Some more information has come out about Dennis Gomes plans to purchase Resorts Casino, including how much the city’s oldest casino costs in today’s market.

Gomes and his partner, Morris Bailey, a New York real-estate developer, are buying to property for a bargain basement $35 million.

Consider that just three years ago Resorts refinanced for $360 million in loans.

Bailey’s partnership with Gomes was also disclosed for the first time Wednesday.

Bailey, who grew up in Atlantic City told The Wall Street Journal:

“I think there’s a point in time when it’s time to go in, and now is the time,” Mr. Bailey said  “Atlantic City will be able to re-create itself now. Will it ever get back to its peak in gaming? Probably not. But based on the value structure, the economics are better now than they ever were.”

For the Journal’s story go here.

To read AC Weekly’s recent interview with Gomes, go here.

The Pinestock II Music Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 4, from 2pm-2am at the Watering Hole Café in Mays Landing. Admission to the festival is free and open to all ages until 9pm, at which time a nominal cover charge will apply and guests must be 21 years of age or older to stay later.  

Pinestock was put together by members of the band Eddie’s Garage and was the brainchild of band member Billy Zane, percussionist and vocalist. Zane’s motivation behind creating the festival was to thank fans who have supported Eddie’s Garage and other local musicians throughout year, while showcasing the home-grown talented musicians and bands.

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If you’re a fan of the CBS reality television series, The Amazing Race, here is some amazing news. Resorts will offer visitors to Atlantic City a chance to be a contestant on  the show on Wednesday, Sept. 29.

Those interested in participating can visit the Resorts Ballroom from 2-6pm on Sept. 29. Those who attend this contestant search will be interviewed on video. Complete eligibility requirements are available here.

Atlantic City’s need to give guests other incentives to visit the resort in the face of increased gaming competition has been a well-documented news item lately. So well documented, in fact, that neighboring municipalities seem to have picked up on the crusade with upgrades, improvements and added attractions of their own.

A prime example can be found in A.C.’s immediate neighbor to the north, Brigantine. St. George’s Pub — a popular but almost prohibitively small neighborhood niche — will soon be a full-fledged spacious and upscale dining establishment, as owner Jim Fowler leased the building next door (formerly Flagship Resorts), invested over $300,000 in interior and exterior upgrades, and will soon be open for business.

“We are 100 percent done and waiting for release of plans from the Department of Community Affairs in Trenton, then our inspection can be completed and a CO (certificate of occupancy) is given and we can open,” says Fowler.

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Event organizer Carver Entertainment Group, citing the pending adverse weather conditions brought on by Hurricane Earl, has canceled the Sweet Soul and Rock & Roll Concert Series — to have taken place this Saturday, Sept. 4, at the Wildwoods Convention Centerr — and plans to reschedule at a later date. No date has been announced as of this time.

Three legendary groups from the Motown era were scheduled to perform at in the inaugural event — The Spinners, Little Anthony and the Imperials (pictured), and The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards. Celebrity impersonator Linda Axelrod was to host the show, performing at Joan Rivers.

For more information contact the Carver Entertainment Group at 570-646-2643. For information about the Wildwoods, go here or call 609-729-9000.

As Hurricane Earl moves toward the East Coast of the United States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is taking aggressive actions to prepare for the storm and is coordinating closely with state and local officials along the East Coast to help support their response as needed.  FEMA is also encouraging all East Coast residents to take steps now to prepare for possible severe weather in the coming days.

Go here for more information on how to be prepared.

FEMA encourages all residents and those visiting the East Coast to pay close attention to local updates and heed evacuation orders should they be issued.
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Rants and raves about burning topics that have caught my attention midweek, be it greedy corporate shenanigans, frustration or joy in regards to the Philly sports teams, a movie, show or DVD that has fired up my imagination, an intriguing personality, or what’s happening in the region. — Lori Hoffman, Associate Editor, Atlantic City Weekly.

Some years, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) can’t come soon enough. This is certainly one of those years. Film critics tend to bitch more about an endless parade of movies that offer the same old, same old than “regular” moviegoers, but really people — this was a bad summer. Other than Inception and Toy Story 3, there weren’t many movies that were good enough to see a second time.

My annual trek to Toronto will clear my head and reboot my love of quality cinema. Will a see some bad movies in T.O.? Of course I will. Sometimes a plot summary and the cast will sound terrific, but the execution will disappoint. Still, the one thing I know I will find at the festival is filmmakers who are passionate about their work and who have something to say. Another big aspect of an international festival is seeing how other cultures view world events, and seeing how America is being perceived these days in works from other countries.

Documentaries are given their own special place in Toronto, in the Reel to Reel program. One doc I’m really looking forward too is Inside Job, an in-depth exploration of what caused the financial crisis from the Oscar-nominated director of No End in Sight, Charles Ferguson. At the other end of the documentary spectrum is The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town. The documentary explores the creative process of Bruce Springsteen’s pivotal 1978 album, featuring footage from his “glory days.”

The Film Festival uses its Gala Presentations and Special Presentations to showcase the big name Hollywood stars and their movies hoping for Oscar glory. Check out my story here for more info on the big-ticket movies.

Sure it is fun to rub elbows with the stars at press conferences. However, by the time the festival is halfway through, my passion has usually been ignited by an unexpected gem, a little movie I find by accident, usually because the big movie I planned to attend is full and I have to scramble to find a movie to see in five minutes. It might be a martial arts movie or a bizarre Danish comedy or a moving exploration of war and its aftermath from a Middle Eastern filmmaker.

One of my favorite filmmakers, John Sayles, is bringing Amigo to Toronto, a drama about the American occupation of the Philippines in 1900. Yep, I didn’t know we occupied the Philippines either, but you can bet Sayles will make a statement about our modern occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan with his historical drama.

I’m getting excited just thinking about it.

Penny Angels Beagle Rescue will present the 10th annual Beagle Barbecue on Sunday, Sept. 12.

The barbecue will take place from noon-4pm, at Atlantic County Park (Estell Manor), Pavilion C, Route 50 in Mays Landing. For directions, go here.

The cost is $15 for adults, $7 for kids ages 4-10 and free for kids ages 3 and under. There will be food, drinks, kids games, a 50/50 drawing, a bucket auction, a beagle parade, a best-dressed costume contest and the annual “Blessing of the Animals.”  All friendly, leashed dog breeds invited.

Call: Christine at 973-610-8049 or Joan at 609-965-9476 with any questions.

Penny Angel Beagle Rescue is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization dedicated to beagle rescue and community education on the breed. They provide adoptions at the Petsmart located in Mays Landing on Saturdays from 11am-4pm . If you live In Southern New Jersey and want to rescue a Beagle, stop by.

Nice work folks! (Click to read the Brooklyn Vegan post:)

Thanks for the shout out, Brooklyn Vegan.

Here’s the rest of Iggy & the Stooges coverage, including a preview, concert review, and photo gallery from the concert at the House of Blues at Showboat, Atlantic City, Aug. 27, 2010.

Reported earlier this week, state Democrats are planning a second in their series of three summit meetings regarding Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed changes to Atlantic City.

The next summit is scheduled for Sept. 10 at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, another area that, in addition to Atlantic City, Christie feels needs state involvement and change.

The first summit was held  Aug. 6; read more about it here.

According to a casino gambling Web site, “Among the proposals being considered at the summit is allowing racetracks to add slot machines. Another issue being discussed is the state becoming more involved in the Atlantic City casino industry. The casinos themselves are pushing to keep the state away.”

These summits are not the same as the Mayor’s Strategic Planning meetings.