New Year’s Eve fell on Friday this year, and it created a three-day weekend that was one of the best Atlantic City has had in too long.
Hotel rooms and concerts were sold out. Restaurant reservations were difficult. One of the casino operators I occasionally call to hear how they did over a weekend didn’t give me the usual “fair,” but a resounding, “GOOD!” He said it’s been too long since he last said that.
All of those sold-out restaurants and events didn’t just benefit the casinos. Outside contractors, food vendors and all of the local businesses supported by casinos shared in the weekend’s success financially.
Most of the casinos’ gaming areas were standing-room only. Wouldn’t it be nice to have that type of business year-round?
Last Sunday, I visited New York City with my wife and granddaughter Rebekah to see the Los Angeles contingent of my family, Jeff, Julianne, Katrina, Olivia and Zach, who were spending a week of their Christmas holiday there.
They were staying in the Soho district, just a few blocks away from my college alma mater, New York University. It brought back many memories and created new ones for the family.
I was lucky to find a free parking spot on the street and didn’t have to pay the $40 it would have cost to park in a garage. We had a tasty lunch in the Lure Restaurant and were surprised to run into one of our area’s renowned attorneys, Lloyd Levinson, who was dining there with his wife.
Levinson was in town to see his son, who attends Drew University, play basketball against New York University. We then went on the subway, the best way to travel in the city, and went to the FAO Schwartz toy store on 58th Street and Fifth Avenue.
The two doormen who greet you are more than 6-foot-5 and wear uniforms and a hat that makes them look 7 feet. They greet you by saying, “You are entering a children’s store, please act like one.” It’s a fun place to visit, particularly if you are with children.
Next door is an Apple Store. There were throngs of people waiting to get in, and when you did get in and walked down the steps to their underground store, there were lines of people waiting to pay for the items they were holding that cost at least $100 or more.
Speaking of lines, we walked past an UGG store, where the line to buy shoes — not on sale — was a block long. That was because they had Jimmy Choo-designed shoes there.
Visiting the Big Apple for a day was a treat, as there is so much to do. Hopefully, the people from New York will say the same thing about visiting Atlantic City.
On Monday, Atlantic City Mayor Lorenzo Langford called my radio show to discuss his ideas relative to a tourism district. He reiterated that he is in contact with the producers of major concert events. He said they are interested in coming to Atlantic City for concerts that would be held in Bader Field. It would be a three-day event.
However, there was no discussion relative to the bands that would be involved. Langford also stated the city will be working on putting the Sandcastle Stadium in condition so it can house bands for concerts there, as well. Using the fields for seats, as well as the stadium, a concert could hold as many as 15,000 people.
Would you come out to see a tennis match between Andre Agassi and John McEnroe in Boardwalk Hall in April? I would!
Caesars Entertainment will once again sponsor a tennis event in April featuring some of the best tennis players in the history of tennis. It is anticipated there will be a match between Pete Sampras and Ivan Lendl, as well as Agassi vs. McEnroe. Other noted tennis greats who will play will be announced soon. Last year’s event drew more than 6,000 people. With the quality of play in these two matches alone, it should draw more people this year.
The Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the Atlantic City Airshow will return Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011. Once more, Atlantic City has been selected to host the United States Air Force Thunderbirds and the U.S. Army Golden Knights.
The Atlantic City Airshow is made possible only through the generous support of its committee, sponsors and volunteers. Through that support, the Atlantic City Airshow has become the signature event of the summer, and it is the largest midweek air show in the country.
Plans are going forward to have a parade honoring the United States Armed Forces on the Monday preceding the air show. The parade will consist of military bands, members of the Armed Forces participating in the air show, veterans’ organizations, floats and other items of interest. It is anticipated that there will be a Tuesday night air show with civilian aircraft being illuminated so they can be seen while they do their varied stunts over the beachfront in Atlantic City.
It is hoped the parade will draw more than 150,000 people, and a similar number for the evening air show. It is expected that 750,000 people will be on the beaches and Boardwalk in Atlantic City to see the magnificent “Thunder Over The Boardwalk.”
Within the next week, if you are walking on the Boardwalk, weather permitting, you will see a bull and a horse with a cowboy in the saddle on the Boardwalk in front of Boardwalk Hall along with John Barnes, president of Barnes All-American Rodeo that will be coming to Atlantic City April 1 to 3. Tickets will be on sale next week.
Pinky’s Corner airs 4 to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays on WOND 1400-AM. His TV show, “WMGM Presents Pinky,” airs 7:30 p.m. Saturdays on NBC TV40. Pinky’s e-mail address is: pinky@pressofac.com.
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