By Scott Cronick
Happy summer, everyone!
Yeah, I know we still have a few weeks until that’s official, but with the limited time we get with tourists at the Jersey Shore, we have to extend that summer any way we can.
Here’s a bunch of updates that are going to definitely make Summer 2023 one to remember.
Island Waterpark inching closer to opening
At the top of the list, hands down, nothing else close, is the debut of the Island Waterpark at Showboat in Atlantic City.
It looks like it may be opening a little later than everyone expected, but with a project this massive, delays are not surprising.
Tickets are now on sale online at IslandWaterparkAC.com, and the first tickets available are for Monday July 24.
The site lists three ticket tiers: All Access VIP Day Admission ($130 to $140), General Day Admission ($99.99, $129.99 for Paradise Island Adult), and Twilight Admission ($79.99 to $109.99 GA, $109.99 to $139.99 Paradise Island Adult). There are also cabana rentals ($900), and activities like Wild Wave Flowrider Lessons ($25).
Park hours will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and the site says an opening date will be announced soon, so it’s possible Island Waterpark will open sooner than July 24.
When it does open, it’s an absolute game changer for Atlantic City. There will be the Island Drift Lazy River; Wild Wave Flowrider for those wanting to surf that constant perfect wave; a sports activity Adventure Pool; Barracuda Blaster, a tube slide with crazy acceleration; Sonic Serpent, another tube slide that wraps around the building and other waterslides; Electric Eel, a slide full of tight corners and high-banking turns; Slide Island, featuring five waterslides for the youngsters; Tidal Racers, dueling, head-first mat racers looking for speed; Kids Cove, a perfectly sized kids retreat with slides and interactive water activities; and the gorgeous Blue Cascade Waterfall, one of the largest custom aqua forms in the world.
Paradise Adult Island will feature the Tree House, a 30-foot-tall indoor tree house and exclusive tropical escape in the heart of the action; and Bliss Pool, a pulsating, adults-only pool facing the ocean with two dry bars, swim-up bar and DJ.
There will also be the first-ever zero-gravity coaster and zipline inside and indoor waterpark featuring panoramic views of the waterpark and ocean. For an extra cost, visitors can experience Coconut Zero Gravity Coaster, a thrilling, single-rail suspended coaster that features a bird’s eye view of the entire waterpark; Rip Tide Zipline, featuring a 300-foot zipline through the waterslides and water activities; and the Boardwalk, an indoor promenade with world-famous Jersey Shore food and beverages.
The Showboat is also renovating many of its rooms and suites to offer families the full experience. Combined with the Lucky Snake Arcade and Raceway, Showboat will be one of the most attractive family destinations in the Northeast.
Owner Bart Blatstein’s vision – and investment – here is nothing less than extraordinary. I know when people see it in person, they are going to be wowed.
I know I am.
Tennessee Avenue updates
Memorial Day weekend was slammed on Tennessee Avenue in Atlantic City, and the businesses experienced the best Memorial Day weekend since opening five years ago.
That’s a great sign of the summer to come.
Part of the success was the debut of Chucktown, the new BBQ joint in the rear back corner of Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall featuring smoked goodness from Chef Charles Soreth. Chucktown has its own seating, but Beer Hall guests can order Chucktown wherever they sit.
Featuring pulled pork, brisket, sausage, chicken thighs and ribs, a choice of three sauces – East Coast vinegar style, West Coast ketchup-based and The OG mustard base – along with sides including baked beans, collard greens, vinegar cole slaw and potato salad. Sandwiches are also available.
Chucktown opens 11 a.m. Fridays to Sundays and is open until it sells out. So, get there early.
The Beer Hall will be slammed this weekend since The Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival – get tickets at ACBeerFest.com – hits Bader Field, and beer drinkers know the Beer Hall is the place to go before and after each session. Expect some rare beauties on tap, including Dogfish Head 120, Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout and more.
Another reason it will be slammed is that the Beer Hall is the official kickoff party for the North 2 Shore festival. On Saturday, June 3, the incredible Tom Petty tribute band Pure Petty, featuring well-known journalist and superb bassist Chuck Darrow, will perform from 9 p.m. to midnight. There is no cover.
Then, on Monday, June 5, Dogfish Head Brewery founder Sam Calagione will host a beer lunch from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Beer Hall.
The $45 ticket includes lunch and four DFH beers, including some really rare selections like a 2018 DFH 120 and a 120 aged in Utopia barrels. Get tickets at TennesseeAvenueBeerHall.com.
Then the North 2 Shore Fest continues at the Beer Hall with Quizzo on Wednesday, June 7, Open-Mic Music and Comedy with Michelle Tomko on Thursday, June 8, the fantastic Amanda and Teddy Duo 9 p.m. Friday, June 9, an outdoor market with 20 vendors 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 10, followed by the Anthony Krizan Band featuring the former Spin Doctors guitarist at 5 p.m., and Resurrextion, an Allman Brothers tribute at 9 p.m.; and then the Weir Wolves will close things out 6 p.m. Sunday, June 11. There is no cover for any of the shows.
For those Rhythm & Spirits fans out there, here’s some good news: the Italian restaurant with a beautiful secret garden is now open seven days a week. That means delicious Italian goodness for dinner whenever you want it, brunch on Saturdays and Sundays and the famous Iron Room half-price whiskey night on Tuesdays. And if you haven’t tried Cuzzies Pizzeria and Bar 32 Chocolate yet, you are sleeping on some true awesomeness. Go to RhythmAndSpirits.com.
Cardinal opens outdoor space
Two streets over on the Orange Loop, Cardinal is enjoying early success with Michael Brennan’s upscale menu and a killer cocktail list.
And now there’s more good news as The Garden at Cardinal opened over Memorial Day weekend, offering a family-friendly, outdoor dining and drinking experience on the lawn outside of Cardinal on New York Avenue.
The beautiful space will feature art, live music and a menu designed to appeal to families, beachgoers and guests seeking an al fresco alternative.
“We’ve built a beautiful, spacious garden with a delicious all-day menu that gives our guests the quality they’ve come to expect from Cardinal, just in a more casual, laid-back way,” Brennan said.
Food sharing choices include a mezze plate, charcuterie board and guacamole with tortilla chips. Sandwiches include grilled chicken with prosciutto, honey mustard, spinach and goat cheese; roast pork with comte cheese, broccolini and garlic aioli; Lebanese chickpea wrap with roasted bell peppers, cucumber, red onion, lemon, feta cheese and lemon basil aioli; and crab cake sliders with Cajun remoulade. And the kids menu includes chicken tenders and a grilled cheese. There’s also two salads and a great cocktail list.
The Garden is open noon to 10 p.m. Thursdays to Sundays. Go to Cardinal-AC.com.
Sinatra anyone?
If you’re looking for a great Frank Sinatra tribute, look no farther than RYFE in Atlantic City, which hosts a Frank Sinatra Celebration 7:30 p.m. every Friday through Labor Day weekend.
The leader of this Pack is Bruce Klauber, a fantastic crooner and drummer who is also the biographer of jazz icons Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich, contributor to “Jazz Times” and “Down Beat” magazines, a concert and record producer, publicist and working jazz drummer and vocalist since childhood. He also served as tech advisor on the Oscar-winning film “Whiplash.”
“Our celebration of Frank Sinatra and Friends at RYFE is not an impersonation,” Klauber said. “As a jazz musician, I try to carry on Mr. Sinatra’s jazz spirit through song, and I’ve always used the finest jazz musicians in the region as accompanists.”
This season, Klauber will be joined by pianist James Dell’Orefice, guitarist Tom Glenn, bassist Bruce Kaminsky and a bunch of special guests who will be stopping by all summer.
“I started this last summer for several reasons, with the main one being that grown-ups have nowhere to go at the shore to listen to grown up music of the Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Count Basie, Nat Cole variety,” Klauber said. “Not to down the casino lounges, but with rare exception, the majority of those spots are rock/pop focused. I wanted to give people an alternative. Perhaps that’s why we were mobbed every Friday last summer.”
There is no cover.
RYFE is located on 4101 Atlantic Ave., Atlantic City. Go to RyfeAC.com.
Scott Cronick is an award-winning journalist who has written about entertainment, food, news and more in South Jersey for nearly three decades. He hosts a daily radio show – “Off The Press with Scott Cronick” – 4 to 6 p.m. weekdays on Newstalk WOND 1400-AM, 92.3-FM, and WONDRadio.com, and he also co-owns Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall in Atlantic City, while working on various projects, including charitable efforts, throughout the area. He can be reached at scronick@comcast.net.
