By   Wed, Apr 29, 2009

File this one under the category of Hard-to-Believe. Only a year ago, Atlantic City’s immediate future included five new mega-casinos or casino expansions, and jobs for up to 40,000. Casino workers anticipated an influx of new opportunity. Developers and the city looked forward to an infusion of new residents.

Then the hammer fell. Recession and competition brought progress to a standstill. But as history attests, recession is always followed by recovery. Though the pace and scale of development has been drastically scaled back, the long-term vision for the city remains the same: a place to live, work and play, with a thriving residential base, a bustling downtown, a sizzling waterfront, and a dynamic, reinvigorated casino industry.

South Beach, Florida

More than 30 years after its first casino opened, Atlantic City remains a city half-fledged, with a billion-dollar industry cheek by jowl with pockets of desolation. Yet much of the groundwork for future prosperity—new homes, new retail and dining, a reconstituted Gardner’s Basin—has already been laid. The following “urban miracles” may hold clues about how to complete the process.
South Beach, Florida. During the 1970s, South Beach was little more than a retirement village for the poor and a gold mine for drug dealers known as “cocaine cowboys.” Salvation came from an unlikely source: Miami Vice.

South Beach’s splendid waterfront and beautiful-if-dilapidated Art Deco look provided the perfect backdrop for the hit TV cop drama. The city was regularly showcased before millions of TV viewers, and activists, artists and historians rallied to save the fabulous buildings. The renaissance was on.

Architecture Week called the South Beach story “one of the most successful urban restoration projects in the history of American architecture.” Today, the community is home to the rich and famous (Gloria Estefan, Jennifer Lopez, Sylvester Stallone), but also enjoys a thriving young multi-ethic community who come for the city’s nightlife, art galleries and matchless waterfront.

Louisville, Kentucky

In 2004, this once-sleepy Southern town became a stellar example of downtown revitalization. Eager to improve the central city and kick-start a flat housing market, Louisville officials pursued several redevelopment strategies that emphasized dining, recreation and entertainment along with residential.

The linchpin of downtown development was Fourth Street Live, an entertainment complex built by the Cordish Company of Baltimore (also developer of Atlantic City Outlets, the Walk).

The neighborhood around Fourth Street, once described as “dark and dangerous,” became a destination. As former Mayor David Armstrong said, it attracted “not just tourists, but local people who wanted to come back downtown.”

Manayunk, Pennsylvania

For much of the 20th century, Manayunk in Northwest Philadelphia was an industrial landscape in steep decline. Its hilly streets (including the famous “Manayunk Wall” of bike race fame) were lined with bleak row homes; crumbling 19th century factories overlooked the community’s Schuylkill River waterfront.

Then a few smart restaurateurs brought fine dining to town, and suburbanites who didn’t want to travel to Center City descended on Main Street.

Within a decade, the so-called “land of bars and churches” had been transformed into one of Philadelphia’s trendiest neighborhoods. Though some locals decried the change as gentrification, there was no arguing with some of the improvements: vacant factories and mills became apartments, and Main Street, once described as a “shooting gallery,” became a hub of parks, boutiques, fine restaurants and quirky clubs.

Baltimore, Maryland

While Baltimore still has areas of high crime (East Baltimore, in particular) the transformation of the city’s harbor area makes it a good example of successful urban renewal.

The “waterfront festival marketplace” known as Harborplace first opened in 1980. In the years since, the Inner Harbor has been reincarnated as a cultural center with tourist attractions like the National Aquarium, the Maryland Science Center, Baltimore’s World Trade Center and Power Plant Live (another Cordish development). Beautiful Camden Yards, home of the Baltimore Orioles, is nearby, and the harbor shows off its seaport history with a maritime museum and water taxi rides to Fort McHenry.

Slowly but surely, those enhancements had a positive effect on surrounding neighborhoods. Once-shabby districts east of the Inner Harbor, like historic Fell’s Point, have come back to life with condominiums, retail space, restaurants and hotels.

Hoboken, New Jersey

In the late 19th century, this “Mile Square City” on a major East Coast shipping route was thriving. Post-war Hoboken was something else entirely. The industrial city fell on hard times when its factories left town. Residents soon followed suit.

People started returning in the 1970s and ’80s, but Hoboken came back with a roar in the late 1990s, when Wall Street professionals priced out of Manhattan recognized the city’s unique charms, its industrial chic architecture, and its sheer walkability. Today, when Governor Jon Corzine is not in residence at Drumthwacket, you may see him strolling near his apartment in Hoboken.

Each of these cities is different, and not all the lessons of Baltimore or Louisville, Hoboken or Millville, New Jersey, can be applied to Atlantic City. But these stories illustrate that vision, plus a plan, plus investment and solid public-private partnerships—along with good timing and maybe a little luck—can work wonders in a city on the brink of renaissance.

Atlantic City is at least halfway there, and though the economy has stopped most development in its tracks, even that seemingly grim outcome may be a good thing, says James W. Hughes, dean of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University.

“The one thing Atlantic City has now, as does the rest of the state, is time,” says Hughes. “It’s not burdened by the pressures of having to approve development applications; it’s not overwhelmed with development activity. It actually has time to plan and develop long-range strategies. That’s an activity that could be very valuable.”
    
Essential to the health of any city is the vitality of its neighborhoods. In the 1980s, Procida Realty & Construction came to town with a plan to rebuild the forsaken Inlet section. The New York company packed an impressive résumé having rebuilt much of the South Bronx; company officials saw similar possibility in Atlantic City. Casinos were fairly new to town, the need for housing was plain, and the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority was willing to stake the land. But at first, the ambitious plan met with skepticism.

“When we started 15 years ago, people said, ‘Are you crazy?’” says Senior VP Christine Procida. “They were hanging up on us.”

Today, the Inlet section is about as close to Norman Rockwell as Atlantic City is likely to see, with spic-and-span homes on leafy avenues, street lamps and shrubbery, and an almost small-town charm. That same kind of transformation is at work at Procida’s EastWind development in the Northeast Inlet Corridor, now in its second phase.

Addressing the city’s longstanding paucity of home ownership—71 percent of housing in Atlantic City is renter-occupied, twice the state average of 34 percent—Procida says, “Then let’s make the housing stock better. Let’s also make the rental stock better. A city is a mix of lots of different housing—high-end waterfront, home ownership, rentals—but first, you need to fill a city up with people.”

Projects like EastWind “attract other developers and give private owners a reason to do their own improvements,” she says. “Then you’ll see the supermarket move in. Then you’ll see Atlantic Avenue change. We’re getting there, slowly.”

“I have a passion for this city I grew up in,” says Procida Sales Director Kim Donahue. “For me, this is still the home of my childhood, with sidewalks under bare feet in the summer, the ocean and Boardwalk—all of it. As a mother, Donahue is more interested in “a family feeling” than “the glitz and glamour” of the casinos, and it’s easy to find.

“I love to go with my daughters to the Walk and the Pier, Gardner’s Basin has the aquarium, there’s the Boardwalk, there’s Dante Hall—there’s so much here that gets lost behind the bright lights.”

At the same time, Donahue says she has to sidestep adult bookstores and peep shows on Atlantic Avenue when she’s with her kids. “I would shop there if I didn’t have to see signs for nude girls.”

Despite the negatives, these days many would-be homebuyers recognize the promise of Atlantic City, and are not as skeptical about moving here.

“I see this all the time—people who get it. Then there are people who want to come in after the fact,” says Procida. “If you like the Inlet, jump on the bus. That’s where we’re going.”

To get there, CRDA Executive Director Tom Carver says there must be a “magnum change” in the relationship between the city’s government and its No. 1 industry.

“The city has never come to grips with the casino industry, never come to grips with the idea that this is a single community with a single vision,” not an us-versus-them situation, says Carver. “This should be a place where people can be comfortable living and working and raising their kids, but you look around and see derelict structures that speculators own and people live in. That gives the city a black eye.”

He decries the illegal conversions of single-family spaces to multi-family properties, says regulatory standards must be better upheld, and hopes the new ability of casino workers to hold public office may increase the dialogue among stakeholders.

But, Carver adds, “The casino industry is not totally innocent either. Hey, they have to play a greater role in this town. They have the wherewithal and the intelligence, they have to sit at the table and take part in these discussions. With state government and city government sitting down with private industry, we can do remarkable things here. But we also need a change in attitude.”

While it’s impossible to regulate attitude, projects like the Walk expansion are expected to generate increasing returns in surrounding neighborhoods. Carver foresees a big change in Ducktown, Atlantic City’s onetime Little Italy, which flanks the Walk area.

As he sees it, “It will be more analogous to the transition from 14th Street to the West Village in Manhattan—a place to walk around, stop in cafes.”

Such advances, along with transportation improvements and continuing home development, should do much to persuade casino workers, young professionals, empty nesters and families that Atlantic City is more than a nice place to visit.

They might even want to live here.

By Dave Bontempo   Wed, Apr 29, 2009

Here comes the most interesting golf season in several decades. This May-to-November campaign provides more than tournaments, outings and jammed courses. It’s a barometer of the recession itself.

Golf’s 2008 season was nearly over when the recession hit last fall. Unlike restaurants, casinos and car dealerships, area courses did not have to scale back prices late last year.

That was then. While golf is still enormously popular, country clubs with steep fees have lost players and courses are hustling to retain part of a smaller entertainment pie. Like many industries, courses are getting creative: packaging rates, honoring coupon books or cross-promoting golf and dining. The area landscape is dotted with deals and discounts. Here’s a sampling of what’s out there for the discriminating player. 

Atlantic City Country Club: 9 &  Dine

How about dinner and a show, in reverse order? The show is a nine-hole round of golf, usually involving partners, followed by dinner at Atlantic City Country Club.

The concept, launched a few years ago, will now be promoted more, according to the club’s director of golf operations, Charles Fahy. Casino Connection will be an official sponsor of the 9-and-Dine activity. Call 609-236-4411 to sign up and learn of new details.

The format is evolving and may be tweaked throughout the early part of the year. Last year, play began at 4 p.m., followed by a dinner and awards ceremonies for categories like longest drive and closest-to-the-pin. It was popular with couples.

Atlantic City Country Club is steeped in golf history. Its former owner, Leo Fraser, was once president of the PGA. The club showcased future tour champions in its Sonny Fraser amateur golf tournament and unveiled the 1980 tournament that became the forerunner of today’s Senior Tour. This is also where the term “birdie” was invented.

The course is ranked among the top 100 in the nation by Golf magazine, with holes that are difficult, yet rewarding.

Blue Heron Pines

Blue Heron took an aggressive early-season position. The facility dropped its casino employee rate from $55 to $49 and intends to mix a luncheon-golf special for employees sometime this year.

“This is a very interesting year as we fight for the golfer,” says Scott Sterling, PGA professional at Blue Heron Pines. “The people who want to play golf still will, but they may look for off-peak and twilight hours. For our course, they’re willing to pay the rates, but they will want a lot for that. We have to make sure we ramp up the customer service.”

Brigantine

The days are getting longer. So the $35 after-4 p.m. deal is a winner. Price includes a cart. Check out the 17th hole, an honest, drive-demanding 420-yard dogleg left. To get a view of the second shot, you need to hit a relatively straight drive of about 240 yards. But not 260, because that will put you in the water. Imagine cranking a beautiful drive, only to have it wet. The approach requires a wood or low iron into a green that slopes back to front. This is an excellent hole on a course that is always a good buy for the money.

Green Tree
 
It’s the Atlantic County course. Residents who purchase a one-year ID ($14) can then play for $28, cart included. Want to experience the ultimate long-short yardage play? Package the 574-yard third and the 89-yard fourth holes together. What a contrast.

The third requires two long shots into a dogleg left. A creek runs two-thirds of the way across the fairway in spots, so good luck. The yardage alone requires an excellent drive, fairway wood and precise approach. Hole 3 is considered the toughest. Hole 4 is listed as one of the easiest, but I’ll disagree. The short 4 requires a pitch, often with an in-between club, and many players miss the green by trying to hit a shot that’s too fine.

Mays Landing
 
A terrific local staple owned and managed by the Fraser family, Mays Landing offers an early bird special Monday through Friday from June to the end of August. Special twilight rates will also be available in June, July and August.

The course has long par 5s yet wide fairways, tantalizing par 3s and some holes that are quite difficult to par. Mays Landing’s signature hole, the 6th, requires a booming drive and either a 3-wood or low iron to an elevated green surrounded by water and traps. The green is large enough to hold a long shot, but it breaks sharply and presents a putting challenge.

Scotland Run
 
Is it worth the trip to Williamstown? Absolutely. All summer long, you can play nine holes on Friday starting at 4:30 p.m., then enjoy a half-keg of beer and barbecue for $53.50 per person. Ladies’ clinics are run every Thursday at 6 p.m. through August with an hour of instruction, golf and complimentary hors d’oeuvres for $35 per session.

Not only does this lush course have top holes and a great layout, but it’s a multiple honoree. Golf Links, which rates the best United States courses, put Scotland Run at number 64.

Centerton Country Club
 
Again, this one is worth the drive. Located in Pittsgrove Township, Centerton has a 2-for-1 greens fee special, with Golfing Fore U, if you pay cart fees with the free round.

Hole number 16 is one of the toughest par 4s you’ll ever find. The course is manageable and fair. Golf Links put this at number 25 in New Jersey.

McCullough’s
 
McCullough’s in Egg Harbor Township offers special Monday-through-Thursday rates, as well as discounts for seniors and juniors, and twilight and moonlight play.

Ever hear of the Postage Stamp Hole from Royal Troon in Scotland? The 16th here is modeled after that. Five bunkers guard the 136-yard par 3, which also plays 92 yards from the forward tees. The bunker straight in front of the green blocks a clear view of it. Throw in the wind that factors in about three-quarters of the time and this is a neat challenge. Any line drive, thinly hit or overly struck drive winds up in a bunker with a difficult shot out. Don’t be deceived about distance; this one is all placement.

Marriott Seaview
 
If you’re a regular on the fairway, Seaview Marriott offers reward points (3 points per dollar spent) for greens fees and cart fees associated with an outing (up to 50,000 points). A variety of packages include unlimited golf on Seaview’s historic championship golf courses, where the LPGA held two of its best tournaments in the 1980s and after the turn of the millennium.

Primary consideration here is the wind. The course is not overly long, but the greens are not overly large and prevailing breezes can a force a difference of two club lengths on any given day. That alone makes this course one of multiple personalities.

Fairway Fair Deals

Coupon books augment the deals courses already offer. Combine specials with flexible scheduling to maximize the bargain-hunting process.

Golfing Fore U’s 2009-2010 golf book is jammed with coupons, discounts and even some free rounds. Never has a portfolio been more valuable. This book provides discounts at 103 courses in New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Virginia and Pennsylvania. It features an excellent mix of upper-scale and dependable, reasonably priced facilities, including Blue Heron Pines, Shore Gate, Mays Landing and numerous courses within driving range of the casinos. The owner, Colts Neck-based entrepreneur Marian Castner, can deliver the $49 product at 732-577-1995, and casino employees get an additional 15 percent discount by mentioning Casino Connection. Cha-ching, cha-ching.

The Golfing Fore U book is a no-brainer. It will absolutely pay for itself. Area residents obtain an additional benefit if the 2010 winter season is mild, because most coupons are good through next March.

Then there’s Tee Time Golf Pass. Based in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, the company offers a similar package for $55. Call 800-444-9203. This discount book rewards the savvy, flexible player.

“One year a guy saved $1,000 with it,” says the organization’s vie-president, Mike Schall. “I think he must have played every day.”

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Apr 28, 2009

As the June primary approaches, Casino Connection asked each of the Atlantic City mayoral candidates to answer a few questions about the city’s primary industry: gaming. Here’s what they said.

Jessie Kurtz
Republican

Jesse O. Kurtz is president of the newly formed Atlantic City Republican Club, author of the political blog the Atlantic City Scoop, and a former columnist with Casino Connection magazine.

Lorenzo T. Langford
Democrat

A former casino pit boss and city councilman, Democratic incumbent Mayor Lorenzo Langford first became mayor in 2001. He was reelected to the city’s top office in June 2008.


Marty Small
Democrat

Former basketball champion and Stockton College alumnus Marty Small has served as Second Ward City Councilman since 2003.

David Tayoun
Democrat

Former Neighborhood Services Director David Tayoun retired from the Atlantic City police force in 2000. He is now involved in real estate development in New Jersey.


How do you view the role of the casino industry in Atlantic City?

Kurtz: Casino gaming is the economic engine of Atlantic City and South Jersey. It’s unfortunate to hear other political candidates say casinos are the rich bad guys who make the citizens suffer from their greed. Nothing can be further from the truth. It’s city government that has diminished Atlantic City’s quality of life, not the casinos. 

Langford: The role of the casinos is to provide entertainment, produce jobs and provide ratables. 

Small: The casinos are our biggest ratable base and biggest employer and pay the majority of our property taxes. I would like to see the industry commit more jobs to local residents. When I’m elected I will come up with a plan to create job opportunities for residents who complete our training program. I’d also like to see the casinos play an active role in our schools, youth programs and community. 

Tayoun: For years, the city was viewed as a gaming resort, but I view the city as a resort with gaming. We as a city must bring back the venues that made Atlantic City the mecca of the resort industry—blocks of restaurants, art venues, science and technology, and festivals and amusements of all sorts, with the casinos as the predominant venue.

A 75-25 compromise remains in effect for the casino smoking ban. Do you believe the compromise should remain, or would you push for a total ban?

Kurtz: I’m firmly against government imposing a smoking ban on any private establishment. Smoking bans are anti-American and detrimental to business. City government should never have added insult to the injury of state government’s misguided smoking ban. Any casino operator is free to ban smoking in his establishment if he believes it to be good for his business. That’s the beauty of freedom and property rights. 

Langford: I am for a partial ban with restricted areas for smokers. 

Small: I was one of five council members who voted to delay the ban. The vote was tough and controversial, but the decision was based on the economy, and we also needed to protect our industry from competition in neighboring states. Our state legislators should make a decision on a total ban, and it should be talked about on the federal level. It should be banned everywhere. Then gamblers can make a decision based on the overall gaming experience instead of smoking. 

Tayoun: Before taking action as mayor on something that has to begin in council, I would bring together industry representatives, healthcare representatives and people from the building industry on ventilation technologies that have been developed. Once all sides have their input, I would make a decision. In any event, I would do two things immediately: work with federal legislators to ban smoking in all casinos to keep the playing field even. And I would sign any legislative bill from council that would end the smoke-free delay.

Taxes have been increasing in Atlantic City for the past 10 years. What will you do to control increases or institute cuts?

Kurtz: The fundamental cause of ever-increasing taxes is spending. Politicians love to discuss gimmicks that ease the tax burden for some while increasing it for others. The answer is not to shift the tax burden but to attack it. I will reduce spending at least 10 percent in the first budget I submit to City Council. Council may modify my budget, but if the finished product reaching my desk is not at least 10 percent less than this year’s adopted budget, I will boldly and definitively veto it. 

Langford: The premise of the question is incorrect. During my prior term, I did not raise taxes every year. I delivered on the promise to stabilize taxes and I am confident I will right this ship once again. 

Small: It’s simple. We must stop the waste, fraud and abuse. The Small administration will make an effort to execute cuts in our municipal budget. One of my primary goals is to bring in additional revenue to offset our budget. I would offer an employee incentive program for early retirees, then leave those positions vacant until we’re on solid fiscal ground. I would also cut down on frivolous lawsuits and hires-for-votes during election years. 

Tayoun: To control taxes, the city must deal with entitlements expected by certain employee and elected officials. Lack of accountability is the leading cause of the lawsuits that plague the city. Salary caps must be instituted. Plus, we have to get into the wasteful practices in buying supplies, utilizing equipment, etc. As director of neighborhood services, I was in the process of digitizing the entire department with existing software. This would eliminate an immense amount of paper files and storage fees. It would also provide another layer of checks and balances by allowing one property or business file to be viewed by every city agency. It allows construction to see what code has done as well as mercantile, and so on.

What can you do as mayor to lure new development or restart stalled development?

Kurtz: City government’s role is to facilitate development through maintaining infrastructure and keeping Atlantic City clean and safe through the equal enforcement of clear rules and regulations. This is something past administrations have neglected. Most streets are dirty and decaying. Dilapidated buildings are scattered throughout the city. This is unacceptable in a city striving to become a first-class resort.   

Developers are nervous about both the volatile economy and the mixed signals they get from government. I would halt undue interference in development, such as government-imposed timelines and excessive regulations and permits. I will encourage development—both large and small—by ensuring courteous and prompt service from government departments and employees. I will also work to make our building, zoning and planning laws more simple, clear and fair.

I will also lobby Washington, D.C., and Trenton to legalize sports betting. 

Langford: I would proactively market Bader Field. 

Small: In the past year we had several mega-casinos take a back seat to the economy. Those casinos represented $9 billion in new construction. Casinos have the largest ratable base and we want to encourage more growth to our industry, and I would offer incentives to lure new development and restart development.

However, that can’t and won’t be the only option in the Small administration. We need to attract more family-centered development to the to city a la Dave & Buster’s, a movie theater and a skating rink. We also need to encourage more shopping destinations such as the Walk and the Pier.

Speaking of shopping, we need a supermarket in the city and we need the residents to support it. We’re ignoring Atlantic Avenue, and the Small Administration will seek developers to develop Atlantic Avenue towards the inlet. As councilman, I sponsored the local resolution for sports gaming. We need to work with legislators at all levels to achieve this goal. Sports gaming will help bring a different type of gambler and create much-needed new jobs for our area.

Tayoun: Casinos are multi-state and multi-national corporations. In a downturn, they want to get the most for their development funds and not spend money on fees, applications, reviews and inspections not set up for any health or safety reason but for revenue purposes.

As mayor, I would work to make the barrier island and certain other areas development-free zones, similar to the concept of the enterprise zones like in Pleasantville. This would eliminate unnecessary reviews and delays to the development of projects in city-designated areas.

Where do you see the future of AC in the next several years?

Kurtz: Atlantic City’s best days are ahead of her. My promise is to rein in spending by at least 10 percent my first year, tackle corruption through transparency, and place all salaries and contracts on the city’s website. By fulfilling my own promises, I will bring Atlantic City closer to a better quality of life and a more affordable life.

The stigma of corruption must be removed from Atlantic City government. Faith will be restored in the political process as I make specific, clear promises and keep them. 

Langford: Atlantic City will be a beacon of light, well on its way to fulfilling the promise of being a destination resort, and certainly better than it is now. 

Small: I see Atlantic City as the premier entertainment destination on the East Coast. I see a thriving government with its fiscal house in order. I see new development beyond the casinos. I see our casinos making a recovery from the biggest recession in our lifetime. I see residential taxes lowered as a result of the sale of Bader Field and other casino projects. I see sports gaming taking Atlantic City to another level during the weekends of all major sporting events. I see a progressive government working in unison making all interested stakeholders happy. I see the unemployment rate dropping as a result of job placement from the program that my administration implements. I see our citywide community police program getting rave reviews by our residents. I see our youth playing in the best facilities and best-structured programs in the area. I see Atlantic City finally reaching its potential for our residents, businesses and visitors.

Tayoun: With the right leadership, Atlantic City will become a resort where there are all types of venues including a Chinatown with other ethnic cultures bordering the initial section. Houses will be converted to different eateries and entertainment clubs. Kentucky Avenue or similar areas will be teeming with arts and music showcases, and science and technology displays in the Gardener's Basin section.

Nothing is in stone, and the city should encourage existing and new businesses to take the lead in developing these areas.

By David Schwartz   Wed, Apr 29, 2009

Most people who have driven the Atlantic City Expressway or visited the city’s Marina District know the name Frank S. Farley. Farley has both an expressway service plaza and a marina named for him. These are appropriate honors because without Farley, Atlantic City might not have enjoyed much development.

Frank Farley was born December 5, 1901, the youngest of 10 children. Though his family was poor, Frank was a popular, athletic young man who was nicknamed “Happy” for his cheerful disposition. Later, it was shortened to “Hap.”

The quintessential team player, Farley learned about politics from his father Jim, secretary of the Atlantic City Fire Department and a mid-level worker in the county Republican machine. After attending the University of Pennsylvania and Georgetown law school, Farley returned to his home town and began practicing law.

When his legal career didn’t take off, Farley decided politics would be a better place to make his mark. At the time, boss Nucky Johnson’s organization had a secure hold on the Atlantic County Republican Party as well as county and municipal government. With Johnson’s approval, Farley successfully ran for state assembly in 1937. After being re-elected twice, he won a seat in the state senate in 1940.

It was a tumultuous time in Atlantic County politics. Nucky Johnson, who oversaw racketeering and bootlegging operations in town, faced prison for tax evasion. The ultimate prize—control of Johnson’s political machine—was up for grabs to the man who knew how to play his cards right.

After Johnson’s 1941 conviction and a brief power struggle with Atlantic City Mayor Thomas Taggart, Farley quickly assumed Johnson’s role. Taggart had been popular, but made the mistake of alienating the local vice magnates with his reform talk and hardline anti-crime initiatives. At the same time, Farley cultivated the right friends and carefully neutralized his rivals. When the smoke cleared, Taggart had been stripped of power and Farley was in command. He rose through the ranks to become Senate majority leader in 1944; within a year he was Senate president.

Getting power was one thing; keeping it was another. Farley planned to maintain power by trading favors with his fellow senators and keeping an open door to his constituents. He quickly earned a reputation among his peers and everyday citizens as a man who always tried to help, and never failed to keep his word.  

A hard-working senator who missed only three legislative sessions, Farley, with his re-election perpetually secure, became a dominant figure in the statehouse. The fact that he wasn’t ambitious for higher office greatly increased his effectiveness; while other state senators jockeyed for the chance to run for Congress or the governor’s mansion, Farley was content to rule Atlantic County from his state senate office. Since he wasn’t a threat to anyone’s statewide aspirations, he had no real rivals.

In time, Farley was arguably the most important politician in the state. He carried with him the votes of seven South Jersey senators and, through his chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee, had the final say on the elevation of judges to the bench. No one could do anything in New Jersey without Farley’s approval.

In 1950, Atlantic City police officers, disgruntled by Farley’s failure to guarantee a pay raise, began raiding bookmakers and numbers banks that enjoyed Farley’s protection. The Kefauver Committee, a congressional body charged with investigating crime, found evidence of corruption in the city and Farley’s chosen ticket barely won election in 1952.  With his power secure, Farley returned to the statehouse, and used his leverage to greatly benefit Atlantic County. He pushed to build the Atlantic City Race Course in the mid-1940s (it was later learned he was a stockholder in the company that built and operated the track). He also brought parimutuel horse betting to New Jersey, which greatly helped the racing industry.

Farley was critical in passing the bond issues that allowed the construction of the Garden State Parkway and the Atlantic City Expressway. Today, these roads benefit the entire state, but at the time northerners derisively referred to the Parkway as “Farley’s Folly.” The senator was also instrumental in the creation of Stockton State College and Atlantic Community College, as well as the Naval Aviation Facilities Experimental Center (now the FAA center).

After 34 years in the legislature—the longest tenure in New Jersey history—Farley lost re-election in 1971 to Democrat Joseph McGahn. Then in his late sixties, he never ran for office again, though his support of casino gaming in 1976 helped to win support for the referendum that legalized casinos for Atlantic City.

The next year, Farley died at home in Ventnor. Though he did not live to see the revitalization of Atlantic City, this political juggernaut left a legacy that won’t be forgotten.

By   Wed, Apr 29, 2009

For someone of French-German origin, Steve Klawitter sure cooks like an Italian—but then, he’s had plenty of practice.

For six years, the amiable chef has ruled the kitchen at Capriccio at Resorts, one of the area’s great Italian restaurants. Though he lacks a true Italian accent, he still makes a mean ossobucco alla Milanese, a sigh-inducing saltimbocca alla Romana, and a kick-ass lobster fra diavolo.

Like all great chefs, Klawitter, who lives in Galloway, knows that fine dining is more than a well-executed entrée. He makes sure to treat his staff as creative equals and his customers like family. In the exquisitely appointed restaurant, with its extraordinary view of the Atlantic Ocean, the chef creates a homelike atmosphere that’s rare in fine dining.

Klawitter learned the rudiments of cooking from his mother, who instilled in him a consuming passion for food. In 1993, after graduating with a culinary degree from Atlantic Cape Community College, he came right to Resorts. He’s spent 16 years at Atlantic City’s first casino, six of them at Capriccio, which consistently earns high ratings on the Zagat survey.

Despite the accolades, Klawitter is not one to rest on his laurels. Last year he roamed all around Italy in search of new inspiration.

“I came back and designed a whole new menu based on the native cuisines of Rome, Florence, Venice and the Amalfi Coast,” he says.

Though he’s no diva in the kitchen, Chef Steve is exacting in his standards, and appreciates his staff’s help and enthusiasm.

“Ultimately, I can’t do it by myself,” says Klawitter, who often spends 10 to 14 hours on-property, prepping, cooking, managing and mingling with his guests. “I rely on my staff. They have a lot of passion, and they’re receptive to what I have to teach them.”

Of course, in his view, the diners come first, and they return his affection.

“We have some customers who come back every week, 52 weeks a year,” he says. “It feels good. They come in and know my name, and I know all their names too. The staff will say, ‘How’s the family?,’ and share hugs and kisses. It’s heartwarming to see.”

One of Klawitter’s homelike touches is an herb garden he plants on the balcony of the restaurant overlooking the ocean. It’s not unusual to see him burst out of the kitchen during dinner to pick bunches of rosemary, chives, thyme or Italian parsley, or hear diners clamor for some of the fresh pickings as he heads back.

To make the recession a little easier on people, Klawitter has decided to indefinitely extend his Restaurant Week specials, and will offer nine prix-fixe menu items for just $33.09.

Of course, that’s just for his best customers—but to Klawitter, that means everyone who sits at his table.

By   Wed, Apr 29, 2009

Most of us think of owls as either symbols of wisdom or inscrutable birds of prey. After reading Wesley the Owl, you’ll know them for the first time as intensely emotional, fragile and devoted creatures, as distinct in personality and loving in nature as any human being.

O’Brien was a young biologist at California Institute of Technology when she was asked to adopt an injured four-day-old owlet. It would be no easy task; as soon as the baby owl opened its eyes, it would bond with her for life.

But O’Brien said yes, knowing this was an extraordinary opportunity to study one of the night-roving raptors up close, learn its behaviors, and document the experience for her fellow scientists.

She couldn’t have imagined how completely the owl would change her life. In this charming memoir, O’Brien charts the relationship from Wesley’s infancy as a tiny, pterodactyl-like ball of fluff to adulthood, when his love for his caretaker became a sometimes-jealous passion. O’Brien also shares what she calls the Way of the Owl—a blueprint for living that requires absolute fidelity, honesty and accountability as well as love.

There are some fascinating stories here about owl behavior. Though Wesley’s injured wing gave him an awkward gait and clumsy flying technique, O’Brien learned never to laugh at him, because the owl was capable of deep hurt and shame. And in later years, when chronic pain made O’Brien consider suicide, she chose to live, knowing that Wesley—like all barn owls who lose their mates—would simply perish of grief.  

As O’Brien recounts the almost-20-year-bond bond between human and animal (Wesley the Owl has been called “Marley & Me with wings”), she is compelled to consider a greater love, one that defies scientific reason and proof. This is a marvelous little book.

By Joe Legato   Wed, Apr 29, 2009

Have you ever thought that those save-the-city-from-zombies games would be so much better if somebody just mixed in a few ninjas? Well, apparently so did From Software, as they developed the latest ninja-action game, Ninja Blade.

The game takes place in near-future Tokyo, just as an infection of a bizarre parasite has spread throughout the city. These “Alpha-worms” are turning people into aggressive, bloodthirsty zombies, and the city is becoming so overwhelmed that it may need to be completely “sterilized.” It’s up to you and your ninja gang, titled the Global United Infestation Detection and Elimination (GUIDE) squad, to save Tokyo from these zombies.

Many of the interesting features of Ninja Blade focus on the elements that make ninjas cool in the first place. Players get to choose the blade that most suits their enemies at that given time, from a powerful-but-bulky sword to small, swift knives.

The ninjas can also harness the elements and use special cyclone or lightning attacks. Also, gamers are able to use “Ninja Vision,” in which the game slows down and players can see upcoming enemies and hidden secrets. Players must use the skill carefully, though, because it makes them vulnerable to attack.

Ninja Blade is very much based on cinema action, so the game-play often flows into cut-scenes. This makes the game a visual treat, and some gamers may even enjoy just watching others play. The cinema scenes aren’t the only things that make the game cool to play, though. The array of ninja styles and weapons, gruesomely detailed monsters, and action-packed battles taking place over a detailed Tokyo panorama make Ninja Blade worth a try.

And really, who doesn’t like to watch ninjas do awesome martial arts moves and slash mutant creatures to bits?

By Robert Rossiello   Wed, Apr 29, 2009

The Purple One is back. That’s right, Prince, that often eccentric, always entertaining musical icon has recently released a 3-disc set entitled LOtUSFLOW3R, (Prince just loves those symbols). With his typical disdain for record companies, Prince has made the CD available only at Target stores ($11.98) or by membership ($77) on his new website, Lotusflow3r.com.

Like most Prince projects, the collection has its hits and misses. The first CD, LOtUSFLOW3R, showcases Prince’s rock-oriented side, with extended guitar solos and moody psychedelic jams. Prince channels his inner Hendrix on the wah-wah heavy “Dreamer” and offers a blistering onslaught on “Wall of Berlin.” He pays homage to James Brown on the funky “Feel Good, Feel Better, Feel Wonderful,” and even covers Tommy James’ “Crimson and Clover.” There are some fillers here, like “Love Like Jazz” and the meandering “77 Beverly Park,” but for the most part LOtUSFLOW3R is a solid disc.

The next CD is MPLSoUND (which translates in Prince-speak as “Minneapolis Sound”), and is a return to his electro-funk roots, showcased so famously on Purple Rain and Sign ‘o’ the Times. The CD isn’t quite up to those standards but there are some real gems here, like the upbeat “Chocolate Box,” “No More Candy 4 U” and the seven-minute hip-hop rant “Ol’ Skool Company,” in which Prince weighs in on our current economic bailout. Now a practicing Jehovah’s Witness, he avoids the direct sexual lyrics of his past for a more playful innuendo, but let’s face it, here’s a guy who sounds sexy clearing his throat.

The final disc, Elixer, is the debut album of Prince’s new protege, the bland R&B singer Bria Valente. Co-written and co-produced by Prince, the album isn’t a failure per se, just anemic and forgettable. Valente doesn’t have much of a range, but she croons competently on what one could consider anonymous elevator music.

Not to worry, with nearly three hours of music, there is plenty here to like, and at $11.98 it could turn out to be the biggest bargain of the year.

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Apr 29, 2009

With a total of eight Academy Awards (including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Director Danny Boyle), this movie is as far from a “slumdog” as it gets; its realistic portrayal of life in the slums of India captivated audiences and critics alike, and brought home the gold on Oscar night.

Slumdog Millionaire is the unlikely story of Jamal Malik (Dev Patel), a Mumbai-raised teen who wins the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire, and is then accused of cheating.

Just short of taking the grand prize of 20 million rupees, Jamal is locked up and interrogated by local police. In custody and desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life—a painful saga of love, loss, violence and romance that also explains how he knows the quiz show answers.

Slumdog’s images of stark violence and colorful, contrived-for-TV excitement are set against a classic boy-meets-girl romance, and the performances are uniformly good, particularly Anil Kapoor as the wisecracking TV host and the luminous Freida Pinto as Jamal’s long-lost love, Latika.

Director Danny Boyle works with great felicity to capture Mumbai’s bustling street culture—barefoot children running through a maze of corrugated tin shacks, noisy snarls of traffic, brilliantly colored saris bursting from the frame. Slumdog flirts between fairy tale and gritty documentary; it feels both authentic and hyper-real.

Here’s a movie to savor for its salute to hope amid hopeless circumstances, love despite the odds, and the inextinguishable spirit that drives some people to transform their lives. The feel-good ending could tease a smile out of the most hardened cynic, and the all-star Bollywood dance finale should send you away singing.

By Robert Rossiello   Wed, Apr 29, 2009

May 1
The Duprees, Hilton
Luna Negra Danza Teatro, Stockton Performing Arts Center

May 2
No Doubt, Borgata
Tesla, House of Blues
Jerry Seinfeld, Caesars
Kathleen Madigan, Trump Marina
Doug Murdock Meistersingers, Dante Hall

May 2-7
Steve Lippia, Hilton

May 2
Bay-Atlantic Symphony Let’s Play!, Stockton Performing Arts Center

May 6
A Night of Broadway Stars, Borgata

May 8
Gina Roché Quintet, Dante Hall

May 8-9
The Four Tops, Hilton
Vanessa Williams, Tropicana

May 8-10
Frankie Valli, Borgata

May 9
B-52’s, The 88, House of Blues
Reflections of Frank Sinatra & Dean Martin, Dante Hall
Dennis DeYoung, Trump Plaza
Maze w/Frankie Beverly, Teena Marie, The Whipsers, Boardwalk Hall

May 14
Jonny Lang, House of Blues

May 14-23
Neil Simon’s I Ought to Be in Pictures, Dante Hall

May 15
Third Eye Blind, House of Blues
Etta James & The Roots Band, Taj Mahal
Gilberto Santa Rosa, Victor Manuelle, Taj Mahal

May 15-16
James Van Praagh, Hilton

May 16
Queensryche, House of Blues
Yanni Voices, Boardwalk Hall
Depina Vandi, Taj Mahal

May 17-22
The Platters, The Marvelettes and Cornell Gunter’s Coasters, Hilton

May 21
Korn, House of Blues

May 22
John Pinette, Borgata

May 22-24
Penn & Teller, Harrah’s

May 23
Buckcherry, House of Blues
Billy Ray Cyrus, Hilton
Robert Schimmel, Trump Plaza

May 23-24
Rodney Carrington, Resorts
Kevin James, Borgata
Joel McHale, Borgata

May 24
Unwigged & Unplugged: An Evening with Christopher Guest, Michael McKean & Harry Shearer, Borgata

May 28
Coheed & Cambria, House of Blues

May 29
Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, Shawn Colvin, Buddy Miller, House of Blues

May 30
Joan Rivers, Hilton
Jay Leno, Borgata
Wanda Sykes, Borgata

May 31-June 5
Hal Linden, Hilton

Revues
Ongoing
Yesterday—A Tribute to the Beatles, Tropicana
Kozak the Magician, Comedy Stop at Trop

April 13 - June 6
Celebration of the Sixties, Tropicana

By Robert Rossiello   Wed, Apr 29, 2009

Atlantic City is in for a rare treat this month when three of the country’s best comic collaborators stop by the Borgata May 24 for a night of acoustic mayhem.

Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer will present an evening entitled Unwigged and Unplugged, part of a six-week, 30-city multi-media tour which showcases songs from the movies This is Spinal Tap and A Mighty Wind. These cult classics featured the trio’s hilarious improvisations and musical send-ups of the heavy metal and folk genres and have provided them with a wealth of material.

“This being the 25th anniversary of the film This is Spinal Tap,” Shearer said, “we thought this would be fun and at the same time, a little challenging, as we have never performed as ourselves. Think of the evening as three old friends playing songs in your living room. As opposed to our living rooms; we won’t be home.”

Without wigs, facial hair or amplifiers that turn up to 11, these accomplished actors and directors will break character for an intimate night of music and conversation. This is one that shouldn’t be missed.

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Apr 29, 2009

Magician-skeptics Penn & Teller, on a mini-tour around the East Coast, will materialize this month at Harrah’s. The duo’s unconventional performances—a blend of trickery, debunkery and comedy, along with fire-eating and Houdini-like escapes—have won them huge audiences, critical plaudits and 11 Emmy nominations (for the controversial show Penn & Teller: Bullshit!).

Known as the bad boys of magic for spilling the tricks of the trade, Penn Jillette and his silent partner, the Harpoesque Raymond Teller, started performing together in 1975. Combining Teller’s creepy magic with Penn’s clown college education and juggling expertise, they made their first big splash in 1985 with the show Penn & Teller Go Public. That bought them their first Emmy and led to several successful Broadway runs, as well as appearances on Letterman and Leno. The duo made their big screen debut in Penn & Teller Get Killed.

Edgy, provocative and hilarious, the Mutt & Jeff of magic have been named “two of the funniest comedians alive” by Entertainment Weekly.

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Apr 29, 2009

As a singer, Rodney Carrington sounds ‘bout as country as George Strait and Randy Travis. But this good old boy ain’t warbling about old folks, apple pie or all-American values. Instead, Carrington sings about the things guys might talk about at the county tractor pull: female breasts (“Show Them to Me”), male equipment (“Morning Wood”) and the inevitable combustion that results when the twain meet (“Rhymes with Truck”).

The Texas-born actor-comic-crooner built a cult following through regular exposure on syndicated morning radio and the nation’s comedy club circuit. In addition to six albums of stand-up comedy and country music (an odd combo in itself), he starred with singer Toby Keith in the 2008 movie Beer for My Horses.

As for his act, Carrington says he never consciously chose a comic approach; he “just chose funny, whether it was clean or dirty.” His family-friendly TV sitcom, Rodney, emphasized the former; his stage show allows him to revel in the latter.

And though Carrington’s schtick definitely carries an R rating, somehow the entertainer’s constant sexual references come across as boyish and playful rather than distasteful or dirty.

Be prepared to blush, and laugh, when the bad boy of country comedy visits Resorts this month. And sing along if you dare.

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Apr 29, 2009

New York comedian Kevin James, best known as chubby hubby Doug Heffernan of TV’s King of Queens, got his start on the comedy circuit and Star Search, worked his way up to the Tonight show, bagged his own sitcom, and now commands star billing with big-screen funny men like Adam Sandler. But stand-up is James’ first love, and he’ll return to his roots this month with an appearance at Borgata.

In the 1990s, James guested as the affable pal on Everybody Loves Raymond. That short-term stint caught the eye of CBS honcho Les Moonves, who gave the everyguy comedian a chance at his own show. The success of King of Queens led to bit parts in films and a supporting role in Hitch (with Will Smith); and a co-starring role in I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (again, with Sandler).

Now a bankable movie star, James still relies on his blue collar persona for laughs. His latest film, Paul Blart: Mall Cop, turned a security guard on a Segway into a working class hero.

Like his good friend Ray Romano, James is like the funny brother-in-law who makes family reunions tolerable.

By   Wed, Apr 29, 2009

His soaring vocals, power ballads and innovative keyboards made Dennis DeYoung one of the most recognized rock musicians of the 20th century, and the former Styx frontman is still going strong.

During his tenure with Styx, DeYoung was the man behind the music. He penned the Chicago band’s greatest hits including “Lady,” “Babe” and “Come Sail Away;” his sense of the theatric informed concept albums like Paradise Theater and Kilroy Was Here.

But after 30 years together, creative rifts drove the band members apart. Today, DeYoung’s former band mates Tommy Shaw and James Young tour as Styx and DeYoung fronts his own band. He talked with Casino Connection about his career, his new CD and his upcoming appearance at Trump Plaza.

You have one of the most recognizable voices in popular music. Has it changed or deepened with the years?

No, I sing in the same key signature the songs were written in. I attribute it to long underwear three sizes too small. Seriously, I have no regimen of any kind, but I was never a smoker or drinker and I didn’t do drugs. I’ve just taken care of my voice and tried not to abuse it.

What kind of band are you bringing to Atlantic City?

Two guitar players, bass, two keyboards, drums, two backup singers including my wife, Suzanne... They do all the work. I just drink martinis and smoke cigars during the performance. We threw in one guy from Jersey, Jimmy Leahy, for protection. 

How does it feel to have written one of the great wedding songs of all time?

You mean “Mr. Roboto?”

Actually, we were talking about “Lady.” You wrote that for your wife, didn’t you?

My relationship with my wife has informed an awful lot of my songs—“Lady,” “Babe,” “Beneath the Moon.” As far as the songs, whenever I think about personal or romantic relationships, I have something to draw from.

We met in high school, and knowing her was a big grounding force for me. I think the reason marriages last is because the people are committed to make them last. Our culture is disposable, love is disposable, even music is disposable. But I like the way my wife smells. I’ve said that to her for years as a joke, but there’s a lot of research about attraction in people, and scent plays a very important role.

You’ve recorded an album of Broadway tunes, which is so unexpected. Why did you take that on?

I’m a little like Peter Sellers in Being There or Woody Allen in Zelig. I didn’t aspire to it, I was just wandering through. It started when I was offered the role of Pontius Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar. I never thought about being a Broadway actor, but after that, Danny Goldberg at Atlantic Records called me and asked me to do the album. And I thought, “Why not? It’s music.” Now I’m writing the music for 101 Dalmatians: The Musical.

But the most important thing is a brand-new rock CD on Rounder Records, 100 Years From Now, which I’m on the road to support. Oh, and I also have some used lawn furniture for sale.

Name a favorite Dennis DeYoung song.

Maybe “Show Me the Way.” I wrote it for my son when he was going through some tough times, then it became associated with first Gulf War and took on a greater meaning for people. There’s a spiritual quality about it, and it deals with those ageless questions: Is there a greater power? How do I fit in the universe?

When people come to see you at Trump Plaza, what can they expect?

They're going to see a rock show, with “Mr. Roboto,” “Show Me the Way,” “Rocking the Parade,” Lorelei,” “Babe,” all those songs. At my age I get confused easily, so I try to keep it simple. All I want to do is entertain people the way I’d like to be entertained. I like a little show with the biz.

Dennis DeYoung will appear at Trump Plaza Saturday, May 9. Tickets are are $45, $32.50 and $20.

By Dave Bontempo   Wed, Apr 29, 2009

For legions of aspiring comedians, the Comedy Stop is a springboard to bigger venues. For Al “Caz” Casanova, it’s also a look back.

The former Tropicana floor person has a sense of déjà vu surrounding his May 11-17 Comedy Stop performance. It was inside the Tropicana showroom, at an employee talent contest 20 years ago, that his comic career materialized.

“Everybody said I was funny,” he says.  “So when they had this talent contest, I gave it a shot. There were 800 people at the Trop that night, employees and their families. I took third out of 30-some acts. I was nervous, but it came out well. It lit the fire.”

The event propelled Casanova to open mic nights in Philadelphia, before crowds of only a dozen. Nonetheless, the response emboldened him to leave a 14-year casino career, move to New York and sample the comedy circuit. Today Casanova performs in various venues, caters to executive parties and writes jokes for stars from Jay Leno to Bill Maher.

“You have to get inside the performer’s head and actually write in his speaking patterns,” Casanova says. “You can’t write a Rodney Dangerfield joke for Jackie Mason; you need to know the cadence and timing they like. Jay Leno, for example, likes to put two unrelated stories together and have a joke. I wrote one for him about the time Yasser Arafat was trying to get a visa to come into the United States. So I wrote, ‘Why doesn’t he just fly to Mexico and walk in like everybody else?’”

Though he could be jealous about helping the rich get richer, Casanova prefers to be happy for the joke.

“There are a lot of comedians who are funnier than the gazillionaires,” he says, “but it’s not just about the talent. It’s finding a way to get branded. It’s a difficult thing in the business, but it’s what we face. Is Andrew Dice Clay the most talented guy out there? No. But he sold out Madison Square Garden, so he deserves that.

“In the meantime, you can be happy. Doing standup for 20 years and making a living is an interesting thing. To me, it’s probably the toughest thing you can do. You’re working without a net. There’s no protection. A singer can hide behind the band, but in comedy, there’s no one to hide behind.”

A Philadelphia native who also works in a real estate office, Casanova started in Atlantic City as a busboy, attended dealer’s school, worked in a Resorts restaurant, then moved to the Tropicana. He mined a lot of material from his interactions with the players.

“There’s a lot of humor associated with the business, especially with the superstitions. Sometimes I would have one of those nights in which I did nothing but call numbers. The pit boss would go upstairs, change his suit and then come back down, all because I’m calling numbers. Superstition. You could incorporate that into your act. Casino workers get that. And then when you depart, you say, ‘That’s it for me, I’m going to get the early out.’ They get that too.”

The economy has produced its share of material. One of Casanova’s sidelights is working at a local real estate office.

“Got a call from a renter with very bad credit—she tells me that up front,” he says. “We’re thinking we’ll get a big deposit, so we say ‘OK.’ Then she says, ‘I want my boyfriend to see it.’ Fine. Then she says, ‘But I have to go bail him out.’ ‘OK,’ we say.  Then she adds, ‘But I don’t have the bus fare to go get him.’ And she was serious.

“It’s funny to see people view things that are so far from reality.” It’s more than funny for Casanova. It’s his professional lifeline.

By Robert Rossiello   Wed, Apr 29, 2009

May 1-3 Cape May’s Spring Festival, various venues
Cape May, 800-275-4278 • www.capemaymac.org

May 1-3 Tournament of Bands Weekend
Wildwoods Convention Center and Middle Township High School
856-935-4940

May 2 Centennial Parade and Carnival, 10 a.m.
Ball Field at Jerome Ave., Margate, 609-823-6658

May 2  Spring Block Party, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Asbury Avenue, 5th-14th Streets, Ocean City, 609-399-2269

May 3 20th Annual Stainton Society Brunch (Guest Speaker Laura Bush)
Bally’s Casino, Atlantic City, 609-653-3800 • www.shorememorialfoundation.org

May 3 12th Annual Host Awards, 5 p.m.
Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City , 609-449-7174 • jcarole@accva.com

May 7-10 17th Annual East Coast Boardwalk National Car Show, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Wildwoods Convention Center, Wildwood
609-523-8051• www.thundermoto.com

May 6 A Night of Broadway Stars, Benefit for Covenant House
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Atlantic City, 609-348-1421 ext. 38

May 7 Martin Z. Mollusk Day, 11 a.m.
9th Street Beach, Ocean City, 609-525-9300

May 7 MBCA Spring Scholarship Luncheon, noon
Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, 609-348-1903

May 8 Spring Fever: Atlantic City Ballet, 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Ram’s Head Inn, Gallaway, 609-645-3800

May 9 Shirley Mae Run/Gilda’s Club Walk, 7:30 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
Boardwalk at Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, www.shirleymaefund.org

May 10 Mother’s Day Celebration, 12 p.m.
On the boardwalk in Seaside Heights

May 16 50th Annual Century Club Gala, 7 p.m.
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Atlantic City, 609-677-7255

May 16 American Heart Assoc. Heart Walk, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Sports & Civic Center, 6th & Boardwalk, Ocean City

May 16 30th Annual Great Cape May Footrace (10k & 5k)
8 a.m., Cape May, 609-884-5508

May 17 Ron Jaworski Celebrity Shoot-Out
AC Country Club, New Road, Northfield
609-236-4465  • www.accountryclub.com

May 17 Strut for Mutts IV, noon - 4 p.m.
Estell Manor Park, Rt. 50, Mays Landing
609-390-7946 • www.abseconlighthouse.org

May 22 Unlocking of Ocean and Business Persons Plunge,
noon, Moorlyn Terrace Street Beach, Ocean City, 609-525-9300

May 22-24 Wildwoods International Kite Festival, noon
Beach at Convention Center, Wildwood, www.skyfestivalsinc.com

May 23-24 Boardwalk Craft Show, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Boardwalk, Rio Grande Ave., Wildwood, 609-522-0378

May 25 Memorial Day Events
Parade, Boardwalk, Avalon, noon
Ceremony, 6th & Wesley Ave., Ocean City, 11 a.m.
Ceremony, Columbia Ave. Monument, Cape May, 11 a.m.

May 27 AC Chamber 23rd Annual Invitational Golf Classic
11:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Blue Heron Pines Golf Club
550 West Country Club Drive, Cologne, 609.345.4524

May 30 Tall Cedars Parade, 10 a.m.
21st and Atlantic Ave, N. Wildwood

May 30-31 Boardwalk Spring Family Fun Fest, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
11th Street, Ocean City, 609-525-9300

By Michael Bruckler   Wed, Apr 29, 2009

The days are getting longer and the weather warmer, which means just one thing—it’s springtime in Atlantic City. As we get ready for the excitement of summer, there are plenty of activities that make this season a great one.  

Two events ring in spring in Atlantic City. Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Teena Marie and the Whispers bring their Appreciation Tour to Boardwalk Hall Saturday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m.  

And the Yanni Voices 2009 Tour arrives Saturday, May 16 at 8 p.m. For the first time ever, Yanni re-interprets his classic compositions and debuts new music with show-stopping vocalists Nathan Pacheco, Chloe, Ender Thomas and Leslie Mills.

For tickets to both events, visit the Boardwalk Hall box office, call Ticketmaster at 800-736-1420 or go to www.ticketmaster.com.

Check out the hottest wheels at Atlantic City Convention Center with the arrival of the DUB Magazine Custom Auto Show & Concert, Saturday, May 16, 4 p.m.-9 p.m. See exclusive celebrity-owned cars and the latest in automotive gear from the industry’s most popular brands. For information, visit www.accenter.com.

Absecon Lighthouse’s Be A Pirate Day is Sunday, May 17. Starting at 11 a.m., kids can climb to the top of the lighthouse and enjoy pirate-themed activities. The day also includes pirate souvenirs and games. Admission for the day is $10 and includes light refreshments. For information, call 609-449-1360 or visit www.abseconlighthouse.org.

At the Tropicana through June 6, enjoy a nightly Celebration of the 60s. The powerhouse review includes 65 memorable tunes from the Four Seasons, the Beatles, the Beach Boys and more, packed into a colorful hour-long extravaganza complete with dancing. An all-girl quartet does a memorable version of Dusty Springfield’s “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me.” Tickets are available at the Tropicana box office or through Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000.

Celebrate Mother’s Day Friday May 8 with a concert by the Gina Roché Quintet at Dante Hall Theater for the Arts. Vocalist Roché is known for a unique blend of jazz and blues with a Brazilian accent. Tickets are $20. For advance tickets, visit www.dantehall.org.

In Cape May, the 26th Annual World Series of Birding takes place Saturday, May 9. Sponsored by the New Jersey Audubon Society, this international 24-hour event begins and ends at midnight, and challenges bird watchers to count as many bird species as possible. For information, call 609-884-2736 or visit www.birdcapemay.org.  

The 20th Annual Cape May Music Festival, May 17- June 11, is the event for world-class orchestral, folk and chamber music. From the smooth sounds of cool jazz to traditional Irish music, you’ll find it all. Held at locations throughout Cape May, each concert begins at 8 p.m. Prices vary. For information, visit www.capemaymac.org.

The Ocean City Arthritis Walk is Saturday, May 9 on the Ocean City Boardwalk. It’s the Arthritis Foundation’s signature event, raising funds and awareness to fight arthritis, the nation’s leading cause of disability. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. at the Music Pier at 9th Street and the Boardwalk. The walk begins at 10 a.m. Choose a one-mile or three-mile route. For more information, visit www.2009atlanticcapemaycountyaw.kintera.org.

The Historic Towne of Smithville & Village Greene features the annual Mayfest spring celebration Saturday and Sunday, May 16-17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. More than 100 juried crafters will be in attendance, along with an international food court, live music and children’s activities. For information, call 609-652-7777 or 609-748-7160 or visit www.smithvillenj.com.

Finally, in Millville, the New Jersey Vintage Grand Prix Festival is Friday through Sunday, May 29-31. The Vintage Sports Car Club of America is the oldest auto preservation club offering a complete race program. The emphasis is on rare and unusual sports and racing cars including vintage (pre-1959) cars. For information, call 856-327-8000 or 856-327-7217 or visit www.njmp.com.

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Apr 29, 2009

Looking for a tasty break from the usual Boardwalk fare (pizza, funnel cake, ice cream)? You’ve found it at the Boardwalk Bistro.

Though this new small restaurant offers all the above, it also offers a pleasant place to sit and enjoy the oceanfront scenery, and a hearty variety of sandwiches and entrees from former Tun Tavern Executive Chef Stephanie Wakefield.

The bill of fare here has been designed with virtually everyone in mind, for good reason: the Boardwalk Bistro is open seven days a week, almost 24 hours a day. It closes for a blink in the wee small hours, reopens for the breakfast crowd, serves lunch and dinner all day and evening, and stays open almost till dawn for casino patrons and late-nighters strolling Atlantic City’s famed Wooden Way.

When it comes to the menu, first things first. Wakefield’s appetizers are surprising and exceptionally well done. Our favorite by far was Black and Tan onion rings: fat, juicy slices of onion rolled in panko breadcrumbs, dipped in a Guinness beer batter and lightly pan-fried. Served with tart honey mustard sauce, they’re downright addictive. Don’t get one order to share, because you won’t want to—share, that is.

“Guinness is a sweet beer, so the batter really sweetens the onions,” says Wakefield. “It’s one of our best appetizers.”

Another at the top of the list: veggie-stuffed Asian dumplings with cabbage, carrots and onions wrapped in paper-thin pastry and pan-fried. Scrumptious.

Other great appetizers at the Bistro include BB’s sliders (Black Angus mini-burgers); the black bean and cheese quesadilla roll; Shrimp Bistro (broiled shrimp finished with seasoned breadcrumbs and served in a light lemon wine sauce); and the appropriately named Bistro Munchie Basket, with mozzarella sticks, chicken tenders, those great onion rings and buffalo wings—instant gratification.

Early risers can choose from a variety of omelets, pancakes and waffle dishes; at midday, this is the place to grab a burger, sub, wrap or fresh salad.

And when it comes to the main event, Wakefield has come up with some good entrees. The Boardwalk Bistro Grill includes juicy certified Angus beef sirloin and grilled Gulf shrimp served over fresh (really fresh) sauteed spinach with a tart peppercorn demi glaze ($19.99). Barbecued St. Louis ribs feature mesquite-grilled pork ribs in a sweet and tangy barbecue sauce ($21.99). The BB Fishermen’s Combo is a good, old-fashioned fry-up, with shrimp, flounder and calamari, all tender yet crunchy with a panko breadcrumb topping ($19.99).

During our visit to the Bistro, we tried linguine with marinara sauce and plump fried shrimp as well as the earthy mussels marinara. Wakefield takes almost a full day to make the marinara from fresh plum tomatoes—it has a rich, dense, delicious flavor. The blush vodka and Bolognese sauces, also homemade, are fantastic on any of the pasta offerings.

Brooklyn-born co-owner Thomas Sollitto has been coming to Atlantic City since he was a kid, and remembers how the Boardwalk “would close down each fall after the Miss America parade.” Open less than two months, the Boardwalk Bistro will give people another reason to come all year long.

He and his partners, Anthony and Joe Ruggiero, are “very ambitious” about their new eatery, which is already attracting a crowd.        

“The food’s great, the atmosphere’s comfortable,” says Sollitto. “We think it’s the best place on the Boardwalk.”

Boardwalk Bistro, 1523 Boardwalk & New York Avenue
609-347-7673, Hours: Sunday-Thursday 8 a.m.-2 a.m., Friday & Saturday 8 a.m.-5 a.m.
Delivery available all day

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Apr 28, 2009

"The first bus I see pulling up out there, I’m looking for something to pull the plug."
—Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Commission Chairman James R. Matthews, after city officials in Valley Forge assured him that the newly approved 500-slot casino planned for the Valley Forge Convention Center will be too small to create Atlantic City-style traffic

"We’re burying the hatchet. We’re moving forward with the city."
—Neil Bluhm, lead investor in Philadelphia’s SugarHouse casino project, testifying before the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board that its court battles with the city over its casino plan have ended

"I think there’s a bias in the government to get a pound of flesh. The Obama administration has a sense of anti-business because of the excessive things that were done on Wall Street."
—Steve Wynn, criticizing the approach of the Obama administration to dealing with economic troubles, which included calling out companies that planned conventions in Las Vegas

"We cannot afford to leave found money on the table. Through this new law, New Jersey and Atlantic City’s casinos will split the pot, and put unclaimed prizes to good use."
—New Jersey state Senator Jeff Van Drew on a bill that would allow casinos to seize unclaimed casino winnings and split them 75-25 with the state

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Apr 28, 2009

The Sands Bethlehem Casino Resort announced that it will have two test-run dates for its new casino. Invited guests will play May 18 and May 20 with all slot win going to local charities.

The 3,000-slot casino opens May 22. Test runs are required to give regulators the chance to check operations and systems to make sure everything is running smoothly and within the law’s requirements. Test runs have been conducted by all seven of the currently operating casinos—the most recent one last month at the Meadows’ permanent facility south of Pittsburgh, which netted a record $246,000 for local fire departments.

In other Sands news, the casino confirmed that famous TV chef Emeril Lagasse will operate one of the restaurants at Sands Bethlehem. Emeril’s Chop House will be Lagasse’s first restaurant in the Northeast.

Lagasse said the restaurant will be casual, with menu options including prime, dry-aged beef; fresh daily catch; a selection of regional and local dishes including seasonal produce; and a few of the chef’s signature New Orleans dishes.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Apr 28, 2009

Early in April, Harrah’s Entertainment completed a debt exchange offer that reduced the company’s debt by $2.3 billion. The company traded $5.5 billion in debt for $3.5 billion of new 10 percent notes that will mature in 2018; $514 million in notes will still mature in 2010 and $964.2 million will mature by 2013.

A $6.5 billion mortgage-backed securities loan leveraged against Harrah's, Paris Las Vegas, Flamingo and the Rio properties will also come due in 2013. After the debt exchange offer was completed, analysts examined the company’s financial health and agreed that Harrah’s may still be underwater.

The company is currently operating with $23 billion worth of debt, and analysts say Harrah’s has reduced its interest payments by $70 million per year, which is a small margin.

“The improvement to Harrah’s  balance sheet is palpable, as the company should now clearly get through 2010 without any liquidity problems,” said CreditSights analysts Chris Snow and Frank Lee in a note to investors. “Beyond that, particularly in 2011, the company will face significant hurdles from its debt maturities.”

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Apr 28, 2009

Officials of Foxwoods Philadelphia made a formal pitch to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to move their casino project from the Market Street Mall near Chinatown to a former department store three blocks away.

The developers of Foxwoods Philadelphia submitted their plan to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board for a casino at 8th and Market streets, in the former Strawbridge & Clothier building. Casino officials were forced to leave the meeting by a back entrance as a crowd of 50 angry protesters heckled the proceedings and blocked the aisles of the State Museum in Harrisburg.

Opposition to the project is facing an uphill battle as the new location gains support from city officials and business leaders. Foxwoods originally worked with the city to move its project off the Delaware River waterfront, where there was even more furious opposition, to the downtown location near Chinatown. The latest move would put the casino close to thousands of public parking spaces and downtown hotels and restaurants.

The new slot casino would have 3,000 machines and employ 450 people. Officials told the board it could begin construction almost immediately.

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter issued a statement praising the new casino plan. “My administration continues to believe that locating the casino at the Market East site will stimulate overdue redevelopment in this area,” Nutter said. “The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board can be assured that the city will continue to act supportively in moving this project forward.”

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Apr 28, 2009

Cannery Casino Resorts doubled the size of its Pennsylvania racino operation last month, as the doors opened to the permanent casino at The Meadows Racetrack & Casino south of Pittsburgh.

The Meadows, which had been turning in gross gaming revenues of $20 million a month at its 1,800-machine temporary casino, launched the new 350,000-square-foot casino with a test day two days before the grand opening.

Hundreds of players who had waited in the rain applauded when the doors were open and kept applauding as they walked through the facility. As was the case last year with Eastside Cannery in Las Vegas, Cannery Casino Resorts created a casino of remarkable quality for a fraction of what other operators have paid for new facilities—the huge permanent casino was completed for a bargain-basement $175 million.

Many observers commented, though, that the quality of the facility throughout belied that construction cost. As with Eastside Cannery, the place looks like it cost three times that to build.

The slot floor is joined by VIP “Super Boxes” on the second floor and a new racing grandstand and simulcast area. The only portions of the complex still to open are an entertainment lounge, to open May 1, and a state-of-the-art bowling center, slated for launch at the end of May.

The Meadows permanent casino features 3,700 slots—the most of any casino in the state. Executives of the casino and of the parent Cannery Casino Resorts were joined by members of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, local officials and community leaders, and a few invited players to cut the ribbon on the new facility.

“The Meadows is among the finest gaming facilities on the East Coast,” said Bill Paulos, one of the principals of Las Vegas-based CCR. “By fully integrating horse racing and gaming, while adding great restaurants, live entertainment and an all-ages bowling center, we have created a true entertainment destination.”

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Apr 28, 2009

With the launch of its new Star Trek slots, Resorts is the first casino in Atlantic City to offer Adaptive Gaming technology.  

With the technology, players can pick a character and type in a personal login name, then save their game and resume play at any Star Trek machine.

“When it comes to slot innovation in Atlantic City, Resorts stands alone,” said Chris Downey, director of slot operations. “We’ve generated an incredible amount of excitement by bringing a bit of the past to our casino with the coin-operated Boogie Nights slots. Now we’re giving slot players the latest in today’s technology with the Star Trek slots.”

Trekkies will love the bonus rounds, with names like “The Trouble with Tribbles Ball Bonus” and “The Enterprise Incident Romulan Codex Bonus.” During these Bonus Rounds, players collect medals and win credits. By collecting medals, new Star Trek episodes will be unlocked, each with unique bonuses and game play.

For an additional 10 credits, players are eligible for the Win Warp feature. At the end of any winning spin, eligible players may be randomly awarded one of four possible Win Warp features. These features consist of win multipliers, multiplying wilds, and more.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Apr 28, 2009

The scorecard’s changed when it comes to Atlantic City sports, and so have the players. After 11 years at Bernie Robbins Stadium, the Atlantic City Surf baseball team is outta here.

Team management took the city to task for actions it says undercut the Surf’s viability. The first was putting Bader Field out to bid for possible development. The second was the city’s refusal to pay for ballpark maintenance. City government accused the Surf of letting the park fall into disrepair.

City Councilmen Marty Small and George Tibbitt, among others, envision a new life for the stadium, perhaps with a new ball club, summer concerts and other special events. But observers agree that few investors will buy in until they know the status of the former airport.

“You’re not going to put a lot of capital money in a place if you don’t know what your time frame is at Bader Field,” said state Senator Jim Whelan, who was instrumental in bringing the Surf to town in the 1990s.

The news was much better for hoops fans. After months of nail-biting, the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority announced that the Atlantic-10 Conference will return to Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall through 2012 with its men’s basketball championships.

The A-10 games have been held here since 2007, but talk was rife in recent months that they would move to another city in 2010. Contenders for the big show included Cincinnati; Dayton, Ohio; Pittsburgh; and Springfield, Massachusetts.

A-10 Commissioner Bernadette McGlade called the decision to return to Boardwalk Hall “a great opportunity to grow our marquee event and truly brand the Atlantic 10. The facility is well-suited for this championship, Atlantic City is a historic seashore resort, and the city has committed to host three more great years.”

“Atlantic City has proven to be a great setting for our student-athletes and fans of the Atlantic 10,” added Jack Kvancz, chairman of the Atlantic 10 Athletic Directors. “It’s a great destination.” Atlantic City’s primary advantage is that, without its own team, it’s a neutral site for A-10 fans.

In more promising news for the city, Caesars has forged a marketing agreement with the New York Mets that should help draw more New Yorkers to the shore resort. As part of the deal, the Caesars brand will be prominently displayed at Citi Field, the Mets’ new $800 million ballpark. There will also be an exclusive Caesars Club at the stadium.

Like the ACES express train from Manhattan to Atlantic City, it’s yet another step in a comprehensive plan to draw out-of-state patrons. Caesars Senior VP and General Manager Dan Nita called the strategy “a great opportunity to make sure we’re visible with the hundreds of thousands of fans at the stadium. Once we get them down here, we know we can exceed their expectations with all our new amenities.”

Harrah’s Entertainment will also offer Mets fans special casino deals and stage theme nights at the 42,000-seat stadium. Harrah’s promotional rights extend to the Mets’ minor league clubs in Coney Island and Port St. Lucie, Florida.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Apr 28, 2009

Harrah’s celebrated Earth Day last month by erecting a massive 20-foot tree made entirely of recyclables. The lighted tree will grace the lobby of Caesars Atlantic City until June 5, World Environmental Day.

In keeping with the green spirit of Earth Day, all of the four Harrah’s properties also turned off their external lights for one hour, from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., on April 22.

Harrah’s Entertainment and Atlantic City Electric also presented checks to the Atlantic County Utilities Authority as platinum sponsors of their Earth Day festival. Dan Nita, Mid-Atlantic regional president of Harrah’s Entertainment, was on hand to deliver the $5,000 check from Harrah’s.

The April 26 festival drew a crowd of almost 4,000 people to the Haneman Environmental Park in Egg Harbor Township.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Apr 28, 2009

After months of speculation, it’s been confirmed that a new nightclub will open sometime this summer at Caesars.

The club, named Dusk, will occupy the site of the former Planet Hollywood overlooking the Boardwalk. Celebrity mixmaster DJ AM (above) partnered in the venture with the Red Stripe Plane Group.

AM, also known as Adam Goldstein, is a fixture on the Las Vegas nightclub scene and appears regularly at Borgata. He’s made headlines as the former boyfriend of Nicole Richie. Along with Blink-182’s Travis Barker, he survived a 2008 plane crash in South Carolina that killed four people.

The new club is part of a long-term strategy by Harrah’s Entertainment to broaden its entertainment options and target a young, hip demographic.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Apr 28, 2009

The Greater Atlantic City Chamber is teaming up with Tilton Fitness for the 2009 Southern New Jersey Spring Heart Walk on the Ocean City Boardwalk Saturday, May 16. The event will be preceded by a Meet & Greet party, 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 13, at Tilton Fitness in Galloway.

Join the team online by visiting www.tiltonfitness.com or call 609-345-4524. Each walker must raise a minimum of $20 in pledges for the American Heart Association.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Apr 28, 2009

Atlantic City has become a reality show star, thanks to kitchen god Gordon Ramsay of Fox TV’s Hell’s Kitchen.

A recent episode of Ramsay’s popular, profanity-laced cooking show featured the city (and the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa) in an especially flattering light. Contestants sipped champagne, visited the pool, enjoyed opulent spa treatments and met a contingent of Borgata Babes—all before millions of TV viewers.

The four finalists are vying for a head chef position at a Borgata restaurant.

Though the episode was aired last month, it was actually shot over two days in 2007, and like every episode with the hot-tempered chef, it was chock-full of drama. One contestant, Robert, suffered chest pains and tearfully left the show. But that didn’t compare to Ben, who suffered the humiliation of leaving a prawn tail on his dish. Ramsay was his usual serene self.

Though a winning chef will not be named until the series finale May 14, Atlantic City is already a winner. Hell’s Kitchen Executive Producer Arthur Smith said he was impressed by the city, and by the amenities at Borgata, which “exceeded expectations.”

This season’s winner will become head chef at a new Borgata restaurant.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Apr 28, 2009

As the recession keeps more and more gamblers at home, casinos are looking to the Asian customer base to keep the coffers flowing. The perception is that Asian customers continue to gamble despite the economic downturn. As a result, casinos have made a concerted effort to serve them with amenities like noodle bars and table games (the preferred method of play among Asians). A striking case in point is the $17 million Sunrise Square at Connecticut's Mohegan Sun, which has four Asian gaming pits, plus an Asian retail store and an Asian food court.

According to Gary Ng, senior vice president of Asian marketing at Trump Entertainment Resorts in Atlantic City, Asian business accounts for about 30 percent of the overall revenue at a typical casino. To cater to them, Ng told NJBiz, “We have a steady flow of Asian events every other month, and bring in Asian entertainers.”

At Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall, Asian entertainment accounts for roughly 10 out of every 70 shows; a recent example is the stage version of a Philippines game show, Eat Bulaga.

Harrah’s Entertainment has invested in Asian gaming pits, restaurants and noodle bars at its properties in Atlantic City as well as Las Vegas, and has an office and a billboard in New York’s Chinatown.

Interestingly, Asian players do not seem to be turning up on the lists of problem gamblers. Jeff Beck of the New Jersey Council on Compulsive Gambling said he doesn’t see “as many Asians in Atlantic City” who fit the description of “compulsive gamblers.”

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Apr 28, 2009

It’s been a quarter century since the dice first rolled at Trump Plaza in Atlantic City.

On Thursday, May 14, the Plaza, its staff and customers will celebrate the silver anniversary of the property with a commemorative cake and a variety of festivities.

General Manager Jim Rigot says it will be a special anniversary for Trump Plaza’s 350-plus day one employees.

“We’re extremely proud of them,” Rigot said. “They represent almost every department, from front-line employees to stage technicians. They’re passionate about their history at Trump Plaza and consider their coworkers to be family.”

It was 1984 when the property (originally known as Harrah’s at Trump Plaza) brought The Donald’s luxury brand to town. The property upped the ante for Atlantic City casinos by bringing in music stars like the Rolling Stones, and world-class boxing matches with heavyweights like Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield.

The casino resort will also mark the milestone with a $25,000 Silver Anniversary Sweepstakes, going on every Saturday in May, with five chances to win a share of $125,000.

The celebration continues all summer long with drinks, dancing and live entertainment at Trump Plaza’s Beach Bar, one of the first and best beach hotspots in town.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Apr 28, 2009

As this edition of Casino Connection went to press, a decision was still pending about the sale of Tropicana Casino & Resort.

Last month the state Casino Control Commission set an April 29 deadline for the final disposition of the case, which has been ongoing since December 2007. That’s when former owner Columbia Sussex Corp. and its subsidiary Tropicana Entertainment lost their license to operate a New Jersey casino. The resort has been under the control of a conservator ever since.

In the ensuing 16 months, the recession set in, gaming revenues plummeted, the value of the casino and hotel spiraled downward from a peak of almost $1 billion, and several would-be buyers came and went.

Commission Chairwoman Linda Kassekert set the latest deadline, and insisted this one was final.

“I think we have reached our limit,” Kassekert said, warning attorneys they must complete a proposed agreement of sale for the commission’s approval. After that, the Tropicana is expected to be sold at a bankruptcy auction.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Apr 28, 2009

Less than a decade ago, the casino industry decided gamblers cared nothing for the sound of cold hard cash at casino slot machines. With the advent of coinless technology, most gaming halls dispensed with coins and replaced them with ticket-in/ticket-out machines, which meant far fewer jams and significantly reduced maintenance, and also eliminated the need for coin counting.

Now New Jersey’s first casino is betting that a lot of customers really miss the coin drop. Resorts Atlantic City has installed eight coin slot machines that pay out the old way: cascading nickels, quarters or silver dollars that drop into a metal tray, to be scooped up in big plastic cups.

Danny Bonaduce of TV’s Partridge Family was on hand last month to launch the old-school machines, which are named for the casino’s popular retro dance club, Boogie Nights. A party followed at the club, where disco music is frequently played on—what else?—a real turntable.  

After winning two $25 jackpots during a recent visit to Resorts, patron Jeannette Snell said, “This feels like a game. The other ones, it’s just losing money.”

Resorts’ gambit goes against the grain. Nearly 90 percent of the 900,000 slot machines in North America do not accept or pay out in coins. None of Atlantic City’s 33,010 other slot machines use coins, though a small handful use tokens for high-denomination bets.

The trend against coins started in Atlantic City in 2001 with the introduction of paper vouchers, and accelerated in 2003 when the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa debuted as the resort’s first coinless casino.     

The casinos appreciated the ease of operation, and the fact that coinless machines required less staffing. “It’s very time-consuming and costly to run coins,” said Christopher Downey, Resorts’ director of slot operations. “As soon as this technology became available, the industry grabbed onto it.”

At the Skyline Restaurant and Casino in Henderson, Nevada, 210 of 420 slot machines use coins, and those machines generate about 15 percent more revenue than do the coinless ones, said General Manager Mike Young.

“It fills a niche, particularly for the older player,” Young said. “They just love the coins. They like to get their hands dirty, they like to cash out, they like to hear the money drop into the trays.”

Downey says Resorts has set the machines to be “exceptionally loose” for frequent payouts. “You’re going to hit frequently,” he said. “You’re going to see a lot of jackpots and a lot of coins.” The maximum jackpot is $1,500.

Depending on the popularity of the slots, Resorts may add more of the coin-operated machines to satisfy demand.

Tue, Apr 28, 2009

Visitors subconsciously rate their experience at every point of contact. That’s why good customer service is such an important part of our business. Whether you’re at the front desk or in the back office, attitude shows. Even when you talk to customers on the phone, you should smile, because they can really hear it.

Today, with wallets stretched and other entertainment options plentiful, great customer service is more important than ever. All it takes is a smile, a kind word or a gesture of generosity to make or break a visitor’s vacation in Atlantic City. It’s the little things—common courtesy and hospitality—that bring people back again and again.

This month, we honor those in the hospitality industry who consistently put their best foot forward. On Wednesday, May 13, more than 500 people will assemble at Boardwalk Hall for the 12th annual Host Awards. For 27 winners, it will be the event of the year. But all the nominees—five from each category—represent the highest standards of hospitality in Atlantic City. Award categories include Best Bartender, Best Host/Hostess, Best Retail Sales Associate, Best Valet, Best Door Person, Best Bell Person, Best Reservationists and Best Spa Personnel, among others.  

The Host Awards were founded in 1996 by the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority to salute and encourage excellent customer service in Atlantic City. This year’s proceeds benefit the ACCVA Foundation, which works to attract a greater diversity of visitors to Atlantic City, increase investment, and foster quality partnerships in and around the region.

The foundation also creates scholarship opportunities in the tourism industry. At this year’s Host Awards, the ACCVA Foundation and the Greater Atlantic City Concierge Association will present scholarship awards to two tourism industry students, Margarita Cozzi of Richard Stockton College and Kimberly Richardson of Atlantic Cape Community College.

It will also be my pleasure this year to bestow the Spirit of Hospitality Award to Howard Bacharach. This award salutes an outstanding individual who has made a significant long-term contribution to the region’s hospitality and tourism industry. Past winners include Greater Atlantic City Chamber President Joseph Kelly; former State Senator William Gormley; Henrietta Shelton, co-founder of the Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation; talk show host and columnist Pinky Kravitz; James A. Crawford, former executive director of the South Jersey Transportation Authority; Don Guardian, executive director of the Atlantic City Special Improvement District; and Atlantic City historian and author Vicki Gold Levi.

Since 2003, Howard Bacharach has served as executive director of the Atlantic City Hotel & Lodging Association, and brought the association to prominence in Atlantic County and beyond. Among many other responsibilities, Howard sustains the Hotel & Lodging Scholarship Foundation, coordinates various special events and fundraising activities, and works to increase association membership.  

Come to the event and support Howard and the other winners, as they have supported Atlantic City throughout the years.

Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are still available for the Atlantic City Host Awards. For more information, contact ACCVA Foundation Director Peter Elco at 609-449-7106 or pelco@accva.com.

Tickets for the Host Awards are $65. Tables of 10 are available. For more information and reservations, contact Jacqueline Carole at 609-449-7174 or jcarole@accva.com.

Tue, Apr 28, 2009

In this column, we have discussed how cooperation between government and our industry accomplishes mutually beneficial objectives. When our industry flourishes, the entire state benefits.

In March, we saw how such cooperation works when the state legislature approved two bills that have since been signed into law by Governor Jon Corzine.

The first, approved unanimously, makes changes to the Casino Control Act that help maintain the economic vitality of our industry. The new statute:
    
• Removes the registration and licensing  requirements for non-gaming vendors who have limited transactions with casinos

• Permits a casino licensee to use a percentage of poker tournament prize pools to fund dealer gratuities

• Permits changes to casinos’ relationship with out-of-state sending tracks for the transmission of simulcast horse races

• Allows casinos to simulcast the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in addition to the regular horse racing season when the Breeders’ Cup is held in New Jersey

• Enables the state Casino Revenue Fund and the casino licensee to share unclaimed slot vouchers. The new provisions allow the fund and the licensee to split the unclaimed funds evenly for years past, and at a ratio of 25 percent-75 percent prospectively.

The bills were spearheaded by Senators James Whelan and Jeff Van Drew and Assemblyman John Burzichelli; co-sponsores were Assemblymen John Amodeo and Vince Polistina. We thank them for their commitment to our industry.

We also thank Commission Chair-woman Linda Kassekert. Her willingness to amend current laws and corresponding regulations allows necessary change without affecting the integrity of our regulatory system—integrity that is the cornerstone of public confidence.

Finally, our thanks go to Governor Corzine, who understands that the state’s interests and the casino industry’s interests are parallel. That understanding is reflected in his staunch support.

The second piece of legislation amends the regulation that prohibited casino employees and their families from holding public office in Atlantic City (other than the mayor’s office). Now casino employees can assume public office and also keep their jobs. Senator Whelan, a former three-term mayor of Atlantic City, said, “Our democracy works on the principle that anyone—doctors, teachers, lawyers, laborers—can run for office and be a part of their government. Casino employees were kept out for a long time, and it’s time we changed that.”

This legislative package is an important starting point to ensure that the law keeps up with all the changes in our industry, including the effects of regional competition and the economy. We look forward to working with lawmakers to continue this critical process.

New Jersey and the Atlantic City casinos have partnered for more than three decades to bring jobs, economic growth and tax revenues to the state. During these troubling times, we need to strengthen that partnership. With these laws, our elected leaders are helping the industry ride out these incomparable economic times.

A healthy and vibrant casino industry is not only good for Atlantic City; it’s good for our employees, our vendors, their employees, and the seniors and disabled citizens who benefit from our tax revenues. In short, a healthy casino industry is good for the entire state.

Tue, Apr 28, 2009

Times are tough indeed. Who knew gross gaming revenues in Atlantic City would have slumped this far? Who could have predicted this “perfect storm” confronting us, with the partial smoking ban, increased competition from Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware and soon, Maryland, and the severely sagging economy?

Things could not get much worse. But they probably will before they start to get better.

It’s time for Atlantic City to get out of the bunker and demonstrate what made it great, and what will make it great in the years to come. We are a great town, and it’s not just because of gaming. But when there is gaming in the states around us, we have to point out the differences between us and the other gaming facilities.

What do they have? Slot machines. That’s all (for now). We’ve got the whole ball of wax: table games, poker rooms, race books, the best promotions. We have world-class restaurants, millions of square feet of meeting and convention space, “ultra lounges” like nowhere else on the East Coast… We have a full-fledged entertainment experience like no other, bar none.

What else do we have that no one else has? That’s right, the beach and Boardwalk.

And we have all these amenities within minutes of each other. You drive to a “racino” in New York, Delaware or Pennsylvania, and you’re stuck. If you don’t like what they offer, tough. If they want to go head-to-head with gaming, we win.

Until they pull Allentown alongside the ocean, Atlantic City has these places beat hands-down, because of the beauty of our natural surroundings. We have a beautiful, wide and free beach. Let’s take advantage of that. There was some momentum to clean up and raise the bar on the Boardwalk. That process seems to have been stalled by the economy. Let’s re-start it and make the Boardwalk the jewel it should be.

All is not lost. The economy has hit casino owners very hard; many casino companies took on too much debt and could be forced to sell some properties. In the end, this will actually be good for the city and the casinos. New owners will bring new blood to Atlantic City. They would presumably be more responsive to solely owned properties, giving investors, employees and customers hope for the future.

Individual casinos owned by different companies could be the catalyst that turns Atlantic City around, because those companies would be encouraged to invest new capital in the properties—something that’s not being done now.

It seems the smoking issue has been resolved to no one’s satisfaction, but if we maintain the status quo, it will be less damaging as we proceed.

In the meantime, Atlantic City must be more aggressive in marketing. The ACCVA produced a wonderful event in March with Restaurant Week; those are the kinds of ideas that will make the city more visible and viable.

More superstar entertainment and sporting events can create the kind of buzz and excitement that we’ve seen in Atlantic City over the past 20 years when big entertainers visited and championship fights were held at the Boardwalk Hall.

Remember what gives Atlantic City so much potential. This city is within one tankful of gas for 100 million people! Did those people suddenly stop driving? No! And gas is about half as expensive as it was last summer.

It’s time to fight back, and put an end to this nonsense about Atlantic City dying. We’ve never been shy in Atlantic City about telling people the great things about our town. Those things are still great and getting better. We just have to get the word out.

So there it is. Not all peaches and cream, but not all doom and gloom, either. There’s a way out of this if we all cooperate and work together. Let’s do it!

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By Roger Gros   Sun, Jul 25, 2010

By   Mon, May 17, 2010

On May 15, Tony Boloney’s will mark its first year with the inaugural Pizza Slaughter Fest. Wing Bowl champ Jon “Super Squibb” will try to eat his way through the entire pizza menu. Pass the Pepto Bismol, folks; that’s about 30 slices (and up to 10,000 calories).

“If Squibb thinks he can take down every slice of our pizza before anyone else, I have some big guys in the neighborhood who will meet him head-on,” jokes co-owner Mike Hauke.

Hungry members of the public can also vie for the Golden Boloney crown and belt, sampling the six-cheese Monopoly pizza; the Casino Carnivore, with 10 layers of meat and mozzarella; the Veggie Dune, with a grove of marinated vegetables; and the SH**-faced Chicken, with beer-battered bird, Guinness honey BBQ sauce, mozz and cheddar.

This family-friendly event will also feature live local bands. Sign up at the store and online at www.tonyboloneys.com.

http://casinoconnectionac.com/issue/may-2010/article/great-pizza-no-boloney

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