This Sunday, Dec. 2, from 5-9pm, saxophonist Michael Pedicin will appear at Stumpo’s Italian Bar and Grill (101 E. Maryland Ave, Somers Point) for a jazz jam. The night of live jazz music, also featuring top-notch local musicians, will benefit Jazz Bridge, a terrific Philly-area non-profit group that assists jazz musicians in need of crisis. What they set out to do is best described on their home page:

The Jazz Bridge Project is a nonprofit organization established by a group of caring Philadelphia jazz musicians and fans dedicated to assisting professional Delaware Valley jazz musicians and vocalists in times of crisis by providing confidential and caring support in keeping with their personal dignity. Through donations, grants, and music bookings, Jazz Bridge will assist those coping with emergencies involving health, legal, financial, personal and professional needs, building an awareness of the local jazz sound and the community of musicians who make it.

Sunday's event is being billed as: "A whole lotta jazz and a sumptuous Italian buffet–all for $30/ticket."
Seating is limited so call 215-517-8337 or 609-926-9400 for further information.

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You will see a byline in this week’s edition of Atlantic City Weekly (coming out Nov. 29) for longtime Atlantic City Weekly freelance contributor Sandy Posnak. It was written with Sandy’s usual upbeat style and appreciation for talent, in this case magician/singer/impressionist Darren Romero.
Unfortunately, the prognosis for Sandy is not upbeat. She wrote this story before her current battle with cancer. Sandy survived the difficult treatment for her cancer last year, then saw her husband Danny pass away last February. A few weeks back I learned that Sandy’s cancer had returned with a vengeance. It is a soul-wrenching punch in the gut when someone as wonderful as Sandy — so warm, thoughtful and vivacious — is brutalized by this vicious disease.
Anyone who has had a loved one battle cancer understands that nobody deserves the agony that it brings, least of all a woman as life affirming as Sandy Posnak.
Unfortunately, I just learned this morning (Nov. 28) that Sandy has lost her battle. My heart goes out to her children and family, who have endured the loss of both parents in the last year. Sandy's friends and colleagues here at AC Weekly are also feeling the pain of that loss.

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“Holiday Extravaganza – A Musical Journey” appearing through Saturday, December 22, 2007, in the Tropicana Showroom features singers Yoland Sirard, Nancy Fortin and Martin Lacasse (left to right).
In “Holiday Extravaganza – A Musical Journey,” an amazing cast of singers, dancers, musicians and acrobats bring treasured holiday memories to life through glamorous costumes, mesmerizing sets and beloved holiday music.
Photo’s by Lew Steiner

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I was about to begin my movie review for this week's issue of Atlantic City Weekly when Phillies.com delivered the great news that Jimmy Rollins was named National League MVP. I thought Matt Holliday might take it, but J-Roll was the man that stirred the drink for the Phillies this year and deserved the honor. He has also deserved more Gold Gloves than the first one he earned this year. Well, it's only three months till spring training ...
Check out the story here

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Tropicana’s 25’ Holiday Tree, located in Fiesta Plaza at The Quarter, officially become illuminated Thursday, November 15th with the help of Santa Claus and Diane Spiers, Executive Director of Media Services and performers from the Tropicana’s Holiday Extravaganza musical.
Tropicana has teamed up with the Salvation Army which offers an array of varied programs and services for children and adults such as after school programs, clothing and furniture assistance, emergency shelter provisions and toys and clothing for children during the holidays.
Photo by Lew Steiner

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Television fanatics like myself, especially the ones that are allergic to “reality TV,” have to be concerned about the Writers Guild of America strike. And just so you know, while the writers were the first to go out, demanding a bigger cut of profits from residuals and to earn money from Internet streaming of content, the Screen Actors Guild contract runs out mid-2008.
This has been an ugly battle so far, with TV producers trashing the very people that make their jobs possible. It all starts with the writer. Just like the pain that I felt when baseball players were locked out in
1994, the thought that these Hollywood types can’t find a way to keep the cash cow flowing fairly is just ridiculous. For a great take on the whole strike check out this editorial by Entertainment Weekly’s Mark Harris.
I want to see all 16 episodes of Lost this season and all 24 episodes of 24. Heroes is finally getting better so I don’t want to be cut off.

To quote that annoying commercial for a caffeine beverage, “WAKE UP PEOPLE!”

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This weekend at the Borgata, you'll have the chance to shake hands with a boxing legend. The casino will hold a "glove-signing" with former world middleweight champ Jake LaMotta - whose rise and fall in the boxing world was depicted in Martin Scorsese's classic 1980 picture Raging Bull — from 3-5pm on Saturday, Nov. 17, inside its Whim retail store. LaMotta, 86, was the middleweight champ between June 1949 and February 1951.

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Elvis Costello is coming to the House of Blues with his band The Imposters on Dec. 31. Tickets go on sale tomorrow (Wed. Nov. 14). Other new concerts announced include Kid Rock, Jan. 5, Borgata; Matchbox Twenty w/Alanis Morissette, Feb. 15 at Borgata, and G. Love & Special Sauce Dec. 30 at Borgata. All of those shows go on sale this Saturday (Nov. 17). Celine Dion isn’t coming to Boardwalk Hall until Sept. 20, 2008, but tickets go on sale this Mon. (Nov. 19). Caesars is presenting the show.

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Country music is coming to AC in a big way in the coming year. Adding to the already announced Trace Adkins show at Trump Taj Mahal Jan. 26, is the news released Nov. 9 that Martina McBride is headed to town on March 1 at Caesars. Trisha Yearwood will also be in town March 1 at the Hilton. Tickets go on sale Friday, Nov. 16. Gee, they have to make us choose between Martina and Trisha? Today comes the news that the new super tour featuring Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood has announced cities scheduled so far, including a listing for Atlantic City. The "Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Carnival Ride Tour," which combines the names of the Grammy-winners' latest albums, is set to launch Jan. 31. When the AC date is announced we’ll pass it along. Go here for the announcement.

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Travis Tritt is shorter than expected in person. However, his height has nothing to do with the energy, terrific vocals, fancy guitar licks and just plain fun he presents in concert. He unleashed his two-hour stage show at Trump Marina this past Saturday, Nov. 10.
Tritt told us early on that he would not short-change the paying customers with an hour and ten-minute show. He lived up to that promise with a 26 song set that included his hilarious “duet” with Willie Nelson on “Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys,” Tritt held his finger to his nose to help him channel the nasal sound of Nelson’s vocal style.
Surprisingly, Tritt did only a couple songs from his terrific new country rock/R&B album The Storm. Those songs were the sexy “Rub Off on Me,” and Tritt’s current single, “You Never Take Me Dancing.”
Travis Tritt is not the current flavor of the month in Nashville like the pseudo country pop singer Kenny Chesney. However, you can take a lot of those bland current singers and shove ‘em. Tritt is the real deal as an outlaw country rocker and he proved that with such Tritt hits as “Here’s A Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares),” “T-R-O-U-B-L-E,” “The Whiskey Ain’t Workin’,” and “Put Some Drive In Your Country.” However, his versatility also shows on his way with a ballad on songs like “I Don’t Love You Anymore,” “Between An Old Memory and Me,” and "Sometimes She Forgets.” Other songs that enhanced the evening were “Great Day to Be Alive” and “Sweet Home Alabama.”

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Olympic Gold Medalist skater Peggy Fleming — herself a breast cancer survivor — and her husband Greg Jenkins showcased their wines at Borgata's Women in Wine Charity Event. They operate Flemming Jenkins Vineyards & Winery in Los Gatos, California.
Also participating was actress Lorraine Bracco, known for her roles as Dr. Jennifer Melfi on The Sopranos and Karen Hill in the Martin Scorsese film Goodfellas, showcased her company’s wines. Actress Fran Drescher, author of the new book Cancer, Schmancer also made an appearance.
Twenty-two additional female winemakers from California, Australia, Chile and Italy, plus nine chefs from Borgata’s celebrity restaurant lineup, showed off their products and foods. Borgata wine director Anjoleena Griffin-Holst also hosted.
Last year, the Borgata Heart and Soul Foundation raised $101,000 from the event. They hope that they raised even more money this year.
Photo by Lew Steiner

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Wine and food lovers filled the Borgata Event Center for their third Women in Wine event Saturday night.
Robin Leach and talk show hostess Ricki Lake hosted the charity event. The evening was sponsored by Wine Spectator magazine and was presented by the Borgata Heart and Soul Foundation. Proceeds from ticket sales and live and silent auctions will benefit Living Beyond Breast Cancer and the Atlantic County Women’s Center. These organizations focus on the health, safety and well-being of women in Atlantic County and nationwide.
Above left: Robin Leach hosted Women in Wine and loved every minute of it!.

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Neptune, N.J.’s Nicole Atkins has a terrific new album on Columbia entitled Neptune City. The ten tracks on the melancholy singer-songwriter’s full-length debut recall the works of Chrissie Hynde, Amiee Mann and even Roy Orbison with their dreamy, orchestral and delicate moods. The video for the title track is gorgeous (so is the song) and includes some great Jersey Shore scenery. See what local points of interest you can pick out. And be sure to check out Nicole online at her Web site. She'll be at Philly's North Star Bar on Wednesday, Nov. 14.

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The new TV season has not exactly been on fire, and several returning shows have been a disappointment, in particular Heroes. Most Heroes' fans are unhappy about the sophomore season, although this week's episode gave hints that the crappy beginning might be on the mend, with a major “end of the world” scenario brewing. One can only hope the writers strike doesn't screw that up.
There are two new shows I have been watching and enjoying, Chuck and Life, both on NBC. I can't say I was expecting much from Chuck, starring Zachary Levy as an accidental spy who works at an electronics store. Well, I watched it the first Monday night it was on and have been enjoying it ever since.
Even better is Damien Lewis in Life, Wednesdays at 10pm, the fascinating cop/Zen philosophy hybrid about a cop wrongly accused of murder, who spent 12 years in the slammer until DNA evidence got him out. He won a major lawsuit from the L.A. police so he’s rich. He didn’t need to work but he also forced the department to give him his job back. Part of the reason he did that was to have access to info that will help him figure out who framed him and why. Lewis is fabulous as Charlie Crews, who’s crazy like a fox, spouting his Zen philosophy and solving crimes thanks to his off-kilter sense of the universe. Check out the NBC site here.

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Being a sports fan in the Philadelphia region, which includes most of southern New Jersey, has a bleak outlook these days. The Eagles, shot down and left for dead by the hated Dallas Cowboys last weekend, aren’t likely to make the playoffs. And, it looks like a downward trend will continue.
While the Phillies gave us some fun last summer and fall, the baseball season is months away.
The Flyers are much better this year, with free agent Danny Briere living up to his pre-season hype. The team is faster, playing better defense and Martin Biron has been terrific in the net. They should make the playoffs after the worst season in the team’s history last year.
Which brings us to basketball, my favorite sport to play and watch, pro and college. We all understand that the Sixers are not a great team in terms of star power and depth. This is the post-Allen Iverson rebuilding mode, with cap room money arriving next season.

However, despite all the dire predictions for the franchise, this team is entertaining to watch, because they act like a team. They really seem to root for each other, and the addition of Reggie Evans as a rebounder has been a major improvement. He can’t score worth a damn, but the Sixers are no longer a one and done team in the half court. Of course they play much better when they can get out on the fast break, which they have been doing. Sure, they are going to lose to the elite teams, and have some tough stints on the road, but if you can’t enjoy the selfless play of Andre Miller at point guard, you don’t know basketball. Andre Iguodala is exciting to watch, Sammy Dalembert has been blocking shots and shooting well around the basket, and on any given night Lou Williams, Willie Green or Kyle Korver can get hot in a hurry. Rookie forward/center Jason Smith has looked good with a nice touch, good rebounding fundamentals and energy off the bench.
The premise of this chat was that being a Philly sports fan these days sucks, but I’ve changed my mind. The Sixers and Flyers are keeping me entertained as winter approaches, and that’s more than I can say about the new TV season.

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Just in case you missed the implosion of the Sands Casino a few Thursdays back, here is some stunning video of the historic Atlantic City event, shot by AC Weekly publisher Lew Steiner.
The Sands, which was imploded a bit after 9:30pm on Thursday, Oct. 18, was taken down to make room for a new $2 billion casino resort projected to open in 2011 courtesy of Pinnacle Entertainment.

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