If you haven't experienced the Atlantic City Boardwalk midweek January, you're missing something special.  The bitter cold temperatures and horrible economy have placed this "always turned on" town into snooze mode.  Dan Good, staff writer for the Press of Atlantic City took a "mid-week stroll on the Boardwalk" where he heard Boardwalk performer Ed Aesch perform "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" on his clairinet ("covered in plastic").

Aesch claims that not as many people are down to Atlantic City this winter.  Mr. Good, in his Press article tends to agree, citing deserted black jack tables and empty casino restaurants, inactive rolling-chair operators, and bored locals.  Doom and gloom!  He's got a point, and a poignant one.  But what good does it do to focus on the doom and gloom?

 

I'm not sure what sky these guys are seeing.  Sure it's cold out side.  Some of us love the shore in mid-winter --without the crowds.  It's a great time to re-group, get back to basics, and get to know yourself again.  Change is good.  Winter can be great -- even in a rough economy.  Suck it up fellas.  Life is good.  Where would you rather be? Camden ?

Atlantic City is alive and well.  World-class entertainment, dining, shopping (even if you hate shopping like I do)  And summer's on the way.  I'm enjoying my solitude while I can get it.  I love parking beach block in Margate during the day.  I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't just show up at Tomatoe's, Johnny's, Domenico's, without a reservation on a Friday night and get a table.  Shopping at Casel's is a pleasure without the crowds to navigate around.  Summer can bring misery, lest we forget.  I'll take the cold and the lagging economy (for a while anyway).