Bruce Springsteen once sang:
Everything dies baby, that’s a fact.
Maybe everything that dies, may someday come back.
Put on your make-up and fix your hair,
And meet me tonight in Atlantic City.
I have been to Atlantic City, New Jersey, twice. The first time was to visit a friend who was the Promotions Manager for the Hilton Hotel, (I stayed at her apartment), the second time was to see a Bon Jovi show.
The city is a hundred years old. You will find it on the eastern coast of the United States, on the Atlantic Ocean.
I flew here from New York City on American Airlines. It is a small city with a population of about 40, 000 people.
The History
In 1793 it was a haven for immigrants arriving via Ellis Island.
Fifty years later, Dr Jonathan Pitney, developed a village, that was a Health Resort and a Spa. Way back then you came to get some sea air, as you walked along the wooden Boardwalk or ate some saltwater taffy. There were only a few small hotels.
In the 1920’s the rich and famous people made it their playground. Plays that were scheduled to open on Broadway, used the Theatre to try them out. If they bombed out here, they never went to Broadway.
After WW II people stopped coming here because there was so much crime and drug use.
Today
Absecon Island is 10km from the New Jersey mainland. The Airport is 16 km west of the city.
Atlantic City has twelve hotels that have Casinos. The Boardwalk is still there. If you want to walk the entire walk, I hope your fit, because it is six miles long! It’s safe to walk along it, but don’t look what’s under it, or you’ll be very sad, to see how many homeless people live there.
We went to suntan on Ventnor Pier, and bought some saltwater taffy. It is the best I have ever tasted.
We went to see the Absecon Lighthouse. It was built in the mid 1800’s and has been restored. We were allowed to walk to the top and look out at the Atlantic Ocean.
One evening to get away from the gambling, we went to see a base ball game at the Sandcastle Stadium.
The Atlantic City Historical Museum & Miller Art Centre, opened in the late 1990’s. The museum shows the many stars that sang in this city, like Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and Frank Sinatra. It doesn’t mention that the Mob use to meet here, once a year. Meyer Lansky might have warned them never to tell that!
The Convention Hall was built by Donald Trump when he took over the Miss America Pageants. The main hall has a huge pipe organ. They claim that it is the largest auditorium, (that doesn’t have pillars). in the World. I wish the Donald would get a make over like the contestants, his hair looks like a yellow cat is sitting on his head!
At the Gardiners Basin and Smugglers Cove. The Basin is a Speakeasy Bar that the New Jersey mob owned. The cove is where they smuggled in the booze from Canada, when the United States, wouldn’t allow drinking, (1930’s). A few smart Canadians became millionaires.
Where to Eat
All of the major hotels have wonderful dinning rooms.
We ate Chinese food at Wok-N-Roll on Pacific Ave.
The Italian Food at Scannichios Italian Restaurant, (on South California Ave.), is made from recipes that the family brought from Italy.
At Mexico Undo Restaurant, (on Atlantic Ave), the food was like a hot tamale!
We went to the Pat Kings Restaurant to eat steak. Our steaks were delicious, because they use Alberta beef! They are on Atlantic Ave.
I love crab cakes and Captain Young’s Seafood Emporium made them the right way. They didn’t use Mayo, but real eggs, and they were covered in break crumbs. Yummy!
We had a few martini’s at the Angelo’s Tavern. Dempsey’s Beer and Ale Pub, brew their own beer.
Shopping
I’m the Amelia Marco of Canada! I love shoes. I bought a few nice ones, that were on sale, at the Payless Shoe Store.
In Victoria unless we are going to a wedding, we think we are dressed up, when we wear jeans. I needed a few dresses to go to see the shows, so I bought them at Talk Of The Walk By Day. I had a few Bar Mitzahs and a Wedding to go to, so I knew I could use them again.
The Shows
At the Hilton we went to see Olivia Newton John.
At The Trump Taj Mahal we saw Sarah Brightman.
My Final Thoughts
I liked Atlantic City, but it doesn’t compare to Vegas. If you are in the east coast, and not going west, then Atlantic City is a place you should try.
If you would learn more about the City that’s always turned on, the link is:
https://atlanticcitynj.com
Thank you for reading my review.
This review might be posted on other websites.
©LL2004