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.

I’ve been back from my working vacation at the Toronto Film Festival for a little more than a week now and I’m still trying to get back into the routine. It was so much fun spending the day watching movies and attending celebrity-filled press conferences and frankly, not-so-much fun returning to the 9 to 5 grind. Still, one has to earn a paycheck.

So what happened while I was away? I was surprised to learn that Aaron Gomes left town for greener pastures in Australia where the 30-year-old will get to run a casino himself. I can’t blame him for wanting a fresh start with the death of his father and brother in the past year plus the changes at Resorts brought on by his father’s death. I went through that very same horrible situation in 1979-80 when my brother Gary, who was 27, was killed by a hit and run driver, and a year later my father died of a heart attack at age 56. I was in a very depressed state for several years afterwards; if I had been give the chance to take a job in Australia I would have jumped at it.

And how about my sports teams while I was away? Thanks to MLB’s Gameday, I was able to keep up with the Phillies while in Toronto via my computer. They were doing so well, I was afraid to return to the United States and jinx them. Well I’m back and after looking like they might pull off a wild card berth, the team is all but eliminated from post-season play. That was too big a hole they dug for themselves, but I’m still hopeful that next year the team will be back in the post-season hunt.

I checked out the Eagles during my annual vacation from the film festival to watch my Birds at Toronto’s Hoops Sports Bar. That was the most depressing victory I have ever watched over Cleveland. While the turnovers continued, somehow the Eagles managed to beat the Ravens the next week, but the Cardinals took full advantage of more turnovers for an easy victory last Sunday. Who knows what will happen as they host the Giants this Sunday.

The hockey lockout was big news all the time in Toronto, shocking as that might be, but back in the States, the outcry about no hockey this year is deafening in its silence. I’m in the latter camp, who cares?

Andrew Bynum.

Finally, the Sixers news continues to be all good, including the chance to see new center Andrew Bynum right here in Atlantic City for a pre-season game vs. the Brooklyn Nets Oct. 13 at Boardwalk Hall. I am jazzed about just how good the Sixers could be this year with a legit center, the addition of good perimeter shooters (Jason Richardson, Dorell Wright) and the continued improvement of Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner, now that they will be hoisting more of the load with the trade (finally!!) of Andre Iguodala. Training camp starts Tuesday.

Dennis and Aaron Gomes

ATLANTIC CITY — On April 11 the City Council of Atlantic City unanimously approved an ordinance to rename North Carolina Avenue Dennis C. Gomes Avenue.

On Friday, May 18, A.C. Mayor Lorenzo T. Langford and city officials will hold a street-naming dedication at the intersection of Pacific and North Carolina avenues at 1:30pm for the longtime casino executive who passed away in February.

“Dennis Gomes achieved much success and received nationwide acclaim for his important accomplishments in the gaming and hospitality industry,” the ordinance states. “Dennis Gomes was affectionately known as ‘Mr. Resorts’ and was highly respected and noted for his excellent marketing, promotional and management skills, as well as for his honesty, integrity, and professionalism.”

“My father loved Atlantic City — the potential it held, the closeness of the community and the opportunities it gave him and our family,” said Aaron Gomes, Dennis’ son and the executive vice president of Resorts, in a media release. “For Mayor Langford and the City Council to recognize his vast achievements in taking Atlantic City forward as a destination and his strength of character is a gracious gesture. It is truly an honor for our family that my father’s name will be forever part of a city in which he gave so much of his heart.”

(more…)

Under new owner Dennis Gomes, Resorts Casino Hotel may have plans to theme its entire operation in a 1920s motif — capitalizing on the Prohibition-era A.C. publicized by HBO’s Boardwalk Empire and it’s own period-appropriate art-deco architecture — but it’s latest promotion definitely screams 21st Century.

From now through Christmas Day (Saturday, Dec. 25), all of Resorts’ Facebook and Twitter followers can cash in on special deals and discounts during its “12 Days of Christmas” promotion. Upcoming “12 Days” Facebook and Twitter specials will include dining deals at Capriccio, Asian Spice, Gallagher’s, The Buffet, The Burger Bar and 25 Hours, plus services, room offers and more.

Additionally, on Christmas Day Twitter/Facebook followers will have a chance to enter to win one of 12 rooms at Resorts that will be given away on Tuesday, Dec. 28. Room winners will be announced through e-mail.  For more on this story, go here.