It’s A Shore Thing
Walk the boards and beyond in Atlantic City
By Lisa Robertson-Dziedzic & Karrie L. Zukowski
Atlantic City has been compared to Las Vegas as its petite, younger, less glamorous cousin. But fans of the Jersey Shore have long been quick to point out one glaring and crucial difference: Vegas is in the desert. Sand… rocks… some more sand. And of course the occasional lizard.
Atlantic City, by contrast, has the ocean lapping at its doorstep, making it arguably a better summer resort than its Sin City counterpart. Whether you’re into gambling or not, Atlantic City has so much to offer. Check out these great reasons to revisit this old friend.
Relive History on the Steel Pier
The Steel Pier was a roaring 20’s destination with crowds crammed the old Marine Ballroom to see Al Jolson and the Diving Horse at the far end of the pier. The Rat Pack and Beatles also graced these planks before a fire destroyed it in the 70’s. Developer Anthony Catanoso and his brothers have revived the pier, with big plans to bring in a version of the London Eye, a new Ballroom and a Wax Museum. Anthony Catanoso and Steel Pier Operations Manager, James Catanoso traveled to Italy to conduct the first of three inspections of New Jersey’s first Observation Wheel, which is scheduled to open later this year.
The pair traveled to Technical Park’s facility in Melara, Italy, outside of Venice, where six factories are contributing elements that will comprise the final wheel. The 200-foot Observation Wheel, one of the tallest in the country, will be erected adjacent to Steel Pier.
“This is literally one the first legs of the new foundation for Atlantic City,” says Anthony Catanoso. “This Observation Wheel is truly a metaphor for how far we can go when it comes to building non-gaming venues in Atlantic City. The wheel, along with the Pier’s extensive renovation, are just some of the many exciting revitalization efforts going on right now at Atlantic City—including Stockton’s innovative idea for the former Showboat.”
The wheel is estimated to draw 50,000 riders a month to enjoy the sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and Atlantic City skyline from climate-controlled gondolas. Catanoso says it’s imperative to conduct inspections firsthand and they have been extremely impressed with the workmanship.
James Catanoso agrees: “From an operational perspective, it’s a unique opportunity to see a major ride such as this from a manufacturing level. We see the incredible attention to detail on each part and how all the involved factories are working closely together to create this magnificent structure. We can’t wait for visitors to Atlantic City to glimpse what we are seeing here.”
The wheel is being built with cooperation and assistance from the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA), as well as the City of Atlantic City, and will cost $14 million.
The iconic Steel Pier currently features more than 25 extreme rides, an amusement arcade filled with fun and challenging games, and tantalizing food. Rides include kiddie rides, such as the Beach Buggies; classic rides such as the Double Decker Carousel and the Ferris Wheel; and extreme rides, such as the Slingshot, the Mix, the Freedom Flyer and more! For more information, visit www.steelpier.com.
The Stars Align at Boardwalk Hall
Atlantic City’s legendary Boardwalk Hall is rich in both history and top entertainment. From the Miss American Pageant to A-list superstars, this unique seaside arena is bringing excitement to Atlantic City with its spectacular concert offerings that include:
- Latin music sensation Romeo Santos, June 26
- Timeless classic rockers The Eagles, History of the Eagles Tour, July 17
- Comic Kapil Sharma, July 25
- Latin pop icon Chayane, Aug. 8
- Pop diva Madonna, Oct. 3
- International superstar Ricky Martin, Oct. 17
Not only is Boardwalk Hall Atlantic City’s premiere destination for concert goers, it’s also home to the World’s largest pipe organ. More powerful than a dozen orchestras, it can both whisper and thunder into the 5.5 million cubic feet of air space in the main arena. A second organ resides in the Adrian Phillips Ballroom.
The pipe organs of Boardwalk Hall can now be heard as part of the entertainment for various shows in either the main arena or the Adrian Phillips Ballroom. Free half-hour concerts and tours of the organ are presented Monday through Friday at 12 noon through October.
In addition, a “Behind the Scenes” tour is offered every Wednesday at 10 a.m. This in-depth two-hour tour leads guests through several sections of the organ which are normally closed to the public and gives a detailed look at the mechanism of the instrument, its history and the current restoration project.
All concerts and tours are free and open to the public. No reservations are necessary. Entrance to the building is through the front lobby off the boardwalk. Freewill donations are gladly accepted at each of the concerts in which all proceeds go toward the restoration of the pipe organs.
Borgata Festival Park Kicks Off Outdoor Summer Concert Series
The return of summer means sun and fun, and outdoor concerts. This summer Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa is pulling out all the stops with its newly developed outdoor concert venue and festival grounds, Borgata Festival Park.
Located at Borgata’s Northeast entrance, Festival Park, features artists synonymous with Borgata’s reputation for bringing world-class musical acts to the Jersey Shore. The inaugural concert takes place on Saturday, June 13, with The Hooters, G. Love & Special Sauce, and South-side Johnny & The Jukes joining forces for the outdoor celebration. Concert starts at 5 p.m. and tickets are just $20.
Throughout the summer and early fall, a variety of well-known performers will grace the newly forged stage. The venue will feature some of the biggest DJ’s in the world with a series of day-life Electric Dance Music parties. Festival Park will also play a prominent role in the Savor Borgata Culinary Series, highlighting the city’s leading culinary destination by hosting food and beverage festivals throughout the year.
“We couldn’t be more excited to introduce Festival Park as the newest entertainment amenity here at Borgata,” said Joe Lupo, Senior Vice President of operations for Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. “In booking such tremendous artists to perform in a fun, energetic outdoor space, this new concert venue and festival grounds effectively adds yet another dimension to what we can offer our guests and reinforces Borgata as the East Coast’s premiere location for concerts and nightlife.”
Upcoming headliners at Festival Park include The Killers (June 20), Meghan Trainor (July 3), 311 (July 19), Darius Rucker (August 15), Willie Nelson (August16) and Counting Crows (September 5).
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.theborgata.com or call 866-900-4TIX (4849).
Feeling The Heat
The 14th season of reality TV show Hell’s Kitchen, where chefs compete to earn a job with Gordon Ramsay, is nearing the end and the stakes couldn’t be any higher.
In the finale, which airs Tuesday, June 9 (9 p.m. to 10 p.m.ET/PT on Fox) two chefs take a quick trip to Las Vegas to visit Season 10 winner Christina Wilson for some culinary motivation, and then return to Los Angeles where Chef Ramsay has set the stage for the final challenge. The two finalists will prepare five unique dishes to be judged by five of the most esteemed chefs in the world, including Wolfgang Puck (Spago, CUT), Nancy Silverton (Mozza, LaBrea Bread), Hubert Keller (Fleur de Lys), Nancy Oakes (Boulevard)and Anna Kelly (London House).
In the final and most important dinner service of their lives, the top two will face off in epic battle, vying to be crowned the Hell’s Kitchen winner, and step into the head chef position at Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill at Caesars in Atlantic City, where they’ll earn a $250,000 salary.
Resorts Introduces New Online Casino and iGaming Lounge
On April 16, Resorts Casino launched its new online casino, www.ResortsCasino.com, and unveiled the resort’s iGaming Lounge on the casino floor. The new real money online casino offers the best online user experience by featuring a large selection of casino slots and table games.
Hotel visitors can play all of their favorite www.ResortsCasino.com casino slots and table games at Resorts iGaming Lounge, a first-of-its-kind in the world digital iGaming room that is solely dedicated to online gaming and will serve as the prime location on the casino floor to indulge in online gaming fun.
“The launch of www.ResortsCasino.com and debut of the new digital Resorts iGaming Lounge offers all of our casino customers the best gaming experience possible,” said Morris Bailey, owner of Resorts Casino Hotel, a Mohegan Sun property. “We will offer our players the opportunity to play all their favorite casino slots and table games at their leisure anywhere in New Jersey, while also providing customers the chance to experience online gaming during their visit to Resorts in Atlantic City. These new amenities are the latest examples of Resorts’ long-term property reinvestment plans, highlighting our casino’s ongoing growth trajectory for success.”
The newly built Resorts iGaming Lounge features the latest technology devices, interactive seating areas and technical support, where guests can play for real money. With the online gaming experience brought to life, Resorts iGaming Lounge offers sleek and interactive social gaming communal tables and sitting areas with tablet stands for hotel visitors. Players on property will also be encouraged to sign up for free online accounts to start building loyalty points that can be redeemed for exclusive hotel packages, dining experiences and more.
For more information, visit www.ResortsAC.com.
