As if The Pool at Harrah's Resort wasn't big and successful enough, partygoers will have a new option beginning New Year's Eve. As I reported in Wednesday's Press of Atlantic City, Harrah's The Pool will expand to include The Loft.
"The demand for The Pool experience has grown tremendously to the point where we need to expand," says Harrah's Vice President of Marketing Danielle Mohn. "It will be a unique daytime and nighttime experience. We are basically building out and creating an entirely new experience on the second floor of The Pool."
Currently, the upstairs area of The Pool features some VIP seating areas and portable bars, while its outside deck also features portable bars in the summer. They are basically used as areas to accommodate large crowds when the downstairs area gets overcrowded.
The Loft will overlook The Pool and encompass the outside deck. It will feature two new bars that will mirror each other inside and outside.
"It will definitely resemble some clubs and restaurants that you see out West, where the whole restaurant is like a bar … there's a seamless transition," Mohn says. "But it's more than just the bar. It's a whole transformation of the second deck to create The Loft. It's an entire new experience."
Mohn would not elaborate about "the experience," adding that the marketing and Pool teams are still defining what The Loft will offer.
"People will get a taste of it beginning New Year's Eve, but we'll really blow it out in the spring and summer," Mohn says. "It's not a separate club, but The Loft will differ in the sense that we will offer things there that you can't get in the downstairs area of The Pool. The overall experience will still have a club vibe, but it will be a unique and different nightlife and daytime experience that no one else can offer."
Since opening in 2006, The Pool has become one of the most successful clubs in the country, accommodating more than 3,000 people on Saturday nights. Harrah's executives have said it's one of the Top 10 revenue-producing clubs in the nation, and The Pool was nominated this year as one of the best superclubs by Club World magazine, the industry's top trade magazine.
Poker action
around town
Poker players will be in abundance this month as Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort and Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa host two big events.
After a one-year absence from national TV, the United States Poker Championship is back on the Spike Network and is taking place at the Taj through Nov. 24.
This is the first year of a five-year deal that will keep the tournament at the Taj, where the poker tournament will attract players from around the world. It will culminate with the $5,000 buy-in No Limit Hold 'Em Championship Event beginning Nov. 20.
To add some sizzle to the event, a $2,500 buy-in Pot Limit Omaha Championship Event was added and will be televised. High-stakes cash games are also scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 15 and 22.
The U.S.P.C. residency will also include a celebrity gold tournament, The Boomer Esiason Foundation Cystic Fibrosis Fall Classic, on Saturday, Nov. 14. Go to www.trumptaj.com for info.
At Borgata, poker players will definitely be interested in the $500,000 Guaranteed Deep Stack Poker Tournament that will take place Sunday, Nov. 15, to Wednesday, Nov. 18.
The buy-in is $1,500 plus $150 entry fee and will allow players to experience Borgata's championship event structure with a $30,000 starting chip stack. The two starting days are Sunday and Monday, Nov. 15 and 16.
Previous Deep Stack tourneys have drawn more than 900 entrants and generated nearly $1.4 million each time.
Qualifying events will be held 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13. 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, and 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, for $330 plus $50. One in every five players will win a $1,650 entry into the $500,000 tourney.
More information is available at www.theborgata.com.
Celebrity sightings
Fresh off the Philadelphia Phillies World series loss to the New York Yankees, centerfielder Shane Victorino and first baseman Ryan Howard were spotted at Dusk inside Caesars Atlantic City. The rumor was the small gathering was a bachelor party for Victorino, who will marry Melissa Smith in Hawaii this weekend.
Borgata held its second Savor Borgata event in grand fashion last weekend. For the first time, all of the casino's celebrity chefs were in attendance, including Wolfgang Puck, Michael Mina. Bobby Flay, Michael Schulson, Stephen Kalt and Geoffrey Zakarian, who all cooked up special dishes and mingled with guests at the sold-out event that also featured Olympic gold medalist and winemaker Peggy Fleming. The afterparty was held in mur.mur, where Samantha Ronson was the celeb DJ.
Audrina Partridge of "The Hills" hosted a party at Dusk and also had dinner at Buddakan at The Pier Shops at Caesars.
And The Pool featured "Twilight" cast members Alex Meraz, Edi Gathegi and Chaske Spencer. Also, singer/dancer Kaci Battaglia also performed at The Pool.
Talent show, benefit
at Taj Mahal
The employees at Trump Taj Mahal, Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino and Trump Marina Hotel Casino will participate in its first tri-property talent show 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, in the Xanadu Theatre at the Taj.
Proceeds from the $10 adult, $3 child ticket price will benefit the United Way's 2009-2010 campaign. Auditions were held in October to select the finalists for the show. They are: Toni Bocelle, Doug Hunsberger, Rhuby Marsh, Catherine Mosqueda and Stan Richards from Trump Marina; Ed Brittin, Loretta Brown, Tiffany Gordy, John Nyilas and Joe Zeigenfus from Trump Plaza; and Chris Allen, Rodney Drinkard, Antwan Henderson, Rafael Paynado, Danielle Rivera, Glenn Russo and Alex Saggiomo from the Taj.
- By Scott Cronick
