Victoria Gotti — TV star, writer and daughter of John Gotti — and Robert Poppel ate dinner at Il Mulino at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City on Thursday, Nov. 29. AC Weekly photographer Donald Kravitz was there and Gotti was nice enough to pose for some shots.
(All photos: Donald Kravitz)
Aretha Franklin at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, Oct. 6, 2012. (Photo: Donald Kravitz)
At 70, Aretha Franklin can still belt it out with the best of them. As she proved on Saturday, Oct. 6, at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, her voice is still superb, her sense of humor still intact and her music can still move mountains.
Playing to a large crowd in a rare Fall 2012 concert appearance, Franklin, in a shimmering silver gown and looking beautiful, and her large band pulled out several Atlantic Records classic cuts ( “Chain of Fools,” “Share Your Love with Me,” “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)” and, of course, “Respect”).
Franklin also tickled the ivories a bit. Behind the piano, she sang a heartfelt tribute to the late Whitney Houston, singing her hit “I Will Always Love You,” while images of Whitney played on video screens.
Franklin also played tribute to the late great James Moody, singing a zippy version of “Moody’s Mood for Love.”
One of the most memorable numbers of the night was Franklin’s take on Curtis Mayfield’s (a “gentle giant,” Franklin offered to the crowd) “Something He Can Feel,” which the late Mayfield wrote for Franklin’s 1978 film Sparkle.
Click here for our interview with Aretha Franklin prior to the show.
Ms. Franklin and Atlantic City Weekly's Jeff Schwachter
Following the concert, which lasted close to an hour and a half, with Franklin taking a brief break during the midway point as the band played on, the Queen of Soul herself graciously took some time for a meet and greet with a lucky few backstage (see photo above). CLICK HERE for a photo gallery from this concert.
— Jeff Schwachter
ATLANTIC CITY — Last Thursday, April 12, the Taj premiered its amped-up Almost Angels act in a special media event. Along with the Angels, several other amenities new to Ego Lounge were also debuted, including burlesque-style dancers performing on mini-stages during and in-between the Angels’ 50-minute sets, and “dealer-tainers” running blackjack tables in Ego’s club-like setting.
Click here to see a video of the show. Click here to see a photo gallery.
“I think the hotel did a great job incorporating the freestyle dancers, and trying to bring the energy to all areas, and not just on the stage,” says Angels’ co-producer Dan Mulhern. “When the Angels finish their set we have a whole crew of dancers who come into this room and keep the energy going. So it’s really about not letting the energy levels drop.”
A typical Angels’ set list might span the gamut of old school dance, hip hop, pop music or R&B. Last Thursday’s set list included “I Got A Feeling” (by the Black Eyed Peas), “U Make Me Feel” (Cobra Starship), “We Found Love” (Rihanna) “Beep” (Pussycat Dolls), “Only Girl” (Rihanna), a rap medley, “Hold It Against Me” (Britney Spears), “ET” (Katy Perry), “Ass Back Home” (Gym Class Heroes), “Give Me Everything” (Pitbull) and a Janet Jackson medley.
Live Nation has just announced a March 2 concert at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City featuring Trey Songz and Big Sean.
Tickets go on sale Friday, Jan. 27, 10am for the pair’s Anticipation 2our.
Trey has been in Atlantic City before, opening for Jay-Z back in 2010 and in 2007 at the House of Blues.
The tour dates are:
Feb. 9 Cleveland, Ohio State Theatre
Feb. 10 Louisville, KY Palace Theatre
Feb. 11 Chicago, Illinois Auditorium Theatre
Feb. 12 St. Louis, MO Fox Theatre
Feb. 14 Dallas/GP Verizon Theatre
Feb. 17 Los Angeles, CA Nokia Theatre
Feb. 18 Las Vegas The Pearl at Palms Concert Theater
Feb. 19 Oakland, CA Paramount Theatre
Feb. 23 Cincinnati, OH Aronoff P&G
Feb. 24 Detroit, MI Fox Theatre
Feb. 25 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee Theatre
Feb. 28 Toronto, ON Sony Theatre
March 1 New York, NY Theatre at MSG
March 2 Atlantic City, NJ Mark G. Etess Arena
March 3 Washington, D.C. Constitution Hall
March 8 Atlanta, GA Fox Theatre
March 10 Southaven, MS De Soto Civic Center
March 11 Nashville, TN Municipal Auditorium
Fans of MTV’s Jersey Shore are a little sad to the see the show air its season finale tonight (Jan. 21) (though a lot of Jersey Shore residents are probably glad to see the controversial show go), but The Late, Late Show With Craig Ferguson has the perfect remedy. The show will air a pretty hysterical trailer for the fictional Jersey Shore: The Movie tonight (tomorrow morning, whatever). Entertainment Weekly scored an early look at the bit, which stars Mila Kunis, Nick Lachey, Tom Lennon and Super Mario (Ferguson).
Seaside Heights in Ocean County, where the show is set, may be a little removed from the A.C. area, but it’s not that far. After all, the cast made a trip to The Quarter’s Providence nightclub in last week’s episode and cast members will be appearing Feb. 13 at the Taj Mahal’s Casbah.
Besides, it’s just too funny, though slightly NSFW. Go here to see the clip.
And in a strange coincidence, Sea Isle City officials issued a press release today saying the city is not in talks to be the host of the next season of Jersey Shore. Apparently there is a rumor floating around that the Cape May County town is up next for the show. Sea Isle Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio says, “We have not been contacted about the show Jersey Shore filming in Sea Isle. This is an unsubstantiated rumor and in fact, we understand the show is returning to Seaside Heights for the next season. My staff and I are in communication with MTV to clear up this matter and ensure the media is provided with accurate information.”
