Photo by Kevin McCarty

Our art director Kevin McCarty took some awesome shots of the king of rap during his show at the Borgata this past Saturday. Check them out.

The celebrity-packed Event Center included Jay-Z fans Stevie Wonder, Michael Phelps, Adrienne Bailon, Jacqueline Laurita and Teresa Giudice (Real Housewives of NJ). After the show, Jay-Z, Wonder and Robin Thicke hung out at the Old Homestead Steak House to eat dinner and watch the Pacquiao-Clottey fight. DJ Sam Ronson joined the group before heading over for her set at mur.mur where Bobby Flay, Charlotte Ronson,  Phelps, Robin Thicke and Angela from Jersey Shore partied. When Beyonce arrived, Jay-Z and entourage drew a crowd while playing blackjack in the casino’s high-limit salon.

A show to remember. If you were there, that is. Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen joined Levon Helm’s band at Harrah’s on Saturday night.

Photo by Nick Valinote

Down the Boardwalk at Dusk at Caesars, Joel Madden (above) did the rock-star-turned-DJ thing.

He told the crowd his band Good Charlotte has a new album, Cardiology, coming out soon.

Photo Nick Valinote

The Far East Movement performed at Dusk at Caesars in Atlantic City to a packed crowd on Tuesday, Feb. 23. The place rocked out to the group’s hit “Girls on the Dance Floor.” Coming up, Dusk will host a DJ set by Joel Madden (Saturday, Feb. 27) a live performance by the group The Veronicas (Friday, March 5) and a DJ set by All-American Rejects member Tyson Ritter (Saturday, March 6).

Apparently the ex-Kinks member and legendary Brit singer-songwriter Ray Davies is working on a new album of Kinks classics with special guests dueting with Davies. These guests include a couple of little known NJ rockers, Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi.

Davies, who kicks off an acoustic tour at the Borgata in Atlantic City Friday night, says he hopes to have the album done by year’s end.

According to an interview Davies did with the NJ Star Ledger, he is open for a Kinks reunion, but says it’s up to his brother Dave Davies.

Says Davies about his younger bro, “Mick Avory and I are going through lots of tapes that we recorded with Dave, and we’re sifting through the archives. We’ll see if he wants to get involved again. It’s in the works. It’s really up to Dave.”

Dr. J with family and friends at his 60th birthday bash.

Julius Erving, one of the greatest basketball stars of all time, who led the Sixers to the 1983 NBA championship, celebrated his 60th birthday Saturday, Feb. 20, at the Trump Taj Mahal.

Doc with daughter Alexandra.

At the big birthday bash, Dr. J was joined by his wife, Dorys, and his children, including Julius Erving III and tennis pro Alexandra Stevenson. Guests included former NBA legends, Bill Russell, George Tinsley, retired NBA players Charles Oakley, John Starks, Charles Smith, NFL’s Reggie Howard, Ricky Watters, Richard Dent, actor/comedian Anthony Anderson (of TV’s Law and Order), Olympic gold medalist Sanya Richards and hundreds of friends and family members.

The stars walked the red carpet for photo opportunities with Dr. J, before heading into the Tiara Ballroom for a night that included a video montage of Erving’s life achievements, followed by a lavish dinner, birthday cake, music and dancing.

Season Six American Idol runner-up Blake Lewis, the Idol beat-boxing king, performed at Caesars’ Dusk on Friday night. Lewis performed songs off his new album Heartbreak In Vinyl in front of a packed house. Blake dined at Mia restaurant prior to his performance and sipped champagne with his fans late into the night at the nightclub.

Blake Lewis beat-boxing. (photo by Nick Valinote)

The snowy roads were treacherous Saturday night but that didn’t stop me from picking up my snowbound friend Sally in Mays Landing and going to the House of Blues to see Gary Allan. His sold-out show at the HOB was filled to capacity so a bunch of like-minded Allan fans felt the same way, and yes the show was worth the trip. Check out my review here. Below are shots of the show.

Pictured are (l) Det. John Kelly, Galloway Twp. Police and (r) Mike Spagnola, owner of Underground at Smithville. In the background is Frank Byrnes.

The merchants of The Village Greene in Smithville filled over three-quarters of a 60ft long trailer to the ceiling with items donated by the South Jersey community. All items except for clothing will be sent to Haiti via the Haitian Professional Association of Philadelphia. Clothing will be distributed to Haitians via Psalm Charity of Pleasantville run by Haiti native Marie Gauthier. Kudos to Frank Byrnes, a retired UPS employee, for organizing the proper way to pack a truck.

Click Here for Video – Ray Kot Poker Open at Taj Mahal

Sonia (left) and Janet Wan, nieces of Ray Kot. Photo by Christine Steiner

The First Annual Ray Kot Poker Open Tournament took place at the Trump Taj Mahal from January 18 to 24 in Memory of Ray Kot, a long time Taj Mahal employee. Donations will benefit the Ray Kot Memorial Fund. Go to TrumpTaj.com to make a donation. The grand prize is an all expense paid trip to the 2010 “Big Game” on Sund…ay, February 7 in Miami Florida (or cash equivalent), which includes airfare, two nights deluxe hotel accommodations, food credit of $250 per day and two tickets to the “Big Game,” played at Dolphin Stadium, Miami, Florida on Sunday, February 7, 2010.
Video by Lew Steiner.

Nynell Langford celebrated her birthday at the Chelsea Hotel on Saturday Night with Mayor Lorenzo Langford and some friends.

First Lady of AC, Nynell Langford celebrates with her birthday cake at the Chelsea Hotel on Saturday. Photo by Lew Steiner