‘Boardwalk Empire’ Gets the Gala Treatment

NEWS & VIEWS > COASTING

By AC Weekly Staff

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Apr. 7, 2010

It hasn’t even premiered yet, but HBO’s Boardwalk Empire is already starting to make a big impression on Atlantic City. The show, starring Steve Buscemi and directed by Martin Scorsese and slated to debut later this year, was adapted from the book of the same name written by Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Nelson Johnson. The author will appear at the Atlantic City Hotel and Lodging Association’s Annual Gala Friday (April 9) at the Tropicana for a book signing. But the gala is going more Boardwalk Empire than that. Executives from HBO, including the show’s main writer, creator and executive producer Terence Winter and executive producer and director Tim Van Patten are also scheduled to attend. The entire gala will also be done in a Roaring ’20s mode, reflecting the time setting of Boardwalk Empire. All proceeds from the event benefit the ACHLA’s scholarship fund, which has given out more than $240,000 in scholarships to local students pursuing careers in the hospitality and culinary fields. Throughout the evening, guests will have the chance to win prizes, including air travel tickets, overnight stays, gift baskets and other valuable prizes. ACHLA will also announce their 2009 Allied Member of the Year and host the installation of the 2010 Officers and Board of Directors. Tickets are $145. Call 345-8910 for information.

— Mike Pritchard

Have a Heart for Hunger

AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center is presenting the Community FoodBank of New Jersey’s 15th annual “Have a Heart for Hunger” chance auction on Saturday, April 10, at the Shore Mall (noon-6pm) in EHT. With thousands of people struggling more than ever to put food on the table, the event will go a long way in providing food for the needy. The auction starts at noon and the $5 entry fee will include refreshments. Auction items will include sporting goods, toys, electronics, entertainment packages and more. NBC-TV 40’s Michelle Dawn Mooney and WTKU radio’s Allen Pratt will host the festivities. This year’s event promises to be better than 2009, when 5.7 million pounds of food were distributed to eclipse the previous year’s total by 36 percent. Over 110,000 pounds of food were distributed throughout Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and southern Burlington counties. “With need at its highest in FoodBank history, we’re hoping to hit fundraising records to help us in our mission to fight hunger and poverty,” says Margie Barham, executive director of the Community FoodBank’s Southern Branch. For more information, contact the FoodBank at 383-8843.

— Garrett Burrell

Raves and Faves

Justified on FX (Tuesdays, 10pm)

Based on an Elmore Leonard story, this show stars Timothy Olyphant, a sexy hunk of contradictions, as a U.S. Marshal with a quick trigger finger. The excellent writing serves up fascinating and flawed human beings on both side of the law.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
Photos by Tom Briglia