Showboat unveils sexy 2012 calendar featuring its party-pit girls as the House of Blues venue continues to evolve, prepares for huge free concert later this month. AC WEEKLY gets an exclusive photo shoot with the Bombshells.
ATLANTIC CITY — With a renewed focus on the north end of the Boardwalk, Showboat Atlantic City, currently the northernmost casino on the great wooden way, is transitioning its ever-popular Backstage venue into something that screams nightlife, live music and good times — and they’re making sure you don’t miss it.
Taking advantage of the in-house House of Blues-related venues it operates (including the Music Hall concert venue, the Foundation Room, HOB suites, as well as a nightclub and ballroom) Showboat and its parent company Caesars Entertainment — which also operates Bally’s, Harrah’s and Caesars in town — have been breathing new life into its Backstage venue over the past year, introducing live party-pit dancers and sexy table-game dealers, a schedule packed with popular and high-voltage cover bands and free concerts by some pretty big names in the music biz.
These free shows have included appearances by former Live frontman Ed Kowalczyk (May 20) the Gin Blossoms (July 23) and most recently the band Fuel, which played to a capacity audience on Oct. 15.
The next free concert, slated for the Wednesday before Thanksgiving (Nov. 23, 10pm), will surely draw an equal if not greater number of music lovers as Tommy Lee and DJ Aero perform. Booking the tattooed former husband of Pam Anderson and drummer for the hard rock band Motley Crue, is one of the latest attempts by Showboat executives to rev up the buzz with regard to the party pit, located off the Boardwalk, near the escalator leading up to the House of Blues Music Hall.
Soon to be re-christened the House of Blues Party Pit, the Backstage venue is celebrating in a big way, and right in time for both the holidays and Revel’s scheduled May 2012 opening.
As the Revel casino, hotel and entertainment complex will become the new northernmost casino on the Boardwalk when it opens, and is sure to draw a lot of attention ala the Borgata when it opened in the city’s Marina district in May 2003, the operators at its new neighbor Showboat are going to be taking advantage of the spotlight.
The free concerts will continue certainly as will the evolution of the House of Blues Party Pit, which features Showboat’s gorgeous Bombshells, dancers and dealers that help create a high-energy and exciting nightlife atmosphere at the Thursday-Sunday venue.
Twelve striking Bombshells were recently selected to model and appear in a 2012 calendar, recalling the Borgata Babes calendars produced by that property for a couple years. Showboat’s party-pit calendar girls will be on hand Saturday, Nov. 12 for a launch party.
The party sounds quite enticing.
Kicking off at 10pm, the party pit will feature “personal flirt sessions” with the calendar’s Bombshells, which, according to a spokesperson for Showboat means they will pose for pictures, autograph calendars, and chat with members of the audience.
DJ Aiden Scott, drink specials, and, at 11pm, a “Go-Go-a-thon,” featuring celebrity judges, will all be a part of the shindig, which heads up to the new Foundation Room After Hours, following the 2am hour.
“The 2012 Bombshells calendar showcases some of our hardest working employees in a fun and engaging way,” says Joe Domenico, senior VP and GM for Showboat and Bally’s Atlantic City. “I know this calendar means a lot to not only the Bombshells, but to their fans, who have been very vocal in expressing their desire for one.”
The calendar, featuring the lovely Playboy model and one-time Miss Howard Stern Jessica Leigh (January), as well as the drop-dead gorgeous party pit dealer Maria (March), the stunning cover girl Chiara (December), as well as an assortment of other sultry party-pit women, will be available at the launch party, and has been on sale since late October at Caesars Entertainment Atlantic City properties’ gift shops and retail outlets for $12 each.
Building upon all of the excitement that the House of Blues has brought to the north end of the Atlantic City Boardwalk since it opened in the summer of 2005, bringing a diverse line-up of acts to the Music Hall, from the White Stripes to Buddy Guy to Gnarls Barkley and Eminem (to name a few), Showboat officials believe the party-pit, enhanced by its Bombshells, free concerts, bars and drink specials, as well as its intimate gaming setting, is on course to be a major venue in the city’s bustling nightlife scene.
“Showboat has always dared to be different, and the sheer spontaneity of the House of Blues casino is reflective in our overall success,” Domenico tells Atlantic City Weekly. “It creates a party-pit atmosphere like no other.”
Domenico adds that the evolution of the party pit “was truly a collaborative effort between our entertainment, gaming, and operations teams.
“They literally came together to develop the space into a one-of-kind setting that offers 19 table games, two unique bars, plush seating, VIP services, and of course the Bombshells. Our goal is simply to become Atlantic City’s premier party pit, and I can honestly say without hesitation, that we’ve accomplished just that — the headline talent we offer is second-to-none.”
With regard to Revel’s slated 2012 opening, Domenico is optimistic about the opportunities.
“Anytime a new casino like Revel opens Atlantic City experiences an influx of new visitors, so we’ve seized the opportunity,” he says. “Besides the House of Blues casino serving as the premier party pit, we opened Scarduzio’s Steak | Sushi | Lounge to provide the region with a restaurant of uncompromising quality, we’ve started After Hours at Foundation Room to serve as Atlantic City’s original late-night destination, and now with the Bombshells our property has a face to it.”
That’s 11 stunning faces in terms of the 2012 calendar.
“For 2012, fans can expect Showboat to continue providing A.C. with excitement as well as a few additional twists and surprises,” adds Domenico.
As for the free concerts, Tommy Lee’s November appearance will certainly not be the last.
“The concept of providing free, open-to-the-public concerts with marquee talent started in part because we wanted to separate ourselves from the pack,” Jason Spencer, regional director of entertainment for Caesars Entertainment Atlantic City tells Atlantic City Weekly.
“No other party pit has presented such a catalogue of performers. From huge names like Ed Kowalczyk of Live ... to the Gin Blossoms, to Fuel, the House of Blues casino has assembled headliners unheard-of in traditional party pits. And we’re extremely proud to announce the latest performer to grace our stage.”
“You look at the drugs and the drinking and it’s amazing that we’re all still here,” Vince Neil tells AC Weekly. “We survived some dark days. We could have died many times from many different things.
"We have our typical relationships. It’s a cliché, but it’s like a marriage. Things aren’t always going perfectly. But a friend of ours pointed out that when the three of [us] are working together and singing together it's something very, very special."
The seductive Almost Angels were an instant hit when they debuted at Ego Lounge in 2008, and frequent fine-tuning has kept them at the top of A.C.’s lounge acts.
"At this point, it’s kind of like I have what I do. You know, beat-orientated, blues-driven, acousticky kind of music. You know folk, hip-hop, country, whatever you call it, I have what I do."
Surely concert-goers will be jumping around for this one.
With 11-11-11 and this week's Bombshell of a cover story in mind...
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1. Anonymous said... on Nov 9, 2011 at 08:27PM
“DAMN! more articles like this please!”
2. Anonymous said... on Nov 9, 2011 at 09:05PM
“transforms...ha.ha, yeah”
3. Bill said... on Nov 10, 2011 at 07:53PM
“Showboatin Hoes”
4. Anonymous said... on Nov 14, 2011 at 07:31PM
“All of these girls look WAAAYYY better in person!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
5. Jennie said... on Feb 27, 2012 at 02:25PM
“Another clever way for the house to take your money.. All you drunk players wont know when hold um, fold um, walk away or run.. Your eyes will be glued to the sexy showgirls dancing up on tables.. But dont worry the show boat will take your money and give you a cheap thrill. Maybe not a total loss.. (LOL) BTW I love the Show Boat and have personally seen the night transform and witness the blood sucking watched men turn into boys. Woman aren't easy it's the men!! A word of advice
"CASH OUT AT 10:00pm"
”