A look back at some of the top stories that affected the Atlantic City region and beyond in 2010.
The Atlantic City area had a year that had people looking so far forward, it was almost easy to forget what was actually happening right now. Mired in recession and reeling from new competition, Atlantic City and southern New Jersey seemed to just want to hunker down and wait for better times.
But in July, when Gov. Chris Christie announced his plan to have the state takeover Atlantic City’s “tourism district,” it became official. A.C.’s future became a matter of here and now. From then on every weekend line-up of casino shows, every fortunate TV premiere (Boardwalk Empire) and every new casino mogul on the scene was given one charge — make southern New Jersey cool again.
As far as the economy and the new state-run Atlantic City “tourism district” goes, 2011 could be a year of big change. But as we look back on 2010, remember, there are still a lot of things the area does right. We still have hot headliners, great cheesesteaks and subs everyday, big jackpots, amazing restaurants and yes, even a snow-free season when the sun rules the beaches and Boardwalks.
So as we put 2010 in the rearview mirror, we remember that even with prophecies of doom all around, southern New Jersey is still on a helluva ride towards the future. — Mike Pritchard
N.J. Considers Internet Gambling
Legislation to allow Internet gaming in New Jersey through Atlantic City casinos is introduced in the state Senate. The bill winds it way through the Legislature all year.
MGM Looks to Sell Stake in the Borgata
MGM Mirage, owners of 50 percent of the Borgata, decides to cash out of Atlantic City and focus on Macau.
Haiti Earthquake
Haiti is rocked by a massive earthquake Jan. 12 killing an estimated 230,000 people.
The Jazz Corner at the Chelsea Premieres
The Living Room at the Chelsea in Atlantic City becomes the sight of a new jazz and spoken-word series Jan. 21 through the Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation and Malkio Entertainment Group.
O’Brien Exile
Conan O’Brien exits The Tonight Show after a battle with Leno and NBC. His last show is Jan. 22. He plays Atlantic City in May and gets new TBS show.
Miss’d America Returns
The drag show spoof of the Miss America pageant, The Miss’d America Pageant, returns to Boardwalk Hall after five years. (See photo gallery from the pageant here) See video here.
Snowmageddon
A massive snow storm dumps 20 inches of snow from New Jersey to Washington D.C. starting Feb. 5.
Saints Win Super Bowl
The New Orleans Saints defeat the Indianapolis Colts.
Trump vs. Icahn
Donald Trump and Carl Icahn battle it out for control of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump and his partners eventually win control in April.
Lindsay Lohan Parties at The Pool
In between rehab stints, LiLo hits A.C. Feb. 20 hosting a party at The Pool Harrah’s.
Tiger Apologizes
Tiger Woods offers a public apology for his infidelities.
Monopoly Turns 75
The game, originally based on A.C. streets, turns 75.
Atlantic 10 Tournament
Temple wins its third straight Atlantic 10 championship April 14 at Boardwalk Hall.
Full Body Scans
The TSA begins testing full body scanners at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport.
Health Care Reform
President Obama signs the health care reform bill into law March 23.
Caesars Tennis Classic
Tennis stars such as Pete Sampras, Ivan Lendl, and Venus Williams are on hand for an exhibition event at Boardwalk Hall April 10.
Pavlik Loses
Kelly Pavlik loses his Middleweight championship to Sergio Martinez at Boardwalk Hall April 18.
Wild West Upgrade
Bally’s announces its Wild West Casino will undergo a $1.5 million upgrade, including a new stage and beer pong playing area.
BP Oil Well Explodes
The Deepwater Horizon, an offshore oil rig, explodes April 20 in the Gulf of Mexico killing 11 and setting off one of the worst ecological disasters in the history of the planet. Benefit concerts are held in region.
Hilton Adds Four Restaurants
Chef Kerry Simon brings Simon Prime to the Hilton. Improvements at the casino include four new restaurants, a remodeled beach bar, and an extension of the gaming floor.
Cooking School at Harrah’s
Harrah’s Resort opens the Viking Cooking School, which offers cooking classes with a wide variety of culinary choices. (See video from opening here)
Another ‘Idol’ Surprise
In the finale of American Idol it was down to Lee DeWyse and Crystal Bowersox. DeWyse was named American Idol champ, however many felt that Bowersox was the stronger singer.
Green Jitneys
The first green jitney prototype arrives on Atlantic City streets, powered by Compressed Natural Gas.
Johnny Rotten at the Borgata
The apocalypse may be here. John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten, played the chic Borgata with the reunited Public Image Limited May 15.
LPGA Returns to Region
After a three-year absence, the ShopRite LPGA Classic brings world’s top lady golfers back to Atlantic City region.
World Cup
The soccer world looks to South Africa for the World Cup. Spain wins the title.
Revel Gets Help
The Revel project in Atlantic City got a boost as the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority authorized an $18.3 million contract to reconstruct the entrance way to the stalled casino project. By year’s end it’s still stalled.
Christie Outlines State Partnership with A.C.
Gov. Chris Christie speaks at Kennedy Plaza on his plans for the future of Atlantic City, which includes the state running the city’s “tourist district.” (See photo gallery here)
Lady Gaga Makes Headliner Debut at Boardwalk Hall
Postponed from January, Lady G brought her Monster Ball Tour to Boardwalk Hall on July 4.
Cheesesteak Champ Tony Boloney’s
Caesars holds Guy Fieri’s Cheesesteak Battle as part of the annual Food & Wine Festival. The winner was local favorite Tony Boloney’s with their famous Cheese Steak Ole’ (See photos here.)
Diddy’s Fourth of July Party Shut Down in Atlantic City
Due to the high volume of fans trying to get into an oversold Diddy 4th of July Bash at Harrah’s Pool, the show was cancelled after some fans lost it. Then there was what Perez Said after on his blog.
Clinton at the Hilton
Former President Bill Clinton lectures at the Hilton as part of a speaker series at the casino hotel.
Air Show Draws Hefty Crowd
Atlantic City Air Show, Thunder over the Boardwalk, celebrated the 100th year of air shows in New Jersey.
U.S. Ends Combat in Iraq
The U.S. officially ends combat operations in Iraq. All U.S. troops are expected to leave the county by the end of 2011.
Bed Bug Outbreak
New York is ranked No. 1 in bed bug infestations as the national spotlight turns to the little pests.
‘Boardwalk Empire’ Premiere Party at Caesars
HBO and Caesars threw a premiere bash Sept. 17 celebrating the Sept. 19 debut of HBO’s new series Boardwalk Empire. Most of the cast are present. On Sept. 19 Caesars hosted a viewing party of the premiere episode as well as the AC Weekly-ACCVA “Conversations & Storytelling” event, which was then made into a 13-part Web video series. Watch the Webisodes here.
Eagles New Quarterback
The Philadelphia Eagles make Michael Vick their starting quarterback.
Robert Schimmel
The comedian and Atlantic City regular dies Sept. 3 in car accident. So long to a helluva fighter.
Redding’s Opens
Carl Redding brings his renowned southern cuisine-themed restaurant to Pacific Avenue in Atlantic City.
Dennis Gomes Takes over Resorts
Dennis Gomes buys out Resorts in hopes of reviving the money-losing casino. The casino will be transformed into a Roaring ’20s theme inspired by Boardwalk Empire.
Chilean Miners Rescued
The first of 33 miners trapped in a collapsed Chilean mine since August is pulled to freedom Oct. 12.
Phish Plays Halloween in A.C.
Phish plays their annual Musical Costume concert on Halloween weekend at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City for three sold-out concerts. The weekend also marks the second “Out in A.C.” weekend, designed to attract the GLBT community to the resort.
Some of the major changes during 2011 included the restart of construction on the Revel project, with a 2012 opening date slated. (Some predict it may open ...
Plus new DrewToonz cartoon, Sean Rowe and his Anti- label debut 'Magic,' and jazz series to debut at Redding's restaurant in Atlantic City in February.
From J.D. Salinger to Solomon Burke and from Lynn Redgrave to Captain Beefheart, many of our favorite entertainers and creative minds passed on in 2010.
After ranking the worst movies of the year in last week’s column, it is time for the more pleasant task of naming my favorite movies of 2010. It was a decent year for movies, not vintage, but solid, and here are my favorites in alphabetical order: The Ghost Writer Roman Polanski’s film is a quietly effective thriller devoted to the theme of political maneuvering during wartime. It delivers a message about men in power whose secret policies are carried out not just to protect innocent citizens, but also to keep the power-hungry politicians in power. The Girl Who Played with Fire The second in a trio in of films based on the globally popular and bestselling Millennium Trilogy novels by the late Swedish author Stieg Larsson, it is not as compelling as the first film...
The southern New Jersey shore continues to be one of the most dynamic, relevant restaurant regions in the nation.
Exclusive, long-term deals are pretty much a relic today. Although there are a handful of artists whose value to a casino is worth a multiple-play contract, the vast majority of showroom bookings are one-and-done one-night-stands.
The day after New Jersey Governor Chris Christie sent staffers to visit Atlantic City Mayor Langford, the mayor says he doesn't feel much different about the concerns he raised last week and that the ball is in the governor's court now.
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