Atlantic City Weekly

Pinnacle Entertainment's Atlantic City C.O.O. Kim Townsend called me last week to say that the demolition of the 1800 block of the Boardwalk will be postponed for another year, and that the company is negotiating the extension of the contract with George Siganos. Townsend stated the contract will be for the use of that block from Oct. 5, 2008 to Oct. 5, 2009.

Siganos had refurbished the buildings and constructed attractive new facades. Townsend noted that she had spoken with Mayor Scott Evans and members of City Council about the plan to demolish the buildings this year. It is my understanding that they joined with me, representing the Atlantic City Boardwalk Committee, and other local organizations and individuals in asking Pinnacle Atlantic City to allow the buildings to remain in place for at least another year. Hopefully Pinnacle will allow them to remain until the company decides to begin construction of its projected $2 billion casino-hotel entertainment complex. On behalf of the Atlantic City Boardwalk Committee and the citizens of Atlantic City, I express our sincerest appreciation to Pinnacle for its consideration in allowing the shops to remain open for another year. Those fine-looking shops became the model for the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority's facade revitalization program of the other blocks on the Boardwalk. Thank you, Pinnacle, for looking out for the best interests of the city.

The A.C. Special Improvement District's (S.I.D.) executive director, Don Guardian, reports that there will be new seats installed for the public to use while enjoying the various entertainment programs at Kennedy Plaza next year. There will also be a new audio system installed.

Guardian also notes that the new Visitors Information Center at Indiana Avenue and the Boardwalk had over 70,000 inquiries for information about what to do and where to go in Atlantic City. This is double the number of inquiries served there last year. The facility they are using had been serving as the moving-sidewalk entrance to the Claridge and former Sands casinos. Pinnacle Atlantic City has made the area available to the S.I.D. for the nominal sum of $100 a month. Pinnacle has also taken over the responsibility of overseeing the Fountain of Light in Brighton Park. The S.I.D. had taken over the responsibility of cleaning the area between the dunes and the Boardwalk. They have done an excellent job keeping it clean. However, there have been problems with cigarettes that are thrown in that area from people smoking on the Boardwalk. The S.I.D. will be purchasing a new machine that acts as a robot and has the ability to pick up cigarettes and other small items. It will be in place by the summer of 2009.

Stephen Jackson, an attorney in the Atlantic City Solicitor's Office who also works special programs assigned by the mayor, has been responsible for putting together the Boardwalk Entertainment Ordinance. City Council approved it unanimously at its first reading last week. The ordinance, which will come up for its second and final reading on Wednesday, Sept. 19, was discussed in last week's column. The most important facet of the ordinance is that it removes all types of entertainment from the Boardwalk itself. The so-called street entertainers will perform on six platforms spread out along the city's beachfront. They will have to audition to take turns in the varied locations. The only two exceptions are entertainment assigned by the city to Kennedy Plaza and the amphitheater in front of Brighton Park.

Bicyclists will be delighted to know that Jackson informed us that he will be conducting a feasibility study to expand the hours of bicycle riding on the Boardwalk. Also, the possibility of using seven sites along the beachfront, between the dunes and the Boardwalk, for workout areas is also being explored. There would be some equipment placed at each site for the public to use. This is a great idea.

A few years ago Atlantic City entered the poker-room business with the opening of a poker room in the Trump Taj Mahal. This proved quite successful and induced other casinos to do likewise. Some smart entrepreneur convinced a cable TV station to broadcast poker tournaments. The shows became an immediate hit and thus exponentially grew the popularity of poker. How popular has it become? Just look at the Borgata's Poker Open that began Sept. 3, and concludes on Thursday, Sept. 18. Borgata is offering $5 million -- the largest guaranteed sum ever in a poker tournament (see story p. 62). Poker has become the most popular card game in the world, and Atlantic City is doing its best to cater to the players.

Pinky's Corner airs Monday through Friday from 4 to 6pm on News Talk WOND-AM 1400. His TV show, WMGM Presents Pinky, airs Saturday at 7:30pm on TV40. Pinky's e-mail address is: pinky@atlanticcityweekly.com.