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A special joint Business After Hours, “A Taste of Foxwoods,”  was sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut, the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Westerly-Pawcatuck Area Chamber of Commerce. This foodie fest featured some of the most amazing eateries, including: Al Dente, California Pizza Kitchen, Cedar’s Restaurant, Craftsteak, David Burke Prime, El Pollo Loco, Gelato Café, Golden Dragon, Hard Rock Café, Junior’s, Munson’s Chocolates, Panera, Paragon, The Scorpion Bar, Shrine, Stadium Sports Bar & Grill and Alta Strada.

The culinary adventure began as participants strolled into various restaurants in the Foxwoods Resort Casino and in the MGM Grand at Foxwoods and enjoyed many delectable tastes. The Chambers came together to pull off a wonderful night and everyone experienced the amazing food and reveled in the opportunity to network. The 17 different restaurants that participated, with some of Connecticut’s most celebrated chefs, made this an exceptional Business After Hours.

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Clubgoers were dressed to the nines in their hottest black and white attire for P. Diddy’s Black & White Extravaganza at Shrine Nightclub in the MGM Grand  at Foxwoods on Friday, September 5th. People flocked from Boston, New York, and beyond to party like celebs with celebs at the colossal Farewell to Summer Bash. P.Diddy kept the dance party going full force, pumping up the crowd from the balcony overlooking the dance floor.

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The aroma of incense filled the MGM Grand Theater during 67-year-old legend, Bob Dylan, and his band’s concert on Friday, August 15.  Die hard Dylan fans flocked to MGM Grand at Foxwoods to get their fix, stepping into a 40-year time warp upon entering the theater.

Psychedelic lighting and a giant compass rose on the floor set the scene for Bob and his band, who played some unexpected selections that night. They opened with “Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat.” With a musical history like Bob’s, set list possibilities are endless. This set list variation included “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight,” “Chimes of Freedom,” “I Believe in You,” “Just Like a Woman,” a crowd favorite, “ ‘Til I Fell in Love With You,” a personal favorite, and “Thunder On The Mountain.” For the encore, fans begged and pleaded for “Spirit on the Water,” but instead, Bob gave us his classic, “Like a Rolling Stone,” and ended with the song Jimi Hendrix made famous, “All Along the Watchtower.”

Bob’s multi-talented band, since 2005, consists of Stu Kimball on guitar, Donnie Herron on the pedal steel guitar, lap steel guitar, electric mandolin, banjo, and fiddle, Denny Freeman on the guitar and slide guitar, Tony Garnier on the bass guitar and standup bass, and George Receli on the drums. “Old Bob’s voice doesn’t get any better, but his band sure does,” says Trevor Wilson, of Putnam, who sat next to me during the show. “Dylan is the best songwriter that ever lived.”

In April 2008, Dylan was awarded a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation for his “profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power.

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Agreeing to cover the Carrie Underwood concert in the MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods on August 1, was not a daunting task.  Given the fact that Carrie earned her fame by winning a national singing competition, it was a safe bet that the girl could sing.  Her girl-next-door public persona convinced me that her show would contain the same wholesomeness.   However, when I left the theater that evening, I gained a newfound respect for Carrie’s musical abilities.  It turns out, she can do more than “G-rated.”

The evening began with the band Blue Country playing a decently entertaining, but appropriately short set on their guitars.  Then a brief intermission preceded Carrie’s entrance.  At 9:40 p.m., the theater lights dimmed and the viewing screens lit up with enticing desert images.  Then, devoid of any superfluous and distracting smoke, flames, or lights, Carrie took to the stage and immediately filled the theater with “Flat on the Floor,” the first song off her new  album, “Carnival Ride.” Carrie then offered a quick “Hello, CT,” and then finished up her light-hearted hits “Wasted,” “Get Out of This Town,” “The More Boys I Meet,” and her new single “Just a Dream.”

After a quick costume change, Carrie emerged in a stunning purple gown and gave a captivating performance of her emotional ballads  “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” and “I Know You Won’t.”   Underwood then interrupted her singing to tell her audience about the simple life she lived in Checotah, OK, and how her dreams of being a singer finally came true when she auditioned for American Idol in the spring of her senior year of college.  As Carrie revealed a new, flashier dress beneath her long skirt, she also revealed the person she grew into with her mounting fame through her song “I Ain’t in Checotah Anymore.”

Once again, Carrie expressed her gratitude for American Idol for “making (her) the luckiest girl ever” before finishing up the main part of her show with the chart toppers “Don’t Forget to Remember Me,” “Twisted,” “All American Girl,” and “So Small.”  For her finale, Carrie donned a silver bomber jacket and performed a very bold cover of the Guns N’Roses classic, “Paradise City.”  Rather than doing what was expected and putting a country spin on the hit, Carrie went for the song as it was first sung, and proved that she is capable of rock n’roll as well.   To finish out the concert, she performed her inspiring, crowd-pleasing, number 1 single, “Before He Cheats.”

Watching Carrie grace the stage in outfits as diverse as thigh-high leather boots and a chain belt, a classy purple gown, or jeans and a plain t-shirt as she sang songs just as varied, showed me that she was not just the girl-next-door country music singer I envisioned. Carrie Underwood is undoubtedly a talented performer; no matter what genre she chooses to sing.  Perhaps it was because of her start on American Idol, where she was forced outside of her singing comfort zones, but she successfully keeps the focus of her shows on her music, rather than sets or intricate costuming, making for a very honest show.  Carrie Underwood: a little bit country, a little bit rock n’roll, and hopefully, a great deal more in the future.

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In the MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods on Thursday night, August 7, Kanye West delivered a sci-fi themed performance complete with endless smoke, off-the-hook special effects and an extravagant light show. Kanye’s Glow in the Dark Tour performance opened with Gnarles Barkley, and ended with a theater full of screaming fans.

There’s no doubt about it, Kanye is a born performer. Accompanied only by surreal lighting and smoke rising around his silhouette, Kanye was able to keep fans out of their seats throughout the performance. “Throw your hands up in the air,” shouted Kanye, during “It All Falls Down.” Everyone did. Fists were pumping all night long.

Other chart topping hits performed by Kanye included “Gold Digger,” “Jesus Walks,” “Hey Mama,” and “Diamonds.”

As if the show wasn’t over-the-top enough, leaving the theater, we were handed samples of Kanye’s newly released book, “Thank You and You’re Welcome”, co-written by J. Sakiya Sandifer. “Thank You and You’re Welcome” is a chock full of advice from Kanye and includes a heartfelt dedication to his mama.

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At Alta Strada acclaimed Chef Michael Schlow oversees the kitchen at the 225-seat restaurant that blends traditional Italian flair with modern elegance featuring favorites such as Homemade Ricotta with Sage, Hot Pepper and Crostini, and Chittara with Spicy Lobster and Fresh Peas and Grilled Lamb Chops with Asparagus.

Famous for celebrating the flavors of seasonal ingredients sourced from small family farms and artisanal producers, celebrity chef Tom Colicchio’s 150-seat Craftsteak features an extensive array of steaks, including several cuts of Wagyu beef, and an assortment of corn- and grass-fed beef. Complementing the menu is a wide selection of fish and shellfish, and seasonal side dishes.

From its state-of-the-art and energetic sound to its authentic Asian design and décor, Shrine’s menu presents a modern interpretation of Asian cuisine with a predominately Chinese feel, while also incorporating Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, Cambodian and Thai flavors and spices into the mix. With two private dining rooms accommodating 20 and 40 people, a 12-person kitchen and sushi counter and a 225-seat dining room, Shrine has no trouble satisfying any appetite.

Guests looking for a more casual meal with enjoy The Gelato Café, Junior’s Restaurant and The Food Market. The Gelato Café tempts guests with more than 20 flavors of tantalizing Italian ice cream in addition to Italian drinks, pastries, specialty sandwiches and salads.

Junior’s Restaurant, famous for its legendary cheesecake, accommodates guests for breakfast, lunch and dinner. A full bar, take-out counter and bakery are also available.

The Food Market offers an exciting culinary journey through six distinct dining experiences including hand-tossed wood oven pizza, classic New York-style deli specialties, an American burger bar, Asian fare and scrumptious New England favorites from the Durgin Park Oyster & Chowder Bar.

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The casino’s owners, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, also reported a $15.9 million contribution to the State of CT for June, 2008, increasing to $2.684 billion the amount given to the State since January 1993, when slot machines were introduced at Foxwoods.

“The gaming industry is in the most challenging time in its history. This past month saw an industry-wide downturn in revenues fueled by record breaking gas prices and unstable economic indicators.” said Barry Cregan, interim president, Foxwoods Resort Casino. “The month of June provided a “soft opening” period for the MGM Grand at Foxwoods. Due to the service centric culture that is a signature aspect of the property, we implemented a brand marketing campaign by design and were strategic in our marketing offerings to allow the new employees and property to establish a strong service experience. We are focused on long term strategies that will serve us well over time, in addition to short term initiatives that will respond to the current market trends that appear to be affecting our current customer base.”

The report noted that the hold percentage, the amount kept by the casino, was 8.54 percent, meaning that 91.46 percent of all the money that went into the machines was given back to players. The hold percentage was 8.56 percent in June 2007. The slot handle in June 2008 was reported to be $745 million compared to $815 million in June 2007.

The June slot win report noted that the casino’s win per unit per day was $260.41 compared to $321.49 in June 2007. In addition, 8,147 slot machines were in play during the month at Foxwoods and MGM Grand at Foxwoods, 911 more than the 7,236 available in June, 2007.

Foxwoods supports responsible gaming, and plays a leadership role in the CT Council of Problem Gambling, of which it was a founding entity. For more information, call 1.800.FOXWOODS or visit www.foxwoods.com.

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The only thing hotter than this 4th of July was Michael Bolton’s Show in the luxurious MGM Grand Theater on the 5th! The New Haven born superstar has a long list of artists he’s performed with including Luciano Pavarrotti and Ray Charles; written songs with Bob Dylan, penned hits for Barbra Streisand and KISS; played guitar with B.B. King and was sampled on a track by Kayne West and Jay-Z.

Opening with “Love Is A Wonderful Thing”, Michael struts across the stage dressed in blue jeans and a black velvet jacket over a white blousy shirt. The audience gives Michael an enthusiastic warm welcome and the woman sitting next to me is practically jumping out of her seat, clapping and screaming.

Later on, she shares a secret with me, “I went to kindergarten with HIM,” and offers me this New Haven Kindergarten Class photograph, pointing to Michael Bolton, a cutie-patutie even back then in 1959. At the end of the show, I find out that always on point, people-pleaser, John Bodnar, security manager special events, Foxwoods, is going to try to get her backstage for a meet and greet with Michael. COOL.

Michael tells the audience how happy he is to be in the new MGM Grand and comments, “The rooms are beautiful!”

Before beginning the next song, “To Love Somebody”, the legendary singer and songwriter, says, “I want you to sing to us tonight.”

A fan replies, “Okay, Michael.”

Michael answers, “You can yell out, too.” The audience breaks out in laughter. This sets the stage for an intimate evening with a superstar.

After the second song, a fan yells out, “Where’s Nicolette?”

“She’s working,” answers Michael.

He then introduces “Timeless Classics” and refers to his work and time spent with other stars like Ray Charles and Luciano. “These are some of the greatest moments of my life.”

At the top of Michael’s list of dream projects was an album of songs made famous by Frank Sinatra. Of course, he made his dream come true and “Bolton Swings Sinatra” is part of the collection he calls “Vintage hits recorded by other artists.”

Michael changes into a vintage Sinatra-era suit in tune with his next song, “Fly Me To The Moon”; followed by “Summer Wind”; “Day and Night”; “That’s Life” and of course, “New York New York”.

Extremely fan-friendly, Michael invites fans to the front of the stage. We wondered for a bit, is he serious? Yup. Members of the audience began joining him in front of the stage. Shaking hands with fans and even kissing some, Michael gladly posed for cell phone photographs. The friendliness was over-the-top! The new MGM Theatre was rockin’ with delight.

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