Results tagged “atlanticcity”

When I previewed Stevie Wonder's upcoming performance at the Borgata, I was excited to say the very least. The event center at Borgata is large enough to hold the crowds that an artist like Stevie can draw, but it still feels intimate. My husband and I had fantastic seats and while we waited for the show to start we passed the time people-watching, which was a treat as everyone seemed to really dress up for this show. Maybe it was being at the Borgata or maybe it was the thrill of seeing Stevie Wonder in person but we felt under dressed—me in a black dress and heels and him in a suit, that's for sure. The Borgata, by the way, is one of our favorite places to catch a show when we we're down the shore. They always treat people well, especially Phillyist people, and although it's still a casino with casino-like pricing at some of their restaurants, we had no problem heading to Metropolitan and totally annihilating one of the greatest grilled cheese sandwiches we've ever had in our lives. Dinner for two (including a glass of wine apiece) was under $50.00.

Sitting here thinking of what to write for this preview, there are a million things to say and all are completely inadequate words to use. To say Stevie Wonder has been a personal influence is one thing, but to know that he has influenced the greatest modern musicians of our time is so far-reaching and amazing that it almost defies superlatives. This Phillyist danced her first dance with her husband to Stevie's "You and I" and with her father to "Isn't She Lovely." Stevie Wonder has been a part of people's lives since the early 1960s and continues to perform with the same enthusiasm and infectious optimism since then. His new DVD, Live At Last showcases perfectly the versatility, both vocally and instrumentally, of this musical genius. You can catch Stevie performing his Wonder Autumn's Night tour when it stops for two days at The Borgata this Friday and Saturday.

Comedian and late-night talk-show host extraordinaire Chelsea Handler will be appearing this weekend at the Borgata Atlantic City in what will surely be a series of raucous and racy stand-up comedy shows. The author of My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands and Are You There, Vodka? It's Me Chelsea is performing in a trio of sold-out shows. Hope to see you there, and be sure to check Phillyist for a recap next week.

It seems like Memorial Day just happened, but Labor Day and therefore the unofficial end of summer is almost upon us. We here at Phillyist recommend enjoying what you've got left. And if you're planning on enjoying it while you're down the shore, we suggest you check out "The Show" at Showboat. We caught a few minutes of it during the Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival, and we definitely recommend checking it out before it closes September 7. After all, it's one of the cheapest things you can do at a casino!

About a year ago—the last time we saw Counting Crows (MySpace)—we lamented the too-short sets Counting Crows play on their frequent co-headlining tours. (Last summer was with Maroon 5, but this Phillyist has also seen them on double-bills with Live and The Goo Goo Dolls.) The band has too much strong material, and they're too excellent of performers, to play only for a little over an hour.

Of all the chefs we met at last weekend's Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival, Guy Fieri seemed most like he belonged in New Jersey—even though he's a California boy. Personable, at ease in his surroundings, and completely un-self-conscious (unless you're trying to capture him mid-"Hunch," as you'll see below), Guy's exactly what you'd expect him to be if you're a fan of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. And above all, he's funny. Before we got our chance to chat with him, he taunted the husband one of the event's hostesses for allowing his wife to drive a minivan before insisting that she yodel his introduction. We didn't even get five minutes of Guy's time, but we got at least ten minutes worth of interview material with this fast-talking winner of the second season of The Next Food Network Star. And, as you'll see at the bottom of the interview, he said we can buy him a sandwich sometime. We fully intend to follow through.

              

[Author's Note: This is a fairly lengthy post, much longer than what we usually do here at Phillyist. Our apologies! But the Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival included many noteworthy events, and we felt it proper to give each its due.]

Atlantic City

The recent onslaught of celebrity chef- and restaurateur-helmed dining establishments in casinos could run the risk of turning Atlantic City into a Vegas-style cheese-fest (next stop: Celine Dion!), or it could help turn the town into a dining mecca. Here pulling for the latter situation are our pals at the Atlantic City Harrah's Casino Hotels, who this weekend bring us the awesomely star-full (if your stars are on the Food Network) Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival.

Down the Shore blogger, Jen Miller, mentioned a Times article that named Wildwood as one of the 50 Authentic American Experiences of 2009. It's nice to see Wildwood get some good press. Get the full list here.

        

When Reel Big Fish came to the House of Blues Atlantic City, Phillyist was pretty damn excited to be reliving those third-wave ska-punk memories of the mid-90s. We certainly weren't disappointed when RBF took to the stage and commanded their performance with all the fun, confidant, silly bravado we remembered so well. From their opening song, a kick-ass cover of "Take On Me" to the closer, their breakout hit "Sell Out," they owned the entire performance.

We've mentioned before that Reel Big Fish is one of the most entertaining acts in music today. The power and energy of their live show really shines on 2006's live CD/DVD , later this month.

Can't decide which beach to go to? This article provides some useful info on the topic, from Sunset Beach to Higbee Beach.

Put your bathing suits on. This year, water temperatures are warmer than normal topping at nearly 70 degrees.

We know what you're thinking. That glass of wine looks mighty good. That's because wine is synonymous with summer. Read on to learn about favorite shore bar drinks and local wineries down the shore.

The Jersey Shore in Manhattan? The Jersey Shore Store is open in NYC until July 6 to help travelers book vacations to Atlantic City. It's the perfect tie-in too because trains are now available from Penn Station to Atlantic City on Aces.

Why is it that during the season where we bare-all in our bikinis, tank tops, and shorts, it is also the time we want to eat greasy boardwalk food like fried oreos and funnel cake? And pizza and fries and jersey corn and tomatoes and strawberries and... ok, i'll stop. It's a tough life, but somebody's gotta do it. Check out the happenings—food and non-food related—down the shore this weekend:

It feels nice to be writing this post again. That's because it means it's summer. Things are a little different this year. Check out the "News" section and the events organized by region to help make the most of your weekends—as we Philadelphians would say—"down the shore."

Red cups, ping-pong balls, an 8-foot long table and a couple of pitchers of your favorite throwaway beer made for a great night of drinking in college. Sooner or later (hopefully sooner) you graduated, maybe took that beer pong table with you and set up your new life as a functioning adult. Before too long, you probably glanced at that lonely-looking table in the corner of your living room or basement and thought that maybe, you had outgrown that favorite of collegiate activities. Eventually that table soaked in Coors Light, ramen noodles, fond memories (and maybe a little vomit) made its way to the garbage, never to be heard from again. Enter longtime friends Jerry Piscatelli, Sal Laudano and their brainchild, the Port-O-Pong.

In lean economic times like these, excess seems like something many people can't afford—literally. Yet, there are times when going a little (or a lot) over the top is expected, if not necessary. Mardi Gras is one such time. In theory, Mardi Gras is the last hurrah before people make their annual 40-day sacrifice for Lent. We don't know how many people actually go for the sacrifice part. This Phillyist sure doesn't. (Somewhere, Sister Anne Pierre is shaking her head, wondering how she failed.) Even though a lot of people don't give anything up for Lent, that doesn't stop them from going all out, and sometimes bearing all, for Mardi Gras.

Now that it's the fall, and we won't have to deal with annoying shore traffic, we think it's about high time we made another trip to Atlantic City. All we need is a good excuse to do so, because, frankly, the lure of the blackjack table alone isn't enough to overcome our desire to save the gas and toll money. So we need a little added incentive. Thankfully, we're getting it, and from one of our favorite bands, no less: Death Cab for Cutie (MySpace) will be playing the House of Blues Atlantic City at Showboat on Sunday night.

It's amazing how much people love the shore. When Memorial Day comes, all you have to do is turn on the local news to see flocks of people crowding the AC Expressway. When you think about it, however, the shore is just a relaxed seaside town with restaurants and shops. Granted some of the towns boast beautiful views of the ocean and breathtaking sunsets. But, for the price of a week in Ocean City, NJ, a family could see the Leaning Tower of Pisa or take a tour of the Mediterranean. But not us. We want our Mack and Manco's and our Kohr Brother's.

Can you believe Labor Day weekend is right around the corner? We can't either. Here's what's going on this weekend.

What does the term "bennies" even mean? Locals and Wikipedia say that the term stands for the names of the cities along the North Jersey Coast Line: Bayonne, Elizabeth, Newark, and New York. Get it?

• Former Atlantic City mayor Robert Levy has been convicted of lying about his Vietnam War service record to collect additional benefits.
Continue reading "Yo, Philly in the News"

We're not sure how you feel about it, but as far as we can tell gas prices and the horrible economy haven't deterred anyone from going down the shore. The beach is the place to be. Here’s what’s going on this weekend.

Get some yummy BBQ at the NJ State BBQ Championship. This is a pretty big deal for BBQ-lovers. There's even a website dedicated to the event.

In anticipation of my vacation next week, I have decided to share some of my favorite Jersey Shore memories in small salt water taffy like bites (if you buy two pounds of fudge you’ll get a box of my memories for free!)

Nothing quite says summer like the foods we eat: ice cream, water ice, pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, watermelon. And what better time to eat those foods than July 4th. In fact, Americans will consume roughly 150 million hot dogs this Independence Day. That's a lot of processed meat! If hot dogs aren't your thing, or you're just looking for something fun this holiday weekend, read on for a list of events down the shore:

Bruce Springsteen