Zipcar Philadelphia general manager Peter Bruvick, right, said they are “selling convenience and accessibility” as he unveils a DO-AC decked out hatchback with Zipcar employee Lesley Berkowitz.

Philadelphians’ list of excuses not to visit Atlantic City this summer took another hit, as the Atlantic City Alliance announced a partnership with Zipcar on Wednesday, May 15.

The arrangement will allow visitors to beat the summer shore traffic by taking a NJ Transit train from Philly’s 30th Street Station, enjoying a leisurely 90-minute ride to AC, then picking up their Zipcar vehicle at the Sheraton Hotel next to the train station.

The partnership agreement was announced at The Porch in Philadelphia — a recently created open space/recreational area in the University City District right next to Philly’s 30th Street Station.

Zipcar is a car-sharing company that rents cars to members at hourly and daily affordable rates. The loaner cars come with gas, reserved parking spots, insurance, roadside assistance and up to 180 miles of driving per day. The car-sharing network serves about 250 college campuses, more than 50 cities in North America, and also has locations in Europe. See zipcar.com

According to an article on cnn.com, “For drivers who already share movies via Netflix and stream music rather than buying CDs, the idea of sharing a car is the natural extension of a hip, financially smart, and environmentally conscious urban lifestyle.”

Don’t be surprised if you see gladiators such as the one pictured above fighting in the lobby at Caesars Atlantic City over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

However, if you’re inside Caesars (or reading this) Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday (May 24-27), you probably will already be expecting some sort of “epic battle” from the Roman era via the on-property announcements stating:

“Friends, Romans and countrymen … lend me your eyes and ears. This is the moment you’ve all been waiting for as these courageous gladiators will battle for legend and glory. Indeed entertainment like this can only be found at Caesars Atlantic City for the mere price of your presence. … Now, let the epic battle begin.”

The battles will be staged May 24-27 and then again from July 4-Sept. 2 across from Mia in the Caesars lobby and are free and open to the public to watch.

ATLANTIC CITY — Are you an average Joe? Do you enjoy hot cars, cool boats and fast motorcycles? Do you like hunting, fishing, camping, the outdoors, BBQ, MMA, rock ‘n’ roll, video games and sports? If the answer to these questions is yes, you might just be an average Joe! And if you’re an average Joe, it’s mandatory that you git yer fun-lovin’ keister to the Average Joe Expo!

Organized by those crazy cats at Good Time Tricycle — the same ones who bring Atlantic City the Celebration of the Suds and A.C. Seafood Festival each year — the Average Joe Expo will be held May 18 and 19 at the Atlantic City Convention Center.

The Average Joe Expo is like no other show on earth. This inaugural event vows to “bring real guys together and create an opportunity to discover what makes us tick, getting to the heart of male commerce, interests and desires — both the obtainable and the aspirational, the Average Joe Expo has it all!”

The event will populate over 200,000 square feet of exhibition space at the Convention Center. It will introduce products, places and things to the masses, holding nothing back and showcasing unique product demos, seminars and other related experiences.  The Average Joe Expo promises to be a great weekend out to explore some awesome experiences you may not have otherwise! Tickets are $20 in advance through Ticketmaster or $25 at the door. Hours are Saturday, May 18: 11am-8pm; Sunday, May 19: 11am – 6pm.

The Average Joe Expo will also play host to a variety of celebrities and personalities — people who guys just want to meet and hang out with.  With a huge emphasis on the male lifestyle, the expo will cover motocross, gaming, action sports, all things outdoors and everything in between . This expo will offer men a true weekend of discovery! Visit averagejoeexpo.com/atlantic-city.aspx or click the video below to learn more.

This August, the Ventnor-based Murphy Writing Seminars (MurphyWriting.com), in partnership with Stockton College, is offering writers of all stripes to  “Get Away to Write” in Scotland.

Poet Peter Murphy, who holds writing seminars and retreats annually — in South Jersey and abroad — is taking writers “from New Jersey and beyond” across the pond to “seek out their inspiration in bonnie Scotland this August” — and there’s still time to sign up for the week-long trip.

Murphy Writing Seminars will lead the Scottish Getaway as part of a new cooperation between Stockton College and the University of Dundee, which will host the retreat, which runs Aug. 8-15, “with classes, accommodations and some meals included for creative writers on a budget.”

“I have scouted the UK more than two dozen times in the last 12 years, visiting friends and relatives, and exploring new places to hold writing getaways,” Murphy says.

“When I toured Dundee and surroundings last year, I saw we could swap our usual Welsh mountain location this year for a Scottish coastal city. You’ll see lots of differences, lots of contrasts—but our Scottish adventure will still be packed with history, culture and comfort for every writer.”

Murphy adds: “In and around a small historic city where I can walk to everything—shops, restaurants, theaters and museums—I want to eat fish and chips, see the coastal town of Arbroath and finally set foot in Inverness, which I have wanted to visit since the Seventies.”

For more details visit the Web site listed above.

Tom Ballance, president/CEO of Borgata, delivered the keynote address.

ATLANTIC CITY — The Atlantic City Hotel and Lodging Association (ACHLA) Scholarship Foundation recently awarded scholarships to 17 students pursuing hospitality and/or culinary careers at its annual Scholarship Awards Luncheon at the Borgata. During the course of its history, the ACHLA Scholarship Foundation has awarded in excess of $300,000.

Atlantic County scholarship winners (L to R) include Jaleesha Mills, Miranda Lamey, Olga Koteva-Gorgiev, Catherine McDonnell, Kimberly Richardson, Andrew Huggard, Sofia Sansweet, Sharon Beals, Dylan Higgins, and Nancy Maslowas. Not pictured are Joanne Pereira and Samantha Vicchiarelli.

Tom Ballance, Borgata’s president and CEO and a 32-year veteran of the casino industry, was the keynote speaker.

“Don’t worry so much about advancing at your job,” Ballance told the students. “Concentrate instead on meeting new challenges without fear of failure. That will make you a smarter and more valuable employee.

“If you’re not having fun at your job, figure out how you can,” he added. “Or find another job.”

Ray Bertschy, the newly elected ACHLA president, presented the scholarship awards with ACHLA executive director Howard Bacharach. Bertschy is also vice president of food-and-beverage at the Tropicana.

This year’s scholarship recipients are students at Atlantic Cape Community College (Atl.-Cape), Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU), the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey (RSC), and Rutgers University (RU). Many of them also work in area hospitality or culinary jobs.

2013 Scholarship Winners

Sharon Beals, EHT — Atl.-Cape
Dylan Higgins, Ventnor — Atl.-Cape
Andrew Huggard, Galloway — FDU
Olga Koteva-Gorgiev, EHT — Atl.-Cape
Miranda Lamey, Somers Point — RSC
Nancy Maslowas, Pomona — FDU
Catherine McDonnell, Galloway — RU
Jaleesha Mills, Pleasantville — FDU
Joanne Pereira, Galloway — RU
Kimberly Richardson, Mays Landing — FDU
Sofia Sansweet, Ventnor — RSC
Samantha Vicchiarelli, Somers Point — RSC
Louis Rodia, Sicklerville — FDU
Lisa Smith, Seaville — FDU
Aglee Burke, Millville — Atl.-Cape
Jennifer Cittadino, Eatontown — RSC
Magen Davies, Cranford — RSC

This year's Host Award winners at Boardwalk Hall

ATLANTIC CITY — The Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority (ACCVA), a division of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA), recognized 27 individuals in the hospitality field during the annual Host Awards on Wednesday, May 8, at Boardwalk Hall.

Presented each year during National Travel and Tourism Week, the Host Awards salute and encourage outstanding customer service by employees in the tourism, hospitality and retail industries who contribute to Atlantic City’s success as a friendly, world-class destination.

Presented by ACCVA president Jeffrey Vasser, each Host Award winner received a prize package consisting of a commemorative lighthouse lapel pin to signify that they are beacons of hospitality, as well as a $200 cash gift card, chocolate from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory located at Tanger Outlets The Walk, and complimentary dinner for two in one of Atlantic City’s fine dining establishments.

Host Award winners were nominated for their enthusiasm, exemplary customer service and ability to enhance the overall experience of the visitors they serve. They were chosen from more than 300 nominees by a selection committee consisting of educators, along with representatives from area organizations including the Greater Atlantic City Chamber, Local 54 and the Atlantic City Hotel & Lodging Association, among others.

Frank Dougherty accepting the Spirit of Hospitality Award on behalf of the Dougherty family.

“Tonight’s Host Award nominees represent the best of the best out of the thousands of people who work in Atlantic City, and we thank each of you for your hard word and dedication,” said Vasser. “The experience we give our visitors is a large part of making Atlantic City a ‘must do’ destination, and you are leading the way.”

Additionally, the Dougherty family, owners and operators of Dock’s Restaurant, the Knife and Fork Inn and Harry’s Oyster Bar, was honored with the Spirit of Hospitality Award, sponsored by TD Bank. The Spirit of Hospitality Award is given to an outstanding individual or individuals who made a significant long-term contribution to the region’s hospitality and travel industry.

2013 Host Award Winners

(more…)

One of the most famous sculptures on Sarasota, Florida's waterfront sculpture walk and park.

The Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority (ACCVA), now under the umbrella of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) and the Atlantic City Alliance (ACA), released a statement on Friday afternoon that a Monday press conference will be held at Harrah’s Resort with regard to a new non-gaming attraction coming to town.

The Atlantic City waterfront is getting its own Sculpture Walk/Park,  thanks to a partnership between the ACA, CRDA and the Noyes Museum of Art of Richard Stockton College.

“The AC Waterfront Sculpture Walk, the newest addition to the burgeoning art program in Atlantic City,  will be located along the existing illuminated trail along the bay in the Marina District of Atlantic City, linking the Golden Nugget Atlantic City with Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City and Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa,” reads the statement.

“Located within the Tourism District, this new, eco-friendly, non-gaming attraction will encompass the procurement of 40 sculptures over the next four years, with the first installation scheduled for July, 2013.”

This summer! Fantastic news. And with 40 sculptures planned the project will definitely change the look and feel of Atlantic City’s Marina District.

One of the sculptures on the Sarasota, Fla., sculpture walk along its watefront.

ATLANTIC CITY — Are you an average Joe? Do you enjoy hot cars, cool boats and fast motorcycles? Do you like hunting, fishing, camping, the outdoors, BBQ, MMA, rock ‘n’ roll, video games and all things sports? If the answer to these questions is yes, you have to git yer keister to the Average Joe Expo!

Organized by those crazy cats at Good Time Tricycle — the same ones who bring Atlantic City the Celebration of the Suds and A.C. Seafood Festival each year — the Average Joe Expo will be held May 18 and 19 at the Atlantic City Convention Center.

The Average Joe Expo is like no other show on earth. This inaugural event vows to “bring real guys together and create an opportunity to discover what makes us tick, getting to the heart of male commerce, interests and desires — both the obtainable and the aspirational, the Average Joe Expo has it all!”

The event will populate over 200,000 square feet of exhibition space at the Convention Center. It will introduce products, places and things to the masses, holding nothing back and showcasing unique product demos, seminars and other related experiences.  The Average Joe Expo promises to be a great weekend out to explore some awesome experiences you may not have otherwise! Tickets are $20 in advance through Ticketmaster or $25 at the door. Hours are Saturday, May 18: 11am-8pm; Sunday, May 19: 11am – 6pm.

The Average Joe Expo will also play host to a variety of celebrities and personalities — people who guys just want to meet and hang out with.  With a huge emphasis on the male lifestyle, the expo will cover motocross, gaming, action sports, all things outdoors and everything in between . This expo will offer men a true weekend of discovery! Visit averagejoeexpo.com/atlantic-city.aspx or click the video below to learn more.

ATLANTIC CITY — The Color Run, heralded as the single largest event series in the nation, will make its debut in Atlantic City on October 19.

With no winners or official times, The Color Run “celebrates healthiness, happiness and individuality,” bringing the community together to create a five-kilometer canvas of colorful fun in which thousands of participants are doused from head to toe in different colors at each kilometer.

Click here for a story about a similar event held last New Year’s Eve at Atlantic City’s Bader Field, and click here to see a photo gallery of that event.

Participation in, and buzz for, The Color Run has exploded since its debut last year, with over one million “likes” on Facebook and over four million YouTube views.

The Color Run visited over 50 cities last year with over 600,000 participants, a feat following its first event in January 2012. Event organizers plan to make 2013 a stellar year, launching over 100 events with an estimated one million participants.

“We call The Color Run the ‘happiest 5K on the planet’ because our events bring together friends and family in a unique, healthy, and fun environment,” says Travis Snyder, founder of The Color Run, in a media release. “Our only rules are that people wear white and prepare to be covered in color at the finish.”

The Color Run is being dubbed a “feel-good, happy, colorful event” in which colorful runners go from wearing pristine white clothing to being covered in prismatic color. At each kilometer mark, a different color of powder fills the air and covers the participants, creating an ever-increasing spectrum of color and beauty. At the finish line, the color festival kicks off and the air is filled with millions of vivid color combinations as participants get in on the color throwing fun as well.

The Color Run chooses an individual charity to donate to in each city they visit and raised donations for over 60 local and national charities in 2012. Their charity partner Atlantic City will be announced in the upcoming weeks.

Registration for the Atlantic City event will start May 1. Go to thecolorrun.com/atlantic-city to register.

ATLANTIC CITY — Entertainment tryouts are being held on the 13th floor Screening Room of Resorts Casino today and tomorrow (Thursday and Friday, April 18-19), as local entertainers vie for the opportunity to perform at the soon-to-be-opened Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville and LandShark Bar & Grill, which is set to open in May.

The band Route 9 auditions at Resorts Thursday afternoon, April 18

The tryouts are by appointment only both days from 10am-6pm. Auditions are available to full bands, duos and trios, and solo acoustic guitar solo artists.

Musicians will compete for a spot on an entertainment roster that will feature seven-night-per-week performances at the new Margaritaville Café and at the LandShark Bar & Grill — the first-ever full-service bar and restaurant directly located on the famous Atlantic City beachfront at Resorts.

Talent scouts will be evaluating talent with a particular focus on fun, upbeat acts specializing in cover songs ranging from classic rock to Top 40.