By   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

Call it a whole new look for Trump Entertainment.

The newly opened Chairman Tower—the latest of three hotel towers to open in Atlantic City this year—is a contemporary spire that complements but does not replicate its neighbor, the Trump Taj Mahal.

The popular Taj, with an Indian motif complete with minarets, was designed in the 1980s, when elaborate theming was widespread in the casino industry; the Chairman Tower, like an arrow into the city skyline, points to the future. The Taj, which opened in 1990, is Trump writ large, with at least 10 exterior signs declaring the famous surname; the new tower, though named for Chairman of the Board Donald J. Trump, does not display his name on any part of the exterior.        

“That was the intention; the company didn’t want two
identical towers,” says Joe Emanuele, vice president of the Friedmutter Group, principal architects for the project. “They wanted a new iconic image, contemporary and clean in design, where the building makes the statement, not the signage.”

Outside, the new tower is elegant yet understated, clad in reflective silver glass. Inside, the look is contemporary without being cool, sleek without being severe. The tower’s gleaming metallic columns, spice-toned carpets, and opulent finishes (Macassar ebony from Africa, East Indian rosewood, rosa Verona red marble, Baltic brown granite and black granite) give it a blend of grandeur and comfort sure to bring many more visitors to Atlantic City.  

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony October 2, Governor Jon Corzine hailed Donald Trump’s “vision, will and tenacity” in bringing the new tower to the city, and called it a harbinger of good times to come.

“This is another building block in the destination resort that’s being put into place,” Corzine said, observing that the tower brings the number of additional rooms citywide this year to about 3,000—an important consideration as the city looks to boost its share of the convention business.

“Donald,” Corzine said, “you do it right, all the time.”

Sounding an upbeat note despite the economy, Trump Entertainment CEO Mark Juliano repeated the company’s oft-stated intention to continue to invest in Atlantic City, and expand inside the Taj Mahal’s mighty footprint.

“By no means are we finished expanding the property,” Juliano told the opening-day crowd. “We’ve built this gorgeous new tower while preserving valuable land to develop future projects. As we invest in ourselves, we invest in the future of the industry.”

It’s just the latest in a series of significant capital investments by Trump, including the renovation of the Taj Mahal casino floor (including the addition of a high-limit gaming salon), brand new dining (including famed Italian restaurant Il Mulino New York) plus expanded entertainment and shopping options. The Chairman Tower project alone created 200 new permanent jobs.

The $255 million tower features 782 guest rooms including 74 suites, eight of them at the penthouse level. Every guest room has floor-to-ceiling windows for stunning panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, the bay, and the city at large.

“Everyone loves the views from those rooms—there’s not a bad view from any direction,” says Emanuele. Even at the penthouse level, the diagonal aspect of the rooms relieves any sensation of vertigo. These sweeping views impress without intimidating.

Equally impressive are the luxurious appointments standard in each room and suite. The extra-spacious quarters have high ceilings, double bathroom sinks recessed in Brazilian granite countertops, 50-inch hi-def plasma TVs, iPod docking stations, and oversized walk-in showers (“You could have a party in those showers,” says interior designer Calvin Dix).

Dix and partner Katie Adams of Hirsch Bedner Associates, Santa Monica, California, took their cues from the colors of Asia: “the saffrons and golds, the rich spice colors and natural tones,” to give the rooms a special richness, Dix says.

“We wanted to do a contemporized backdrop in a very modern way without being too sleek,” he says. “There’s nothing glossy or sharp-edged—it’s all clean, subtle lines.”

The designers did encounter one problem, in that some of the rooms “are 60 percent window,” Dix says. “We scheduled art in all the rooms, but sometimes didn’t have the wall space. It’s a nice problem to have.”

The designing duo custom-crafted all the furniture, down to the guest room doors. Each bathroom door, for instance, has a translucent saffron cell at the bottom that glows when the light is on, so guests can always tell when the room is occupied.

“I’ve been in this business 28 years, and this is the first time I’ve ever been asked to design a custom door—that’s practically unheard of,” Dix says. “Most owners will give you free rein, then price the project and dial it back.

“With the Chairman Tower, we got free rein, they weighed it, and they didn’t dial back 50 to 60 percent like most owners, to make it fit in their budget. This is a great achievement, and the project team at Trump Entertainment was fabulous to work with. I would walk on water for those guys.”

Designed with leisure and business travelers in mind, the new tower also has three meeting rooms with approximately 1,200 square feet of space.

Completing a trinity of elegant towers to open here this year, the Chairman Tower (like Harrah’s Waterfront Tower and the Water Club at Borgata) ushers in a new age of luxury in the Atlantic City casino industry, and positions this city by the sea for a vigorous, prosperous future.

The Chairman Tower used:

• 20 miles of building wire and communications cable, enough to go from Trump Taj Mahal to Trump Tower in New York and back (with 69 miles to spare)
• 16 miles of pipe, enough to go from here to the Hamilton Mall 
• Enough sheet rock to cover the Atlantic City Boardwalk twice
• Enough screws that, stood end-to-end, they would reach space
• 134 miles of aluminum extrusions, the distance between New York City and Atlantic City
• More than 25,100 electrical junction boxes, 9,830 electrical outlets and 5,900 electrical switches
•240 security cameras
• More than half a million man-hours of work
• 3,420 tons of rebar
• Approximately 6,500 cubic yards of concrete

By   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

“We have a great store of very good wild fruits (such as) the cranberries, which are much like cherries for color and bigness. An excellent sauce is made of them for venison, turkeys and other fowl, and they are better for tarts than either gooseberries or cherries. We have them brought to our homes by the Indians in great plenty.”

The above letter, written in 1680 by an English settler in Burlington, New Jersey, was one of the first written references to cranberries in the New World.

Cranberries, supposedly shared by Native Americans and Pilgrims on that long-ago first Thanksgiving, remain a staple of the holiday menu; this Thanksgiving, Americans will gobble up an estimated 73 million pounds of the tangy red fruit in sauce, relish, muffins and other side dishes.

While you can thank a farmer for your cranberry sauce (New Jersey is third in production, after Wisconsin and Massachusetts), thank Mother Nature for the fruit’s extraordinary health benefits. Cranberries have been shown to lower cholesterol, promote gastrointestinal health, prevent kidney stones and even help ward off some cancers.

“No doubt about it, cranberries are the best fruit for you,” declares Stephen Lee, whose family has been growing cranberries in the Garden State since 1868. “They cleanse and purify the body. They’re very rich in antioxidants. The health news is really tremendous.”

Cranberries are one of only three fruits native to North America (the others are blueberries and Concord grapes). Long before the first Europeans set foot on this continent, Indians used the fruit as food, for medicinal purposes, and as a natural dye. They called it sassamanash, pakim and atoqua; locally, the Lenni Lenape of the Algonquin tribe called cranberries ibimi, or “bitter fruit.” The word cranberry supposedly originated when German and Dutch settlers noticed a resemblance between the cranberry blossom and the head of a crane.

Of Pirates and Pilgrims

Cranberry cultivation in New Jersey is believed to have begun in the mid-1800s, with ship merchants among the primary consumers. They bought the berries for $50 per barrel, then sold them to whalers, who munched on them at sea to offset scurvy.        

Cranberries were also a key ingredient in the colonial delicacy known as pemmican, an early convenience food made of dried venison or buffalo meat that was pounded to a powder, mixed with cranberry paste, formed into a cake and left to dry in the sun. Because it lasted a long time, pemmican was a favorite of pirates and explorers as well as Native American tribes, who socked away supplies of pemmican for consumption during the winter.

The Jersey Pinelands are perfect for cranberries, which thrive in sandy, acidic, well-drained soil, and the Pine Barrens as a whole are proud of their shared agricultural heritage. Both Chatworth and Whitesbog hold cranberry festivals each year; Chatsworth is home to the Philip E. Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research of Rutgers University. At Double Trouble State Park in Lacey and Berkeley townships, autumn harvests draw the public in what has become a communal celebration of the ruby fruit. During the 1930s, one of the last big bogs in Cape May County was permanently flooded to become Lake Nummy in Belleplain State Forest.

Until the early 1960s, cranberries were picked by hand, then gathered with scoops that combed the berries from the vine. After World War II, mechanical pickers resembling lawn mowers were devised to shake the berries free and lift them onto a conveyor belt.

While some farms continue the old-fashioned dry harvesting method, most growers today wet-harvest by flooding the bogs with 18 inches of water and using a water reel, which looks like a big egg beater, to churn up the water so the ripe berries float to the surface in a dramatic sea of red. The berries are then corralled at one corner of the bog and pumped out. 

Elizabeth Lee of New Egypt, Ocean County, is credited with making the first cranberry sauce back in 1917. Instead of throwing out damaged berries, she decided to cook them and sell the jelly as “Bog Sweet Cranberry Sauce.” Elizabeth’s company eventually became part of Ocean Spray.

Good, and Good for You
 
But back to those health benefits. Dr. Amy Howell of Rutgers says research continues to prove what old wives have said for generations: cranberries are great for your health.

“Of course there was the assumption for over 100 years that cranberries help prevent urinary tract infections; they thought it was due to the fruit’s acidity,” says Howell. “Now research is saying no—what cranberries actually do is prevent bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall.”

That’s no mean feat, Howell says. Such infections are the second biggest cause of missed work among women. To avoid such infections? “One 8-to-10-ounce glass of cranberry juice a day,” Howell says.

The discovery that cranberries keep bacteria from surviving in the body has led to exciting new research into the fruit’s role in preventing ulcers (which are also caused by bacteria) and dental plaque (ditto).

More importantly, cranberries can lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol. “That’s phenomenal,” says Howell. “Even with good nutrition, it’s very, very hard to raise good cholesterol.” According to a Canadian study, cranberries consumed daily over a three-month period have been shown to increase good cholesterol by 8 percent. Now scientists are looking at the fruit’s role in inhibiting the growth of malignant breast and colon tumors.  

Luckily, the healthy properties in cranberries cannot be cooked out, pasteurized out or baked out. “They maintain their activity through all that, and do it quite well,” Howell says. So when you give thanks on November 27, be sure to thank a cranberry. Then eat up. It’s good for you!

Fruity Facts

As New Jersey growers strive to maintain their dominance in the burgeoning cranberry business, Rutgers University has developed three new high-yielding varieties: Crimson Queen, Mullica Queen and Demoranville.

Cranberries contain air pockets, which led early growers to give them the “bounce test.” Any berries that didn’t bounce when thrown against a wooden table were considered of inferior quality.

Bottoms Up!

A drink frequently downed by the women of Sex and the City has made the cranberry more popular than ever.

The classic Cosmopolitan is made with two parts lemon vodka, one part triple sec, one part cranberry juice and a splash of lime. Cranberry grower Stephen Lee, a member of Ocean Spray’s cooperative of New Jersey farms, enjoys the renown it’s gained through the Cosmo. 

“We prefer to stress the health and heritage of our favorite fruit,” he says. “But if I’m going to drink a Cosmo, it better be the best cranberry juice going. Ocean Spray.”

Best Bite

Our roving foodie recommends made-from-scratch cranberry-walnut muffins made fresh daily at Formica Brothers Bakery. Chewy and sweet, they are typically served with cream cheese.
Sure-to-Please Recipes (from PineyPower.com)

Cranberry Sauce

1 package fresh cranberries
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
finely minced zest from 1/2 orange
1/8 tsp. salt
Splash of cabernet, merlot, etc. (optional)
1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, preferably lightly toasted

Place first six ingredients in saucepan; bring to slow boil, stirring often. Listen for cranberries popping, then cook over slow heat for about 10 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in nuts and let cool. Leftover sauce makes a delicious dip!
Sweet-Tart Cranberry Spread

1 package cream cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
Cranberry sauce to desired taste
1/4 tsp. hot pepper

Serve with crackers. Very festive, and great with wine!


Cranberry Cole Slaw

1 cup cranberries coarsely chopped
3 cups cabbage — finely shredded
2 tbsp. celery, diced
2 tbsp. green pepper, diced
1 can seedless grapes, halved
1/4 cup cranberry juice
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tbsp. honey
1 tbsp. vinegar

Combine cranberries, cabbage celery green pepper and grapes. Mix juice, mayonnaise, honey and vinegar and mix with fruits and veggies. Chill.

Quick Cran-carrot Salad

One package pre-shredded carrots
1/2 (or more, to taste) dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Mayonnaise to taste

Rinse and drain carrots; mix all ingredients together and refrigerate overnight.

Cranberry Mallow Pie

32 large marshmallows or 3 cups miniature marshmallows
16-ounce can whole berry cranberry sauce
1 cup chilled whipping cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
pre-made vanilla wafer or graham cracker crust

Combine marshmallows and cranberry sauce in a medium saucepan. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring constantly, just until marshmallows are melted. Remove from heat; cool 10 minutes. Refrigerate, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour or until mixture mounds slightly when dropped from a spoon. Beat whipping cream and vanilla in a small mixing bowl until stiff peaks form. Stir cranberry mixture until blended; fold gently into whipped cream. Pour into crust. Chill until set, at least 5 hours. For a cool treat on a hot day, try freezing pie until firm. To serve, garnish slices with additional sweetened whipped cream, if desired. Makes six servings.

By David Schwartz   Wed, Oct 29, 2008

In 1976, the nation’s Bicentennial year, New Jersey voters gave Atlantic City a second chance at glory.

The city had fallen far from its former standing as the “world’s playground.” Jobs had disappeared, infrastructure was decaying, and tourism had dwindled. In 1968, at a testimonial for 500 Club owner Paul “Skinny” D’Amato, city power brokers first discussed casino gambling as a cure for the city’s ills. Within six years, they managed to get a measure on the New Jersey ballot.

The 1974 referendum would have allowed casinos to open anywhere in the state after a local vote. But gambling opponents, including clergymen, advised their constituents to vote no, and the referendum failed.  

These were dark days, but some didn’t give up hope. A small citizen contingent pressed for casinos. Without gambling, they argued, the city could not reverse its decline. Some considered them impractical dreamers, but they refused to take no for an answer.

In retrospect, the casino boosters should have been taken more seriously. Gambling was in the middle of a long winning streak. After New Hampshire began the nation’s first modern lottery in 1964, several states, including New Jersey, legalized them. Horse racing had been growing for decades. On the other side of the country, Nevada had proven that casino gaming could be regulated, and Las Vegas had become a neon metropolis on the strength of its tourist economy.

In time, casino supporters were able to swing most of the clergy, including leaders in the powerful Catholic community, and undercut the moral argument against gambling.  

The new referendum, specifying that casinos be restricted to Atlantic City, quelled fears of rampant statewide casino-building. In a shrewd political move, advocates had a portion of gaming taxes earmarked for senior citizen programs, thus securing the support of a large voting bloc. Law enforcement and business leaders also spoke in favor of the measure, and the increasing economic desperation of Atlantic City was eloquent testimony to its necessity.

But the city still faced an uphill fight. Anti-casino crusaders declared that gambling would be followed by organized crime, corruption and mass bankruptcies, giving the Garden State a foretaste of Armageddon.

Then casino advocates hired political consultant Sanford Weiner to assist the Committee to Rebuild Atlantic City, the central pro-casino group. Weiner was put in charge of a $1 million campaign fund, an incredible amount of money at the time. The anti-casino groups only raised $21,000.

Weiner’s marketing blitz focused on several themes: “Help Yourself,” reminding voters that casinos could enrich more than their owners; “Atlantic City Only,” which eased fears of a casino in every backyard; and “Casinos Yes,” just in case anyone was in doubt about which way to vote.

The vote came in an election season that was at once cynical and expectant. The Bicentennial stirred patriotic pride, but the Vietnam war and the Watergate scandal had left Americans skeptical about the nation’s leaders. The presidential election pitted Democrat Jimmy Carter against Richard Nixon’s hand-picked vice president Gerald Ford, who had pardoned his scandal-plagued former boss.  

In this environment, it made sense to vote for casinos. After all, the prohibition of gambling hadn’t stopped games of chance, and Atlantic City couldn’t be worse off. For senior citizens, the financial assistance promised by the measure was a godsend.

After months of debate, discussion and persuasion, New Jersey voters went to the polls. On November 2, 1976, more than 1.2 million people voted in favor of the referendum—the exact same number who had voted against it two years before. By a margin of 200,000 votes, the measure passed.

With this victory, Atlantic City opened the door to its future. Without the trials and triumph of 1976, it’s a fair bet none of us would be where we are today

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Oct 29, 2008

As a coworker, you are hard working, prompt and friendly. But has anyone ever told you about your tendency to chatter on without listening to others? (In fact, two of them have already died this morning! See those frozen smiles?)

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Oct 29, 2008

The ripples of your actions create waves of intention that become oceans of consequence. So don’t forget to walk in footsteps of sand. (For a life-changing DVD based on these same principles, send $19.95 to my PO box!)

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Oct 29, 2008

Your love life will hit a new high this month, with interest from multiple suitors, all of whom are potential life mates. (Or is that multiple inmates, all of whom are potential lifers? Either way, good luck!)

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Oct 29, 2008

At work, you are achieving some upward mobility, but don’t let that heady new altitude go to your head. For one thing, it’s lonely at the top. (For another thing, the atmosphere is really bad for your hair.)

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Oct 29, 2008

You’re not above sharing your champagne tastes with those on a Burger King budget. Could you be coming across a little snooty? Could it help to get your nose out of the air? (Could you stop using that Rolex as brass knuckles?)

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Oct 29, 2008

Even partiers like you need time alone to ponder your sins. But your contemplative state won’t last for long. (Soon you’ll stop examining your conscience and go back to examining your navel lint. Through beer goggles.)

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Oct 29, 2008

Letting others have their way is guaranteed to make you some friends, but you’re not doing yourself any favors. Don’t let anyone treat you like a doormat. (You should probably take off that T-shirt that says, “Welcome Friends.”)

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Oct 29, 2008

Your childlike love of adventure has gotten you into some scrapes, but they have also taught you about yourself. So embrace your inner explorer! Try living in the woods! Become a train-hoppin’ hobo! (Notify your next of kin!)

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Oct 29, 2008

Your fighting spirit is notorious, as is your propensity for success. Keep climbing the career ladder, but don’t forget the people you passed on the way. (Those with boot prints on their heads will gladly help you back to the bottom.)

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Oct 29, 2008

You’re a little skittish about commitment, whether to a new job or a blooming love affair. Listen to your gut instincts and don’t be afraid to flee if necessary. (Another great life lesson brought to you by Runaway Bride.)

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Oct 29, 2008

The money crisis has sent many into a tailspin, but your financial smarts have kept you on an even keel. Keep your calculation skills sharp, and you should weather the storm. (All you have to know these days is subtraction.)

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Oct 29, 2008

Autumn brings out your jealous side, and you’re more possessive of your partner. Show your sweetheart that you can be trusting; stay home to watch movies while he goes out. (Make sure one of those movies isn’t Fatal Attraction.)

By   Wed, Oct 29, 2008

By her own estimate, Robin Taylor logs up to 100 hours on the job each week. But she doesn’t feel the slightest bit overworked.

Besides being a dual rate pit manager at Trump Marina (she started on day one, when it was Trump’s Castle), Taylor and husband Chuck own the Brigantine Aquatic Center, where they help people find their inner Michael Phelps.

Taylor trained early for both careers. As a girl in Seaside Heights, she spent every summer in the pool while her parents worked in the family department store. And she learned to count—in Polish, Italian, Yiddish, and half a dozen other languages—by playing cards with her Hungarian grandmother.

Taylor’s first casino job, back in 1985, was supposed to be with the Hilton organization. But when Hilton’s license was denied, she found herself working for Donald Trump. “I came in with the chandeliers,” she says. “I’ve seen the carpet change six times.”

As much as she appreciates her job on dry land, Taylor’s true passion is swimming. She opened the Aquatic Center in 2001 and has taught 2,500 children over the years.

“Drowning is the No. 1 cause of death in children under 14, and it’s actually epidemic in ethnic communities,” she says. “If we could save a couple of lives, that’s my purpose.”

Robin takes no salary, and in some cases, charges nothing for lessons.

“Sometimes that’s the only way to get kids in here,” she says. “If they can’t afford lessons, I put them in classes that are not quite full at a reduced fee, or I just don’t charge them.”

In case of emergency, Taylor’s a good person to have around. The Level III  swim coach is Red Cross- and YMCA-certified, a former EMT and paramedic, and a onetime volunteer first aid squad lieutenant. That kind of commitment helps her manage those 90-hour weeks.

“Swimming teaches time management, cooperation, endurance, teamwork,” she says. “It transforms you physically and mentally and turns you into a competitor.”
    
Teamwork is also key to Taylor’s longevity at Trump Marina. She describes her colleagues there as “a 10,000-member family. “If someone gets hurt, they send in cards. If someone has a baby, they send in gifts. If there’s a tragedy, they take up a collection. I enjoy the people I work with.”

She hopes they all stick around through the likely transition of Trump Marina to a Margaritaville Casino, a deal that could be finalized before the end of the year. Taylor herself would love to stay on.

“I have my Hawaiian shirt,” she says. “As long as they’ll have me, of course I’ll stay.”

By   Wed, Oct 29, 2008

In the months following 9/11, 1,500 additional traffic deaths were recorded in the United States. Why? People were afraid to fly.

Flying was no more dangerous; in the wake of the terrorist attacks, it may have never been safer. But 1,500 people could not bring themselves to board a plane. They died on the highway instead.

That’s just one example of the baseless fears that keep people nervous, keep them home, make them buy products they don’t need, send them to war, and alter the culture, making everyone less free.

Newspaper columnist and author Daniel Gardner has written a timely, persuasive and occasionally infuriating book about the ways governments, corporations and news media rule and direct people through fear. Some of these scare tactics are used with calculation. Others are simply passed along until they are accepted, without question, as fact.

A startling example is the skewed statistic about child predators. In the 1980s, John Walsh, father of a murdered child and founder of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, told Congress that 50,000 children disappear annually, “abducted by strangers for reasons of foul play.” The actual number of children kidnapped by strangers, reports Gardner, is closer to 115. About half of those are returned safely.

The consequences are not minor. Some parents are so fearful, they don’t let their kids play outside anymore; to exploit these fears, GPS systems are now being developed to keep track of kids.

Through similar examples, Gardner explains how the mammalian brain senses and then shares fear (making this an interesting trip into our collective psyche as well).

And though The Science of Fear may make you feel like you’ve been duped—by your government, by big business, and by mass media—it may also make you sigh with relief. There has never been a better time to be alive, Gardner writes. If only we could relax and enjoy it.

By Joe Legato   Wed, Oct 29, 2008

What do you get when you mix a zombie game with the Marvel Universe? Treyarch and Shaba Games have the answer: Spider-Man: Web of Shadows.

In this game, Manhattan has become completely infested with the alien mind-controlling symbiote that gives “Venom” his superpowers. The S.H.I.E.L.D. team has isolated the island to prevent the spread of infection, and now it’s up to Spider-Man to save the city.

But it’s too much for him alone. An array of Marvel heroes and villains may be able to help, but the symbiote is taking over and mutating more of these characters every second.

This same symbiote once gave Spider-Man even stronger powers, but they made him more aggressive and merciless. Is it worth doing again to save the city? Now you must choose who to team up with from the Marvel world and how far you will go to salvage Manhattan.

Much darker than other Spider-Man games, Web of Shadows presents ethical dilemmas to our superhero friend and lets the gamers decide which path to take. This is the first Spider-Man game that lets players make decisions and choose their own path in the game. The outcome of the game depends on these choices, and there are many different possible endings.

Web of Shadows has cool scenes and visual features. It’s always fun just to see your favorite Marvel character mutate into a super-powered monster.

Web of Shadows presents a unique storyline in the Marvel Universe. The Invasion of the Body Snatchers-feel of the game is creepy, but in a good way. In most games you have to be a helpless human fighting zombies, but in Web of Shadows you get to be a superhero.

Just don’t get too caught up in the extra powers the symbiote gives you; you never know when you might turn sides against yourself.

By Robert Rossiello   Wed, Oct 29, 2008

Are there any true artists left in the commercial music industry? With the release of his third album, Gossip In The Grain, the singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne may fit the bill. Here is a musician who doesn’t follow trends or crowd his sound with slick production, but has an original and fresh approach to songwriting. In short, LaMontagne is a craftsman. What shines through his music—from his first release Trouble in 2004 to his 2006 follow-up
Till the Sun Turns Black—is pure sincerity, an intimate, heartfelt connection to his material.

This sincerity is evident on the 10 tracks on Gossip In The Grain. Backed by his touring band, LaMontagne barrels through railroad blues like “Hey Me, Hey Mama,” and “Henry Nearly Killed Me (It’s a Shame).” But it’s his ballads that really showcase his voice—a breathy, smoky delivery that conveys emotional depth and vulnerability. In songs like “Winter Birds,” and the gorgeous “A Falling Through,” you can hear the ache in his voice.

Producer Ethan Johns, who helped expand the singer’s sound on his last effort, wisely lets LaMontagne’s voice take center stage, buffering it with spare, evocative melodies. Reminiscent of Nick Drake and Steven Stills—whom LaMontagne considers influences— Gossip In The Grain creates a mood at times melancholy and celebratory.

Though you could say he is working in the folk style, LaMontagne’s music does not fit neatly in that genre. On this album he has commented, “It was time to open up a little bit more, not be quite so reserved in my choice of songs that I wanted to record.” Gossip In The Grain is expansive in its musical choices and its emotional range. If you are not familiar with this excellent musician’s work, it’s time you got to know him.

By Greg Jones   Wed, Oct 29, 2008

Mike Myers is taking a lot of heat for his latest movie, The Love Guru. The majority of critics are complaining about the lowbrow and tasteless humor, the generally inane plot and the less-than-stellar acting from Myers and costar Jessica Alba. Somehow, this is a surprise to people?

Alba has only one talent that keeps her in the movies: she is easy on the eyes. As for Myers and his material, well, that hasn’t really changed since he first arrived on Saturday Night Live. His characters—from Simon and his “draw-rings,” East German techno fan Dieter or even rock and roll wastehead Wayne Campbell—all seemed to revel in puns, pratfalls and cheap jokes.

Nothing changed when he created the Austin Powers character, and again nothing has changed with Guru Maurice Pitka, the self-proclaimed love guru.

Pitka’s charge is to help a star hockey player (Romany Malco) get over the stress of his wife leaving him so the team can snap a losing streak and make a run for the Stanley Cup. If he can do this, he will not only be paid $2 million, but he will also get the chance to live his life dream of being on the Oprah Winfrey Show and possibly overtake Deepak Chopra as the world’s leading self-help guru.

It’s a mindless journey full of typical Myers-type jokes, complete with the kind of sex jokes that keep teenage boys in stitches.

But with that said, it seems like Myers has found a style that he is comfortable with and that works for him. If you are a fan of his comedy, you’ll enjoy the movie; if not, it may be more of a gamble.

The DVD comes with the traditional fares of commentary, blooper reels and deleted scenes (Hollywood somehow thinks packaging together the stuff that wasn’t good enough to show in the theater justifies a $20 price tag). Don’t let the negative reviews dissuade you from giving this one a shot. It’s not nearly as pretentious as half the movies being released these days; it is funnier than most; and it is no less original than the endless string of remakes that seem to be all the rage these days.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

November 1
Celtic Thunder, Taj Mahal
Chris Titus, Trump Plaza
David Byrne, Borgata
Alice Cooper, House of Blues
Luis Miguel, Borgata
Lil’ Wayne, Boardwalk Hall
La Pentenera The Sephardic Connection, Dante Hall
Jorge Celendon & Jimmy Zambrano, Resorts

November 2
Usher, Borgata

November 6
Nine Inch Nails, Borgata

November 7
New Kids on the Block, Natasha Bedingfield, Borgata
Sara Bareilles, Marc Broussard, Raining Jane, Borgata
Katt Williams, Taj Mahal
Dropkick Murphys, House of Blues
Bud Noble, Dante Hall

November 7-9
Don Rickles, Tropicana

November 8
Dennis Miller, Borgata
Joe Jackson, Taj Mahal
Cheetah Girls, Boardwalk Hall
Melissa Ethridge, House of Blues
Smashing Pumpkins, Borgata

November 9
Jean Chatzky (Lifestyle Series), Harrah’s
Martin Nievera and his Orchestra, House of Blues

November 14
Tower of Power, Average White Band, House of Blues

November 15
Eddie Money, House of Blues
Nikos Vertis, Taj Mahal
Al Jarreau, Resorts
Susan Westenhoefer (SJ AIDS Alliance benefit), Harrah’s
Brian Regan, Borgata

November 16-21
Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge, Hilton

November 20
Hinder, House of Blues

November 21
Yes: Howe, Squire & White, Borgata
Lou Neglia’s Ring of Combat XXII, Tropicana

November 21-22
Terry Fator, Taj Mahal
Tony Bennett, Harrah’s

November 22
Madonna, Boardwalk Hall
Steely Dan, Borgata
Tonia Tecce, Dante Hall

November 26
New Breed Fighters, House of Blues

November 28
Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Boardwalk Hall

November 28-29
Tom Jones, Trump Marina
Lynryd Skynryd, Borgata

November 29
B.B. King, House of Blues
Jay Leno, Caesars
Last Comic Standing 2008, Taj Mahal
Pops Fernandez & Dolphy w/Zsa-Zsa Padilla, Jay R, Geneva Cruz, Taj Mahal

REVIEWS

Ongoing
Yesterday—A Tribute to the Beatles, Tropicana

November 4 - December 20
Sounds of the Season, Tropicana

November 5 - November 26
Legends in Concert, Resorts

November 28 - December 28
Cirque Dreams Holidaze, Trump Plaza

December 3 -17
Spirit of Christmas, Hilton

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

Al Jarreau isn’t a household name, and he has only fleetingly ruled the pop charts (with ’80s-era hits like “We’re in this Love Together,” “Mornin’” and “After All.” But as fans of the singer know, Jarreau’s limpid voice and limitless vocal talents capably span genres and decades.

Jarreau first sang in his Wisconsin church choir, then moved to Los Angeles to play the club circuit. After releasing a handful of albums, he scored a hit with 1981’s Breakin’ Away. His fame grew with his recording of the theme for the popular TV show Moonlighting. He eventually won three Grammys, and is the only artist to win the coveted award in three genres—jazz, R&B and pop.

These days, Jarreau appeals to the soft R&B set, with a seasonal collection, Christmas, out this year. He may not be a superstar, but to his fans, Al Jarreau has more talent in one hip pocket than most artists today.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

The queen of reinvention has made a 25-year career by constantly rotating a closetful of contradictory images and sounds, while always remaining true to her dance roots. That queen, of course, is Madonna, who returned to the pop charts this year with a dominatrix style and a club-friendly album, Hard Candy.

Madonna’s black corsets and bass-driven beats are at the forefront of this fall’s Sticky & Sweet Tour. As always, her patented brand of subversive sex sells. Hard Candy’s lead single, “4 Minutes,” is all slinky grooves and marching-band horns cued and crafted by ubiquitous producer Timbaland. Justin Timberlake lent vocals to the album, though teenage fans may be disappointed by his absence from the tour.

But for most of us, Madonna is enough, and pop’s reigning diva is in top form. Hard Candy may not be her best album, but its creator is surely one of the best performers of our time.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

The 1990s saw a series of epic rock acts that changed the face of music; at the top of the list were Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Smashing Pumpkins. Though it seemed the Pumpkins had gone the way of genius artists who eventually imploded, lead singer Billy Corgan and his crew are now celebrating a 20-year musical partnership.

Smashing Pumpkins are now as they have always been: Corgan’s dream. The singer crafted each of the band’s masterpieces, including their signature albums Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.

The band split in 2000, and Corgan took his ethereal metal stylings to other projects. In 2005, he announced the band was reuniting, though he neglected to mention that fact to bassist D’Arcy, guitarist James Iha or drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. Chamberlin returned to the fold, and along with Corgan, bassist Ginger Reyes, guitarist Jeff Schroeder and keyboardist Lisa Harriton released a new album in 2007 called Zeitgeist.

Though the original lineup will likely never be reunited, Corgan and crew put together a two-DVD set, If All Goes Wrong, recorded at the Fillmore Auditorium, to be released this month.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

Last year, singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles stormed the airwaves with the anti-romance rant aptly titled “Love Song.” Since then, Bareilles’s throaty voice, observational lyrics and skilled piano riffs have earned her comparisons to Vanessa Carlton and Fiona Apple.

The clever, easy songs on her major label debut, Little Voice, always sound fresh, even after months of radio play. She followed the success of “Love Song” with “Bottle It Up,” a sunny exaltation of love. Like most of Bareilles’s lyrics, “Bottle It Up” is about relationships, and she coats the tune with a radio-friendly pop veneer that’s garnered countless fans.

These days, Bareilles is just riding the wave of her debut album, which has achieved a longevity that’s rare for first outings. After working for two years to ensure that Little Voice would be the strongest record she was capable of, it seems as though Bareilles succeeded.

By   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

Born Edward Joseph Mahoney in New York City, the rocker known as Eddie Money has been singing and recording since the early 1970s, and has a string of Top 40 hits and platinum albums to his credit.

Money's unique cadence, urgent vocals, catchy tunes and cover boy looks made him a natural. He found a mentor in legendary rock impresario Bill Graham, scored a recording contract with Columbia Records, and soared into the rock pantheon with hits like “Baby Hold On” and “Two Tickets to Paradise.” He performed steadily into the MTV era, when his witty videos for “Shakin’” and “Think I’m In Love” received regular rotation.

Like many of his contemporaries, Money struggled with drug addiction during the mid ’80s, but kicked the habit and roared back up the charts with “Take Me Home Tonight,” a Top 10 hit with Ronnie Spector. He'll bring his act to the House of Blues
on November 15.

Casino Connection: Are you bringing a “greatest hits” show to HOB?

Money: I was blessed by the guy upstairs with a lot of hits—26 songs in the Top 100—and I make sure I do as many as I can. Otherwise people will say, “Hey, I drove 150 miles and my cousin got a DUI and you didn’t play ‘Walk On Water.’”

So it’s probably not too hard to compile a set list.

We actually had a contest where the fans wrote the set list. We open with “Two Tickets to Paradise,” “Think I’m In Love,” “Endless Nights,” but we also do stuff from the ’60s—Jackie Wilson, stuff by Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, Marvin Gaye—songs I performed in high school. My daughter, Jesse Money, does the Ronnie Spector part on “Take Me Home” and Tammi Terrell’s part in “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”

When you look out at your audience these days, who’s looking back? Kids? Baby boomers?

I have a lot of young fans who grew up listening to their parents’ music. They’re into Cheap Trick, Bob Seger, Eddie Money, the Beatles… “Take Me Home Tonight” is the biggest frat song in the last 10 years. For some reason kids love it, even though it came out in the 1980s. They even have a club called Ed-heads. It’s amazing.

You’re no stranger to Atlantic City, are you?

I remember going to Atlantic City as a kid for the Miss America pageant. My mother loved gambling, and I’m a slot maniac. I love the atmosphere, seeing people winning and feeling good. I hear the “ding-ding-ding” and I’m home.

Are you a winner?

Actually I once won about $11,000 at the Turning Stone Casino. I was playing slots and got a triple 7, then hit the keno on top of that. I don’t know if the owners were pissed off or not, but they didn’t have me back for three years. I like playing blackjack and roulette. Gambling is what life’s all about.

Did any one songwriter or performer have a major influence on you as a young performer? 

I think Rod Stewart’s the greatest. I still like Seger, Mike Reno (of Loverboy), REO Speedwagon, Styx, Joan Jett.

Musically, what really turns you on right now?

I’m stuck a lot in the car, driving the kids to school and soccer, and I’ve got an earful of plenty of good music. Incubus. Nine Inch Nails. I think Fuel is good. So’s Maroon 5. Well, these kids grew up with good rock and roll. They know what they’re doing.

Eddie Money performs Saturday, November 15 at the House of Blues. Ticket prices range from $22 to $42.

By Michael Bruckler   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

It’s autumn, that delicious in-between season when the nights are cool, the days are crisp, and the air is at its most invigorating. Some say it’s the perfect time to experience the Atlantic City region, but enjoy it, because this idyllic season passes all too quickly. To help you plan your itinerary, here's a list of special events that take place this month. Have fun!

Boardwalk Hall
       
The Cheetah Girls “One World Live” Tour arrives at Boardwalk Hall Saturday, November 8. The multi-platinum pop/R&B trio will be singing songs from their newest Disney Channel original movie set in India. Showtime for the concert is 4 p.m.

Madonna brings her Sticky & Sweet Tour to Boardwalk Hall Saturday, November 22. The show follows her 11th studio album, Hard Candy, and features 16 dancers, a 12-piece band, and more than eight major costume changes by Madonna. Showtime is 8 p.m.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra arrives for the holiday season on Friday, November 28 at 8 p.m. Their current tour spans more than 90 cities coast-to-coast in a nine-week period. Since its first Winter Tour in 1996, the orchestra has consistently rated in the Top 10 for both gross concert revenues and audience attendance. Tickets for all shows are available at the Boardwalk Hall Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, by visiting www.Ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-736-1420. 

Atlantic City and Ocean City
   
It’s a Native American Indian Presentation by Quiet Thunder at Atlantic City’s Absecon Lighthouse Sunday, November 16. Quiet Thunder, also known as Dick Gilbert, shares his heritage as a member of the Lenni Lenape tribe. He’ll give visitors a glimpse of Native American life by showcasing instruments, skins, weapons, hunting and fishing tools and more. The presentation is free. For times and other information, call 609-449-1360. 

One of the most peaceful and popular events of the season is the annual Quiet Festival held in Ocean City, Friday through Sunday, November 14-16.  Free to the public, the event includes such silent activities as seashell listening, performances by mimes, silent movies, and a storyteller who performs Indian hand tales. There is also a “Pet Your Pet” pageant and a feather-dropping competition. For more information, call 609-525-9300.
           
Victorian Cape May

Cape May is the scene of the crime during Sherlock Holmes Weekend, Friday through Sunday, November 7-9. Join master sleuths Holmes and Watson as you work to solve a mystery and win valuable prizes. On Friday evening, actors and audience assemble for dessert, coffee and tea. Prizes will be awarded for Victorian costumes. Saturday is the Search for Clues tour as
you visit six of Cape May’s Victorian homes. The mystery is solved on Sunday during brunch. Components of the Sherlock Holmes Mystery may be purchased separately.

Christmas comes early at the Holiday Preview Weekend in Cape May, Friday through Sunday, November 21-23. See Cape May roll out the red and green carpet and ring in the holiday season. For more information on Cape May events, call 609-884-5404 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

Community Events

November 1 Trail of Two Cities Run/Walk, 7 a.m.
9th Street Bridge, Somers Point to Ocean City • 609-525-9300
 
November 1 Haunted City Hall, 6 p.m.-9 p.m.
9th St. & Asbury Ave., Ocean City • www.ocnj.us

November 1 Children’s Halloween Party, 1p.m.
Avalon Community Hall, Avalon • www.avalonboro.org

November 1 Fall Arts & Crafts Festival, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cape May Convention Hall, Cape May • www.capemaymac.org

November 1-2 Crafts Marketplace at Noyes Museum
10 a.m.-5 p.m., 733 Lily Lake Road, Oceanville
609-652-8848 • www.noyesmuseum.org

November 1-2 Bay Atlantic Symphony “Epic & Lyric”
4 p.m. & 8 p.m., Cumberland County College, Vineland
856-692-8499

November 2 Cheer-Tech Inc. Island Championships
9 a.m.-6 p.m. Wildwoods Convention Center
Wildwood, NJ • www.cheertech.net

November 5-22 Cape May Stage presents Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, 8 p.m., Robert Shackleton Playhouse,  Bank and Lafayette, Cape May • www.capemaystage.com

November 7 Open Studio/Creative Glass Center of America
Glassblowing Demonstration, Millville • www.wheatonarts.org

November 7-8 Disney’s High School Musical in One Act
2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Ocean City Music Pier
Ocean City • www.oceancitytheatrecompany.com

November 7-9 30th Cape May Jazz Festival
Various locations, Cape May • www.capemayjazz.org

November 7-9 Sherlock Holmes Weekend
Various locations, Cape May • www.capemaymac.org

November 8  Artist Jim Shore, Noon-4 p.m. Old Farmer’s Almanac General Store, Quarter at Tropicana Casino & Resort

November 8 Beacon Animal Rescue 5K Run, 10 a.m.
Sea Isle City Boardwalk, Sea Isle City • 609-390-7946

November 9 Neil Berg’s “101 Years of Broadway,” 4 p.m.
Stockton Performing Arts Center, Pomona  • 609-652-9000

November 11 Tree Lighting & Musical Light Show, 1:30 p.m.
Fiesta Plaza, the Quarter at Tropicana Casino & Resort

November 11 Veteran’s Day: Parades & observances take place
throughout Atlantic & Cape May Counties. See local city hall for details

November 14-16 Christmas Arts & Crafts Festival, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Ocean City Music Pier, Ocean City • www.ocnj.us

November 14-16 Quiet Festival, 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
Ocean City Library, 17th St. and Simpson Ave. • 609-525-9300

November 17-18 Christmas Cavalcade of Crafters
Ocean City Music Pier • 800-822-4112

November 21 Family Feud, 6:30 p.m.
Sea Isle City Community Lodge, Sea Isle City • 609-263-0050

November 22 Breakfast with Santa, 10 a.m.
Aleathea’s at the Inn of Cape May, Cape May • www.capemaymac.org

November 22-23 Holiday Celebration of Fine Craft, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Ocean City Music Pier, Ocean City • www.ocnj.us

November 22 & 29 Santa Express
Cape May Seashore Lines, Tuckahoe • www.capemayseashorelines.org

November 27 Harriers for Hounds 5K Run/Walk, 8:30 a.m.
Ocean City Boardwalk • 609-399-2018

November 28 Annual Holiday Parade, 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
High Street, Millville • www.glasstownartsdistrict.com

November 28 Puppet Theater Christmas Show
Historic Towne of Smithville • 609-748-7160 • www.smithvillenj.com

November 28-29 Holiday Crafts Fair, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Star of the Sea Parish Hall, Cape May • www.capemaymac.org

November 28-30 Avalon Family Weekend
Nov. 28, 5:30 p.m., Tree Lighting & Holiday Party, Veterans Plaza
Nov. 29-30 Holiday activities, Avalon • www.avalonboro.org

November 28-December 28 This Wonderful Life, 8 p.m.
Cape May Stage Bank & Lafayette Sts., Cape May
www.capemaystage.com

November 29 Christmas in Stone Harbor - An Island Holiday
7 p.m.-10 p.m. Christmas parade, Stone Harbor
609-368-6101 • www.stoneharborbeach.com

November 29 Lunch with Mrs. Claus, 1:30 p.m.
The Inn of Cape May, Cape May • www.capemaymac.org

November 29-30 Photos with Santa, Noon-3 p.m.
Ocean City Music Pier, Ocean City • www.ocnj.us

By Dave Bontempo   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

Atlantic City casino executives go on to diverse post-gaming careers. Some become judges. Some form consulting companies or development groups. Eventually, some own their own properties.

Peter Aaronson marched to his own drummer—literally. The New York native, who perfected his craft at Caesars, Resorts and Trump Taj Mahal, is now executive director of the Las Vegas Philharmonic. In this role, all parts of Aaronson’s life have merged: performing, producing, booking, negotiating and fundraising.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to marry my backgrounds,” says Aaronson, who started as a trumpet player in New York and mastered several administrative roles in Atlantic City before joining the Philharmonic. As the third largest arts organization in Nevada, the orchestra plays to sold-out crowds and will move into a $475 million facility in 2011.

For Aaronson, it’s a long way from gaming. Between 1986 and 1991, he experienced the energy of Atlantic City’s heyday and the start of its recession-driven stagnation. He began as an outside production manager for the Boardwalk Electric Light and Music show at Caesars. The show, produced by Disney legend Robert Jani, was a Boardwalk parade on stage, depicting life at the Jersey Shore in the 1920s and 1930s. Aaronson hired the performers and contracted with Caesars to stage the show in its venue. He later discovered the other side of the coin, in casino administration.

“The Caesars show ran six months and as it was shutting down, there was an opening at the Superstar Theater in Resorts,” Aaronson says. “The job involved contracting headliner talent and helping book the performers. The primary day-to-day job was operating the theater and adhering to budgets put together by the entertainment VP.”

Aaronson scuttled a simultaneous conducting job in New York to concentrate on Atlantic City. Moving to the Taj Mahal in 1990, he opened the Mark G. Etess Arena with an Elton John concert.

It was an exciting time, and a poignant one. The arena was named for beloved Taj Mahal President Mark Etess, whom Aaronson considered a mentor. Etess had died the year before, along with two other Trump executives, when their helicopter, en route from New York to Atlantic City, crashed near the Garden State Parkway.

The Elton John concert “was the first big public event for the Etess Arena, and everybody rallied around,” Aaronson recalls. “The shows were terrific. They were a rousing success and made the arena successful right out of the box.”

Aaronson served as entertainment manager there for 10 months.

“It was quite an interesting time in Atlantic City,” he says. “It was a legendary vacation getaway, but had started to struggle with all the business expansion coming in.

“This was my initial experience as resident production manager of a hotel casino. People from that time became my friends—Don Rickles, Dom DeLuise, Franki Valli, Paul Anka—the giants. It was interesting to speak to them on a different level. Dom DeLuise had a love of Italian opera. Many hours after the show, I would play from opera vocal scores. I would sing the ladies, he would sing the men—all to an empty theater. It was absolutely wonderful.”

Aaronson later worked for Crystal Palace in Nassau, Universal Studios, Norwegian Cruise Lines and Las Vegas casinos. Then the Philharmonic beckoned.

“The biggest change over the years was that entertainment in general could no longer be accepted as a loss leader,” he says. “In the beginning, the events themselves did not have to earn a profit, because the gaming tables and the hotel rooms would benefit.

“It became a hallmark of the corporate world that every department had to turn a profit. When that changed, we were forced to fine-tune our marketing skills, look at all the details.”

The experience sharpened him, and continues to serve him today. Driven by music and seasoned by gaming, the former AC exec can hold any kind of note, musical or financial. His life has become a never-ending show.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

Talk about stress! Ten years ago, Evelyn had just left a troubled marriage, had two small children at home, worked full time at a low-level job, drove “a rattletrap of a car,” and was so stretched financially that any time she walked outside, she kept her eyes down, looking out for fallen nickels and dimes.

Each night she served a variation of the same meal: ramen noodles with corn, bread and butter, and milk. (“Luckily,” she says, “the kids never got tired of it.”)

One winter afternoon, with the car again out of service, Evelyn found herself walking to the doctor’s office with a baby in her arms—in the snow. She remembers thinking, “This is crazy. When did my middle-class life turn into something out of Dickens?”

Soon after, it happened. At a friend’s house, she began to feel strange: light-headed, short of breath, clammy and very agitated. Though she was only in her 30s, Evelyn thought she was having a heart attack.

In fact, she was having a panic attack. The cumulative stress of her life—stress she had been trying to ignore—had kicked off a physical response that forced her to face her problems.

“Those attacks were scary,” she says. “I was desperate to stop them, so I did what experts always advise when people are super-stressed: I exercised, stopped drinking and smoking, and really worked to calm my thoughts.”

These days, the stress of making the mortgage, paying the light bill and keeping the kids in line can really add up. Don’t wait until your emotions get the best of you. Work now to develop a serene inner core that will keep you balanced in any crisis.

At her worst, says Evelyn, “I’d walk slowly around the neighborhood, repeating calming thoughts, until the anxiety passed. I spoke about myself as an observer might, saying, ‘Evelyn is so untroubled. No matter what’s going on in her life, she keeps a level head.’ I found the thoughts, repeated slowly again and again, very soothing and affirming. It was like meditation in the middle of huge anxiety.”

Evelyn’s “desperate hours” forced her to take a more measured approach to living.

“I developed better coping skills and took action to improve my situation,” she says. “Gradually, the panic attacks subsided. Today, I really am what I imagined and trained myself to be—fairly calm, no matter what life throws at me. Now things couldn’t be better.”

Relaxation techniques are great when you’re all wound up. Try these:

1. Breathe deeply, relaxing your body more and more with each breath. It’s the easiest method of all!

2. Use progressive muscular relaxation (PMR) to work out excess tension. Tense a group of muscles—your fists and arms, for example—so they’re as tightly contracted as possible. Hold them in a state of extreme tension for several seconds, then relax. Continue to relax until you’re utterly limp. By tensing first, you’ll identify the physical sensations of stress so you can identify them the next time they occur. You can also relax more thoroughly after consciously tensing, and if you practice enough, you get into the habit of relaxing each time you become aware of bodily tension.

3. “Run away” from your problems—literally. There’s no better remedy for excess stress than a walk or jog.  

4. Use these techniques daily for 10 to 20 minutes. You’ll be so calm, your kids won’t recognize you!

Dream On!

To function well at work, at home, and at play, it’s vital to get a good night’s sleep. If you aren’t getting get your fair share of zzzz’s, try these bedtime tips: 

• Listen to “white noise” or relaxation CDs. Some people find the rhythmic sounds of nature, like rushing ocean waves, to be especially soothing.
• Avoid snacks, particularly grains and sugars, that raise the blood sugar and inhibit sleep. If you're hungry, try a glass of milk and some protein.
• Sleep in complete darkness. Even the tiniest bit of light in the bedroom can disrupt your circadian rhythms, preventing sleep.
• Don’t watch TV right before bed. (Take the TV out of the bedroom!)
• Wear socks to bed. Believe it or not, cold feet can wake you up.

By   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

" Two and a half blocks to the beach. Two blocks to the Walk. Three seconds to the Expressway. In walking distance of the casinos.”

As baker-turned-developer Frank Formica lists the advantages of living at AC Estates, he’s really talking about—you guessed it—location, location, location.

It’s the most enduring adage in real estate, for good reason. Location is one of the most important considerations when it comes to buying a new home. But Formica—well known around town as a community booster and president of his neighborhood association—did not originally buy an acre of Ducktown because he liked its proximity to the beach. He bought it because it’s just around the corner from Formica Brothers Bakery, and he wanted to expand. Then building costs for the bakery became prohibitive, and he got a better idea.

“I realized nothing could improve the neighborhood more than bringing in new neighbors,” says Formica, whose mother still lives near the family business. Formica joined forces with builder Frank Alberti, and they drew up plans for a 24-unit community of flats and townhouses at the juncture of Georgia, Arctic and Florida avenues. Two of the units have already sold.

Formica expects the resident profile to reflect the urban area’s cultural mix, and the range of professions brought in by the casino industry.

“Our target market is sous chefs, families already in the school system, securities investors, casino workers, people working up on Tilton Road—a nice cross-section,” he says.

Formica considers the homes wholly affordable for working professionals, couples, and families. “At $249,900 and 4 percent interest, with $25,000 to $30,000 down payment assistance* and a five-year tax abatement, you can walk in here and have a home for what you might be paying in rent.”  

What homeowners get for the money: “a Southwestern look” outside, with stacked Southern ledge stone and Cedar Expressions shingles, plus a one-car garage, one assigned parking space, roomy storage area and spacious interior common areas.

Inside, each roomy residence includes a contemporary kitchen with granite counters, maple cabinets, built-in wine rack, vari-colored Italian glass tile backsplash, brushed nickel sink and black appliances (with optional upgrade to stainless steel).

Ceramic tile and Berber carpeting are standard throughout, with wood-grain porcelain tile and Art Deco-style bathroom tiles available. Gas fireplaces are featured in the three-bedroom units. Each flat and townhouse features plantation shutters; the larger homes have decks ovrelooking the courtyard.

Alberti likens the regeneration of Atlantic City to what he witnessed in his native South Philadelphia.

“South Philly has made a tremendous comeback; property values are way up,” he says. “When I came to Atlantic City three years ago, I saw a lot of the same potential. But you’ve got to give people a reason to move back.”

One reason, again, is proximity to everything exciting about Atlantic City.

“At nighttime from up here the city looks like Las Vegas,” says Formica, standing on an upper deck. “It’s not the boonies anymore. And the restaurants—you’ve got White House, Angelo’s, Angeloni’s, Dock’s. There’s Gallagher’s, Ruth’s Chris, the Palm...”

Location, location, location.

Contact Farley and Ferry for additional information.  farleyandferry@aol.com

* The Atlantic County Improvement Authority’s down payment assistance program is available to residents of Atlantic County and those who are employed in Atlantic City for the purchase of an Atlantic City property that does not exceed $350,000. The program will provide up to 10 percent of the purchase price and as much as $5,000 towards eligible closing costs on a fixed rate mortgage through approved lenders.

All assistance is offered as a deferred no interest loan, secured by a mortgage, to be repaid to the program based on the proceeds from resale, refinance or any changes in title and a portion of the appreciation.

For more information about these programs, including a complete list of income eligibility guidelines and program approved lenders, visit www.atlanticcountyimprovementauthority.org or call 609-645-5838.

By Design

Color Code

When decorating a child's room, keep in mind that the space is for rest as well as play. Don’t go crazy with bold colors, sports or superhero motifs or other loud, distracting elements, or your youngster may find the place too kinetic to really relax in.

Instead, choose a tranquil background color, and punch it up with bright elements like a rug or pillows, or an alcove painted a colorful shade.    

By   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

As guests enter the Rainforest Café at Trump Plaza, they’re greeted by a most unusual host: a growling, snapping, very toothsome crocodile, submerged in a shallow pond.

Don’t be alarmed. The big green guy, called Nile, is one of many animatronic wonders at the unusual restaurant, which also features a baying elephant and her baby, chattering monkeys and parrots, an “Aztec face” with glowing red eyes, and cascading rain walls in a jungle of greenery.

Every half hour or so, a “thunderstorm” rolls in, complete with simulated thunder and lightning. The dining room contains enormous glowing saltwater tanks with more than 300 beautiful, exotic fish.

When it comes to Amazonian atmosphere, the Rainforest—which has been called “part adventure, part restaurant and wholly entertaining”—has no peer.

But that’s not the only reason to visit. While the ambience is fun, especially for kids, the menu—“American fare with a tropical flair”—is satisfyingly delicious.

For instance, what might have been standard-issue chicken tenders becomes luscious Caribe chicken: hand-breaded, fried and served with a coconut-curry sauce (we asked for seconds). The chicken burritos known as Chimi-Cha-Chas burst with sweet corn, black beans, roasted red peppers, citrus zest and a four-cheese blend wrapped in a crisp wonton skin; accompanied by fresh pico de gallo and sour cream, they’re tart and crunchy. The Coastal Calamari is so light, it will make believers even of those who usually pass on the deep sea delicacy. (Try all three of the above by ordering the Awesome Appetizer at $15.99. It’s enough food for two hungry adults.)

Among the most popular menu items:

• Macadamia-Encrusted Tilapia, brushed with Coco Lopez, topped with a crushed nut crust, paired with shrimp skewers and served with mango puree and Teriyaki glaze.
• Jungle Steak and Shrimp, a char-grilled 7-ounce flat iron steak served with shrimp scampi and shrimp skewers.
• Mojo Bones, a rack of slow-roasted St. Louis spareribs basted with tangy barbecue sauce and served with fries and slaw.

The Rainforest Café offers a wide assortment of appetizers, salads, sandwiches and soups. Specialty drinks include the Rainbow Colada (with Captain Morgan spiced rum), Panama Punch (a real one-two punch of Myer’s dark rum and Bacardi 151) and the Green Python (with Midori melon liqueur and Skyy citrus vodka).

For dessert, treat the whole table to the Chocolate Volcano, a giant brownie served warm with vanilla ice cream, fresh whipped cream and caramel and chocolate sauce. At $13.99, it’s plentiful enough to feed four.

We were impressed by the cordial wait staff; our server Jerry stopped by several times to make sure all was well. It was fun to talk with resident marine curator John Kaba, who dives daily into the big tanks to care for and cavort with the fish, and even runs a fish hospital on the premises!

General Manager Mike Stirm says the Rainforest is “for kids from seven to 70. In terms of places in Atlantic City to take the kids and feel really comfortable, this is the place to go.”   

RAINFOREST CAFE
Boardwalk at Trump Plaza, Atlantic City 609-345-5757 • Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun.-Thurs., until 10 p.m. Fri. & 11 p.m. Sat. Accommodates parties of 50 or more

CHEF’S CORNER
You say it’s your birthday? Top off your meal with the decadent Chocolate Volcano: a tower of rich brownie cake topped with ice cream, whipped cream, fudge sauce and caramel sauce. It comes with a sparkler on top.

By Dave Bontempo   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

“We’ve fought hard as a small track, despite competition from the casinos 13 miles away. People don’t realize how remarkable that is.”
—Atlantic City Race Course President Jim Murphy, in 1983

Twenty-five years later, it’s the same tune with a different refrain. Atlantic City Race Course—once one of the nation’s premier facilities—again teeters on extinction. But this time, it’s afflicted by its own industry.

The storied course, which once claimed Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope as shareholders, has been besieged from within. Despite the casinos’ $90 million subsidy of New Jersey’s horse racing industry, Atlantic City Race Course fights to remain open, because it was excluded from the purse-supplement agreement.

South Jersey’s only racetrack, which serves primarily as a simulcast facility, must meet a New Jersey Racing Commission mandate to run 20 days in 2009. That’s nearly impossible, says ACRC President Maureen Bugdon, who has petitioned the commission to remove the 20-day requirement unless the course gets a share of the supplement money. Its fate will be better known at the November 19 racing-dates commission meeting.

It’s sad to see ACRC as a shell of itself. Several national grass-racing champions were crowned here. The nation’s top trainers and horses paraded through here. Julie Krone was an apprentice rider here before becoming the first female jockey in the racing Hall of Fame. Former President Robert Levy owned Bet Twice, a Belmont Stakes winner. Caesars lent its casino brand to the United Nations Handicap, making it a $500,000 event.

These are distant memories. A big fish-small fish battle has erupted over the funds, which would enable Atlantic City to run 20 days on its turf course.

Bugdon paints the following picture: The Casino Association and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which owns Monmouth Park and the Meadowlands, are supposed to distribute the money. The Casino Association doesn’t care how its contribution gets divided, but essentially defers to the NJSEA, which voted itself 89 percent of the subsidy. The NJSEA also gave some money to Freehold Raceway. ACRC gets nothing.

It would cost $3 million to $4 million to operate a 20-day meet. If the course is forced to run a schedule it can’t afford, it goes under.

Bugdon will not allow the loss of 100 simulcast jobs and 400 live-meet jobs without a fight. Enlisting support from Senator Jim Whelan and local unions, she wages a war on two fronts. One involves the commission mandate. The second concerns the purse supplement. Getting a piece of that action may prove more difficult than winning the Kentucky Derby, because the NJSEA wants to keep the money. Though they already get the lion’s share, Monmouth Park and the Meadowlands already suffer reduced fields and dwindling attendance. Forced to run 141 days, they don’t care much for Atlantic City and Freehold.

“It’s myopic,” says Bugdon. “They are so desperate to solve the short-term problem that they don’t see what’s coming. If we go out of business, they’re next. Competition from nearby states, both in racing and casino activity, is never going away. This is something we should all sit down and work on together.”

Racing officials and Monmouth Park representatives would not comment publicly. What they acknowledged privately, however, indicates a deal would be possible if the horsemen obtained a unique concession. They seek “winter stabling” at Philadelphia Park, whose parent company, Greenwood Racing, owns Atlantic City Race Course. Horses which run at Monmouth would be housed, essentially, by Atlantic City’s rich parents, during Monmouth’s off-season.

“Philly Park is swimming in money,” one Monmouth executive says. “They could give our horsemen a place to keep their horses in the wintertime, and that would enable them to stay in shape so they get ready for the spring meet.”

The argument has some merit, but gets tangled in the Philly Park agenda, Bugdon says. Philly Park is not allowed to give stabling preferences to out-of-state horsemen, who would probably not be able to run at the track anyway.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

It was one of the big stories of 2007: the yanking of Tropicana Entertainment’s New Jersey casino license.

The state Casino Control Commission found that Chairman Bill Yung, of parent company Columbia Sussex, disregarded several regulations and failed to maintain a “first-class resort” as stipulated in the Casino Control Act. The Atlantic City Tropicana was put up for sale and Indiana also forced a sale of the company's Evansville property (both sales are yet to be consummated).

In response, the company's board brought in turnaround artist Scott Butera, who helped the Trump organization emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2005. Butera immediately went to work purging the company of the offending elements, and the Yung family was ousted.

Butera spoke with Casino Connection Publisher Roger Gros at the Tropicana in Las Vegas about what he’s done so far, and what he hopes to achieve in the future. Listen to the full interview at www.casinoconnectionac.com by clicking on the Boardwalk Podcast button.

Casino Connection: When you first came aboard, things were disorganized and chaotic in the company. What was your first priority?

Butera: Yes, it was a troubled company, both operationally and financially. The biggest challenge was deciding the right step in turning this around.

For us, that was establishing ourselves in good standing primarily with the regulators. Being in the gaming business is a privilege, not a right. We wanted to establish that we could operate in compliance with regulatory authorities and laws, produce accurate financial statements on a timely basis, and get our constituents comfortable so that they’d be a little patient. We knew we could improve the company, and that’s what we’ve been doing over the last three to four months.
 
Did you realize right away that Bill Yung had to removed from the company, and how did you accomplish that?

Bill Yung got in this situation because he bought an asset at the height of the market. He paid a big price for Aztar, and to effect that transaction he leveraged the company significantly. There was a fair amount of downturn, and in order to save cash to make debt service, he had to do a fair amount of cutting. A lot of that came through labor. That created issues with the unions in New Jersey, and I don’t think why the company did what it did was communicated effectively.

We needed new oversight. Our regulators and investors wanted to know there were new people at the helm. We put in a new board with three quality individuals and myself. We’re all highly experienced, credible people with a much different perspective on the business. Do I think that from an operational and financial standpoint Mr. Yung leaving was critical? Only in the sense that we wouldn’t be here unless that was the case.

Let’s talk about the board. Explain who they are and why they were chosen. 

Brad Smith comes from  the Casino Control Commission in New Jersey. He’s got great experience in dealing with regulators, he’s got great experience on the accounting side, he understands operations, and he’s been instrumental in helping us put in systems and policies and procedures so the regulators know we’re in compliance. In terms of establishing credibility, Brad was a strong plus.

Tom Benninger, our chairman, is a longtime restructuring banker, spent most of his career at DLJ and ultimately UBS, running their reconstructing practice. He’s actually the son of Fred Benninger, who for many years was Kirk Kerkorian’s right-hand man at MGM.    

Our final member is a gentleman named Mike Corrigan, a longtime PricewaterhouseCoopers accountant. He ran their entertainment practice. He was the CFO of MGM Studios and was instrumental in taking MGM Studios public. He has a wealth of accounting knowledge, which for a company that had difficulty with financial reporting, was important.

How did your experience with Trump translate to what you’re doing at the Tropicana?

These restructurings are very different, but  knowledge of how to turn a gaming company around, knowledge of how to work with a brand is important.

Interestingly, many of the players on the investors’ side who are involved in this situation were also involved in Trump, and that was one of the reasons I came here. These were people I was used to working with. So there are similarities.

But with Trump it was different in the sense that you had a very strong individual, who was extremely successful with his brand at that time, with The Apprentice and everything else. That created a euphoria. So I did learn a lot through the Trump situation that’s translated here.

You’ve said you’d like to regain the Tropicana in Atlantic City. What’s your impression of how the bidding process has been run up until this point?

Trying to sell a large asset in Atlantic City in this market is very difficult. The capital markets are probably the worst I’ve ever seen, having spent 16 years on Wall Street and been an operator thereafter. I’m a very strong believer in Atlantic City and I think it will dig its way out. But now’s not the time, for a lot of reasons, to be selling.

We had preliminary discussions with the Casino Control Commission and said, “Look, we’re a new company, we’re not Columbia Sussex; we’ve tried to address all the things you highlighted when we weren’t able to get a license, and of all the people who can come in right away and help that asset both with managerial skills and with financial resources, we could do it most quickly.”

We’d like to be considered an alternative to selling the asset, because the question was, do they really want to sell the asset, or do they really want all the negative elements of Columbia Sussex removed? We’ve removed those negative elements, so we feel we’re as good as any other bidder, particularly one who might have to scratch to put together a deal.

The people in place there now seem to be running it as well as they can.

They’re doing a great job under the circumstances, the best they can. They’ve got a lot to deal with, but we’d like to send in a SWAT team and help them get some better results going forward.

The company got a ton of negative press. Are you able to overcome that? Because obviously it would start up again.

We are an entirely different company. We have entirely different people, an entirely different approach. We’ve demonstrated that. We’ve consolidated a lot of operations that were deconsolidated. We’ve started investing in assets in a way the prior company would not have.

Other than the name Tropicana—and if we didn’t feel so strongly about the name, we would consider changing that as well—we’re a completely different team. We would obviously demonstrate that, not only in the things we say, but in the things we do, and we would start making investments right away.

Where do you see the company going in the longterm?

Tropicana can become a great gaming company. We have a very good portfolio; it’s diverse. We’re in markets that we like. I think we can do a lot to grow what we have, and we can do a lot to grow externally.

Short-term growth is: fix what you’ve got, manage through this economy. Longer term is: what markets out there make sense? You want to be big in the big markets, so Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Asia—those are markets where ultimately Tropicana can exist.

We want to be a fully integrated global gaming company one day down the road. Hopefully we’ll get there.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

"If Atlantic City has any hope of reinventing itself and competing with the newer and better casinos in Connecticut, Pennsylvania and, likely, Maryland, then it has to wake up and recognize these businesses for what they are—blights that draw a negative element to an area and that frighten away the average American who is necessarily the bread and butter of every new casino."
—Pinnacle Entertainment Chairman Dan Lee on his unsuccessful attempts to buy an adult book store near the site where his company wants to build a $2 billion casino resort

"We continue to believe investors are best served on the sidelines in the near term."
—JP Morgan gaming analyst Joe Greff on his recommendations about investing in gaming stocks

"The riverfront has looked awful for 30, 40 years and they’re going to stop this? You’re kidding me."
— Donna Tomlinson, who supports construction of the SugarHouse Casino on the Delaware River in Philadelphia

"I was asked to come to a meeting. And I went."
—Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, criticized by casino opponents for taking a meeting with SugarHouse developer Neil Bluhm

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

The tribal owners of Detroit’s bankrupt Greektown commercial casino have hired investment bank Moelis & Co. to find financing or a buyer for the nine-year-old casino. A sale is the preferred route out from under the casino’s $755 million debt.

Greektown Casino CEO Craig Ghelfi is departing. A new management board, with five members instead of the past 12, will oversee the casino. Four new members, to be announced after they’re approved by the Michigan Gaming Control Board, will be outsiders experienced in management, gaming operations and restructuring businesses.

Greektown, which sought Chapter 11 protection last May, in August came up $500,000 short of meeting loan covenants approved by the bankruptcy court.

Greektown’s owner, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, has put $47 million of tribal funds into Greektown over the past 10 months. It also had borrowed $150 million in June to complete permanent facilities that include a 400-room hotel required by state law.

The hotel is due to be fully open February 12, but the owner is pushing to have 200 rooms ready for conventions in January. If a sale takes a while to complete, hotel results could add to the casino complex’s value, says casino analyst Jane Pedreira.

Pedreira adds, “I think absolutely there will be interest despite the credit market. There are a few people out there with capital. It’s not an impossible situation.”

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

West Virginia’s Governor Joe Manchin last month gave his support to an initiative on the November ballot that would allow the venerable Greenbrier resort in White Sulfur Springs to introduce table games.

The measure was put on the ballot in September by the Greenbrier County commission at the request of the union representing workers at the resort. The resort has been running in the red for several years and recently told the union that it can't maintain the current level of salaries and benefits without help from gaming.

“The Greenbrier has basically been our flagship of showing off some of the finer and higher end of West Virginia,” said the governor, praising the effort to bring it back into profitability.

The majority of the guests at the resort come from out of state.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

Maybe it was the perceived reputation for being “recession- proof,” but the impact of the current economic troubles has hit the gaming industry almost as hard as banks and insurance companies.

The decline of gaming stocks has been dramatic and troubling. Some of the industry’s “blue-chip” stocks have been hard hit. Las Vegas Sands has seen its price decline in the past year from a high of $140 per share to less than $14 late last month. Slot supplier IGT has seen its post-split price of $45 drop to less than $15. Even companies that are no longer public companies have seen their fortunes get very complicated. Speculation last month centered upon whether Harrah’s Entertainment and Station Casinos could service the short-term debt they accumulated last year when they were taken private.

Most casinos have shelved or canceled expansion plans, concentrating instead on operating efficiently and effectively with the least capital outlay as possible. Layoffs have become a big part of the current scene. Thousands of casino employees from California to Connecticut are being issued pink slips. Cash flow has become king, as companies strive to balance their budgets and create shareholder value.

Even without layoffs, cutting restaurant hours and closing non-performing hotel rooms have an impact, says Bill Lerner, an analyst with Deutsche Bank.

“All of those carry employment,” Lerner said. “Over the last two to three weeks, the behavior of visitors to Las Vegas has changed noticeably. They’re spending very differently, and less, than they were prior to that. It’s 100 percent related to the things people are watching on CNN and CNBC with the economy and the credit environment.”

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

When he bought the Fontainebleau Miami Beach three years ago, real estate magnate Jeffrey Soffer said he had no plans to put a casino at the hotel.

That may all be changing. A quiet effort is under way to allow gambling at any Miami Beach hotel with more than 800 rooms. There is only one that currently qualifies: the Fontainebleau. Fontainebleau Resorts has also financed consumer research to see how the public feels about gambling in the area.

COO Howard Karawan insists that gambling was never part of the original plan for the nearly three-year, $500 million renovation, which includes 11 restaurants and bars, 200,000 square feet of meeting space, 1,500 guest rooms, and a 40,000-square-foot spa.

“Not one square inch of this place was designed with any thought of gambling,” Karawan told the Miami Herald.

Soffer maintains that the new push for gambling comes not from him but from a Miami developer who wants to bring a casino to a planned commercial complex downtown.

Soffer, who is building the Fontainebleau Casino Resort on the Vegas Strip, has brought key staff with gaming experience to Miami, including former Mandalay Bay exec Glenn Schaeffer and Karawan, who worked for Kerzner International, owner of the Atlantis resort on Nassau Paradise Island.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

On Saturday, November 8, the Water Club at Borgata will host Savor, a culinary event starring chefs Bobby Flay, Michael Mina, Geoffrey Zakarian, Michael Schulson and Thaddeus DuBois.

Diners can not only sample the masterpieces of Borgata’s celebrity chefs but also spend the evening with them. The experience will begin with a cocktail reception at the Water Club’s indoor pool. Then it’s time to dine, with each chef presiding over one course of a fabulous five-course feast.

Tickets are $235. For more information, visit www.theborgata.com.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

Representatives from government, tourism and the business sector met at Harrah’s October 20 to discuss ways to increase air service out of Atlantic City International.

The casino industry is considering packaging hotel and air services for patrons from select cities such as Boston, Chicago and Atlanta, and also include air travel in their rewards programs.

“This effort will allow ACY to become competitive with other airports around the country and bring far more people to the city,” said Sharon Gordon of the South Jersey Transportation Authority. “But it’s a shared risk, in the sense that the community must be willing to promote the destination.”   

The new consortium will meet again November 12 to refine the plan.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

This month at the Atlantic City Art Center, basketball icon Gene Hudgins will display career memorabilia and historic artifacts in a special exhibit.

Hudgins was an all-state basketball player at Atlantic City High, an all-star at Morgan State University in Baltimore, and a member of the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters. He was also a mentor and role model to hundreds of young men who played basketball at the “Yard” at Pennsylvania and Arctic avenues, where summer basketball leagues flourished.

Also exhibiting this month are photographer Rod Robinson and painter Van Buren N. Payne. An opening reception will be held Friday, November 7 at 6 p.m. For information, visit www.acartcenter.org.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

This month, Resorts Atlantic City is calling all city casino workers to a week of fun and great deals created just for them.

“In the Biz Week” starts with an industry party Thursday, November 20 at 9 p.m. at Boogie Nights, the casino’s popular disco dance party.     

There’s no cover charge for local casino workers with ID.

From November 16-20, casino employees can jumpstart their holiday shopping with great discounts on cameras, kitchen appliances, phones, radios and DVD players, apparel and more, from noon to 8 p.m. at the Resorts Ballroom. They will also get $3 off Resorts’ all-you-can-eat buffet with their ID.

“In the Biz Week is our way of saying thank you to all employees of the casino industry who provide a first-rate experience for tourists,” says Senior VP of Marketing Kathleen McSweeney. “We’re showing our gratitude with great bargains, great entertainment and a fun night of dancing to the hits of the ’70s and ’80s.”

During In the Biz Week, casino employees can also get 50 percent off tickets to see the award-winning tribute show Legends in Concert. The all-new cast features amazing tributes to Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, the Temptations, Frankie Valli and Frank Sinatra. Dates are Sunday, November 16, Tuesday, November 18, Wednesday, November 19 and Thursday, November 20. Showtime is 7 p.m. Admission is $12.50 (normally $25).

For tickets, visit Guest Services in the hotel lobby two hours before show time. Casino employees must present their casino employee ID for the ticket discount.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

Starting December 1, the historic hotel that now houses the offices of Pinnacle Entertainment will welcome some new guests.

The stately Madison House near the site of the old Sands Casino will offer lodging for overseas students who visit the city through work exchange programs.

“This is a really creative and practical way to utilize the space and maintain the property until (Pinnacle’s) lease expires” in 2012, said Pinnacle Entertainment spokeswoman Carmen Gonzales. “At the same time, we’re providing a valuable service in a market with a shortage of suitable student housing.”

The Victorian-era brick hotel is a secure building. Each guestroom has a private bathroom. Students will have access to on-site laundry facilities, two lounges with TVs, vending machines, microwaves and refrigerators, and high-speed wireless internet.

“It’s centrally located, too, so students will be within walking distance to the casinos, shopping, restaurants, banks, post office, the beach and Boardwalk, and all public transportation,” Gonzales said.

Howard Bacharach, executive director of the Atlantic City Hotel & Lodging Association, called the plan “a super idea. Thousands of these kids come to Atlantic City every year, winter and summer, and to offer them a safe place to live, close to work—that’s a great solution.”  

Pinnacle will maintain its offices in the hotel, leaving 112 rooms available for rent. Rate structure is variable for the rooms, some of which are big enough for more than one person; utilities are included.

“We’re looking forward to it,” Gonzales said. “The students will add a great energy to the building.”  
To apply for housing, students must have a valid passport, J-1 visa and be part of a recognized international exchange program. For more information, email studenthousing@pnkacmail.com.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

Can’t wait to cast your vote? Through Tuesday, November 4, Borgata’s Gypsy Bar will serve as an unofficial polling place with your choice (in red or blue) of Electoral Cocktails. Borgata will track the popularity of each drink, then announce the winner on Election Day.

Choose from the Ciroc Obama (Ciroc vodka, Blue Curacao, lime juice, Sprite and a lime garnish served over ice in a rocks glass); the McCainarita (a margarita with Siembra Azul Reposado, Grand Marnier, fresh lime and pomegranate juice over ice); and the Miss Independent (a Stoli Raspberri Cosmo with lemon garnish served up in a martini glass).

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

You know the holidays are at hand when Tropicana holds its annual Holiday Spectacular. Starting with a tree-lighting Tuesday, November 11 at 1:30 p.m. at the Fiesta Plaza in the Quarter, it continues with the Holiday Musical Light Show, every hour from noon until 10 p.m. (midnight on weekends) through the holiday season.

In keeping with the holiday spirit, Trump Plaza will host a tree-lighting ceremony Wednesday, December 3 at 4 p.m., with carol singing from the Charter Tech High School choir and other entertainment.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

Comedian Suzanne Westenhoefer makes her Atlantic City debut Saturday, November 15 at Harrah’s, with proceeds benefiting the South Jersey AIDS Alliance.

Billed as the country’s first openly gay comedian, Westenhoefer “creates unity where there could be division among gay men, lesbians and straight people,” according to the Salt Lake City Weekly.

A veteran of Late Night with David Letterman and nominated for an HBO Cable Ace Award, Westenhoefer is known for working without a script and riffing on current events.

Tickets are $30 and $40. VIP tickets are $150 and include premium seating and dessert reception following the performance. Visit www.ticketmaster.com or www.southjerseyaidsalliance.org.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

Pinnacle Entertainment announced that it has extended the leases of the retail tenants on the 1700 block of the Boardwalk through October 2009. The sole exception is Opa Restaurant, which closed last month.

The shops were scheduled for demolition this fall to make room for Pinnacle’s $1.5 billion casino resort, but tenuous credit markets forced the postponement of that project.

“Pinnacle recognized community concerns for the vitality of the Boardwalk and will operate the 1700 block with direct leases to the existing retail shop tenants,” said Pinnacle spokeswoman Carmen Gonzales. “We are pleased that negotiations with the retailers were successful.”

The shops, near the site of the old Sands Casino Hotel, had all previously sublet from Siganos Boardwalk Properties. “We have also extended the leases of the shops we own on the 1600 block,” said Gonzales.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

Entertainer Jimmy Buffett and his company, Margaritaville of Atlantic City LLC, will have to get a full gaming license from the state of New Jersey.

Coastal Marina is in the process of buying Trump Marina for $316 million and plans to convert it into a Margaritaville-branded casino hotel. Buffett’s company, Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Inc., owns the brand and signed a partnership agreement with Coastal in connection with the venture.

Buffett asked the state Casino Control Commission whether he could apply for a casino industry service license, a vendor’s license that is less expensive and has less stringent requirements than a full operator’s license.

According to a source at the commission, a review of the partnership agreement revealed that Buffett’s company will have influence over certain management decisions and a say in some of the casino’s day-to-day operations. For that reason, Buffett and his company must be fully licensed.

Before the Marina can become Margaritaville, the music mogul will have to undergo New Jersey’s typically thorough background check and the full scrutiny of the commissioners.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

Last month, Atlantic City issued a request for proposals for the development of Bader Field, the 150-acre former airport that real estate executive Paul Mas of Jones Lang Lasalle calls “the best site of its kind in North America for gaming and entertainment.”

A developer could be chosen as early as first quarter 2009. The city will offer the site on a ground-lease basis. A substantial up-front payment is necessary “to ensure the city shares in the future financial upside” of the project, according to a statement from the office of Mayor Scott Evans.

“Proceeds from the disposition of the site and its ultimate development will be an important source of funds to support Atlantic City in its continuing efforts to improve the city’s financial stability, services and quality of life,” according to Business Administrator Carol Fredericks.

Through Jones Lang LaSalle, the city will take bids from developers who want to build on all or part of Bader Field.

City Councilman Dennis Mason says the money gained from a development deal will offer “real tax relief, enabling the city to cut its budget by an estimated $74 million in the first year.”

The bidding process will last through January 14. The city reserves the right to take the property off the market if it does not find a suitable buyer.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

On Wednesday, October 8, with just one week to go before a full smoking ban was to take effect at Atlantic City casinos, City Council said it would consider delaying the order for a year, or until the economy improves.

The ban was expected to cause a further drop in casino revenue, with gamblers who smoke vowing to head to casinos out of state. Atlantic City casinos saw an overall drop of 5.7 percent in revenue last year—the first decline in its history.

The city has been scrambling for ways to fend off competition from Pennsylvania, where a partial ban took effect in September that limits smoking to 25 percent of the gaming floor. Pennsylvania casinos can increase their smoking areas to 50 percent if the ban proves harmful to business.

Connecticut’s Native American casinos have also siphoned off some of Atlantic City’s revenue. Though legislators there have pressured Indian casinos to eliminate smoking, the tribes, who are considered sovereign nations, may not willingly forfeit the competitive edge that smoking gives them.

A full but temporary ban went into effect in Atlantic City on October 15. The postponement was expected to pass on October 27, as we went to press. Anti-smoking activists pledged to keep the heat on.

It was the financial impact that influenced the members of city council to postpone the ban. Warnings of massive layoffs and revenue losses apparently convinced even the most staunch anti-smoking councilman.

“They were counting the days until October 15,” said Councilman Marty Small, as some casino workers reacted to the possible repeal of a full casino smoking ban. “But no one could have predicted the crisis in the economy. It’s the worst since the Great Depression.”

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Oct 28, 2008

" We are essentially a new company. We have the financial and managerial resources to come in and turn this thing around.”

With those words, Scott C. Butera, the new CEO of Tropicana Entertainment, declared last month that his company is more than qualified to resume control of its Atlantic City casino and hotel, lost when the company’s gaming license was revoked last year.

As a sale of the Tropicana Casino & Resort seemed imminent—conservator Gary S. Stein recently named Cordish Company the lead bidder, with an offer of $700 million—Butera said Tropicana Entertainment will keep trying to regain control of the property. The only thing it won’t do: try to outbid Cordish.

“It would be awkward for us,” Butera observed, “to bid on our own property.” In December 2007, Tropicana Entertainment and parent company Columbia Sussex Corp. were forced out of Atlantic City after less than a year of operations. Stein was given 120 days to sell the property, but has since asked for four extensions of that deadline; the latest extension gives him until November 12 to complete details of the proposed transaction before submitting it to the commission.

The Cordish Company is one of the world’s largest real estate developers with expertise in gaming, lodging, entertainment and retail. It invested $49 million to build Atlantic City Outlets—The Walk, in partnership with the state-run Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. Its partner in the Trop bid is Dennis Gomes, former president of the Tropicana under Aztar, who directed the development of the casino’s highly successful Quarter shopping and entertainment center.

Cordish was also responsible for developing the two Seminole Hard Rock Casinos in Florida, and in 2007 tried to buy Trump Entertainment Resorts. The company has just developed Indiana Live!, a racino connected to Indiana Downs.

In Kansas, the Baltimore developer has partnered with Kansas Speedway to propose to build a $705 million, 300-room Hard Rock Hotel and Casino with 3,000 slot machines, a convention center and shopping outlets—all overlooking the Kansas Speedway racetrack.

Back in Atlantic City, Tropicana Entertainment has appealed to bankruptcy court in Delaware to block the sale of the famed resort, saying $700 million is too little for a property that’s been valued as high as $1 billion. (Cordish has promised $100 million in upgrades for the Trop once a deal is sealed.)

Even after a buyer is chosen, it could take up to a year for the deal to become final.

Tue, Oct 28, 2008

As we all ride this roller coaster of an economy, with a Dow Jones that swings more than my kids on their backyard play set, I’ve chosen to be both realistic and optimistic about Atlantic City’s future.

Though I tend to see the glass as half full, I don’t look at the world through rose-colored glasses. Realistically, though this economy affects each and every one of us, it’s a global situation. Other tourist destinations—Las Vegas, Orlando—are dealing with the same challenges. But in an otherwise gloomy outlook, there are some bright spots here at home.  

Rooms booked through the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority this summer showed a 20 percent increase, and bookings through our partners at A.C. Central Reservations also increased nearly 20 percent. New Jersey Transit reported an 18 percent increase in rail passengers to Atlantic City in July, and the South Jersey Transportation Authority says shore traffic at all toll plazas was up 20 percent during the summer.

Numbers from Greater Atlantic City Golf Vacations also rose in the summer: 21.5 percent in June, a slight 2.45 percent increase in July, and a 28.7 percent increase in August over the same period last year.

Area attractions also saw big increases. At the Absecon Lighthouse, visitors increased by 38 percent in July and 40 percent in August. In Historic Gardner’s Basin, the Atlantic City Aquarium experienced an increase of over 2,000 visitors for the 2008 season.

Lucy the Elephant, located in my old stomping grounds of Margate, saw tours increase 17 percent in July and 6 percent in August, and gift shop sales also increased appreciably.

Need I mention the Atlantic City Airshow? “Thunder over the Boardwalk” not only attracted 700,000 visitors, it also reached an estimated audience of 7 million through print, television, radio and the internet. Maybe some of them will come to Atlantic City for their next vacation.

So where do we go from here? Like everyone else, I’m waiting to see where this crazy ride will lead us, but I can assure you that the ACCVA is looking at creative ways to keep Atlantic City top-of-mind among potential visitors.

A major project is Atlantic City Restaurant Week. So far, 64 restaurants have signed on to offer special menus and special values during this weeklong event, March 1-7, 2009. For more information, visit www.acrestaurantweek.com.

March 11-14, 2009, the Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Championship returns to Boardwalk Hall. In 2008, one of the largest crowds ever roared as the Temple Owls won the title. Maybe they will defend their title as St. Joe’s fights them to the finish again. Or maybe George Washington University will stage a comeback. Either way, we’re definitely working on keeping the championships in Atlantic City for a while.

Our marketing team is planning another group wedding for next February, and continues to advertise our destination as the perfect girlfriend getaway. Our convention development team is striving to bring in new business to the convention center, while also maintaining our green initiatives.

I can’t predict the future. All I can do is share the optimism I feel for Atlantic City. Maybe it takes the rough times to truly appreciate the good times. Either way, as long as the good times outnumber the challenges, I’ll continue to see Atlantic City as a glass half full.

Tue, Oct 28, 2008

With Veterans Day upon us, we cannot help but appreciate the freedoms we enjoy thanks to those who serve our country.

Throughout America’s history, its Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard have bravely answered the call to defend our freedoms, turn back aggressors and aid our friends and allies. CANJ wants to take this opportunity to thank them. On November 11, Veterans Day, we honor these brave forces for keeping our nation “the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

Once called Armistice Day, Veterans Day originally marked the end of World War I on November 11, 1918. In 1954, following World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of veteran’s service organizations, made November 11 a day to salute veterans of all wars.

George Washington said, “Freedom is a light for which many men have died in darkness.” Veterans and their families know the high price of freedom. We can never fully repay our debt of gratitude to the more than 650,000 American service members who died in battle, or the 1.4 million wounded. We can, however, recognize and thank the more than 25 million veterans still living today, and give our personal thanks to family, friends and co-workers who have served. CANJ proudly salutes the veterans with whom we have the privilege of working every day.   

At this moment, 1.4 million Americans are on active duty, including more than 200,000 in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them and their families. May they return safely.

Did You Know?

• There are 26.4 million veterans in the United States, or about one in eight U.S. civilians 18 and older.
• 6 percent of civilian veterans are women.
• 37 percent of civilian veterans are over the age of 65.
• Among the nation’s veterans, approximately 6 million served in World War II, 4 million in the Korean War, 8 million during the Vietnam era and 3 million in the Persian Gulf War.

An Essential Freedom

Last month, the state General Assembly took a historic step to allow casino employees to hold public office in Atlantic City. By an overwhelmingly majority (66-11), they passed legislation A-3122, sponsored by Assemblyman John Burzichelli.  

This bill, along with a supporting bill from Senator James Whelan, now moves to the Senate for final passage. The Casino Association of New Jersey supports the legislation, which upholds our basic freedoms as Americans to run for and hold political office.

Tue, Oct 28, 2008

Sometimes I feel like a voice in the wilderness when good sense abandons our politicians. Then I get a call or an email from our readers assuring me I’m not the only one who feels this way.

Let’s start with the lunacy in Trenton about the bill to “grant” casino employees the right to participate in politics in Atlantic City. This prohibition has been in place since the inception of gaming here. Maybe it was prudent to start with such a safeguard 30 years ago, as casinos had never been legalized outside of Nevada.

But what happened? A mayor went to jail for influence peddling. Corruption was rampant for 25 years. And all that time, casino employees and executives sat on the sidelines.

Fast forward to today. Fresh from yet another scandal, legislators have realized it might help to expand the talent pool, allowing casino employees to run for office. It’s a no-brainer. But there are people who consider casino workers even more despicable than the current crop of city officials. They don’t believe casino employees can comport themselves with integrity and honor, even though the state has already certified, through exhaustive investigation, that they can.

I’ll admit that Atlantic City’s track record up until now hasn’t been great. But government corruption is a result of the very prohibition some people want to keep in place.

The good news is most of the criminals who got elected were caught and punished. So if by some quirk a dishonest casino employee is elected and pursues nefarious activities, I’m sure he or she will be caught and punished as well.

All we ask is that casino employees be treated like other citizens. Give us the chance to make a difference in our own hometown. It’s the only fair and equitable thing to do.

I keep wondering if it can get any worse, but City Council keeps assuring me that it can. The circus council conducted last month in an attempt to sell Bader Field was laughable and disgraceful. Every council member who participated in this farce should be thrown out of office for their failure to understand basic economics and ethics.

One-third of City Council is behind bars for trying to peddle influence over Bader Field! That hasn’t dampened the desire of our current council or state legislators from trying to unload the former airport.

They don’t seem to realize that a) our country and state are in the worst financial environment in any of our lifetimes; and b) real estate and casino developers have been harder hit than anyone. With little money and virtually no access to credit, how can Bader Field be developed? And why is the city trying to sell our most valuable asset when we’ll get the least money for it?

Am I the only one who thinks that we should put Bader Field on the shelf for a few years while this economy shakes out? Where are the voices of reason? Is anybody out there?

By   Fri, Sep 19, 2008

By Frank Legato   Thu, Jun 19, 2008

By Roger Gros   Mon, May 19, 2008

By Roger Gros   Mon, May 12, 2008

By Roger Gros   Tue, Mar 11, 2008

By Roger Gros   Wed, May 23, 2007

By Roger Gros   Wed, May 23, 2007

By Frank Legato   Tue, May 22, 2007

By Roger Gros   Tue, May 22, 2007

By Frank Legato   Thu, Mar 01, 2007

By NBC 40 WMGM   Tue, Feb 02, 2010

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

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

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

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

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

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

By NBC 40 WMGM   Fri, Jan 29, 2010

By NBC 40 WMGM   Sat, Jan 23, 2010

By NBC 40 WMGM   Thu, Jan 21, 2010

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

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

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

By NBC 40 WMGM   Wed, Dec 02, 2009

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

 

By NBC 40 WMGM   Wed, Sep 30, 2009

By NBC 40 WMGM   Tue, Sep 22, 2009

FAREWELL TO A LEGEND

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By NBC 40 WMGM   Tue, Sep 22, 2009

By NBC 40 WMGM   Mon, Sep 21, 2009

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

 

By NBC 40 WMGM   Sat, Sep 12, 2009

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