Casino File: Hard Rock Atlantic City honors Black History Month; ‘Wing Wars’ returns to Golden Nugget, more
Black History Month will be in the spotlight at Hard Rock Hotel Casino Atlantic City.
The pop-and-rock-themed gambling den is sponsoring a series of programs dubbed the African American Heritage Museum Pop-Up Exhibit. It will be on display Feb. 17-20 at the entrance to Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena just inside the valet parking entrance.
A collaboration between the Rock and the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey, the exhibition uses photos, videos and memorabilia to focus on two crucial aspects of Black life in the 20th century:
The “Jackie Robinson: Stealing Home exhibit portrays the life and career of the Brooklyn Dodgers legend who smashed Major League Baseball’s color barrier.
This Little Light of Mine: The Black Church surveys the central role religion has played in the lives of generations of African-Americans.
Another freebie is the Legendary Memorabilia Tour, a QR-code-based offering that highlights the costumes, instruments, etc. owned by such giants as Prince, Stevie Wonder, Jimi Hendrix and Whitney Houston that are on permanent display at the casino.
On a more musical note, the casino is hosting two ticketed events. On Feb. 16 and 17, a musical revue, On Kentucky Avenue, will be staged at the SoundWaves venue. The presentation is billed as a tribute to the legendary Club Harlem, the Northside neighborhood nightclub that hosted such legends as Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald (for tickets click here).
And on Feb. 26, 16-Grammy-Award winner Kirk Franklin brings his “urban gospel” sound to the arena (tickets here).
Winging it at Golden Nugget
Chicken-wing nuts will be relieved and delighted to know that for the first time in two years, the poultry-and-sauce bacchanal known as Wing Wars is coming home to roost this weekend at Golden Nugget Atlantic City.
Sponsored by Atlantic City Weekly, the fifth edition of the deep-fried gustatory orgy will run Feb. 5 from 1 to 4 p.m. in the bayside casino’s Grand Ballroom.
In all, 17 wing-slingers—including such casino-based outlets as Chelsea Five Gastropub at Tropicana Atlantic City (Sriracha-Honey Chicken Wings with Smoked Blue Cheese), Lillie’s Asian Cuisine (Golden Nugget; Sweet Chilli Wings) and Villain & Saint (Ocean Casino Resort; Sriracha Agave Wings with The Big Dipper Sauce) will show off their signature recipes.
The $30 admission fee entitles guests to pig (chicken?) out with unlimited access to the participating eateries’ booths.
The festivities also include judging by a panel of experts as well as by members of the public who can vote in the Eaters’ Choice Awards competition. Live music will be provided by Robert’s Basement and fully stocked cash bars will make sure there are plenty of hard and soft beverages with which to wash down the main attractions.
For tickets, click here.
Bally’s AC set to sling the brews
There will be at least one new casino joint at which one can quaff brewskis this year. That would be the planned beer garden for which Bally’s Atlantic City recently received approval from the Casino Reinvestment and Development Authority.
According to The Press of Atlantic City, the 5,100-square-foot, Boardwalk-fronting saloon will replace Harry’s Oyster’s Bar on the expanse of lawn that separates what was once the Dennis Hotel (now part of Bally’s) and the Great Wood Way. Removable glass walls will allow operations during the colder months of the year.
An opening date has not been announced.
Ocean AC awash in ‘Super’ drinks
And speaking of adult beverages, Ocean Casino Resort has conjured a quartet of specialty cocktails in honor of the “Big Game” (as a non-sponsor, the gambling den is legally enjoined from using the term “Super Bowl”). They are:
*Cincinnati Who Dey Margarita (silver tequila; orange liqueur; squeezed lime juice; orange juice; ice). $12
*Joe Icy (dry gin; simple syrup; champagne).
*Los Angeles Kupp Runneth Over (vodka; rum; gin; tequila; Triple sec; orange juice; strawberries).
*#99 (gin; Triple sec; lemon juice; Blue Curacao).
In case you’re wondering, the “Joe Icy” is a tribute to the Bengals’ bling-sporting quarterback, Joe Burrows, while the “#99”) salutes the Rams’ fearsome defensive lineman, Aaron Donald.
All four drinks are priced at $12 and will be available through Feb. 13 at the The Sportsbook at Ocean, Topgolf Swing Suite, Nola’s Bar & Lounge and 1927 Lounge.
Big hit at the Nugget
A New Jersey man has hit it big (make that YOOJE!) at Golden Nugget. The ultra-lucky gambler identified only as Dave J bet $6 on one spin of a Penny Monopoly Money Grab machine and was rewarded with a progressive jackpot of $2,839,342.89.