The New Atlantic City, what’s new for 2007?

When was the last time you visited Atlantic City , New Jersey and stayed overnight in a hotel or casino? If it’s been longer than one year, you may want to visit again soon. You might ask yourself, what could have changed in the last year or so in Atlantic City? This article will answer this exact question, enjoy!

The biggest addition in 2006 was the Pier at Caesar’s entertainment complex located on the boardwalk and extending out into the Atlantic Ocean . The Pier is an upscale shopping venue featuring upscale stores such as Gucci, Burberry, Hugo Boss, Bebe, Movado and many more. The majority of the stores located in the Pier are also found in Cosmopolitan cities like New York City , Chicago and Boston to name a few. The third floor of the Pier at Caesars features seven new and exciting Atlantic City restaurants including Buddakan, Continental, Sonsie, Trinity Pub, Souzai, Game On and Phillips Seafood. In addition to shopping and restaurants the Pier also has an incredible Las Vegas style water dancing show that is sure to please (Several shows per day). Other recent visitors to the Pier have recognized that is a fantastic place to watch the Atlantic City Sunset.

Several brand new well known restaurants opened in Atlantic City in 2006 including, Morton’s - the Steak House at Caesars, Gallagher’s Steak House @ Resorts, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Bobby Flay Steak, Wolfgang Pucks American Grille and Sea Blue by Michael Mina are located in the new expansion of the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa. Don’t forget to check out the new World Class Poker Room at the Borgata.

If it’s nightlife you enjoy, you’ll need to know that three new nightclubs opened in Atlantic City to huge success. MUR MUR an Ultra Lounge and Nightclub leads the way as a part of the Borgata expansion in 2006. Hollywood celebrities frequent MUR MUR on a weekly basis. The Trump Taj Mahal opened EGO, also an Untra Lounge and Nightclub to compliment the already successful CASBAH. Jay Z’s 40 / 40 Club opened at “The Walk” Atlantic City Outlets and some huge celebrity parties have been known take place there. Atlantic City is now the place to “Be Seen” on the east coast.

Atlantic City Bachelorette party’s are on the rise in 2007, two nightclubs have added Male Dance Revues on Saturday nights to accommodate the demand of the Bachelorettes. Club Worship at the House of Blues inside the Showboat Casino offers the Savage Men Cover Model Revue at 9pm on Saturday nights. Planet Rose at the Quarter inside the Tropicana Casino has the Men of the Cave “Ladies Ultimate Night Out” at 8:30pm on Saturday nights. The reviews have come back as two thumbs up for both male revue shows.

The last notable change for 2006 in Atlantic City is the growth and expansion of “The Walk” Atlantic City Outlets shopping area. The next time you visit the Atlantic City Outlet shops you’ll be amazed by its size, now encompassing four city blocks. Check Rates and Deals for Atlantic City Hotels Online.

By John J from Atlantic City

The Quarter brings Little Havana to Atlantic City

It seems that no matter what time of year it is, there are improvements being made to Atlantic City. We had several years of construction going into Atlantic City on the Expressway which ultimately was a big improvement. The previous years were marred by the building of the Atlantic City Tunnel that connected Harrah's, Trump Marina and of course the new Borgata to the Convention center in center city. This was of course in conjunction with the White Horse Pike improvements, which again, was a nice addition. Atlantic City is always trying to improve itself, and if you haven't been there in the last ten years, you wouldn't recognize it (at least a lot of it).

Little by little the casinos have been redoing their digs as well. The latest of which is the Tropicana Hotel and Casino which just opened "The Quarter". The looks are that of Old Havana with a clean and elegant touch. I have never been to Havana, but it will bring back memories of the glory of the old movie with Robert Redford as the stylish professional gambler.

The improvements move through the casino to some of the old favorites like the Comedy Stop, the Spy Shop and Houdini's Magic shop all got bumped up to larger venues.

The new looks of the imporved Tropicana are a beautiful and elegant atmosphere that is surely worth a look. Atlantic City Casino and Hotel Reservations can all be seen at ACReservations.com. They also have some great Atlantic City Packages that include combinations with The Tropicana.

The Holiday Season At The Casinos

The holiday season can be a great time of year to visit the Atlantic City Casinos. The casinos will bring in a variety of headliners to round out your travel experience. An old personal favorite this year is the Brian Setzer Orchestra at Caesars. There are a lot of Atlantic City Events at all of the casinos, between now and the end of the year.

One of my favorite times of the year is New Years. In years past we have atteneded many new years events at the casinos and have found them to be both a good bargain (as we are never spend the night) and a lot of fun. We danced 2001-2002 new years away at Trump Plaza a number of years ago and to a live band and an all you could drink bar, and did the same at the Taj Mahal last year. We don't always have the ability to be here at home for the holidays, but when we do, new years at the casinos is a real treat.

Virtual Freedom

Having lived in the Atlantic City area for most of my adult life it is hard to emphasize the importance of the Casinos to Southern New Jersey. The Atlantic City Casinos are the largest employers in the region and for many is the only way to really make a quality living. As a shore/tourist community, Southern New Jersey is dominated by small businesses. There are of course other employers in the region, but none on so large a scale.

That being said, I know of no one who frequents the Casinos for gambling on regular basis (but that is not to say that none do). I am sure there are people who live in the area who are regular gamblers, I just haven't met them. The most common relationship with the casinos that I run in to are with those people who work at them. I had a brief stint in college working the grave-yard shift at the Clairidge Hotel and Casino at one of their 24 hour restaurants. After a couple months of that, I was more ready than ever to return to college and I never returned to work at the casinos.

I have no understanding (other than what I have heard from others) about other casinos in other cities (like Las Vegas). However, I believe there is a freedom that exists at the casinos in Atlantic City that is unlike anywhere else. Casinos in general want one thing from you, they want you to gamble, and they will allow you to do almost anything so long as the possibility exists that you might put that quarter in the slot or plop down a c-note at the black jack table. It is a fact, that once you do, it is hard to resist doing it again.

Because of this mission they have, their policies towards behavior tend to be on the more lax side of the isle. Short of accosting other guests or grabbing a hand-full of chips, they will tolerate and in many respects encourage your obscure behavior. I am certain there are a LOT of other things you can do to get banned from the Casinos, so I would not recommend testing to see what you can get always with, because you don't want them on your bad side.

Me, I enjoy my Martinis and once I have had a few (or more) I may get louder and more exaggerated then some, and the Casinos are the one true place I have found where I am truly free to express this side of me. It so happens that I always wear a suit, as I do in my daily life, and I am a clean cut professional. This perception of a well-to-do professional will get you away with more than you might think in a casino. The more you have to gamble, and the more drunk you get, the more likely you are to sit down at a table and spend you money.

This concept is casino marketing 101. It is not coincidental that drinks are free on the casino floors and that the casinos are mazes designed to keep you in once you are there.

As a rule this approach to enjoying a night at the casino may not work for everyone, but it has worked well for me, and it is the main thing that I love about the Atlantic City Casinos.