LifeStyle Report MAY 2015
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THE • VIEW
Back to the Future
I
n 2004, as Borgata was entering its first full summer of operation, it partnered with Maxim magazine to create a “Fantasy Island” weekend. On an open 10-acre field next to Borgata, a fair ground was erected with several small satellite stages for contemporary music performers, along with food and beverage stands, volleyball courts, and a variety of summertime activities. But the centerpiece of Fantasy Island was a 6,000-seat amphitheater, where top artists like Velvet Revolver, Fountains of Wayne, John Mayer and Silvertide performed. Everything came down after the weekend event except for the main outdoor venue. There, Borgata occasionally staged some major concerts throughout the summer, wrapping things up in early September with a show by Fleetwood Mac. The outdoor concert stage was obviously a big hit, because now — a mere 11 years later — Borgata is going back to the future. In March, the casino announced it was spending at least $14 million of its CRDA reinvestment funds to construct a new outdoor venue, to be known as Festival Park. The venue, with seating for over 5,000 people, will also have a permanent bar, fire pits, and other comfort amenities. Festival Park is tentatively scheduled to open June 13 with a day-long music festival. A full schedule of outdoor shows is being planned, but hasn’t been announced as this issue of Lifestyle goes to press. Inside the property, Borgata will spend about six months converting its original nightclub, mixx, into a two-level club. The new nightclub — name to be announced later — will be designed by Josh Held Design, one of the pedigree names in hospitality architecture, and whose credits include the renowned Tao Restaurant and Nightclub in Las Vegas and the Marquee Nightclub in New York. Other signs that Atlantic City is slowly evolving into a destination resort, and not just another gaming town, is the Boardwalk facade of the Tropicana, which is spending millions of dollars to create an entertaining video wall with programming that will change daily. The Trop is also partnering with the AtlantiCare Life Center to create a new health club that will be open to the public on the ground floor of the retail and dining section known as The Quarter. By summer, Stockton University’s new Island Campus — the former Showboat Casino Hotel — will be holding classes and expects to make one tower of hotel rooms available to the public, with the remainder of the guest rooms being used for student housing. The Atlantic City Air Show “Thunder Over the Boardwalk” locked in to a Sept. 2 date — several weeks later than usual — because it was able to book the U.S. Navy’s precision flying team, the Blue Angels. The usual air show headliners, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, were already booked for other possible dates. No word yet on summer beach concerts, but the CRDA has a deal in place with concert promoter Live Nation to bring at least a dozen shows to town this year, so beach shows are still very much on the table. And, while it’s impossible to say Atlantic City either just plain got lucky or if it’s the sign of a trend, casino revenue for January was actually up one percent over the same month last year. In spite of what the pessimists believe, Atlantic City still has a jaunty spring in its step and should enjoy a thriving, prosperous, and exciting summer. Since the city’s incorporation in 1854, its modus operandi was to rise from the ashes. There’s no reason why it won’t now.
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LIFESTYLE | May Issue 2015
3
CONTENTS FEATURES Thrill Rides
24
A visit to exciting outdoor adventures.
Lifestyle Travel
8
San Diego dreaming.
16
On Wheels Experience the elegance of the 2016 Maybach.
Lifestyle Entertainment
28
Stealing Sinatra.
D EPA RTME NTS Right Choice 14 The Another travel option proudly emerges at A.C. International Airport. Watch 20 Health Exploring the unique water therapy of Watsu. Legends 32 Lifestyle The top 10 gangster movies. Be A Lady 35 Luck An author who pursues her love of professional poker. Gallery 38 Dining All the details on the area’s great dining venues.
Our Dining Gallery will guide you to the area’s great venues. Page 38. Photo at Ram’s Head Inn by Eric Weeks.
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Lifestyle Report is published by New Jersey Lifestyle, LLC. The entire contents of Lifestyle Report are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the express written consent of the publisher. New Jersey Lifestyle, LLC assumes no liability for products or services advertised herein. New Jersey Lifestyle, LLC reserves the right to edit, rewrite or refuse editorial material and assumes no responsibility for accuracy, errors or omissions. All correspondence should be sent to:
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Lifestyle Leisure
By Alyson Boxman Levine
“The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” —Eleanor Roosevelt
T hrill R ides
Hop in the car and get your adrenaline pumping as you visit these exciting outdoor adventures
A
fter being cooped up indoors all winter and bravely weathering the seemingly endless snowfall, it’s time to welcome the sun. The surefire cure for cabin fever is to get outside and soak in some well-deserved nature. Pack up the car and spend an adventurous day exploring what our exciting Garden State has to offer. Travel back in time to the Wild West this spring, or pack your gear and hike to the highest point in New Jersey. How about taking up the fine art of spelunking, or make a special date with a pack of wolves. These thrilling New Jersey adventures are sure to quench your thirst for fun this season, and have your inner wild child jumping for joy.
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May Issue 2015 | LIFESTYLE njlifestyleonline.com
The Ultimate Vantage Point Once you exit Atlantic County, you realize there are actually hills in New Jersey … and some of them are quite steep. Drive to Montague in Sussex County and explore scenic High Point State Park. Here, the blue line of the Delaware River divide the green ridges of New Jersey from those of Pennsylvania, and is truly a photographer’s dream. Want to feel like you’re the king of the world, or at least New Jersey? Check out the view from the High Point Monument, the highest point in New Jersey. At 1,803 feet above sea level, this unique vantage point offers a spectacular panorama of rich farmland and forest, soft hills, and lush valleys. Climb the more than 200 stairs to the top of the monument, where the alluring views of the Kittatinny
Clockwise, from top left; High Point Monument; the Stone Living Room; Wild West Town; the Lakota Wolf Preserve; and the Sterling Hill mine.
Mountains are truly magnificent. Dedicated as a park in 1923, the land for High Point State Park was donated by Colonel Anthony and Susie Dryden Kuser. The eye-pleasing landscape was designed by the Olmsted Brothers of Boston, sons of the famous Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed New York’s Central Park. A popular hiking spot in the state, the park offers visitors more than 50 miles of well-marked and maintained trails, not to mention portions of the famous Appalachian Trail. Remember to pack your bikes, as mountain biking is also permitted on the trails. Relax in the Stone Living Room Get ready for a long hike. The path to this next adventure is not an easy one, but will definitely be worth the effort. Located in West Milford, Passaic County, inside Novin Green State Park, is a wondrous and mysterious spot perched high atop a remote mountain peak. It is the Stone Living Room. Astonished visitors can relax and enjoy the view from the Stone Living Room, believed to be created by a mysterious race of stone masons that remain anonymous to this day. Solving the mystery as to when and why these stone chairs and tables were built is every hikers’ quest, as the rocks weigh some 400 pounds and must have been lifted and set in place with incredible determination. Complete with a fireplace and a few cozy couches, the Stone Living Room can accommodate a group of weary travelers after their trying climb up the mountain. According to locals, the trail to the Stone Living Room can be found along Glenwild Avenue. Park at the roadside lot by the “Welcome To West Milford” sign. Cross the street, and follow the blue trail straight up the mountain, bearing right. Don’t forget to bring refreshments to toast your achievement as you lounge on the stone furniture and relish the view. Lasso the Frontier Spirit Love old Western films? Crave the cowboy lifestyle? Then Wild West City is the place for you; a town rooted in traditional family values where history and entertainment create an unforgettable moment in time. Wild West City's shows and activities have, at their very core, the important, ageless theme of the triumph of good over evil, where justice prevails and the good guys still
LIFEST YLE LEISURE
Barbara’s
win. Wild West City stands as a testimony to that unflinching, courageous frontier spirit that shaped America. In 1956, the American Foundation for the Preservation of the Old West purchased a sizable tract of land in Byram Township, just north of Netcong, and started construction of a replica western town. An architect was commissioned to fly out to Dodge City, Kansas to plan the actual layout of the town so it would be historically accurate. The site opened in the spring of 1957, and continues today to stands as one of the last examples of post-war tourist culture. Each season, the town presents an exciting, action-packed program similar to Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Visitors can step back into time as the old west unfolds before their eyes. Twenty-two different live action shows are presented each day, bringing to life the history, legends, and lore of the western frontier. The “"Old 97” narrow gauge train still makes regular trips through “Arapaho Territory”, the stagecoach winds through town approximately every 15 minutes, and the younger cowpokes can still ride on a real pony. The legendary Gunfight at the O.K. Corral takes place every day, as does Jesse James' famous Northfield, Minnesota bank raid. The Marshall deputizes his posse of buckaroos and heads the stagecoach robbers off at the pass as the wild and wooly west still thrills young and old alike.
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May Issue 2015 | LIFESTYLE njlifestyleonline.com
Big Bad Wolves Get up close and personal with actual wolves at the Lakota Wolf Preserve in in Columbia, where packs of Arctic, Timber, and British Columbian wolves roam free. Explore and learn about some of the world's most amazing animals through the educational Wolf Watch tours, led by owner Jim Stein and Becky Mace, who have raised and cared for all the animals at the preserve. During their hands-on presentations, visitors learn about the social structure of wolf packs, their eating habits, their interaction with man, and many other interesting facts. While in the observation area, you can watch the wolves play, interact with each other, and maybe even hear them howl. There are numerous opportunities to capture unobstructed pictures of the wolves in their natural setting. Serious and amateur
photographers should take advantage of
process. Visitors will see the lamp room, the
made from that element. The slot for
private guided photography tour or video
shaft station, mine galleries dating to the
titanium, for example, includes a jar of rutile
sessions around each individual wolf
1830s, and much more.
(ore of titanium), several samples of titanium
compound.
The Zobel Exhibit Hall contains
metal, a replacement knee joint made of
thousands of mining-related items on display,
titanium, and a packet of Oreo cookies
Mine Crafting
including equipment used for explosives,
(titanium dioxide is what makes the filling so
Channel your inner spelunker at the Sterling
moving and crushing ore, mine ventilation,
white).
Hill Mining Museum in Ogdensburg, Sussex
mine lighting, and laboratory study of the
County. Situated on 35 acres of a former
ores. Also featured are displays of the local
about the grounds, including sinking
industrial mining and milling complex —
Fluorescent minerals, and large mineral
buckets, stamp mills, sheave wheels,
including the historic Sterling Hill zinc mine
samples out in the open, meant to be
crushers, ball mills, drum hoists,
— the site is a world-famous locality with
touched.
compressors, track drills, ore cars, and more.
more than 275 years of mining history.
There also are bronze sculptures depicting various facets of a miner's life. The Rock
undoubtedly be the 1,300-foot underground
three-dimensional model of the Periodic
Discovery Center is an outdoor area where
walk through the Sterling Hill mine. Within
Table. Each element is represented by a
visitors learn about the uses of various rock
the mine passages are numerous pieces
sample of the element itself, one or more
types that are quarried in and near New
of equipment used while the mine was
specimens of ores from which that element
Jersey, and then collect a specimen of each
in operation, plus exhibits on the mining
is produced, and several commercial objects
rock type to take home with them. n
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LIFESTYLE | May Issue 2015
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ANOTHER TRAVEL OPTION PROUDLY EMERGES AS CHOICE AIRE ENTERS THE LOCAL MARKET
N
ew planes are soaring high above our region as Miami-based Choice Aire recently added Atlantic City International Airport as a new destination. The company will debut its scheduled public charter service on May 21, serving their new nonstop destination Atlantic City International Airport. Choice Aire will offer affordable, convenient, fullservice first- and economy-class flights, with convenient connections from Miami to Cuba, Aruba, and Curacao. “We are looking forward to being part of Atlantic City's renaissance by offering a simpler way to fly with safety, integrity, and great customer service,” explained Choice Aire CEO Danny Looney. “Our professional travel experts are eagerly standing by to prove our commitment to the area and establish our local roots. We are extremely excited and pleased with the open-arm acceptance local authorities have provided and can't wait to begin operations and exceed our customers’ expectations.” The five-times-weekly service — every day except Tuesday and Wednesday — will be operated by the company’s partner Swift Airlines, and will use technologically-advanced Boeing 737-300 and 737-400 aircrafts with 126 and 150 seats. Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Swift Air has evolved from a single corporate aircraft to a dynamic full-service enterprise that carries the highest industry ratings for compliance with safety and operations standards. As a former commercial pilot, company founder Looney certainly knows all the ins and outs of the airline industry. “I have been in the aviation business and a commercial pilot for over 31 years,” he revealed, “and I found in today's environment, it is best to partner up with a good operator like Swift Airlines. Then, our company can focus strictly on service and sales. With this business model, everybody has their own area of expertise and you end up with a quality product.”
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May Issue 2015 | LIFESTYLE njlifestyleonline.com
Along with their flight service, Choice Aire also features many unique travel packages to fit any budget. The company has been offering their customers tours of Cuba for over 10 years, and is extremely well-versed on exactly what is required to travel to this exotic destination. Guests of the carrier can experience individual and dependable travel packages, featuring various options to satisfy the needs of any traveler. “We are a company with over 100 years of combined experience in the air and travel industry,” explained Looney. “When traveling, we do not just sell a tourist package, but we offer a comprehensive service with special attention from the moment the customers contact us until the completion of their trip.” Are you tired of getting nickel-and-dimed from other airlines? Then Choice Aire is the carrier for you. Reminiscent of the lost glory days of air travel, the company does not charge for seat assignments or baggage, and even serves complimentary meals on the plane. “The planes have first-class sections serving hot meals, and sandwiches are served in the coach cabin,” revealed Looney. This innovative aviation company sees a lot of potential in Atlantic City. “I believe the city has started on its way up,” said Looney, “yet there is a worldwide misconception that Atlantic City is only a casino destination. There is so much more this wonderful city has to offer. Once we educate our Latin American, Miami and Nashville customers that this area is actually a great family vacation locale, it’s going to get exciting.” “We are placing roots in Atlantic City and making efforts to become part of the landscape,” explained Looney. “By sponsoring local events — like the upcoming LPGA tournament — we are focusing on supporting the community as much as we can.” n
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Lifestyle Entertainment By David J. Spatz
Stealing Sinatra The man who convinced Ol’ Blue Eyes to skip to the other end of the Boardwalk
f
rank Sinatra always got the credit — and deservedly so — for luring one of his wealthy pals to Atlantic City, a California real estate developer who dropped a cool $4.2 million at a blackjack table the night Sinatra jumped ship from his old home at Resorts International to work for gaming golden boy Steve Wynn at the original Golden Nugget casino on the Boardwalk. But, truth be told, Ol’ Blue Eyes only deserved half the credit for that big night in 1983. The rest belonged to the man responsible for uprooting the iconic singer from Resorts — where he performed exclusively for three years — and convincing him to perform at the opposite end of the Boardwalk. Wynn’s casino had been open for over two years, and he was doing a little gambling of his own. He was wagering $10 million that Sinatra could turn his small, but opulent, casino into a haven for high rollers. When he saw how much money one man lost in one night just because the legendary entertainer was playing the 500-seat Opera House nightclub, he knew his bet was going to pay off. “He slapped me on the back and said, ‘I want you to work for me forever,’” jazz
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May Issue 2015 | LIFESTYLE njlifestyleonline.com
singer and pianist Frankie Randall, whom Wynn had hired to run his entertainment department, recalled years later. Randall, who pulled off the biggest entertainment coup in the early years of Atlantic City’s casino era by helping Wynn steal Sinatra from Resorts, died of lung cancer December 28 in Palm Springs, CA. Before becoming a casino “suit,” Randall had enjoyed success as an entertainer in the early to mid-1960s. He was a pianist and singer who was a summer fill-in host on Dean Martin’s old TV variety show. Randall was best known to his peers as an “entertainer’s entertainer.” This generally means he was appreciated more by his fellow performers than he was by the masses. And Randall had no bigger fan than Sinatra, whom he met one night when he was performing at Sinatra's BFF Jilly Rizzo’s New York City saloon. Randall and Sinatra quickly became buddies. Randall, who had relocated to Palm Springs near Sinatra, became Sinatra’s unofficial “house pianist.” He had an open invitation to play in Sinatra’s home, usually on Saturday nights when Sinatra was at home and not off somewhere singing for his supper. So when Wynn tapped Randall to run his
Atlantic City entertainment department, his first order of business was to upgrade the quality and caliber of shows at the Golden Nugget. The casino opened in 1980 with a week of shows by Wynn favorite Willie Nelson. But country music wasn’t big business in Atlantic City then, and Nelson only averaged around 50 people a night. After that, the showroom was populated mostly by a collection of static, long-running variety revues occasionally interrupted by b-list headliners. “We had an ‘okay’ entertainment policy — we had some headliners, some (revues) — but we really didn’t have anything that would set us apart from the (other casinos),” Randall said. And because the casino’s showroom was only 500 seats, it was financially impractical to bring in artists with huge salaries. One day, though, Wynn asked Randall what it would take to keep Sinatra from re-signing with Resorts after his three-year contract expired with the First Game in Town. Money was no object, Wynn said. He was willing to double Sinatra’s thenunprecedented $50,000-per-show casino salary. “I told (Wynn) he had to offer him
Frankie Randall
njlifestyleonline.com
LIFESTYLE | Spring 2015 17
L I F E ST Y L E E N T E R TA I N M E N T
something (other than more money) that would perk him up,” Randall told me prior to his final casino gig in 2007. “Frank was the kind of guy who would get comfortable in one place and not be so quick to move.” Randall suggested Wynn up the ante not just by offering him more money, but by making him a celebrity spokesman for both his Atlantic City and Las Vegas casinos. In Las Vegas, Wynn was able to lure Sinatra away from his longtime home at Caesars Palace on the Strip to the Golden Nugget on Fremont Street in the city’s Downtown section. Wynn liked the idea, and Randall took the proposal to Sinatra, who just happened to be performing at Resorts. True to form, Sinatra told Randall he was comfortable at Resorts and was in no hurry to leave. In fact, Resorts was working with Sinatra’s lawyer, Milton A. (Mickey) Rudin, to renegotiate a new deal. That’s when Randall played the ace he had tucked up his sleeve. He told Sinatra that part of Wynn’s deal was a series of fun television commercials that would feature both Wynn and Sinatra. “When I told him about the TV commercials, he really perked up,” Randall recalled. “Then I told him how much (money). Next thing I knew, he said, ‘Okay, you’ve got my attention. Now let’s sit down and work this thing out.’” Several months later, Sinatra opened at the Golden Nugget’s 500-seat showroom in front of an invitation-only audience of high rollers. Not all of the seats were filled; some players didn’t want to leave the gaming tables and slot machines just because the show was starting. And as long as they
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May Issue 2015 | LIFESTYLE njlifestyleonline.com
had money on the tables, their casino hosts weren’t going to force them into the Opera House. Outside the showroom, fans clutching fistfuls of cash begged, pleaded and tried to bribe their way into the room. But no dice. It was a private show. Not long after that first show, Sinatra and Wynn filmed the first of what turned into a series of television commercials for
“When I told him about the TV commercials, he really perked up,” Randall recalled. “Then I told him how much (money). Next thing I knew, he said, ‘Okay, you’ve got my attention. Now let’s sit down and work this thing out.’” both the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City and Las Vegas. Sinatra was the star of the commercials; Wynn willingly played the foil. The spots had the anticipated effect. Once they began airing, the Golden Nugget was the smallest, but hottest, joint in Atlantic City. And not just among gamblers. With Sinatra on board, the Golden Nugget now had the seal of approval from
the Chairman of the Board. Other A-list artists were quickly placed under exclusive contract with the Golden Nugget. Pretty soon, the smallest casino in town had the biggest collection of major headliners ever assembled in Atlantic City: Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Liza Minnelli, Steve Lawrence, and Eydie Gorme. Even performers that weren’t traditional casino headlines, like ballet star Mikhail Baryshnikov and actress Julie Andrews, headlined private shows for the high rollers. When Wynn sold the Golden Nugget to Bally Manufacturing in 1987 to help underwrite construction of his gamechanging Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, the new owners cleaned house in their executive ranks, a common business practice when a place changes hands. But Randall was one of the few executives who survived the purge. All told, he spent nine years working at the casino. During his casino run, Randall, a New Jersey native born Franklin Joseph Lisbona in Passaic, had one sure-fire way of dealing with the stress of working in the gaming industry. He’d occasionally go back where he came from by booking himself into one of his property’s lounges. But he never wanted his fellow musicians around town think he was freezing the others out of work, so he only scheduled himself on rare occasions. “I was always very careful about not doing that too often,” he said, not wanting to take work away from another performer. “I usually only did it if an act dropped out at the last minute. But it was one way of relieving the pressure, and there was a lot of pressure in that job.” n
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Exploring Watsu This unique water therapy has many benefits Audrey Filardi in a session of Watsu
Health Watch By Robin Stoloff
AS I FLOAT ON MY BACK AND DRIFT IN THE WARM, calming water, I feel the slow beat of my heart and I almost forget I’m in an indoor pool in March. My eyes are closed and I’m gently supported by floats around my thighs. The only sounds I hear are soft music, my own deep breaths, and tiny splashes created by the therapist who is holding my shoulders and head and softly moving and stretching my arms and legs. For one hour of my day, I step away from my list of errands, the constant din of the TV, the ringtone of my phone, the glare of the computer, and the sound of chatter. I feel suspended in space, forgetting the cold damp weather outdoors. Like a rag doll, I let go of all tension and allow the therapist to do the work in this session of Watsu. Yes, Watsu; an unusual word that sounds as if it could be the latest dance or a new dot com start-up. But, it is actually a combination of two words — water and Shiatsu, a type of massage therapy that focuses on pressure points, stretching, and joint mobilization. Watsu was created by Harold Dull in 1980 in California when he began applying the principles of Shiatsu combined with the support and warmth of the water. Audrey Filardi, owner of Full Circle Wellness and certified massage therapist, got certified as a Watsu practitioner to offer a new and unique experience to her clients. During our session, Audrey cradles my shoulders and head while she massages my neck, targets pressure points in my back, and stretches my legs and arms. The water in the therapy pool at The AtlantiCare LifeCenter feels like a bathtub at 97 degrees, and takes pressure off my spine and body. Gradually my tight lower back and sore muscles from my morning workout start to loosen and relax. I am more aware of my slow and deep breaths. The most basic move in Watsu is the Water Breath Dance, in which you float in someone’s arms, sink a little as you breathe out, and let the water lift you as you breathe in. It is repeated throughout the session connecting your breath to the various moves and stretches. A nurturing, comforting form of bodywork, Watsu is almost like getting a big warm hug. At the end of our session, I slowly open my eyes and wake from this respite from reality. I almost need to get re-oriented to where I am, a very common reaction, according to Audrey. I feel calm and relaxed, as if I had a wonderful nap. After showering and changing, I sit down with Audrey to find out a little more about this strange and unique type of therapy. Practicing since 2011, she tells me she trained to be a Watsu practitioner in Key West over several training sessions spanning about three years. She has always loved the water, so after becoming a massage therapist and reading about Watsu, she immediately knew she had to pursue it. She notes many of her clients experience something similar to what I felt. It helps njlifestyleonline.com
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them get out of “stress mode and calm down.” She continues, “We don’t give our bodies the time to heal because we are always running in a million different directions, and all that stress wreaks havoc on our bodies. In our busy lives, we are bombarded with stimuli on a continual basis. This leaves little time for our brains to shut down for the rest and repair it needs to function. In Watsu, the stimuli is greatly reduced. The mind is able to quiet itself which is similar to meditation. Watsu has been termed by some as instant mediation. The body knows how to heal itself, if we just give it a little time.” While Watsu can play a role in decompressing, relaxation, and better sleep at night, it also has many other benefits. By improving circulation and flexibility, it is especially helpful to people with chronic pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and neuromuscular conditions. Audrey recently did a session with a young man with cerebral palsy. The warmth and support of the water relaxed the rigidity of his muscles and she saw the comforting relief in his face. She says Watsu is also perfect for pregnant women who are so appreciative for the feeling of weightlessness and release of pressure on the body, something any women who has been pregnant can truly understand. When I asked her what most of her clients get from it, she answers; “Whatever the body needs, the body will get from this.” She says some people sometimes connect with deeper feelings inside and have actually teared up during their sessions. “It is a profound experience for many people; a weightless environment, warmth of the water, and a sense of awareness takes them to another whole level.” Used around the world by massage therapists, professional bodyworkers, physical therapists, and psychologists, Watsu was recently voted the best of all treatments offered in Asian spas by the Asian Spa Association. According Watsu.com, “Many come out of a Watsu saying they were more relaxed than they have ever been. Some say it was one of the most powerful
experiences in their life.” Audrey is one of the few Watsu practitioners in New Jersey. Her Watsu sessions are held in the therapy pool at the AtlantiCare LifeCenter in Egg Harbor Township. Sessions are open to the general public at a rate of $55 for a half hour and $85 for an hour. For more information about Watsu, visit www.watsu.com or contact Audrey at www.fullcirclewellnessllc.com. n Former Television Health Reporter, Robin Stoloff is now the new host of “Living Well with Robin Stoloff”, empowering you to live a healthier life, Sunday mornings from 9-11 AM on Lite Rock 96.9 WFPG. During her two hour program, Robin interviews local medical professionals and offers health and lifestyle tips. It’s knowledge that enlightens and music that inspires. You can also hear Robin’s well-known Health Updates on all five Townsquare Media stations throughout day. To suggest a topic or ask a question, visit Robin’s Facebook page at Health Update — Reach Out to Robin Stoloff or email her at robin.stoloff@ townsquaremedia.com.
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San Diego Dreaming The sun always seems to shine on this sublime city By Dan Schlossberg
E
verything seems sunny-side up in San Diego. There’s a world-famous zoo, a photogenic harbor, and a canopy of palm trees that frame a gleaming skyline sandwiched between sea and mountains. With 300 days of sunshine plus a prevailing breeze, it’s never too hot or too cold in the once-sleepy Southern California community. San Diego is simply sublime, if not divine. It’s a city steeped in history, but motivated by modern marvels from the battleship to the streetcar. It has an Old Town brimming with the flavor of its Mexican heritage, a Little Italy larger than those of New York and San Francisco combined, and a diversified collection of places to eat, sleep, and party. Visitors can even ice-skate on the beach at Hotel del Coronado, where Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, and Tony Curtis filmed Some Like It Hot. Timing is everything — even in travel —
and San Diego is no exception. Virtually the entire 2015 calendar year will feature non-stop anniversary parties. They include: 125th — The seaside village of Coronado, home of the storied Hotel del Coronado, and the Keating Hotel, a Gaslamp Quarter landmark, both trace their origins to 1890. 100th — Balboa Park, a 1,200-acre urban oasis originally built for “temporary use” during the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, kicked off its centennial with a concert at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion and followed with the reopening of the 125-step California Tower, closed for 80 years, at the Museum of Man. Flagship Cruises, which offers harbor tours, whale-watching, and dinner tours, is also marking its 100th this year. 70th — Celebrations marking the end of World War II in 1945 will go on all year at the USS Midway, the Air and Space Museum, a
Photos by Dan Schlossberg San Diego-Coronado Bridge
One of San Diego's vintage trolleys
“Kiss-In” event at the local Greatest Generation Collection, and a mid-November Balboa Park event that promises to be “America’s longest Veterans Day parade.” 50th — Part of the San Diego Opera’s golden anniversary celebration will include joint performances with the San Diego Symphony, while the annual Borrego Bays Desert Festival, in San Diego’s East County, marks the same anniversary a week before Halloween. 45th — San Diego Comic-Con International, begun by a group of comic and film fans in 1970, is expected to break its record attendance of 130,000 when it gathers from July 9-12. Chicano Park — home of the world’s largest collection of Chicano art murals — features free art workshops, vendors, and traditional music, dance, and food at its annual spring party. 25th — The Jewish Film Festival marked
Lifestyle Travel
its silver anniversary by showing 96 movies in February, while San Diego EarthWork’s Earth Fair, a mid-April event billed as the world’s largest Earth Day event, featured more than 300 exhibitions. 20th — San Diego New Music, a showcase for local performers, featured an All-American program at the Scripps Ranch Institute earlier this year. Like a coffee urn that is always percolating, San Diego never rests on its laurels. Something new is always brewing. Already this year, Hornblower Cruises has launched its revamped and renamed flagship, now called Admiral Hornblower and blending Great Gatsby decor with 21st century technology. Also on the waterfront, the $31.1 million North Embarcadero Visionary Plan has created new public open space for locals and visitors. In addition, the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego has created the Marilyn Monroe Spa, renamed and redesigned a restaurant now called the Seaview, and plunged into a project that will outfit its Top of the Hyatt lounge in time for the Big Bay Boom on the Fourth of July. Kids of all ages are enjoying the San Diego Model Railroad Museum’s new Centennial Railroad Garden, an open-air project portraying Balboa Park as it looked in 1915.
San Diego Convention Center
SeaWorld, nationally known as the home of a performing whale named Shamu, celebrates the first four weekends of May with a Craft Beer & Food Festival, while the San Diego Zoo Safari Park marks the return of spring by adding thousands of species to Butterfly Jungle, an aviary that also has flora and fauna in addition to creatures that fly. Out-of-towners hoping to make maximum mileage from minimum time should consider two sightseeing tours: the San Diego Old Town Trolley, which offers unlimited on-and-off privileges at any of its 11 stops, and the San Diego SEAL, an amphibious vehicle of World War II vintage that substitutes propeller and rudder for rubber tires when it plunges into the bay. The watery vantage point is perfect for photographers hoping to approach sleepy but smelly sea lions while also getting a close-up look at ships, subs, and planes from San Diego’s enormous U.S. Navy base. The two most popular trolley stops are Balboa Park, home of the zoo and more than a dozen museums, and Old Town. The site of California’s first Spanish settlement in 1769, San Diego has come a long way from the days when Father Juniper established 21 missions. Once the capital of both California and Baja California, El Pueblo de San Diego was a community of
Petco Park
adobe buildings in 1835 and had only 250 residents when a U.S. Navy lieutenant raised the American flag during the Mexican War in 1846. Four years later, California achieved statehood and San Diego was incorporated as a city. Traces of its Mexican roots can be found in the three parks of Old Town today. Presidio Park, perched high above the narrow area, marks the original site of the first mission and presidio in the state. Victorian homes dominate Heritage Park, while many historic buildings comprise the collection of Old Town State Historic Park. Old Town has the oldest house in San Diego, the first one-room schoolhouse, and a 19th century hotel that has 10 rooms, two saloons, and a rare blend of Mexican adobe and American wood-frame architecture. The Cosmopolitan’s three-year, $6.5 million historic restoration was completed five years ago. To taste all things Mexican without venturing to Tijuana, Fiesta de Reyes features strolling mariachis, folk dancers, Mexican food served in the open air, and nearly 20 vendors selling everything from shawls to sombreros. During the first week of May, the popular Fiesta Cinco de Mayo features music and entertainment on seven stages. Unlike Old Town, which stretches one
LIFEST YLE TRAVEL mile long and a half-mile wide, Balboa Park is measured in acres (1,200). It has more museums (17) than Old Town has significant buildings (15) and therefore requires more than a quick stop. A seven-day passport costs about $50, but is worth the price. San Diego’s version of Disneyland without rides, Balboa Park has separate museums dedicated to history, art, cars, trains, space, and photography, plus a Japanese friendship garden, 1905 mansion with period pieces, and the zoo, home of 4,000 animals and 660 species — many of them not found elsewhere. Spreckles Organ Pavilion claims to have the world’s largest pipe organ but is not the only musical venue in the park; the 100-bell carillon in the 200-foot California Tower chimes every 15 minutes. After dark, the Gaslamp Quarter — a gentrified district once dominated by brothels — is the place to eat, drink, and people-watch. Within its 16.5 square blocks are bistros, boutiques, cafes, and clubs that attract a well-healed clientele. Both participation and spectator sports is big-league in San Diego. Riding bicycles are even more popular than playing golf — everybody seems to enjoy the twowheelers — but jogging, running, walking, hiking, fishing, and swimming are also staples of locals and visitors. Although ocean swimming is best during the summer months, the endless shoreline (including a pair of protected bays) beckons people with San Diego skyline
Spring 2015 |
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kayaks, sailboats, surfboards, and scuba gear. Water-skiers will do well in Glorietta Bay but run into military-imposed restrictions in San Diego Bay. La Jolla Cove, north of San Diego on the road to Los Angeles, is one of the most photogenic places on the planet. But cameras on nearby Black’s Beach, where clothing is optional, are not considered cool. As for spectator sports, the San Diego Padres are the talk of the baseball world after spending the winter adding former All-Stars Justin Upton and Matt Kemp, among others. Their Petco Park, an attractive 11-year-old venue sandwiched between the convention center and Gaslamp district, will be the site of the 2016 Baseball All-Star Game. Sports fans also enjoy football games featuring the San Diego Chargers and the San Diego State University Aztecs, plus horse racing at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, founded by Bing Crosby and Pat O’Brien in 1937. Although San Diego is California’s secondlargest city, it is remarkably easy to navigate. Its light-rail system has multiple routes, including one that stretches to Tijuana. Trains of all sizes, descriptions, and routes run out of Union Station, an architectural icon that still bears the legendary Santa Fe logo. Hourly ferries link downtown to Coronado, on the other side of the bay. A variety of sightseeing vessels, some offering dinner cruises where the food takes second place to the scenery, also ply the smooth waters surrounding the city. Many locals prefer bicycles — both manual and electric — which seem
omnipresent in San Diego’s streets and parks. The compact airport, named for famed aviator Charles Lindbergh, has only one runway but few delays. With weather problems a non-factor, flights arrive or depart every 90 seconds. The best bet for crosscountry service is jetBlue, which has its New York hub at JFK International. The best place to stay may well be the 211-room Sofia Hotel, which opened in 1927 by offering the public “a room and a bath for two-and-a-half.” First called the Pickwick, then renamed for the owner’s granddaughter in 2006, the Sofia features a Gothic Revival exterior but contemporary decor and amenities, including a lounge with a fireside library. Yoga and spa services are part of its charm. Location also helps the Sofia: on West Broadway between First Avenue and Front Street, it’s a short hike to the train station and harbor in one direction and the Gaslamp District in the other. The airport is close too, just three miles and five minutes. For further information, contact the San Diego Tourism Authority, Suite 1500, 750 B Street, San Diego, CA 92101, Tel. 619-2323101, www.sandiego.org. n Former AP newsman Dan Schlossberg of Fair Lawn, NJ is travel editor of New Jersey Lifestyle and Sirius XM Radio’s Maggie Linton Show. He is also host and executive producer of the weekly Travel Itch Radio Show and president emeritus of the North American Travel Journalists Association.
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2016 Mercedes-Maybach S600
Maybach Madness Experience the elegance and power of this automotive masterpiece
MOST NEW CARS ARE PROMOTED FOR THE DRIVING experience. Get behind the wheel, adjust the seat and mirrors, and hit the open road. Enjoy the engine’s power and handling as you steer your way across winding country roads. The 2016 Mercedes-Maybach S600 is not like most cars. Almost simultaneously introduced to the public in November at the 2014 Auto Guangzhou (China) and the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show, the
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Mercedes-Maybach S600 is built to appeal to the passenger — and the rear-seat passenger at that. It is more comfortable than many limousines, and with virtually all the creature comforts. It’s like flying business class, only with a full view of the passing scenery, wrote Michael Jordan in Automobile magazine. Settle down into quilted leather, lean back, prop up your feet, and watch your favorite program on a high-definition screen with surround-sound
On Wheels By ELAINE ROSE
Well appointed front seats
audio. Or, if you must, unfold a table from the center console and get some work done. Everything you need is at your fingertips. The Maybach brand of automobiles, nearly a century old, and its association with Mercedes goes back even further. German engineer Wilhelm Maybach designed the first Mercedes car in 1901, according to edmunds. com. After building flying machines with Graf Zeppelin, Maybach introduced his W1 car in 1919, built on a Mercedes chassis. Several other Maybach models were introduced to the German public, until the company stopped making cars in 1941 and concentrated its efforts on making Rear passenger seats equipment for the German war effort. The Maybach was resurrected in 2003, and several models of luxury sedans were manufactured over the next decade. The last cars were produced in 2012. Now, Mercedes-Benz adds Maybach to its S-Class line, actually as a sub-brand of the company, with delivery starting in April. At 214.6 inches, it is 8.1 inches longer than the already spacious S-Class cars, with the extra room going to the back seats, according to a 19-page press release the company issued in November. The rear doors are 2.6 inches shorter than those on the S-Class cars, and the seats are situated behind the opening. That, along with electronic rolling blinds for the rear windows, shields passengers from the curious stares of occupants of vehicles with whom the Maybach must share the road. Mercedes-Benz claims the Maybach offers the quietest ride of any production sedan in the world. You can’t walk into your local Mercedes-Benz dealer and buy this car off the lot. With a base price of $189,300, each Mercedes-
Maybach S600 is custom-made for the purchaser, said Jonathan Batt, a salesman at Mercedes-Benz of Atlantic City. Orders for the car are already being taken. All standard equipment of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class cars comes with the Mercedes-Maybach S600, along with a few extras. Rear seats that recline up to 43.5 degrees and a power-operated footrest are included. Passengers can adjust the angles of the seat cushions at the touch of a button. Also standard is additional ambient lighting that goes beyond the beautiful iridescent lines in the S-Class cars, wood trim, hand-stitched nappa leather, and two silver-plated champagne flutes embossed with the Maybach logo. The Air Balance package includes filtration, ionization, and the Agarwood fragrance that is exclusive to the Mercedes-Maybach S600. A panoramic glass sunroof, also standard, allows daylight to enter the cabin if the occupants so desire. It is, indeed, a luxurious ride. The exterior is just as impressive, with a choice of several different wheel styles as standard. The purchaser can pick from among ten
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LIFESTYLE | May Issue 2015
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colors of exterior paint and five colors of interior leather. Three chrome double louvers in the radiator trim provide an elegant look, as does additional chrome. Cars following from behind can see horizontal lines that show off the width of the vehicle, twin tailpipes trimmed in chrome, and Maybach lettering on the trunk. For even more opulence, purchasers can add options such as a center rear console with folding tables, a refrigerator console, and a high-end Burmester Surround Sound system with twenty-four speakers. For those who don’t have a chauffeur on their payroll, or for people who prefer to drive themselves on occasion, the ride in the front seats is nearly as exquisite as it is in the rear. The Mercedes-Maybach S600 comes with a 523-horsepower V12 engine and rear-wheel drive, and can go from zero to 60 mph in five seconds flat. It has a seven-speed automatic transmission and a maximum speed of 155 mph. Fuel economy has yet to be determined. But then, you don’t buy a car like this if you want to conserve gasoline. There are two driving modes, Efficiency, intended for chauffeurs, and Sport, for owners who wish to navigate the car for themselves. Writing for Motor Trend, Scott Evans said that
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ON WHEELS
A the Efficiency mode is very gentle, and insures that back-seat passengers don’t spill their champagne. The Sport mode has a sharper response. The steering, brakes, and suspension of the Maybach provide for an extremely smooth ride. Passengers will not feel bumps in the road or heaving as the car takes tight turns. “It’s as if the center of gravity is a mile below the road surface,” Evans wrote. The front seats of the Mercedes-Maybach S600 are also well appointed, with nappaleather armrests, eighteen-way adjustable power seats, and an IWC-design clock with individually milled numbers on the dashboard. The trim on the doors is sewn by hand. Mercedes-Benz takes no chances when it comes to the safety of the drivers and passengers of their automobiles. The Maybach comes with the standard S-Class Intelligent Drive system, that includes parking assistance; pedestrian recognition brakes; and systems to help the driver see cross traffic, stay in the proper lane, and view the conditions at night. But the Mercedes-Maybach S600 goes even further with a safety package that can’t be found on any other vehicle. The car comes equipped with a Pre-Safe active seat belt, which raises the buckles automatically when the rear door is opened. The buckles have lighted slots which make it easier for passengers to strap themselves in. An airbag is embedded in the seat belt. If the sensors detect a crash is imminent, the seat belts inflate to nearly three times their normal width, protecting passengers from injuries that can be caused by the restraints. If the sensors detect that the car might be broadsided, the window airbag and a thorax bag inflate — only on the side of the anticipated collision. This is in addition to airbags located beneath the rear-seat upholstery, which can detect if the passenger is in a reclining position, and inflate to prevent him or her from sliding under the seat belt. For those who can afford it, the MercedesMaybach S600 provides the ultimate in safety, comfort, and luxury. A 1930 Maybach promotional brochure touted that the company’s cars are made “to create only the very best from the very best — a car that fulfils every last wish and stands out for its supremely refined elegance and power.” With its reintroduction of the brand, Mercedes-Benz continues that tradition. n
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TOP 10 Gangster Movies By SHERRY HOFFMAN
Who doesn’t like a good gangster film? From the 1912 silent film-era The Musketeers of Pig Alley, which is considered the first gangster film ever made, to today, we’ve been both fascinated and entertained by movies that depict all forms of the gangster life. See if you agree with our list and synopsis of 10 of the top gangster movies of all time.
The French Connection (1971)
Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider are New York City detectives James “Popeye” Doyle and Buddy “Cloudy” Russo in this gripping tale of international drug smuggling that takes the audience from France, the port of origin of a massive shipment of heroin, to the gritty streets of the Big Apple, where Doyle commandeers a car and begins one of the greatest chase scenes ever put on film (and he’s not chasing another car, either; he’s pursuing a speeding elevated subway). Fernando Rey plays Alain Chanier, a dapper businessman from Marseilles, France who’s really a drug lord looking to move $32 million of drugs, and Tony LoBionco is small-time hoodlum Sal Boca, who’s looking to elevate his status by buying Chanier’s smack, which is hidden in the rocker panels of a luxury car. Bet you didn’t know: The French Connection was the first R-rated film to win the Oscar for Best Picture.
Scarface (1983)
Brian DePalma’s violent reworking of the 1932 film of the same name tells the story of Cuban refugee Tony Montana, with an over-the-top performance in the role by Al Pacino. Montana arrives in Miami with nothing and — through brute force — muscles his way into position as one of the city’s biggest drug dealers. The film is brutal and bloody almost from start to finish, with outstanding performances by Steven Bauer (as Tony’s underboss), Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Michelle Pfeiffer. The climactic scene in which rival drug gangs stage a military-like attack on Montana’s well-protected Miami mansion gave rise to the film’s most quotable line when Montana produces a massive gun. As Montana prepares to blast his way out of his office, he advises his unseen adversaries to “say hello to my little friend.” Bet you didn’t know: Characters in Scarface drop the f-bomb over 200 times during the 170-minute movie, meaning the word is heard more than once a minute.
The Godfather (1972)
The American Film Institute considers the first of the three “Godfather” films the second-best movie of all time, although some would argue it’s the best film ever made, while others would say Godfather II also deserves consideration for the top spot on the list. Although he’d already been in several pictures, the role of Michael Corleone was the break-out performance of Al Pacino’s career, and he was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar. Marlon Brando was equally brilliant as Vito Corleone, the aging patriarch of a Mafia gang who transfers power to his son, who seems reluctant to accept the role (although he grows into the job quite nicely). Brando won (but refused to accept) the Best Actor Oscar for The Godfather. Bet you didn’t know: Although director Francis Ford Copolla always had Brando in mind for the leading role, that didn’t stop Orson Welles from campaigning for the part, even offering to lose weight if that was what it took to win the role. But Coppola, who was a fan of Welles, didn’t feel he was right for the role of Vito.
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Hard to believe, because of its violent nature and time-bending plot, but many consider this Quentin Tarantino stylized modern-day gangster drama one of the 1990s most influential films. Because of the plot twists and fragmented storytelling, you need to pay close attention to every second in this film (most people say it takes two or three viewings to fully understand some of the subtle nuances in the movie). This is another movie that could have probably been shortened by a few minutes if they eliminated just some of the 265 f-bombs that are dropped. There are four completely different stories in play, yet all of the characters are brilliantly intertwined by Tarantino (who actually plays a role in the film). Pulp Fiction features an ensemble cast that includes Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Christopher Walken, Ving Rhames, and John Travolta, whose performance lifted him out of a career slump and made him an A-list star. Bet you didn’t know: Steve Buscemi has a bit part as a Buddy Holly look-alike waiter at Jackrabbit Slim’s restaurant. Less than two years later, Buscemi would star in the riveting drama Fargo.
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May Issue 2015 | LIFESTYLE njlifestyleonline.com
Lifestyle Legends Angels with Dirty Faces (1938)
James Cagney (as Rocky Sullivan) and Pat O’Brien (Jerry Connolly) are a couple of bad kids growing up in the rough and tumble Hell’s Kitchen part of New York City. Rocky ends up in reform school, which becomes a learning experience — he learns how to become an even better criminal than he was before he went in. His buddy, meanwhile (and almost predictably) turns his life around and becomes a priest. When both hoodlum and hero rendezvous as adults back in their old stomping grounds, the priest works with neighborhood kids trying to keep them from running astray of the law. Rocky, however, isn’t looking for salvation; he’s hoping to lay low until he can return to his criminal ways, something his old friend is hoping he can prevent. Dialogue (not to mention solid acting) is one of the keys to this film. There’s lot of machine gun-like wisecracks, not to mention some well-chosen gunfire. Bet you didn’t know: Was Rocky really turning chicken when he was being strapped into the electric chair at the end of the film? Or was he really faking it to keep a promise to his old pal Jerry? Years after the film, Cagney said he deliberately played the scene ambiguously so audiences would have to draw their own conclusions.
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
Humphrey Bogart stars as private detective Sam Spade in this film noir classic that stars Mary Astor as his femme fatale client and Sydney Greenstreet, who was nominated for a supporting actor Oscar in his film debut. The story is about Sam Spade’s dealings with three unscrupulous men who are all competing to get their hands on a jewel-encrusted statuette of a falcon. The case is brought to him by a secretive and beautiful woman (Astor), and trouble seems to show up the moment she does when Sam’s partner is murdered. With crime and intrigue swirling around the story, Sam eventually realizes he’s the one who needs to find the one thing everyone else is looking for — the prized Maltese falcon. Bet you didn’t know: Warner Bros. had to come up with two Maltese falcon props for the movie. Bogie dropped the original while shooting a scene, which dented the tail feathers. The wounded bird is still on display at the Warner Bros. studio movie museum.
Little Caesar (1931)
Edward G. Robinson and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. star in this Mervyn Leroy-directed film that many movie buffs consider one of the earliest and best gangster films. It’s even been called the “grandfather” of the modern-day crime film. “Rico” (played by Robinson) is a small-time crook with a penchant for knocking over gas stations. He and his friend Joe Massara (Fairbanks) move to Chicago to seek their fortunes. But Joe wants to leave the criminal world behind to become a dancer, while Rico joins a criminal gang and eventually takes over the crew. And he isn’t happy that his buddy wants to go straight, so he makes him participate in a robbery of the nightclub where he works. Bet you didn’t know: Edward G. Robinson simply couldn’t keep his eyes open in a scene where he had to fire a pistol. So the film crew took matters into their own hands — they used cellophane tape to make sure the star’s eyes remained open.
Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
Clyde Barrow (Warren Beatty) was a fresh-out-of-prison criminal and Bonnie Parker (Faye Dunaway) a young waitress when the two meet by chance in Texas. The impressionable Parker was smitten with Barrow’s criminal past and the way he bragged about his exploits. Recognizing the girl’s fascination with him and sensing she’s somewhat sympathetic to his goals in life, Barrow strikes up a relationship with her and together they embark on a life of crime, sticking up banks and any other business where they think they can score some quick and easy bucks. Although well-armed, they never intended to hurt anyone — at least not in the beginning — until they rounded up a small gang of accomplices. Things escalate and the couple begins adding murder to their repertoire. The film ends in a hail of bullets when the most-wanted couple is ambushed by a huge posse of lawmen on a country road in Louisiana in 1934. Bet you didn’t know: Morgan Fairchild, who was active in Dallas theatre, began her film career in this film as Faye Dunaway’s stand-in.
Get Shorty (1995)
A year after his career-reviving performance in Pulp Fiction, John Travolta starred as Miami mobster Chili Palmer in this comedy, who’s ordered by his psychotic boss “Bones” Barboni (played by Dennis Farina) to collect a bad debut from a Hollywood horror film producer (Gene Hackman). Love blossoms when Chili meets the producer’s leading lady (Rene Russo) and he pitches his life story, which he’s convinced should be made into a movie. But Chili also learns that there’s really little difference between his job as a mob enforcer and collector and the role of a low-budget film producer. Bet you didn’t know: Director Quentin Tarantino, who directed Travolta in Pulp Fiction, had to convince Travolta to star in Get Shorty, which the actor had initially turned down.
The Sting (1973)
A small-time grifter, Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford) pulls a standard street con and unwittingly steals from a big-time crime boss named Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw), who ends up having Hooker’s partner, Luther, rubbed out. Hooker flees and seeks help from Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman), who is a master of the con. Hooker wants Gondorff’s help to even the score with Lonnegan. Together, they pull together a small army of other talented con artists and concoct a scheme to scam Lonnegan out of a huge sum of money while still dealing with Lonnegan’s murderous ways. Bet you didn’t know: Though the film was made in 1973 Robert Redford didn’t see it until 2004.
Sherry Hoffman is the owner of Sherry Hoffman Public Relations and has been a contributing writer for Lifestyle since the inaugural issue. njlifestyleonline.com
LIFESTYLE | May Issue 2015
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Luck Be A Lady After 9/11, Sheree Bykofsky left New York and relocated to Atlantic City. Here, the author and literary agent pursues her second love: professional poker.
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May Issue 2015 | LIFESTYLE njlifestyleonline.com
Lifestyle Profile By Marjorie Preston
She has chatted up Bill Clinton in a bar, met both Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney, and once rode in a limousine with “Satanic Verses” author Salman Rushdie (for the record, she was nervous). She has traveled the world, visited every state in the U.S., and sat next to Jeff Bezos when he announced the launch of Amazon.com. She is a tournament-level Scrabble player, has written 30 books, and in 1987, won more than $40,000 on “Wheel of Fortune.” By any definition, Sheree Bykofsky has led an exciting life. But you might not know it to look at her. A bestselling author and successful literary agent, Bykofsky is also a professional poker player. So she knows how to play it close to the vest. For years, Bykofsky lived in New York City. But after the September 11 terrorist attacks, she moved due south — to the Jersey Shore. “I was in love with New York; I didn’t think I could live anywhere else,” says Bykofsky. “But after 9/11, every time I heard a siren I thought of terrorists. I needed a change. Atlantic City is close.” It would also allow her to indulge her passion for poker — legal poker, that is. “When I lived in New York I used to play in some of the underground poker places,” she admits, “and twice the cops busted down the door. They arrested the people who ran the game and the dealers; they did not arrest the players. It was unpleasant.” Since moving here, Bykofsky has become a fixture at the resort’s casinos and continues to run her agency. She also offers occasional workshops for aspiring authors, with tips
culled from her book, “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Getting Published,” now in its fifth edition. Getting a book on the shelves is a lot like playing poker, she says — and there are lots of ways writers can tip the odds in their favor. Numbers Game Bykofsky was born on Long Island, the only daughter of a carpet salesman and a government clerk. According to family lore, her father was a genius, with two college degrees and an IQ of 160. “He was going to be a lawyer, but he had to support his
Sheree Bykofsky family,” says Bykofsky. “So he got into the carpet business.” Bykofsky inherited her father’s math smarts and love of wordplay. Her dual careers, as poker maverick and owner of Sheree Bykofsky Associates Inc., blend both competencies. But it all started with a floating poker game back in Gotham. “When most people think of poker games, they think of Felix and Oscar with cigars, eating chips and salsa and kibbitzing,” says Bykofsky. “But this was
serious, strict, and by the rules. I became a very good poker player long before poker became popular.” She joined a renowned poker club first established in the 1950s, long before she was born. Among the founding members: Broadway’s Tevye, Zero Mostel. “They kept it going all those years, bringing in new blood. Many famous people passed through that game, including Ring Lardner Jr., who wrote the screenplay for "M*A*S*H." I actually won a check from him, $43 — and I cashed it! I was so mad at myself.” Luck of the Draw Bykofsky landed in publishing almost by accident. In the 1980s, working in the graduate English office in Columbia University’s PhD program, she took a call from a publisher in search of a managing editor. She completed her Master’s Degree, refused a teaching assistantship, and took the job, working first for Chiron Press and then Bard Hall Press. That led to book packaging at the Stonesong Press, “a think tank” for books in which the packager not only identifies ideas for books, but finds the authors, writes the proposals, and pitches the publishers. When she couldn’t find an author for one book — a personal development planner called “Me, Five Years from Now” — she wrote it herself. In 1990, when she negotiated a quartermillion-dollar advance for Richard Carlson and Benjamin Shield’s “Handbook for the Soul” (Carlson would go on to write “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff”), she launched her njlifestyleonline.com
LIFESTYLE | May Issue 2015
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LIFEST YLE PROFILE
own agency. Coincidentally, at the same time poker was becoming a spectator sport and national pastime thanks to the invention of the lipstick camera. The camera, which is embedded in a tabletop, allows viewers to see the players’ hole cards, which are usually held facedown. “Suddenly people could ‘play along,’ and try to figure out the psychology of the game,” says Bykofsky. “That made it interesting, so they put it on TV.” With the game’s newfound popularity, publishers clamored for how-to books on poker. And who better to represent them? “I was one of the few poker-playing literary agents, so all the top players came to me,” says Bykofsky. The list includes 13-time World Series of Poker champ Phil Hellmuth, Mike “The Mouth” Matusow, and the late Lou Krieger, who wrote “Poker for Dummies,” and co-authored “The Rules of Poker: Essentials for Every Game” with Bykofsky. Getting a Good Read “I filled the book shelves with poker books and wrote three myself,” says Bykofsky. She is now under contract to write a fourth manual, “The Kaizen of Poker,” based on the Japanese concept of continuous improvement. Over the years, she’s become a player to be reckoned with. “It takes a lot of practice. The No. 1 skill is the ability to read other players and know what their cards are, even though you can’t see them. If you don’t get good at it, it’s impossible to win.” For example, she has consistently beaten Hellmuth (“a notorious poker brat, like John McEnroe was in tennis”). “He prides himself on being able to read other players, but I always finished first against him because he did not have a good read of me. He showed me he was folding his signature pocket 9’s,” she says. “It was a bad fold.” Bykofsky describes herself as a fearless competitor. “There are a lot of good players
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The camera, which is embedded in a tabletop, allows viewers to see the players’ hole cards, which are usually held facedown. “Suddenly people could ‘play along,’ and try to figure out the psychology of the game,” says Bykofsky. “That made it interesting, so they put it on TV.”
in Atlantic City, but I’m not afraid of anyone, and if people are not afraid of me, they should be. People underestimate me, but that’s when I usually win.” The proof is in the playoffs. In 2005, Bykofsky finished first out of 164 players at Atlantic City’s Showboat Hotel in a World Series Ladies Circuit Tournament. In 2009, at Harrah’s, Bykofsky won a $10,000 seat at the WSOP in Las Vegas. “I played three days and three nights straight and finished right outside the money,” Bykofsky recalls. “I got far, but fizzled right before the end. Hopefully there’s another World Series ahead of me that I’ll win.” The Art of the Deal Through her agency, Bykofsky — familiarly known as “ShereeBee” — represents multiple categories and specializes in selfhelp, how-to and business books as well as mysteries and “commercial fiction with literary appeal.” “I am a generalist and have eclectic and sometimes eccentric tastes,” she notes in a letter on her website, www.shereebee.com. “I don’t limit myself to particular genres because I’m always surprised by what appeals to me. If I love it, then I’ll take it on. … I’m always looking for a bestseller in any category.” During almost 25 years of business, she’s represented hundreds of authors and has also taught aspiring writers how to get published in workshops that have been offered in Atlantic City and also at Rosemont College in suburban Philadelphia. (Bykofsky is an adjunct professor of publishing at Rosemont, and has held the same position at New York University.) Julia MacDonnell, who took the workshop in Atlantic City, later sold her book through Bykofsky’s agency. The comic novel “Mimi Malloy, At Last!” was published in 2014 by Picador, an imprint of Macmillan Global, and came out in paperback in March. A German edition was published in April.
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The Good Life Bykofsky enjoys her life in an Atlantic City high-rise, with its panoramic view of the city, shoreline and of course, the casinos. But she is known to hit the road at a moment’s notice, as an in-demand speaker, conference leader, teacher, and prolific travel writer. She recently regaled readers about sailing on a barge along the coast of France and visiting bed-and-breakfast inns in New England. For Bykofsky, life is about memorable moments — the more the better. “I’ve been up in balloons. I’ve been invited to Africa. I hugged a beluga whale. I know so many celebrities.” She met McCartney at a bookseller’s convention when his late wife Linda published a vegetarian cookbook. She met Jackson at the famous Russian Tea Room, during a press trip in New York. She rode along with Rushdie while he was still the target of a fatwa, an assassination order issued by the Iranian government. “I asked him, ‘Do you feel safe?’ He said, ‘I don’t feel any less safe than anyone else.’ He didn’t think anyone was safe.’” Though she’s enjoyed her adventures and recounts them all with relish, as a New Yorker, Bykofsky is not easily impressed — not even by her encounter with Clinton, whom she met at the Manhattan restaurant Papillon. The owner personally escorted her to the bar and introduced her to the former leader of the free world. “But for me,” she says, “it was just an average Tuesday.” n
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“After many years of frustration and anguish, it was a dream come true to have my novel published. ‘Mimi’'s success has thrilled me,” says MacDonnell. “Sheree negotiates a good contract — she's one of the best in the business. I'm grateful to her for all the good things that have happened this past year.” Philadelphia-based writer Chris Kaiser also attended the workshop. “My personal takeaway was that you should always, always present your best work,” he says. “In her seminars, Sheree emphasizes that writers can increase their chance of success simply by making sure it's their best, most polished work before they submit it. Like she says, it’s a little like poker, and making sure the odds are in your favor.”
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LIFESTYLE | May Issue 2015
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DINING Gallery Library IV
Ram’s Head Inn
1030 N. Blk Horse Pike, Williamstown, NJ 856-728-8064 libraryiv.com The area’s greatest steakhouse under the direction of owner Brian O’Keeney. Offering quality prepared food and friendly service. Serving hand-cut steaks by the ounce, prime rib, seafood, veal and chicken. The Library IV restaurant has been the area’s top steakhouse for 30 years. A recently-completed remodel includes a new kitchen, new 30-foot long salad bar and dining rooms. A casual and cozy atmosphere sets this restaurant apart from the others, and their commitment to top quality has stood the test of time.
9 W. White Horse Pike, Galloway, NJ 609-652-1700 ramsheadinn.com The Ram’s Head Inn continues the long-standing tradition of superior quality food and service that the Knowles family brought to Southern New Jersey in 1979. This started at the Manor in the 1950s, and also continues at the Highlawn Pavilion and Pleasantdale Chateau (all located in West Orange, NJ). Traditional food and beverage is served with a contemporary flair at various venues within this one-of-a-kind restaurant. Executive chef Elio Gracia has provided outstanding culinary excellence for seventeen years, incorporating as many seasonal organic and locally-grown foods as possible. Walk-ins are always welcome.
Crab Trap
2 Broadway, Somers Point, NJ 609-927-7377 thecrabtrap.com Overlooking the Great Egg Harbor Bay in Somers Point is the Crab Trap Restaurant. Flourishing as a 400-seat full service restaurant serving the finest seafood in South Jersey. As many businesses expand, they often lose touch with the quality and small personal touches that made them special. At the Crab Trap, they don’t believe that has happened, or ever will.
Maplewood
470 White Horse Pike, Hammonton, NJ 6126 Black Horse Pike, Mays Landing, NJ 609-561-9621, 609-625-1181 maplewood.me For almost 70 years, Joe Italiano’s Maplewood has been known for its consistently great food! They believe that freshness and loving preparation are keys to satisfied customers. They have high standards for their food. Consistency can and should be expected. Food is fresh, salads are made to order, and pasta is boiled right before sauce is poured over it. “Gravy” or red sauce is made fresh daily and is loved by the locals in the area. They only use the finest ingredients at the Original Maplewood. Two locations — Same Great Food. Your Choice.
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Barista’s Coffee House Central Square, Linwood, NJ 08221 609-904-2990 baristascoffeehouse.com
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Blue Water Grille at Flagship Resort
60 N. Maine Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ 609-343-7447 fantasearesorts.com Overlooking the scenic bay through large open windows the Blue Water Grille serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner with Happy Hours from 5-7PM. Executive Chef Juliano Cannuscio, formerly from The Revel, has created a superb menu for a devine dining experience.
“Home of The World’s Best Spaghetti for over 70 years, and so much More!” Barista’s Coffee House
199 New Road Ste. 10, Central Square, Linwood 609-904-2990 baristascoffeehouse.com Owners Mark and Debbie Becker have created the perfect “neighborhood” atmosphere coffee house. Brewing up more than just coffee, customers come back time and time again for Barista’s espresso, tea breakfast, Liege waffles, Brussels waffles, gourmet desserts, and Italian gelato. Once you walk through the doors, you instantly become part of the “Barista’s Family”. Open Mon. - Fri., 7 AM-6 PM and Sat., 8 AM-6 PM.
Joe Italiano
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Tomatoes
9300 Amherst Avenue, Margate, NJ 609-822-7535 tomatoesofmargate.com A favorite of chefs and foodies who are impressed with the location, food, and view of the Margate Bay. The elegant and refined atmosphere includes a bar area, sushi bar, private meeting and dining rooms in addition to the main dining room. Trendy with a high-end, eclectic American fare and sushi, plus a happening bar scene. Excellent fresh fish, wonderful sauces and impressive desserts.
For almost 70 years Joe Italiano’s Maplewood has been known for its consistently Good, GOOD Food! We believe that freshness and loving preparation are keys to satisfied customers! We have high standards for our food. Consistency can and should be expected. Our food is fresh, salads are made to order, and pasta is boiled right before sauce is poured over it. Our “Gravy” or red sauce is made fresh daily and is loved by the people in the area. We only use the finest ingredients. The Original Maplewood. Two locations — Same Great Food. Your Choice.
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www.maplewood.me
The Melting Pot
2112 Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ 609-441-1100 meltingpot.com At The Melting Pot, fondue truly becomes a memorable four-course dining experience. Patrons can dip into something different — and discover all the ingredients for a unique dining experience, including a relaxed atmosphere, private tables, attentive service, fine wines and signature fondue dinners.
We’ll be the first to admit our name doesn’t tell the whole story. Bountiful Seafood. Succulent Steaks. Perfect Pastas.
And yes, Award-Winning Crab Cakes. 2014 Best of Press Awards: “Best Seafood Restaurant” “Best Place for Dinner”
Roberta’s by Joe Muldoon
1205 Tilton Road, Northfield, NJ 609-677-0470 robertasbyjoemuldoon.com A young Joseph Muldoon found his passion for food early on; while still at a tender age he began to work in the kitchen of New Jersey country club, Scotland Run. It was through this experience that Chef Joseph knew he wanted to pursue a career in the culinary field, but wasn’t sure what institution would allow his creativity to flourish. Almost in time to celebrate his 28th birthday, Muldoon opened his first independent restaurant, Roberta’s, at the intersection of Tilton and New roads in Northfield. Named for his mother, a home economics teacher whom he credits for instilling in him a love of cooking.
Somers Point 609-927-7737 www.thecrabtrap.com Serving from 11am Children’s Menu Available Lunch • Dinner • Cocktails Live Music • Deck Bar
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LIFESTYLE | May Issue 2015
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CASINO DINING RESORTS
Gallagher’s Steakhouse
N. Carolina & Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 609-340-6555 gallaghersresorts.com Gallaghers is located on the 2nd floor of Resorts Casino. A classic steakhouse serving hearty salads, dry-aged meats, wonderful fish and shellfish. Their glass-enclosed meat locker is in the front of the restaurant for all to view; and all of the beef is dry-aged for 21 days at a constant 36 degrees to insure tenderness. Offering the finest selections of seafood as well. An ambiance of warm woods and deep reds. Friendly, efficient and gracious service. Open for dinner Sunday thru Thursday 5-9:30 pm, Friday 5-10 pm, Saturday 5-11 pm.
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Phillips Seafood
Broadway Burger Bar
Pier at Caesars, Atlantic City, NJ 609-348-2273 phillipsseafood.com Phillips Seafood brings guests a classical American seafood menu boasting an array of fresh seasonal fish and Phillips’ famous jumbo lump crab cakes. Renowned chef Robbin Haas has designed a menu that offers guests the freshest, finest seafood available, complete with a rolling oyster cart where regional varietals are shucked tableside and a double-decker live lobster tank stocked with 3-10 pound lobsters. Experience an upscale, interactive dining experience with their exhibition kitchen and sweeping ocean views.
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The Quarter at Tropicana, Atlantic City, NJ 609-317-4660 broadwayburgerbar.com Ark Restaurants introduces Broadway Burger Bar at the Quarter in Tropicana Casino & Resort, Atlantic City serving up fresh ground, grilled, prime beef burgers and a large selection of tapas style appetizers. Order from a full bar featuring 60 Craft Beers, specialty cocktails, adult milkshakes as well as your traditional favorites. Live Acoustic acts every Friday and Saturday add to the vibrant and unique atmosphere. Fun for families, a quick lunch or an intimate dinner. At Broadway Burger Bar, they make burgers great.
Cuba Libre
The Quarter at Tropicana, Atlantic City, NJ 609-348-6700 cubalibrerestaurant.com Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar is dedicated to a continued exploration of Cuban heritage, art, music, flavors and traditions. The open-air setting, tropical ambiance, vintage décor, upbeat Latin music and Concept Chef/Partner, Guillermo Pernot’s delectable menu of ‘Nuevo Cubano’ dishes and traditional favorites, make this restaurant a must-see, must-experience dining destination.
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Casa Taco & Tequila Bar
The Quarter at Tropicana, Atlantic City, NJ 609-343-9938 tropicana.net Featuring up to 100 different Tequilas, a private party room, indoor and outdoor seating and a full Mexican menu ranging from tacos to fajitas and more! Breakfast is served 7 AM to Noon Daily. The Tropicana Difference: Guacamole prepared table side, is a fresh and delicious way to enjoy this classic appetizer.
Il Verdi
The Quarter at Tropicana, Atlantic City, NJ 800-345-8767 tropicana.net Specializing in Northern Italian cuisine, Il Verdi serves meticulously prepared gourmet dishes in an elegant yet relaxed atmosphere. Dine on your choice of hot and cold antipasti, soups, salads, pastas, fish and meat entrees, and desserts. Il Verdi’s award-winning wine list features Italian wines selected to complement the food. Have a truly unique dining experience at the Chef’s Table, set amidst the action of the Il Verdi kitchen, where you can enjoy a customized menu of six or seven courses with wine pairings.
BORGATA
Wolfgang Puck American Grille One Borgata Way, Atlantic City, NJ 609-317-1000 theborgata.com The man who revolutionized the culinary industry carries an undeniable cachet, synonymous with bold, innovative cooking and an unmistakable panache and passion that redefined dining in America. Offering contemporary American cuisine, the restaurant offers two distinctive dining areas ranging from casual and relaxed to elegant and upscale.
Old Homestead Steak House
One Borgata Way, Atlantic City, NJ 609-317-1000 theborgata.com Their domestically-raised, hand-massaged Kobe beef is not only the envy of the trade, it’s trademarked. But that isn’t the only reason the venerable Old Homestead has been a New York City landmark for 137 years. “It’s consistency on all fronts,” says Marc Sherry who, with brother Greg, opened their second location at Borgata. The menu nearly mirrors New York’s — and for good reason.
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Izakaya
One Borgata Way, Atlantic City, NJ 609-317-1000 theborgata.com A modern Japanese pub that defies comparison. Extraordinary sushi, sake, and robatayaki served in a sensual, yet modern atmosphere. Izakaya’s tempting cocktails and sharable plates make it the premier spot for an after-hours nosh and drinks, or a delicious late night meal.
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Opening this May in Atlantic City!
in opening new doors to healthy living. AtlantiCare LifeCenter Fitness has been a destination for health and wellness throughout the community for more than 10 years. Located in Egg Harbor Township, we’re southeastern New Jersey’s premier fitness center. And now we’re flexing our muscles with a brand-new location in Atlantic City at the Tropicana, offering many of the same features as our Egg Harbor Township location, in a great new setting. Two convenient locations: Egg Harbor Township • Atlantic City (opening in May)
JOIN NOW IN ATLANTIC CITY AND RECEIVE: • Free unlimited access to the LifeCenter in Egg Harbor Township (when you join in Atlantic City by 5/31/15) • New equipment orientations • 15-minute exercise workshops
609-677-LIFE (5433) www.atlanticare.org/lifecenter USE 1, 2 OR ALL 3 COUPONS WHEN YOU SIGN UP FOR YOUR LIFECENTER MEMBERSHIP TODAY!
Join our Atlantic City location now and pay nothing until June. (With 3-month commitment beginning with June payment) OFFER EXPIRES MAY 31, 2015
Join either location and get 2 free personal training sessions.
Join either location and get a FREE fitness evaluation, plus we’ll waive the joining fee.
OFFER EXPIRES MAY 31, 2015
www.facebook.com/atlanticarelifecenter Three-month paid membership commitment required for all coupon offers.
OFFER EXPIRES MAY 31, 2015