in its restructuring, a move seen as an attempt to gain leverage for a potential buyout.

The Las Vegas Tropicana property, though aging and outdated, is viewed as a prime potential acquisition because of its unbeatable location on the Strip.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

Two lawsuits have been settled in a potboiler of a case involving Resorts, Wall Street giant Morgan Stanley and a former Resorts executive who admitted that she worked covertly on behalf of a competitor.

Former Resorts President Audrey S. Oswell sued Morgan Stanley in 2006, claiming the firm failed to deliver a job it promised in exchange for her help on a new casino. Despite her contractual obligation to Resorts, Oswell said she brokered the deal for a 20-acre oceanfront tract where the $2 billion Revel resort is now under construction.

Oswell claims that in 2006, when Morgan Stanley hired Revel to develop the property, she was unfairly left out in the cold. She sued Morgan Stanley, and so did Resorts, alleging that the investment firm used Oswell to get an inside track on the casino land.

Resorts and Morgan Stanley settled their litigation last December; Oswell and Morgan came to terms in March. Details of both settlements were not disclosed. Oswell has since left her $800,000-a-year job with Resorts and is now president of the nearly $3 billion Fontainebleau Resorts casino hotel, under construction on the Las Vegas Strip.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

Tropicana Casino and Resort will give away free gas cards and a 2008 Smart Car convertible—the little bitty car that pays off at the pump. USA Today has called the Smart Car “a breadbox with wheels.” Trop President Mark Giannantonio calls it “the ultimate green machine, traveling an average of 55 miles on one gallon of gas.”

On Sunday, July 6, the Trop will award a total of $25,000 in free gas cards in hourly drawings from noon to 5 p.m. at the Palm Walk. At 6 p.m., one player will win the 2008 white convertible Smart Car valued at $21,500. Enter through July 5 by playing Tropicana slots and table games with the Diamond Club card.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Jun 02, 2008

Historically, it’s been considered an honor to carry the torch in the multi-continent relay leading up to the Olympics. But this year’s violence-prone “Journey of Harmony”—which saw anti-China protests in cities from Athens to London to San Francisco—has made some torchbearers feel it’s a run for their lives.

Former Trump executive Mark Brown made the mad dash anyway, running with the torch May 3 in Macau. The former president of the Trump organization, who started as an 18-year-old blackjack dealer to become “Atlantic City’s favorite son” and president of the Trump organization, is now president of the Venetian and Sands casinos in the Chinese province.

Brown confessed his unease before the relay. “It’s pretty shocking to know that I might be in the middle of something like that,” he said, adding that he was particularly shocked by footage of a wheelchair-bound torchbearer attacked by protestors in Paris.

The protesters include human rights activists and Free Tibet separatists calling for independence from China and the return of the exiled Dalai Lama. The summer games in Beijing begin August 8. Though he was concerned about his safety during the relay run, Brown had no fears about showing off his legs.

“We have to wear shorts instead of the long pants you’ve probably seen the Olympic torch runners wear, so I shaved my legs this morning and they look fantastic,” he said. “When I think about it, it’s pretty incredible that a guy from Atlantic City is running the Olympic torch in Macau.”

By Casino Connection Staff  

The 11th East Coast Gaming Congress convened last month at the Convention Center, bringing together the movers and shakers of gaming from the East Coast and beyond. This year, more than 600 people attended. Highlights of the day included an address by Governor Jon Corzine, who reiterated his support of “no new taxes” for the gaming industry. He encouraged investors to “bring your money” to the state and promised the kind of regulatory and tax stability found in few other states. He also pledged to support a bill that would prevent a shutdown of Atlantic City casinos, as occured in 2006 due to a budget impasse between Corzine and the state legislature.

Harrah’s Entertainment Chairman Gary Loveman talked about the inability of the gaming industry to generate the message that it offers wholesome entertainment that provides taxes, jobs and infrastructure improvements. He suggested that the “products” of the industry are outdated and the time has come to develop new gaming options to attract a younger demographic.

A CEO panel (above) included conference organizers Michael Pollock of Spectrum Gaming (left) and Lloyd Levenson of Cooper Levenson Law firm(right) plus Kevin DeSanctis of Revel Entertainment, Mark Juliano of Trump Entertainment, Dan D’Arrigo of MGM Mirage and Tim Wilmott of Penn National Gaming.

David Cordish of the Cordish Company and Gomes-Cordish Gaming said his company had partnered with Goldman Sachs in a bid for the Tropicana in Atlantic City. He expressed confidence that his company will win the bid and transform the property into a retail, hospitality and gaming powerhouse. He also revealed that Planet Hollywood is onie of the four bidders, along with Colony Capital, owner of Resorts and the Atlantic City Hilton, and a investment group led by developer New York Joseph Palladino.

By Casino Connection Staff  

The traveling cadaver show that’s made headlines in cities around the world has landed at last in Atlantic City. On May 24, Bodies: The Exhibition opened at the Xanadu Theatre at Trump Taj Mahal. Bodies showcases the often skinless remains of real men and women: 21 complete bodies plus more than 260 organs and partial “specimens.”

In addition to offering an extraordinary inside look at human skeletons, organs and muscles, the controversial but thought-provoking show illustrates the affects of overeating, smoking and others unhealthy behaviors. “The exhibition will change the way people see themselves,” says Roy Glover, chief medical director of Premier Exhibitions, which has staged the show for an estimated 8 million viewers. For information call 609-449-6003.

By Casino Connection Staff  

The entertainment’s on the house July 4th weekend as the Hilton welcomes two legendary bands. The Beach Boys will perform at 6 p.m. on Friday, the Fourth of July, and Three Dog Night will take the stage with opening act Shorty Long at 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 5.

A third concert, the Springsteen tribute Bruce in the USA, is scheduled for July 6. All concerts will take place on the beach outside the Hilton (beach chairs and blankets are suggested). The concerts will also be visible from the Hilton Beach Bar.

And speaking of beach bars… ‘Tis the season! The Beach Bar at Hilton, a summer-long beach party featuring live entertainment, tropical drinks and summer snacks, will be open weekends until June 26, then seven days a week through Labor Day. Bally's Bikini Beach Bar at Park Place offers festive menus, tropical drinks and live entertainment every weekends in June and daily in July and August. Eight cabanas are available for rent. The Beach Bar at Trump Plaza offers a 12-by-24-foot raw bar and grill, live bands, giveaways and a full service bar. Party on.

By Casino Connection Staff  

Harrah’s Entertainment Inc., operator of four Atlantic City casinos, is the first gaming company in the country to earn the Environmental Protection Agency’s highest award for environmentally aware “green” programs.

The company was recognized for improvements at Harrah's, Bally’s, Caesars and Showboat. Since 2002, the casinos have used more efficient lighting, nontoxic cleaning agents, energy-saving thermostats, eco-friendly refrigerants and better heating, cooling and ventilation systems.

Harrah’s has eliminated the equivalent of more than 94 million pounds of carbon dioxide annually. Each year it recycles 50,000 gallons of cooking oil and 1.6 million pounds of cardboard. It uses waterless urinals (saving 30,000 gallons of water each per year) and has eliminated 1.1 million polystyrene beverage cups.

“We will continue to do our part to reuse, reduce and recycle,” says Harrah’s Eastern Division President Carlos Tolosa.

By Casino Connection Staff  

The Water Club at Borgata is one step closer to being Atlantic City’s newest destination. The 800-room, $400 million hotel, due to open this month, has begun accepting reservations. The Water Club promises a “distinctly cosmopolitan hotel experience,” says Borgata CEO Larry Mullin. The experience has a price tag to match: the most affordable room for the official opening night (July 1) is $329.

It’s the latest in a wave of deluxe new hotel rooms in Atlantic City. Harrah’s Waterfront Tower, a 44-story $550 million complex with restaurants and retail as well as the tropical Pool debuted in March. The 39-story, $255 million Chairman Tower at Trump Taj Mahal, due to open in September, is taking reservations, and so is the $93 million Chelsea (at left), a boutique-style 330-room non-casino hotel on the Boardwalk due to open in mid-July.

By Casino Connection Staff  

The map of Atlantic City, made world-famous by the board game Monopoly, is due for some rearranging. Last month City Council approved a plan to relocate the 86-year-old World War I monument and the historic Knife & Fork restaurant to make way for a new luxury casino project spearheaded by developers Curtis Bashaw and Wally Barr.

The tentatively named Atlantic Beach Resort & Casino will feature a 2,000-room hotel tower, 210,000 square feet of gaming space, 350,000 square feet of retail, dining and entertainment, and 150,000 square feet of convention space.

Barr is the former CEO of Caesars Entertainment. Bashaw is a Cape May hotelier and former executive director of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. (See his interview with Casino Connection’s Frank Legato on page 16.) According to the plan, the monument will be moved piece by piece to nearby Veterans Park. The Knife & Fork, built in 1912, famous for its Flemish architecture and crossed utensils, will be moved from its corner at the city’s gateway to a lot one block away.

By Casino Connection Staff  

When it comes to creating satisfied customers, Atlantic City now tops Las Vegas, according to a new survey.

Market Metrix surveyed more than 35,000 visitors to Atlantic City and Las Vegas and found that while customer satisfaction was close, Atlantic City came out ahead.

Of those surveyed, 84.5 percent were satisfied with their Atlantic City experience compared to 82.5 percent who visited the Las Vegas Strip. The survey concluded that Atlantic City guests were “more likely to recommend Atlantic City hotels and casinos to others.”

Jeffrey Vasser of the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority said the results are encouraging. “Customer service is the cornerstone of any great destination or resort, and whether you are here for a day trip, getaway or meeting, the employees throughout the city strive to provide an experience that is unparalleled in any other destination,” Vasser says.

A study by the Las Vegas Visitors and Convention Authority seems to confirm that Las Vegas is losing its luster. The percentage of people who reported being “very satisfied” with their visit fell to 89 percent, the first time in the history of the survey that that number was below 90. The survey found that there are fewer visitors in Las Vegas for vacation or pleasure and visitors are spending less on gambling, entertainment, food and sightseeing.

Categoty                         Atlantic City           Las Vegas Customer

Satisfaction                           84.5%                  82.5%

Value for Price                      87%                    82%

Very Likely to Recommend   78%                    59%

Pampers                                76%                    72%

Hip/Cool                                76%                   73%

Sophisticated                          77%                   73%

By Casino Connection Staff  

Atlantic City casino operators had hoped that a new full smoking ban, to take effect in mid-October, would prompt Pennsylvania legislators to ban smoking too. But gaming halls in the Keystone State are not eager to eliminate what they see as a key advantage.

Efforts to bring an indoor smoking ban to Pennsylvania casinos stalled last summer. The House and Senate agreed to ban smoking in most public places, but a Senate proposal would allow smoking on one-quarter of casino gambling floors. The issue is now in legislative limbo. Atlantic City meanwhile has banned all smoking (with the possible exception of ventilated, unstaffed smoking lounges).

Though casino magnate Donald Trump urged fellow casino operators to sue, no one is rushing to join his fight. The Borgata has already announced it will be 100 percent smoke-free indoors by fall, offering outdoor smoking areas for “a comfortable, climate-controlled environment reminiscent of Borgata.”

By Casino Connection Staff  

With rumba dancers, hand-rolled cigars, minty mojitos and a Boardwalk parade, Tropicana Casino Hotel last month debuted its colorful new gaming space, Havana Rooftop Slots. The 3,000 square-foot section located high above the casino floor has been transformed into a bit of old Havana with all the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the historic Cuban capital. The adjoining Rumba Lounge features a panoramic view of the floor below.

At the ribbon cutting May 15, Mac Seelig of AC Coin & Slot, which designed the area, called the new venue “a nightclub for slots” with music “like a Latin symphony.” Completing the experience: Cuban-themed murals and artifacts, exclusive Havana Gold progressive-link slots custom-made for the Tropicana, festive lighting and palm trees, and an authentic Cuban menu. The new venue “symbolizes the new Tropicana” and expands the Quarter’s Old Havana vibe throughout the casino, says Trop President Mark Giannantonio.

Everyone knows summertime is fun in Atlantic City. Start at Boardwalk Hall for some of the biggest events of the season.

The World Middleweight Championship, Saturday, June 7, pits Welshman Gary “The Rocket” Lockett against undefeated Middleweight Champion Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik, in Lockett’s first world title shot. The contest is presented by Caesars Atlantic City, Top Rank, Sports Network and HBO Sports.

Lil Wayne and Birdman make their Boardwalk Hall debut Sunday, June 8 at 8 p.m. Performing in the Adrian Phillips Ballroom, Lil Wayne will showcase new material from his latest album Tha Carter III.

The Rocket Man himself, Elton John, returns for the third time Saturday, July 19 at 8 p.m. Four decades of solid gold hits have made this multiple Grammy-winner one of the most successful singer-songwriters of his generation.

American Idols Live! The Tour returns to Boardwalk Hall Saturday, August 2 with Season 7 cast members Brooke White, Carly Smithson, Chikezie, David Archuleta, David Cook, Jason Castro, Kristy Lee Cook, Michael Johns, Ramiele Malubay and Syesha Mercado.

Back for a return engagement is Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band Sunday, August 24 at 8 p.m. Buffett will perform in support of his The Year of Still Here Tour 2008! Tickets for events held at Boardwalk Hall are available at the Boardwalk Hall Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, www.ticketmaster.com, or by phone at 800-736-1420.

The excitement doesn’t end at the Boardwalk. At the Atlantic City Convention Center, the DUB Magazine Custom Auto Show and Concert returns Saturday, July 12 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. The show features hundreds of the hottest vehicles and a concert by top hip-hop artists. Past celebrity cars included those owned by Shaquille O’Neal, Snoop Dogg, Tony Hawk, Kobe Bryant, Method Man, Diddy and many others. Past performers have included Ludacris, Twista and the Black Eyed Peas.

I’ll be serving as honorary chair for this year’s Chefs at the Shore V Thursday, June 19 at 5:30 p.m. at the Atlantic City Aquarium in Historic Gardner’s Basin, with mistress of ceremonies Michelle Dawn Mooney of NBC 40. The fundraiser is held in conjunction with the Professional Chefs Association of South Jersey, a local chapter of the American Culinary Federation. Commerce Bank is the corporate event sponsor.

During the event area chefs will create signature dishes. Guests will sample the dishes and enjoy premium wines and beers to the music of the Eddie Morgan Trio. There will be a silent auction. Tickets are $50 and may be purchased at www.acaquarium.com or by calling 609-348-2880.

Here are a few events that won’t cost you a dime. Free jazz concerts will be held on First Wednesdays at the Atlantic City Free Public Library. On Wednesday, June 4, the Hassan Abdullah Quartet performs, followed on Wednesday, July 2 by Edgardo Cintron and the Azuca Band. Both concerts are at 6 p.m. in the second floor meeting room at the library on Tennessee Avenue.

On Saturday, June 7, Atlantic City Outlets—The Walk will host Rock and Roll Dadfest. Fathers can meet and greet legendary rock stars including guitarist Earl Slick, who played with David Bowie and John Lennon; guitarist Kip Winger from the metal band Winger; and drummer Sandy Gennarro of Joan Jett & the Blackhearts. Guests can register to win a trip to Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp in New York City.

Great American Volleyball returns this summer with three tournaments. The Atlantic City Open is June 14-15, the Sand Sensational is Saturday, July 26, and the Beach Bash tournament is August 23-24. Tournaments begin at approximately 9 a.m. each day on the beach in front of Trump Plaza. While there is a fee to participate, attendance is free.

On Fourth of July weekend, the Atlantic City Hilton and Resorts will sponsor free concerts on the beach in front of the Hilton. The Beach Boys return Friday, July 4 at 6 p.m. On Saturday, July 5, Three Dog Night takes the stage at 5 p.m.

The summer season culminates with the Atlantic City Airshow, Thunder Over The Boardwalk, Wednesday, August 20, presented by Borgata. Nothing elevates summertime activity in Atlantic City like this spectacular airshow, with a full day of military fly-bys, demonstrations and civilian acts highlighting this free event over the beach and Boardwalk. For more information, check our full calendar of events at www.atlanticcitynj.com.

This year we celebrate 30 years of gaming in New Jersey. This historic occasion presents an opportunity to reflect on the successes of our industry and recognize the “intelligent design” of the founding framers of the New Jersey Casino Control Act.

The Casino Control Act was the enabling legislation that in 1977 permitted casinos to be established in Atlantic City, turning the tarnished “Queen of Resorts” into the only jurisdiction outside Nevada to offer casinos.

State Superior Court Judge Steven Perskie (then an Atlantic City assemblyman, later a senator) and then-Governor Brendan Byrne built the framework for a regulatory and economic system that’s flourished for three decades. The objective was to revitalize Atlantic City, which was suffering from a severe economic decline.

The primary tenets of gaming in Atlantic City were:

• A strong regulatory system governed by dual agencies, the Casino Control Commission and the Division of Gaming Enforcement, with integrity as the watchword.

• A stable investment climate and a minimum of 500 hotel rooms and other amenities to spur billions of dollars in capital investment. From an economic development standpoint, the framers’ vision has been far exceeded. The casino industry is a vital economic generator not only for Atlantic City but for the entire state of New Jersey. This formula permitted and fostered the development of not only the casino industry but a destination resort that attracts gamblers and non-gambling tourists alike. Consider:

• 35 million people visit Atlantic City annually, making it the fourth most- visited destination in the United States.

• Our 11 casinos generate as much gaming revenue each year as the largest 24 casinos on the Las Vegas Strip.

• To date, about $12 billion in capital has been invested to develop casinos, with billions more lined up.

• We employ 42,000 individuals directly and another 20,000 indirectly.

• Our industry has generated more than $17 billion in taxes and fees over the past 30 years, with $1.1 billion in tax revenues now being generated each year by our industry.

• Our casinos purchase $2.5 billion in goods and services from New Jersey vendors each year.

We owe the historic success of our industry to the prescient framers of the Casino Control Act. Our success as a gaming jurisdiction prompted many more jurisdictions to emerge throughout the country; many of those jurisdictions follow the New Jersey regulatory model as a blueprint.

Fortunately for us, most other gaming jurisdictions have not imitated the investment climate that’s a hallmark of the New Jersey model. The intelligent design of the Casino Control Act has positioned our industry to become the East’s Coast’s entertainment mecca. It will enable Atlantic City to differentiate itself from and effectively compete with the emerging regional destinations that offer a convenient slot machine experience, and little else.

As the voice of the Atlantic City casino industry, the Casino Association owes a collective thanks to the found-ing fathers of Atlantic City gaming. They were smart enough to know that they didn’t know everything, so they built a system with enough flexibility to adapt to new challenges. Those challenges never cease. Neither does our admiration.

Here’s to the Hosts

The 11th Annual Host Awards recognize the best in casino hospitality. Honored May 14 were 25 recipients whose enthusiasm and exemplary customer service embody the best of Atlantic City.

• Charles Urban, Resorts - Best Server, Fine Dining Casino Restaurant

• Renee Hollis, Harrah’s - Best Server, Casual Dining Casino Restaurant

• Hever Moro, Borgata - Best Server, Banquet Catering

• Jose Diaz, Hilton - Best Food and Beverage Support

• Walter Turner, Caesars - Best Bartender

• Philomena Urato, Showboat - Best Host/Hostess

• Barbara Fryer, Trump Marina - Best Retail Sales Associate

• Francisco Velasco, Trump Taj Mahal - Best Valet

• Vertie Gause, Sheraton Hotel - Best Bell Person

• Brian Cooke, Sheraton Hotel - Best Door Person

• Eneida Berrios, Bally’s - Best Room Attendant • Rene De Jesus, Borgata - Best Food Production Personnel

• Craven Turner, Tropicana - Best Food Production Personnel

• Donald Housel, Borgata - Best Concierge/Guest Services

• Noreen Walsh, Borgata - Best Heart of the House

• Virginia Haspel, Sheraton Hotel - Best Reservationist

• Walter Jaepole, Atlantic City Special Improvement District - Best Public Safety/Private Sector

• Vito Sopmphonphakdy, Harrah’s - Best Casino Games

• Mohammed Rahman, Bally’s - Best Casino Support Personnel

• Eglee Santiago, Tropicana - Best Public Area Personnel

• Karen Gonzalez, Caesars - Best Cashier

• Barbara Morton, Trump Plaza - Best Cashier

• Audy Ramos, Showboat - Best Cashier

• Michelle DiMeo, Harrah’s - Best Cocktail Server

• Don Buesing, Borgata - Best Spa Personnel

• Joseph Kelly - Spirit of Hospitality

‘You looked so very pretty On the way to Ocean City Like someone oh so easy to adore…’

Anybody remember that old ditty? It’s called “On the Way to Cape May,” and it was made famous, at least hereabouts, by Al Alberts, whose TV talent showcase ran for centuries on Delaware Valley TV.

With an idiot savant’s memory for obscure lyrics, I could sing the whole song for you right now, but I have a special reason for remembering it. Like so many others who live in South Jersey, I am a transplanted Pennsylvanian. When I first came here, I navigated the shore towns of South Jersey by singing “On the Way to Cape May,” which recounts a leisurely drive down the coast—Ocean Drive, to be precise—south of Atlantic City.

I found the song an easy way to remember that Ocean City comes first, followed by Sea Isle, Avalon and Stone Harbor, then Wildwood, and so on down to Cape May. Whenever my daughter and I lost our bearings, we burst into song; we always found our way around.

In our travels, we learned that each of these destinations is remarkably different from the others, with a different definition of fun. But they have one thing in common: they’re all more fun in the sun. There’s so much to do and see at the Jersey Shore, one summer is scarcely enough. As you plan your vacation or leisure time, check our cover story on page 20 for all the summer fun. Whatever you most enjoy—from berry picking to power boating, jet skiing to camping under the stars, bird watching to biking, plus marvelous nightlife, rich history and great dining here and throughout South Jersey—it’s all here for you in one easy reference guide. Also in this issue:

• Felicia Lowenstein Niven looks at the local seafood industry (Who knew what it takes to get that lobster from the briny depths to your dinner table?)

• Frank Legato checks out Trump Plaza’s new automated poker room (it’s fast, it’s furious, it’s an Atlantic City first)

• Resident social gadfly Jesse O. Kurtz wonders if our legislators have what it takes to forestall another state government shutdown

• Our brand-new fashion page debuts, with cute stuff to wear for summer, and a fun way to honor Dad on his special day As usual, Casino Connection keeps you in the know with a full complement of industry and entertainment news and some great advice on avoiding work-related aches and pains.

So hang on to this issue. Stick it in the glove box. Enjoy a safe and healthy summer. And if you get lost, remember that old sweet song.

By Roger Gros   Mon, May 19, 2008

By Roger Gros   Mon, May 12, 2008

By Roger Gros   Tue, Mar 11, 2008

By Roger Gros   Wed, May 23, 2007

By Roger Gros   Wed, May 23, 2007

By Frank Legato   Tue, May 22, 2007

By Roger Gros   Tue, May 22, 2007

By Frank Legato   Thu, Mar 01, 2007

By NBC 40 WMGM   Tue, Feb 02, 2010

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

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

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

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

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

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

By NBC 40 WMGM   Fri, Jan 29, 2010

By NBC 40 WMGM   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