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Classy nights ...and breakfast

Best Bets p/17

$5 blackjack andother top picks

Clubs, casinos, bars and everything else in A.C. 12–17

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Atlantic CitySUMMER GUIDE TO

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A Place for Play

Guess which casino has the best-looking waitresses? See Page 17 forthe answer and some tips for how

to win at the casinos, or atleast walk away withyour shirt.

Hey good lookin’

Atlantic City

12atlantic city Gas prices putting the hurt on A.C. road trips?Maybe or maybe not. But remember that New Jersey Transit from 30th Street

to A.C. is just $8 each way, and you’re there in under 90 minutes. METRO

’s guide to:

Nights still sizzle inand out of the clubs

There’s something foreveryone in A.C. but it’sthe nightlife that’s oftenmost exciting. Here’s asampling of the best thecasinos have to offer after sundown.

Tropicana: Firewaters Bar

The 50 draft beers are onlythe beginning.

Harrah’s: The Pool

It’s more like a nightclubwith water in the middle.

Borgata: Mixx

Mur.mur and Gypsy are cooland we’re excited for theWater Club, but Mixx is theoriginal party spot.

Trump Taj Mahal: Casbah

Over the top, sure, but itrocks like its namesake.

Showboat: Club Worship

There’s three levels andkaraoke every Friday. Nuffsaid.

DEBORAH GIBSON. Tonight, 8p.m., Tomorrow and Friday, 9p.m. Harrah’s, 777 Harrah’sBlvd., 609-441-5000,www.ticketmaster.com, $25Grab your scrunchie, crimperand pile of Playbills for Debbie-turned-Deborah’s pop Broad-way extravaganza.

DJ AM & DJ JAZZY JEFF. May25, 10 p.m. Mur.Mur at Borgata, One Borgata Way609-317-1000,www.borgatanightlife.com, Two of the most well-knownspinners around take to the DJbooth for a Memorial DayWeekend party.

BILL MAHER. May 31, 8 p.m.Borgata Music Box, One Bor-gata Way, 609-317-1000,www.theborgata.com, $45-$65The man who made smart-alecking his life’s work sitsdown to talk about safe, non-controversial topics likepuppies and kittens. Or maybehe’ll talk lots of politics. Eitherone.

May

Lil Wayne’s in town June 8.

Borgata’s hip nightclub Mixx is reliable for a dense dance floor, high-energy DJs, and brightly colored lights zipping around the action.

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LIL WAYNE AND BIRDMAN

June 8, 8 p.m. BoardwalkHall, 2301 Boardwalk, 609-348-7000, www.ticketmaster.com, $65-$125Lil Wayne looks to shed thatdiminutive association with se-lections from his long-awaitednew album.

BOB SAGET

June 21, 9 p.m. Borgata MusicBox, One Borgata Way, 609-317-1000,www.theborgata.com, $45The foulest-mouthed man toever charm his way through“Full House,” Saget can dish oneverything from the OlsenTwins to “The Aristocrats”these days.

CAROL BURNETT

June 21, 9 p.m. Caesar’s, 2100Pacific Ave., 800-677-7469,www.ticketmaster.com, $40-$75The queen of comedy — Gen Xis still waiting for its own CarolBurnett — shares her bawdy,brilliant self with an adoringaudience.

June

THE WEDDING SINGER

July1toAug.31,Mon.,7p.m.,Tue.toThurs.andSun.,8p.m,Tue.andSun.,3p.m.,Fri.,9p.m.Harrah’s, 777 Harrah's Blvd.,609-441-5000,www.ticketmaster.com, $30-$50Unlike the movie, AdamSandler himself won't be bawl-ing onstage in this musical pro-duction. That’s good news.

ELTON JOHN

July 19, 8 p.m., Boardwalk Hall2301 Boardwalk, 609-348-7000, www.ticketmaster.com,$67-$227Singing along at an Elton Johnconcert isn’t just encouraged,it's practically mandatory—es-pecially on a “Rocket Man”-themed tour.

GOV’T MULE

July 25, 9 p.m, House of Blues,801 Boardwalk, 609-236-BLUE, www.ticketmaster.com,$30-$36Get your Southern soul on withjams from the Allman BrothersBand spin-off.

July

GLADYS KNIGHT

Aug. 8-9, 9 p.m. TropicanaCasino, Brighton and Board-walk avenues, 800-526-2935,$25-$75This legendary R&B diva doesn’t need no stinkin’ Pips— she’s going strong thirtyyears after her first single.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

Sept. 27, 8 p.m. Borgata EventCenter, One Borgata Way,609-317-1000,www.ticketmaster.com, SoldOutDon’t have your seats yet forthe sold-out blowout? Startcruising Craigslist now,because the return of thefabbest five to ever wearstonewashed denim is thehottest ticket in town thissummer.

ALLISON WILLIAMS/METRO

August

Water ClubBorgata’s red-hotnew tower opensin June.

Havana Rooftop SlotsDespite its name, Trop’s new room is indoors, but there areCuban-style drinks andsometimes a cigar roller.

Harrah’s Pool With its bar in full effect, it’s always a hip hang.

Firewaters BarThe Snickers martinis shine at this Trop spot.

Gypsy Bar Enjoy tequila samplers andpomegranate habanero wings atBorgata’s gem.

A.C. AquariumThe new interactiveTropical Rain Forest ex-hibit is a nice touch,though.

A.C. Art CenterSome culture can helpoffset so muchdebauchery.

The Pier ShopsFountainOoh, look howpretty.

Gospel BrunchLet the House ofBlues feed yoursoul after a bignight out.

Lucy the ElephantThis eye-catching at-traction is worth atrip to Margate.

The Pier ShopsrestaurantsTry them all andsee which is yourfavorite.

Events

coming to

A.C. this

summer

Thursday, May 22, 2008metro

Written and Directed by David Shiner

PRESENTED BY

OFFICIAL SPONSORS MEDIA PARTNERS

GET YOUR TICKETS TODAYCIRQUEDUSOLEIL.COM or 1 800 678-5440

NOW PLAYINGUNDER THE GRAND CHAPITEAU ON THE AVENUE OF THE ARTS IN PHILADELPHIA

metroThursday, May 22, 2008

13atlantic cityDon’t forget fun for the kidsTreat the young ones to Shark Park, a sprawling wooden wonderland of a playground in nearby Brigantine. METRO

Ah, Atlantic City. Is it still anice excursion for granniesor is it the new Shangri-Lafor those more attached totheir iPod than an oxygentank? This summer willsee a slew of openings intown, many attractingthose who don’t evenknow how to operate aone-armed bandit.

Immersion, The Spa at TheWater ClubAt the Water Club, AtlanticCity’s first boutique hotel(which means no casino),there are many things for anongambler to check out,such as new upscale shops,luxury lofts and five pools.However, we’re most excit-ed about Immersion, a new36,000-square-foot high-end spa whose menu isfilled with amazing op-tions.

ImmersionOne Renaissance WayOpens in June 800-800-8817www.thewaterclubatborga-

ta.com

The 5th Floor, The ChelseaThe Chelsea, a very pinkboutique hotel set to opentoward the end of thesummer, has designed oneof its floors — “the 5thFloor” — as a decadenthot spot. It’s home to aswimming pool with pri-vate cabanas, the latestStephen Starr restaurantcalled Chelsea Prime andthree over-21 club areas.We think this will be thebest place to party in ACsince the name “Borgata”was uttered.The Chelsea111 S. Chelsea Ave. (at theBoardwalk)866-393-3285www.theChelsea-AC.com

The Pool at Harrah’s ResortA popular spot since itopened last year, Harrah’spool will soon be for morethan just taking a dip.Starting Memorial Dayweekend, the deck will fea-ture live DJs on Friday and

Saturday night. And for abonus, Carmen Electra willmake an appearance theretomorrow in the flesh at11:30 p.m.

The Pool at Harrah’s Resort777 Harrah’s Blvd.609-441-5233www.harrahs.com

DOROTHY ROBINSON/METRO

No dice? No problemThere’s still plenty to do in A.C. beyond the casinos

Beach bars in A.C. are always fun, by day or night.

Go on, hit the beachFrom the bikini bars andthe boardwalk to nearbytowns and attractions,life’s a beach in A.C.

Boardwalk: Whether slowlystrolling or catching a bug-gy, the boardwalk is thequintessential A.C. experi-ence for all ages. There’senough rides, games, foodand shopping to keep youoccupied for hours, if notdays. And you’ll get somesun while you’re at it.

Bikini Beach Bar: Sip sum-mer drinks while loungingin or near the sand and tak-ing in the eye candy allaround you. If this one’stoo crowded, don’t worry:Trump Plaza and Hiltonhave their own.

Ventnor: Yearning for a sun-ny bike ride or beach walk?Ventor remains a bustlingdestination for everyone.

Margate: There’s more toMargate than Lucy, thebeloved giant elephant. Aneven bigger draw is thepacked beach and its plen-tiful fishing opportunities.

Longsport: Unlike its Absec-on siblings above, Long-port is an underappreciat-ed shore spot.

Brigantine: This island off-shoot of A.C. is perfect forfishing, surfing, swimmingand feasting your eyes ondolphins and sunsets atthe Sea Wall.

DOUG WALLEN/METRO

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Atlantic City’s newest boutique hotel, the Chelsea, is set to open

at the end of the summer.

Written and Directed by David Shiner

PRESENTED BY

OFFICIAL SPONSORS MEDIA PARTNERS

GET YOUR TICKETS TODAYCIRQUEDUSOLEIL.COM or 1 800 678-5440

NOW PLAYINGUNDER THE GRAND CHAPITEAU ON THE AVENUE OF THE ARTS IN PHILADELPHIA

Thursday, May 22, 2008metro

16atlantic city Fake meat on the boardwalk?The Philly-made faux-meat product Veggie Steak is available in the style of

beef or chicken in a sandwich at Godfather’s On The Boardwalk. METRO

New openings

Gertrude’s7309 Ventnor Ave., Ventnor 823-3003SEAFOOD. Open a monthnow, Gertrude’s is run byand named after the momof Chef Neil Elsohn fromCape May’s popularWaters Edge. He arriveswith his zeal for inventiveseafood very much intact,as proven by somewhatwild entrees and a steadystream of lively starters.

Dubliner Irish Pub &Grill325 E. Jimmie Leeds Rd.652-2210IRISH. Although outsideA.C., this Galloway Town-ship haunt has been goingstrong since it debuted inFebruary, specializing intraditional Irish fare withlosing anyone who justwants to hoist a pint andenjoy a game on TV.

McCormick & Schmick’s777 Harrah’s Blvd.609-441-5000SEAFOOD. Coming in June,this chain’s newestlocation looks to rivalPhillips and other success-ful destinations in townfor oceanic cuisine.

METRO/DW

Whether you’re driven byyour cravings or your wallet, here are somesmart bets for A.C. dining.

Knife & Fork InnAtlantic & Pacific Aves.609-344-1133STEAKHOUSE. Heartyseafood and meat arrivedirect from the wood-firedgrill at this Prohibition-eralandmark. There’s also in-ventive sides (goat cheesegratin potatoes, FrenchFried beet chips), impres-sive wines, and appetizers(lobster spring rolls, miniKobe burgers) that you'llbe begging to let someoneshare with you.

Sonzai Sushi & SakeThe Pier Shops at Caesars609-348-4443SUSHI. A newer addition tothe Pier Shops’ solid stringof restaurants, this cuteoasis has a breathtakingbeach view and anighttime happy hour (9to 11 p.m. Mon.-Sat.)

featuring dollar beer andsake, $3 cocktails and sev-eral sushi specials.

Phillips SeafoodThe Pier Shops at Caesars609-348-2273SEAFOOD. The popularchain is at its best withthis posh location,complete with an eagerchef and an eye-catchingwine room. Start with theoysters but make sure toleave room for thegourmet mac and cheesetopped with luscious Kingcrab.

Los Amigos1926 Atlantic Ave.609-344-2293MEXICAN. A cozy sliver ofthe old school almostswallowed by the squeaky-clean chains around it,this beloved Mexican spotthrives thanks to a warm,colorful décor and greatfood and service. Pitchersof margaritas don’t hurteither, and there’sMexican beer and strongstarters to boot. And everymeal includes free chipsand a nicely garlic-y salsa.

Atlantic City Bar & Grill1217-1219 Pacific Ave.609-348-8080SEAFOOD/PASTA. A host offresh seafood lurks here,from Alaskan Snow Craband Whole Maine Lobster

to oysters and A.C.-stylehot shrimp. A nifty selec-tion of mini-sandwichesincludes Lil’ Porky and Lil’Beefy for $3 and ChickenCutlet Italiano and SpicyChicken Breast for $4. Alsoexpect homemade pizza,20 unique martinis and, ina new twist, Wi-Fi.

Reflections Cafe777 Harrah’s Blvd.609-441-5000BAR/CAFE. Recently relocat-ed to just across the bump-ing pool bar at Harrah’s,Reflections pairs burgersand sandwiches with all-day breakfast and coolerchoices like pan-searedcalves liver and Asian-glazed wings with wasabisour cream. Plus, themenu’s back page isstocked with authenticAsian dishes, including $5kim chee.

Tony’s Baltimore Grill2800 Atlantic Ave.609-345-5766

SEAFOOD/PASTA. “The Grill”specializes in seafood, pas-ta, fried platters and verycheap beer. Dive into theopen-faced hot beef sand-wich with gravy and thickfries or decide for yourselfif the pizza is worthy. LikeWhite House, though, thisatmospheric old-schoolhangout is cash-only.

AC Diner2500 Atlantic Ave.609-344-3332DINER. The blintzes andEggs Jubilee stand out atthis 24-hour retrofavorite, but head straightfor the omelets, especiallythe Italiano: It’s a feast ofveggies, provolone andpasta sauce. Also enjoy thebuttery home fries andfast, friendly service.

White House2301 Arctic Ave.609-345-1564SANDWICHES. When subsare this big, this cheap($14) and this delicious, ofcourse there’s going to bea cult following. For

decades White House hasthrilled A.C. residents andvisitors with itscheesesteaks and mayo-less tuna subs. Warning:It’s cash only and you’d bewise to call ahead withyour order.

Borgata Buffet1 Borgata Way609-317-1000ALL YOU CAN EAT. Whetherdigging into an epicdinner or trying out theomelet stations at the Sun-day brunch version, thisbuffet is among the bestregarded in town. Seafoodis tops here, from musselsto soft-shell crabs, butthere’s no shortage of op-tions. That includes count-less international optionsfor eaters out there with ayen for the more exotic.

Waterfront Buffet777 Harrah’s Blvd.800-242-7724ALL YOU CAN EAT. Foodstations are the name ofthe game at this famedHarrah’s feast, includingsoup and salad, pasta,seafood, steak, sushi, Mon-golian barbecue anddesserts, among others.It’s quite a big one, evenby buffet standards, whichmay be another reason itsees such a loyal turnout.

DOUG WALLEN/METRO

From budget to gourmet,good food is all over A.C.Sink your teeth into steak and seafood, pasta and pizza and more

If you can deal with them calling hoagies “submarines,” White House has been around since the 1940s and is like Pat’s and Geno’s rolled into one, only better.

What attracts you somuch to Asiancuisine?

I started out inFrench food when Iworked at Le Bec

Fin. But then I was atSusanna Foo and I’ve beenpigeoned-holed with Asianfood for the last 10 years.But it’s a blessing as it’sbeen the hottest food forseven or eight years now.It has light and cleanflavors and is really a funfood.

QuickQ&A“Pantry Raid” celebri-

ty chef Michael Schul-

son is opening his first

restaurant, the Japan-

ese spot Izakaya, at

the Borgata in June.

AQ

$$$

$$

$

Top pickWhite House

You describe Izakayaas “Japanese pubfare.” What does this

mean?

One of the coolthings thatseparates us from

normal Japaneserestaurants is usually thecuisine is grouped. If youwant to get satays, youhave to go to a satayrestaurant. Sushi, youhave to go to a sushirestaurant. We’re going tohave it all under one roof.And I’ll be there allsummer, cooking it up.

DOROTHY ROBINSON/METRO

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metroThursday, May 22, 2008

17atlantic citySmoke ’em if you got ’emA full smoking ban on A.C.’s casino floors will kick in Oct. 15, making this summer a definite last hurrah for smokers. METRO

When it comes to tryingyour hand at gambling,trial and error is costly.Here’s a quick and easyguide to some of the wisest places to start.

Cheap blackjack:Showboat Since it’s not atypical destination for highrollers, many of the 41blackjack tables are openand cheap, sometimes aslow as $5.

Open slot machines:Bally’s Believe it or not, themost slots in town (5,126,including 1,182 nickel ma-chines) live here. You’llhave to deal with the WildWest theme, of course.

Best-looking cocktail wait-resses:Borgata This isn’t evenclose. It’s as if Sports Illus-trated is holding its Swim-suit Issue tryouts on thecasino floor.

Best racebook:Borgata Enjoy the thrill ofwatching a horse get

whipped for two minutesand then ripping up yourticket in a huff. At leasthere you’ll do it in front ofhuge plasma TVs whileplanted in plush leatherchairs you won’t want tovacate anytime soon.

Oddest game:Boston 5 Stud Poker tablegame, Taj Mahal The pokerboom has given life to pok-er-based table games. Thisone is the only one of itskind in A.C.

ADAM LEVITAN/METRO

“It’s as if Sports Illustrated is holding itsSwimsuit Issue tryouts on the casino floor.”

Gambling made easy

Roulette action keeps people glued to the tables at the Borgata.

The Borgata’s poker room fills

up quickly but there’s rarely a

long wait for a game.

The silver screen has beenglamorizing high-stakes pok-er, sports-betting, blackjackand pool for years. Here aresome tips for emulating yourfavorite movie gamblers:

The MIT blackjack teamfrom “21”:Card counting seems so sim-ple. Each card is assigned apositive or negative number.Keep a running count of thatnumber in your head. Whenthat count reaches a certainnumber, the deck is in theyour favor, you raise your betand collect the cash. On top

of it all, A.C. casinos can’tthrow you out or beat youup for counting. All they cando is reshuffle the deck onyou. Easy as pie!

Mike McDermott from“Rounders”:In A.C., you don’t need apassword to get into the pok-er rooms and won’t have todeal with the Russian mob toget chips. But if you want towin, following Mike’s adviceisn’t a bad idea: “If you can’tspot the sucker in your firsthalf hour at the table, thenyou ARE the sucker.” METRO/AL

Betting advice from Hollywood

Beaches are nice but casinos are king

Top poker rooms

The poker boom has led tomore and more casinos open-ing poker rooms, but here area few that rise above the rest.

BorgataThe most popular room alsohas the most tables andspreads the highest limits.Beers are served in bottles andthere is rarely a long wait forany game.

Taj MahalNo-frills old-school action isthe vibe in the second-biggestroom in A.C. The originalhome of East Coast poker.

TropicanaEven though Caesar’s room isquickly growing a reputation,the Trop still has the size andbrand name to attract direct action. But watch this space.

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Providence Now open in The Quarter, Providenceis the hottest new nightclub in AtlanticCity. Providence features an energeticvibe, DJ "spinoffs" with bottle serviceand VIP lounge areas. Well-knownDJ's will be located at two DJ boothsaround the dance floor creating a highenergy, back and forth "dance mix"throughout the night. Ideal for groupsand bachelor/bachelorette parties,Providence is the premiere nightlifevenue in Atlantic City. For more infor-mation visit their website at www.prov-idenceclubac.com or call609.345.7800.

Cuba Libre On weekend nights, after dinner hours,Cuba Libre turns into one of AtlanticCity’s most exciting and unique nightspots. Dance all night to the DJ spin-ning salsa and other upbeat Latin mu-sic through a state-of-the-art soundsystem. You never know what youmight see or who you will run into atCuba Libre Restaurant and Rum Bar. 609-348-6700

32° Luxe LoungeA high energy European bottle servicelounge, 32° Luxe Lounge runs onParis, London, and New York time.With a stunning staff, a VIP sectionand a celebrity following, 32° caters toan elite, high profile clientele. The at-tentive staff pampers guests in a con-temporary yet comfortableatmosphere. Beautiful cocktail serversoffer bottles of the finest spirits andchampagnes with all amenities table-side. Frequent guests may rent

personal liquor lockers to store theirunfinished spirits. Artfully crafted indi-vidual drinks featuring only premiumspirits are offered at each of two bars.Superior service, energizing music andjet set atmosphere put 32° in the classof the world's best luxe lounges. 609-572-0032

Ri~Ra Irish PubIn addition to its fantastic food, Ri~Raoffers nightly entertainment, traditionalIrish dancing, clogging and music. AtRi~Ra Irish Pub, it’s St. Patrick’s Dayevery day! Ri~Ra has been heralded asa truly great place to relax with a pint ofGuinness or maybe a sip or two of Irishwhiskey. The stars of the show are al-ways the cozy environment and thegreat conversation with friends old andnew.609-348-8600

Comedy Stop Café and Cabaret Ray Romano, Rosie O’Donnell, DrewCarey, and Tim Allen all have the Com-edy Stop at the Trop to thank for help-ing to launch their wildly successfulcareers. This legendary Atlantic Cityvenue now located in new environs inThe Quarter, where guests will have theopportunity to relax, sip a favoritedrink and see today’s brightest stand-up comics along with tomorrow’s ris-ing stars. 1-877-FUNNY-AC

Planet RoseThanks to its deliberately garish décorand unique take on the fine art ofkaraoke, Planet Rose is described byCitysearch.com as “Berlin decadence

fused with Tokyo pop and Americancheese.” Inside what Shecky’s Bar Re-view refers to as a “Surreal, wood pan-eled womb,” Planet Rose patrons inThe Quarter are encouraged to followthe lead of the Saturday Night Live reg-ulars who frequent the club’s New YorkCity location and take their best shot atbelting out their favorite - or perhapsmost reviled - pop gems. 609-344-6565

Tango's Lounge @ TropicanaWelcome to paradise found at the ex-clusive new casino lounge Tango’s.Guests can relax and enjoy the feel ofthe islands in The Quarter at Tropicanawhile leaving their passports at home.Tango’s is the perfect setting for listen-ing to live jazz, reggae or salsa, orcelebrity-spotting while sipping a trop-ical cocktail at the unique, raised,round bar.

Missile BarIt’s time to fuel up and dance at one ofAtlantic City’s Nightspots located inThe Quarter. Hot Vocal House andDance all weekend long from Midnighttill Dawn Every Weekend. Located onthe upper level between IMAX and 32Luxe Lounge, it’s the place to be. 609-348-6700

A Dam Good Sports Bar Their new poolroom, "Wilson's," is theonly billiard parlor in an Atlantic Citycasino hotel. It's a great place forbirthday, bachelor, or bachelorette par-ties. Keep your eyes open for live en-tertainment weekends and holidays.

And you can always find your favorite"40s". For Atlantic City dining at ADam Good Sports Bar call609-347-7770

Red SquareOn weekend nights, starting at 12 am,Red Square turns into one of The Quar-ter’s favorite party spots. Dance allnight and check out the impressivefrozen ice bar, which measures 40 feet,will serve the finest selection of morethan 120 frozen vodkas, infusions andmartinis. 609.344.9100

Firewaters @ The Market PlaceWhether it’s that hard-to-findLaChouffe or a Triple Karmeliet, Fire-waters is famous for importing beersfrom around the world to Atlantic City.One-hundred-and-one beer varietiesand a fabulous martini bar (shaken,stirred, olive or onion—Firewatersserves up a mean martini) make Fire-waters the place for a night on thetown. Add in a one-of-a-kind ice walland a lively dance floor, and the resultis night club nirvana. 609.344.6699

The Bar atWellingtonʼs @ TropicanaLocated on the 2nd floor of the southtower, The Bar at Wellington’s featuresa variety of wine, cocktails and spirits,and offers a menu with full and halfsize appetizers, salads, entrees anddesserts. Wine is available by theglass and from the half bottle wine list,and Apple martini and Cosmopolitanflights provide the perfect way to enjoyand explore a cocktail.

A high energy dance party is an all-night affair at Providence Night club, the premiere nightlife venue in Atlantic City.

SUMMER HOT SPOTS AT THE TROP

CONTENT PROVIDED BY THE TROPICANA