Atlantic City
 

If anyone is starting to make travel plans for the National in August and has questions about where to stay or other logistics, please feel free to reach out to me. I like AC a great deal, and it's not the really scary place some of you may have been led to believe. Having said that, there are a lot of cheap motels in the area that I would not stay in, never mind stay in with tens of thousands of dollars in valuable products with me. I would steer clear of motels and get in a real hotel. Many fine choices, and some of them start to get pricey.

I'd also be happy to arrange an Italian restaurant dinner for some board members off the strip in a place that will totally blow your doors off.

I am hoping to go...but I am using the convention as an excuse to the wife to play poker.

10% baseball cards
10% eating
80% losing money at poker

Actually thats 100% losing money.

well
 

I hope I can get myself away from the casino for at least an hour a day to see the national....... St. Louis was crazy - up 6am - work the show until closing - casino until 7am the next day and back to the show to groundhog day it all over again. Last AC not so bad as my smoking and drinking got in the way. That predilection and the hookers keep me centered now. Those nights with Glenn and Jerry Spillman used to get a bit crazy.

I was just starting to think about the logistics last night so good timing on the thread.

I am interested to know your thoughts on getting to AC from Long Island. We are visiting family that week in LI (so I am not a local). The wife and I want to come down for a day of cards and night of dinner/gambling.

Should I just plan on driving down from LI or are there other convenient ways to get there such as train?

Also a dinner recommendation would be cool. thanks-

Leon, I know it is early still, but any word on if there will be a net54 dinner again on the Friday night?

DJ

Recommendations on hotels or areas within walking distance would be appreciated as I will likely fly in.

thanks!

Bob

No train convenient from LI. I grew up there know it well. Have to drive unless you want to endure a casino bus.
Chef Vola. Best Italian. Good places in Tropicana. Like the Cuban place. Fun. Also the White House sub shop cannot be missed on any trip to AC. Trust me. Cannot be missed. Also highly recommend the Knife and Fork Inn. If you were a fan of Boardwalk Empire cannot be missed.

Nothing walking distance to Sheraton. It's on the middle of nowhere. But a quick cab ride from the borgata, golden nugget, Chelsea, Tropicana. I real.y like the Chelsea. Small classy boutique on Boardwalk. Doesn't have a casino.

Thanks for the info on Hotels and Chef Vola---I need the early hotel for Monday---Quite sure it is very hard to fly into AC---I will also check out the White House Sub shop---We have Italian sandwiches here in Maine--and the old fashion Hoagie in Penna. (Were I was born)

Fly into Philly if you can. Must better than NEWARK or any NY airport.

Atlantic City
 

.

I thought this might be a discussion on how The Band's version of "Atlantic City" is much better than Springsteen's...

I won't be attending, but hope everyone who does has a blast!

Those places to eat look great....thanks for the info

Long Island Railroad to Penn Station. Amtrak to AC. Probably 1-1.5 hours longer than driving, depending on where on Long Island you will be. With unknown traffic conditions, taking the train could be better.

No Amtrak from NYC to AC. Discontinued about 2 years ago. The Aces train. I loved it. No more. You could take Amtrak to Philly and get a regional connection to AC. Not a bad way to go. But you may be hanging out in Philly a while waiting for next AC train.

How is the walk to White House Subs from boardwalk area?

There won't be a Net54baseball dinner this year. I am not setting up this year and still am not sure I am going.

Driving in the NY area is by far my least favorite thing to do so I am keep the train route in mind...thanks for the info

this jersey boy will not be going!

so fix your hair up nice,
and fix yourself up pretty...

I left NYC 9 years ago. Had not heard that. I did go to the Amtrak website, and it still shows you can go from Penn to AC; takes less than 2 hours and is about $65 one way.

Since we are talking about the AC National. I am staying at the Sheraton which is right next store. But I need a hotel/motel for Monday since I am driving to the show. But with this thread, looks like I found a place to stay and good food spots. I think I will bring in some subs from White House sub shop instead of convention food. Thanks for the advice. Don

Do you still need "an in" to get a reservation at Chef Vola? I had the pleasure of dining there twice over a decade ago and the food and overall experience was top notch!

I will be going for the day on Friday, most likely, I second Knofe & Fork and the down market charm of the Irish Pub

For those who would be setting up at the National, would you prefer Baltimore over AC? Just curious.

I set up at both Baltimore Nationals. They were outstanding. Great hotels, restaurants, good parking, easy set up and collectors came in droves. Time will tell on Atlantic City. I know most dealers would love to see another Baltimoe National, but it will be a few years due to logistics. But I am looking forward to AC.

Leon, please say it ain't so - no dinner, no set up, no you? Please reconsider. The National needs your face. John

I had heard from many dealers that business was good in Baltimore. I had heard that one issue as to why the national has not returned to Baltimore is that the convention center will not book a date over a year out. I hope the national returns as well because it is closer to home.

Pretty much the same. Or you can try to call now for a reservation in August, but your phone call might not get returned. Very difficult to get in there for dinner.

If you never been, I agree you have to go to the White House Sub Shop.

Also, if anyone is going to be there for a few days with children, you should check out Ocean City NJ, about 10 miles south or so of AC . Best family boardwalk in NJ.

Agreed. But not super convenient, as those 10 miles could take a lot longer than you'd figure in the summer.

go see Lucy the elephant in Margate..

I've never been to AC, but I'll agree with Daryl, the logistics seem like a nightmare. Last year I flew into ORD and took the free shuttle to my hotel. Took the free shuttle each day from my hotel to the convention. Took the free shuttle from my hotel to ORD for my return flight. It appears it would have been easier to fly from my home in Florida to the west coast. I'm leaning to just sitting this one out.
Larry

Leon............
 

we will see you there............you will love it! :)

I would recommend the Tropicana, newly remodeled sports bars, shopping and dining mall, Carmine's Italian Family Style. Cuban Resturant, Mexican, Chinese, Starbucks, small gourmet shops, nice music bars all in a separate corridor. Gaming is excellent wide variety, very large poker room with daily poker tournaments.
I would drive down parking is $10 for the day with a free transfers.
Since the national is there they might have a shuttle bus to the show. I happen to be staying there on the Thrusday night. They have a great sports bar $8 bottles of barefoot wines cheap food but very good and $5 40 ounce bottles of beer. Check out the website.

I am leaving from Queens/Nassau boarder, 1 hour 15 minutes to get to Garden state parkway 1 hour 20 minutes from there 3 hours normal trip from Long Island. Leaving early in the morning 7-8 am on weekends gets you through the city in 40 minutes through the holland tunnel. Or leave at night. During the week in the morning unless leaving at 5am your looking at 2 hours to get through holland tunnel the key is no traffic is leave early on the right day or at night.

What's a good restaurant/bar within walking distance from the convention center ?

I live on the Nassau/Suffolk border...takes me about 2hrs 40 mins. Why on earth don't you take the Belt? Saturday morning there is no traffic...it is definitely quicker.

Tropicana is a very good choice. Nice inside mall area with some nice restaurants. The Shereaton is a nice hotel but nothing there but a hotel. All by itself. Might be perfect for some people; others may find it a bit sterile. The Borgata and its attached Water Club are the gold standard in this area. Golden Nugget very nice too. None of the last 3 are on the boardwalk however.

For you long distance out-of-state guys, your most convenient trip to the National this Summer is to fly into Philly Airport.

Then take the SEPTA train to the 30th Street Station and connect to the NJ Transit train to A/C.


Incidentally, the two Baltimore Nationals and Chicago (as usual) are my best shows in recent years.


TED Z

+1 on Chef Vola. Went there years ago for a bachelor party...as I recall you had to know a guy who knew a guy who knew a guy to get a table there. Food was unreal...

AC
 

Hard to believe the National is scheduled in a city without a decent airport. It will be an 18 hour drive each way for me, or I can drive 3 hours to Milwaukee for a flight, then to PA, then a couple of trains. I don't need this kind of hassle to go to a card show.

I'm thinking seriously about skipping the National this year and waiting for Chicago. Like one of the previous posters said, it is so easy in Chicago. I can save a couple of thousand bucks by skipping the AC national and spend it in Chicago next year.

Rick

Drive is simple from Philly and not awful from Newark. Beats an 18 hour drive.

On the cheap.
 

I will save a TON of money this year by not going. Will wait until it gets back to Chi town. Have fun everyone.

Google Maps has recommended that I travel by kayak from the west coast. I have to leave next Wednesday though. Looking forward to the Panama Canal.;)

Frank
 

Godspeed Frank. Safe travels.

Actually Frank, I was considering renting a covered wagon and doing a reverse Donner family trip. You want to go in on half?

Hoping to go to the Atlantic City National
 

I'm hoping to be able to go the the National this year.

Curious about the Sneak Peak Night on Wednesday, August 3rd.

I know they have a general admission from 4pm-8pm.

Are you able to purchase cards/memorabilia during this Sneak Peak or is it simply a "peak" at what you can purchase on Thursday the 4th etc.?

Patrick

Sneak peak
 

Pat. Yes you can buy cards during the sneak peak night. I guess they call it sneak peak but it really is the show opening. Hope to see you there. Don

The Donner's would be accustomed to better food than that which is usually available on-site at the National

Thanks Don
 

Thanks Don.

Hope to make it there this year.

Patrick

This is a great thread already very helpful. Not sure on what to bring to the sell/trade bait. What will you dealers be looking for?

Do you as dealers buy more on Thursday/Friday in hopes to turn it during the weekend?

Got my admission pass, and my hotel reservation through the conference website last week. I'll be staying at Bally's. It's not too far from the convention center. There was nothing available at the Sheraton. I'll probably take a casino bus in from NYC.

I missed last year's National in Chicago. I hope to be in Atlantic City.

I am in. A wagon train sounds about right. However, I am still on the fence about going. It definitely won't be the same without Mike Berkus (RIP)......He was always so helpful to the board and myself, I am eternally grateful. I am also glad we got him to speak at the last 5? Net54baseball dinners.

But AC doesn't sound like good logistics overall so we shall see...

Baltimore was great. I've had both my best and worst National Show in Cleveland. The last one was great. Chicago is usually fairly steady, and doing the March and November shows there means I know more collectors in that venue. I would love to see the show in St. Louis or Kansas City one time, but if that isn't to be keep it in Cleveland or Chicago.

I vote...
 

Chicago!!!! But I am biased as it is just 5 hours away for me

I've never been to a National before . . .the sneak peek preview for the public. . . . (think it may be Wednesday or Thursday night), can you buy then or is it just to look and plan your strategy?

The kids wanted to do NYC for a family vacation this year. So, we are doing NYC Sunday-Wednesday. Then, driving down to AC Wednesday night and staying at the courtyard. Walk the show Thursday and Friday during the day. Play cards at the Borgata Wednesday and Thursday night. Drive back home and make the 2 hour journey to Canton to see Marvin & Tony inducted on Saturday and then watch Colts & Packers battle in the HOF game Sunday night. I think I somehow won with this trip

Yes, that's winning my friend. Well done!

Atlantic City has seen better days no doubt, but there is a lot of history there and some cool spots to have dinner. And play cards.

Preview
 

We did the preview last year and it was great. Not so crowded and yes you can purchase. Many good deals to be had right away. Have fun!

For anyone going, have you booked your room and, if so, where?

DJ

I've told folks before, stay away from any place with Motel in the title. I wouldn't feel safe in many of them. Some real dicey places. Nice places:

Top of the line, best in class:
Borgata
Water Club
Golden Nugget

Perfectly nice:
Chelsea (no casino, boutique, half block from boardwalk)
Tropicana
Golden Nugget
Harrahs
Shereton (generic, nice, near nothing other that train station and I think walkable to National. But you will need a cab to anywhere. And not a casino hotel, which could be a plus or minus depending on your interests.)

OK:
Trump places
Marriot Courtyard
Caesars

Here's a thought, and something I've already done. Got a time-share exchange in Brigantine for a week from Sun-Sun for probably the cost of 1-2 nights at a hotel. We'll have a few days on the beach before the show and my better half can do her thing during the show days. Neither of us really gamble (though one could say she did on me), so it's wins all around.

Cleveland
 

I never need to go back to Cleveland again and will be skipping any future nationals in that town.

What about Bally"s?

Sorry, Ballys is fine. Never stayed but seems to be a very nice property. Right on Boardwalk. Solid choice.

in Clevelenad
 

if the train from downtown still goes directly to the IX Center, I think the best way to be in Cleveland is to stay downtown and commute to the show. That is as a collector

As a dealer, if you drive, any of the hotels nearby are fine since you can drive to the center OR drive to where you need to go. It's about 20 minutes to downtown from the IX Center.

As for AC -- its not impossible but just hard to get there from here. Spirit Airlines is fine if you can carry your stuff in a back pack and otherwise fly into Philly and figure out how to get to AC from there

And if coming into Philly -- I'd rent a car and stay in Absecon and commute in.

Now Chicago and Baltimore as a collector is easy. Fly in and take cabs

According to some earlier posts, they say it's easy from Philly to get to AC. Try to get there Rich !!! http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/s...atdrink004.gif

I did the train from Philly to AC once or twice. My recollection is that when you are at the train station in Philly 30th Street Station they call out trains to AC pretty often. My guess is at least once every hour. I recall a lot of people in their dealer and server outfits heading to work, sleeping, looked wiped out. It's also not expensive and is a lot easier than dealing with a rental car, directions, traffic, a safe parking lot, etc.

If you go to Knife and Fork I highly recommend the Lobster Thermidor. I also recommend Girasole and in particular their carpaccio. the Sheraton is a nice, clean hotel and obviously well located for the convention center. The Tun Tavern there is a good spot for pub food and has great craft beers. The White House subs is fun but don't even bother to get a whole one. A bit outside the downtown area in Margate is a place called Tomatoes which is excellent.

.

+1 on the KC show. So much to do and places to stay in KC now. A great town for sure

How about a west coast national. Somewhere like San Diego or Long Beach. Great conference centers at each place and plenty to do outside the conference centers. Maybe catch a game at Petco or Anaheim

The biggest problem with an West Coast Nat
 

Is that the preponderance of dealers would be coming from east of the Mississippi and don't want to travel that far.

Now, I get it that the National should move (including to DFW) but there are so many limitations as to where the show will be held.

Rich

I was looking into booking flight, rental car and hotel and I decided it's not worth the expense. One reason, I'm 6'8" and 330 pounds. Airline seats aren't made for me unless I upgrade my upgraded upgrade. So being in 1500 if I eat and sleep cheap and near 2k if I eat princely and sleep on a bed of roses has turned me off.

Then I had an idea. Post on net54 and see if anyone that is driving and departing from Dallas/Fort Worth area, or near, or passing through and wants assistance driving. I would throw in a little gas too, 100 bucks or so. I know 100 is far less than half, that is why I'm seeking someone already going but needing driving help. I am a good long distance driver with a large bladder. Relatively witty, though my wit can't match frankmd judging by his posts. Anyway, if this interests anyone shoot me a pm and I will tell you more about me and see if the schedule will work.

Thanks,
Mark

6' 8'' 330!!! Holy shite. That's WWE potential. I'm 6 feet tall and 230 and people call me a big guy! LOL. Hope it works out man. Would love to see you in AC.

Lol. Never pursued wwe. Played defensive end at Kansas state until they felt my company would be better suited else where. I did mma in the alleys long before mma existed. Lol.

God bless man. If I see some huge guy in AC towering over me I'm saying hello and buying you a drink.