Tonight — Dec. 31, 2009 — Garden State Fireworks and the City of Atlantic City will join forces to officially usher in 2010 with a spectacular fireworks display at Bader Field. The display will light up the Atlantic City skyline, and starts as soon as the clock strikes midnight. The venue will not be open to the public due to safety concerns.
Garden State Fireworks is based in Millington, Morris County, and has garnered the highest accolades in the fireworks business from all over the world, including Grand World Champion of the International Festival of Fireworks in France. Augustine Santore founded the company in 1890 soon after immigrating to the United States from Italy. His three sons, Nunzio, Charles and Ralph, continued to run the business until 1973, and his grandsons, August and Nunzio Jr., have run it ever since.

Partnering with the Arc Foundation of Atlantic County, the Hard Rock Café’s “Atlantic City Ambassadors” took the time to make an underprivileged family’s Christmas one to remember this year. Through its Ambassador Fund, the A.C. Hard Rock Café’s staff collected such items as PlayStation2 and GuitarHero video games, board games, clothes, stuffed animals, a reconditioned computer, CDs, and gift cards to Best Buy, Shoprite, and Wal-Mart stores for the family to use at their discretion. Hard Rock then invited the family into the restaurant, provided them with a four-course meal, and watched as they opened their staff-wrapped presents from under the Christmas tree.

This from ABC: Report: Billionaire investor Carl Icahn offers $125M more for bankrupt Trump casinos.

It has been announced that due to illness the Natalie Cole concerts scheduled for Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 at the Tropicana have been cancelled.

According to the Tropicana Press release, “Natalie Cole’s scheduled appearance at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, on New Year’s Eve, has been cancelled at the advice of her doctor due to a vocal fold hemorrhage. Dr. Kenneth Altman at the Grabscheid Voice Center at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City says that immediate strict vocal rest is necessary to repair the hemorrhage.”

“I want to express my sincere apologies as I was excited to perform for my fans in celebration of the New Year, but unfortunately at my doctor’s advice the show will not be able to go on. I look forward to seeing you all very soon and wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year,” said Cole.

The O’Jays will perform in the Tropicana Showroom on December 31 and January 1. Any customer who chooses not to attend The O’Jays performance, in lieu of Natalie Cole, must visit the Tropicana Box Office or contact TicketMaster directly for a refund.

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 my on-going battle to lose weight in our fast food world. — Lori Hoffman, Associate Editor, Atlantic City Weekly

Well I’ve decided to give into the obvious temptation to sum up the year and in this case, the decade that has passed in Atlantic City, NJ.

Let’s start with the obvious. Things have been better around here in the casino industry that drives this town, a lot better.

In fact it was not that long ago that Atlantic City was earning tons of praise for continuing its transform into a true destination resort. When the Borgata opened in July 2003, it ushered in an era of new prosperity. Atlantic City was instantly appealing to a younger demographic. The Borgata did everything in a big way and the other casinos felt the need to match this new industry giant. The improvements and expansions of many casinos in town, the success of The Walk, the Pier Shops at Caesars and the Pool After Dark at Harrah’s Resort provided more entertainment, late night and shopping options. Hotel rooms were being added, including the Borgata’s own Water Club.

Everything was coming up roses in our town but roses can wilt quickly and all that prosperity turned into near panic as the economic crash hit the casinos hard.

Carl Icahn

The hand wringing particulars included the expansion of slot parlors in Pennsylvania that took a serious bite out of revenues; the announcement of new casino construction, followed later by the news that all the new properties like Revel, Penn National Gaming and Pinnacle Entertainment were suspending their AC plans until the economy approved; and the bankruptcy woes faced by Trump Entertainment, the Tropicana and the possible foreclosure of Atlantic City’s first casino, Resorts.

Yes, there is a ton of gloom and doom in the air, but damn my optimism, there is a silver lining in that black cloud. The economy will get better. Billionaire Carl Icahn thinks so.

He heads a group of investors that bought the Tropicana, and he is looking to lock horns with Donald Trump for control of the Trump properties. The fact that the big boys still want to play in our sandbox is an encouraging sign. Sure, they are getting these properties at a fire sale, but the point is, they feel the economy will recover. It was also good news December 21 when it was reported that Colony Capital LLC handed Credit Suisse the deed to Resorts. That gives our town’s first casino new life.

Atlantic City will survive these trying economic times.

Pretty interesting. Encyclopedias, CDs, land lines — can you guess the rest?

Rob Thomas: Jan. 9 at Borgata.

Rob Thomas fans just didn’t get a break when it comes to his appearance at the Borgata. His first date, scheduled Nov. 6, had to be postponed due to a personal family matter. The concert was then rescheduled for Saturday, Dec. 19. So what happens on that date? The entire Northeast, including AC, is hit with a blizzard that dumps from 12-24 inches of snow in the region and his show is snowed out.
Now comes word that the Rob Thomas show has been rescheduled for Saturday, Jan. 9, at 8pm. Tickets will be honored if purchased for both the 11/6 and 12/19 dates. However, if you want a refund, you must get it processed by 5pm on Dec. 31.
In other date change news at the Borgata, the Aaron Lewis concerts were originally scheduled for Feb. 12-13. However, the concert at 8pm on Friday, Feb. 12 has been rescheduled for Sunday, Feb. 14 at 11pm. Tickets purchased for the Friday show will be honored for this date. The Saturday show is sold-out.

DJ Vice (left) and DJ Samanta Ronson performed at Borgata nightclub mur.mur on Monday night, Dec. 28

World-famous DJs Samantha Ronson and Vice performed together for the first time to kick-start 2010 at mur.mur’s Industry New Year’s Eve party on Monday night, Dec. 28.

The Borgata’s resident DJs kept the packed house going until the early morning hours with a special set, including hits by Michael Jackson, Rihanna and Jay-Z, among others.

William J. Marino, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey (HFNJ), announced on Tuesday, Dec. 29, that more than $1.9 million in grants was awarded to 96 organizations in 2009, including 38 organizations in the fourth quarter.
Among those receiving fourth-quarter grants from the HFNJ were the South Jersey AIDS Alliance in Atlantic City, which received $15,000 to support its Healthy Relationships Plus Program, and the South Jersey Cultural Alliance in Pleasantville, which received $7,500 to support its Arts for Students Project. The Healthy Relationships Plus Program uses intervention in a small group environment to help build the skills needed to disclose HIV status to family, friends and partners, and also teaches safe sexual behaviors. The Arts for Students Project provides disadvantaged students in Southern New Jersey with quality arts experiences, enabling students in grades K-12 to attend symphony concerts, theatre, dance performances, arts and cultural exhibitions.
“I am proud to announce that since the Foundation’s inception in 2004, it has awarded nearly 500 grants totaling over $18 million to charitable organizations across the state,” says Marino in a release to the media.

Photo by Kevin McCarty

Why was our art director Kevin McCarty a tiny bit late this morning? Well, blame it on the winds. All lanes are open on the Brigantine Bridge now, but earlier this morning, traffic was tied up due to a house falling off a truck. Police are investigating, according to reports, and the wind gusts were approximately 40 mph. Wow.