It's hard to believe that Labor Day is right around the corner, so that means time is running out for all of those things that you promised to do while the weather was gorgeous. Here's a quick checklist of things to do before the area's peak season comes to a close.
Beach Bars
If you haven't been to any of the three casino beach bars yet this summer, what are you waiting for? Sammy Hagar lent his name to Bally's Atlantic City's beach bar, and you can expect some great Tex-Mex food and live music almost every night. The same goes for Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, which features the largest menu of any beach bar. Finally, the Atlantic City Hilton's beach bar added some plush seating and bottle service this year. Sipping a drink, watching the waves and listening to music. Nothing is better.
The Deck at Trump Marina
With a great view of the skyline, live music and a menu that offers some of the freshest seafood at the shore, Trump Marina's Deck invented the outdoor party concept for Atlantic City. Go there on Thursday nights, when At The Shore sponsors the B Street Band, a great Bruce Springsteen tribute band.
Revue shows
There are currently five shows that run six days a week as the casinos look to offer something for people to do in peak season. The good news is that there's not a stinker in the bunch: Cirque Dreams "Jungle Fantasy" at Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort, the a cappella group Straight No Chaser at Harrah's Resort, Brett Daniels "Magic & Beyond" at the Tropicana Casino and Resort, "Hypnosterial 2" at Trump Marina and "V: The Ultimate Variety Show" at Trump Plaza are all worth seeing. Except "Hypnosterical," all are family friendly and around 25 bucks.
D'Zio at Harrah's
Harrah's debuted D'Zio, a rodizio restaurant, at the beginning of the summer in its Harbour Club. The all-you-can-eat Brazilian steakhouse features six to nine proteins a day, a tapas salad bar and side dishes for $35 a person. D'Zio is open Fridays and Saturdays, as well as Sept. 5, its last scheduled day of operation for the summer.
Steel Pier
Who says there's nothing for families to do in Atlantic City? This landmark amusement pier offers plenty of games, food and three new rides, including the first American spinning drop that shoots 12 riders 60 feet in the air and drops them at various speeds while they spin around the tower.
Outdoor concerts
Tony Mart Presents is offering free Mardi Gras concerts on the Boardwalk at Kennedy Plaza with some awesome names that include Cyril Neville (Aug 23), Bonerama (Aug. 24), John Lee Hooker (Aug. 25, after the air show), Guitar Shorty (Aug. 30) and Mitch Woods and Big Easy Boogie (Sept. 5). The A.C. Free Public Library has been offering free international music all summer at Kennedy Plaza. It will wrap up its series with New York City's Bollywood Axion 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 25. The library has also teamed with the city for a Bartram and the Boardwalk concert series that will wrap 7 p.m. Aug. 27 with Geri & The Kool Kats, as well as a free Historic Gardner's Basin series that concludes 1 p.m. Aug. 28 with The Dramatics.
SUNBAR at Borgata
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa's The Water Club offers a poolside experience and a great deck that makes you feel like you are at Miami hotel. SUNBAR is hosting special Sunday night parties with DJs, bottle service and light bites.
Sit outside, have dinner
As strange as it may seem, there are not too many places to enjoy an outdoor meal at an Atlantic City casino other than the beach bars. So here's some suggestions: Fin at the Tropicana features a patio where you can enjoy the new restaurant's seafood-heavy menu; Evo at Trump Plaza offers fine Italian cuisine right on the Boardwalk; and the Hard Rock Caf� at Trump Taj Mahal has some great burgers.
Boogie on the Boardwalk
Check out Resorts Atlantic City's "Boogie on the Boardwalk," a free, interactive event that features the cast of its popular retro dance club, Boogie Nights. Offered on the hour from 5 to 8 p.m. Fridays and 3 to 7 p.m. Saturdays through Labor Day weekend, the even features '70s and '80s dance music, dancers and games where you can win T-shirts, show tickets, restaurant gift certificates and more. The all-ages event hosted by Mr. Boogie is held right on the Boardwalk in front of Resorts.
Party at The Chelsea
There are plenty of places to dance to great DJs in Atlantic City. But there is only one place you can do it outside by the pool: The Chelsea. The chic hotel's fifth floor offers outdoor parties every Thursday to Sunday throughout the summer. And its Cabana Club features offers salads and sandwiches for lunch, as well as Sunday brunch.
Celebrity sightings
Wrestling legend Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka partied at Boogie Nights at Resorts with his wife Carol last weekend. The couple also dined at Breadsticks. Snuka posed for photos and signed autographs for the packed house, and he even climbed the rigging around the stage, just like he used to climb the turnbuckles.
Following the sold-out Rihanna show last weekend at Borgata, opening act Ke$ha performed at an exclusive afterparty in mixx with Jermaine Dupri at the turntables. Victoria's Secret Angel Selita Ebanks was in the crowd, arriving a day eaerly to party before she hosted Borgata's Social Sundays. She also enjoyed dinner at Wolfgang Puck American Grille before heading back to mixx for a special performance by Kelly Rowland, who sang her new single, "Commander," and her 2009 hit, "When Love Takes Over."
