Your Ticket To Ride...

July 2007

If you want to relive the early Liverpool days of the Beatles hysteria, you can have a great evening at the new The Beatles are Coming revue at the Tropicana in Atlantic City. The show is performed by Beatles tribute band Yesterday. The new show runs through September 1st.

My husband Norman and I attended a preview performance, complete with “authentic” screaming young girls in the front row, which made it great fun. I was one of those hysterical adolescents so often pictured in the late 1960s. Listening to the 20- plus songs was no “Hard Day’s Night” for me, but a real walk down memory lane.

The Cabaret Theater on the first floor of the North Tower has been renovated into an intimate club setting called the Liverpool Club. The decorated club recreates the famous Cavern Club in Liverpool, which launched the career of many English bands.

The entrance depicts various phases of the Beatles experience through photos, posters, and a decorated stage. The pub atmosphere of 175 seats allows for a close-up, intimate evening.

The show is presented by Las Vegas-based Yesterday Productions. The company has put on Beatles tribute shows since 1986. Tickets are a very reasonable $20, and show times are Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m.

DINING ON YOUR WAY DOWN THE SHORE

For many of you reading this column, you will either be on your way to the Jersey Shore or heading home over the next few days. You may occasionally want to stop for dinner on the trip down or the return drive.

Cherry Hill has always had some very good restaurants, including the Barclay Farms Shopping Center on Route 70, which is overflowing with solid choices. I recently had dinner at the Alisa Café, located in the center of the shopping plaza.

Those from the Philadelphia Main Line and Delaware County may remember the original eatery that thrilled diners for eighteen years in Upper Darby. The Alisa Café relocated to their new shopping center location three years ago, and the food is still excellent.

The BYOB dining room is a charming bi-level operation with an open kitchen. It is a family affair, and the daughters are very accommodating in their role as servers. We had a fabulous meal from a multi page menu of choices.

Prices are competitive, and I promise it will be worth diverting from the highways. You will leave totally satisfied. Also around the shopping area is the new Joe Palombo’s, which replaced Barone’s. Upon driving around the parking lot we saw that the place was mobbed. Dozens were eating al fresco on their sidewalk that same Saturday evening. We could see they featured live music inside.

Other dining spots worth mentioning in that same center are the Emerald Fish and Norma’s Mediterranean. There is also an Asian food store if you want to try cooking some great meals on your own.

PARTYING ON THE BEACH

Beach lovers should check out the award-winning Beach Bar at the Hilton. It is open daily until Labor Day, featuring live entertainment, more food options and a fun bar.

The Hilton’s new menu offers summertime grilled favorites like cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches, BBQ ribs, sausage and peppers, king crab legs, shrimp, and much more. In addition to the daily drink specials, the Beach Bar’s popular frozen drinks will be served in 22-ounce Shake n’ Take Beach Bar souvenir glasses. Cigar smokers will be able to enjoy a quality selection on sale from the Hilton’s Humidor.

BROADWAY AND BILLY JOEL

Broadway’s hit musical Movin’ Out “moved in” on June 13th at Harrah’s Atlantic City. The musical is a collaborative effort between five-time Grammy winner Billy Joel and legendary choreographer Twyla Tharpe. The show runs through August 21st.

The 26-song musical is performed as a rock ballet, without any dialogue. It showcases the lives of five friends, from their high school days of the 1960s, through the turbulent times of the Vietnam era, to a reunion years later. The music portrays their experiences of love and loss.

Harrah’s performances are at 8 p.m. every Tuesday through Thursday and 9 p.m. every Friday. Saturday show times are at 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. Sunday performances are at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Ticket tiers are between $40 and $70. Call Ticketmaster at 800-736-1420 or go online at www.ticketmaster.com.