Ring in the New Year at Atlantic City's Hottest New Destination The Quarter at Tropicana With a Free Performance By Tito Puente, Jr.

Ring in the New Year at Atlantic City's Hottest New Destination The Quarter at Tropicana With a Free Performance By Tito Puente, Jr. ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., Dec. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- On December 31, The Quarter at Tropicana, the city's sensational new dining, shopping and entertainment venue, will ring in 2005, Latin style, with a free performance by Tito Puente, Jr., son of the legendary "Rey del Timbal." Puente and his band will begin their one-hour show in Fiesta Plaza at 11:00 p.m. "The Quarter is the perfect place to celebrate New Year's in Atlantic City. We transport you to Old Havana, Cuba to wander the streets, dine, drink and dance the night away," says Dennis C. Gomes, president of Resort Operations for Aztar Corporation, Tropicana's parent company. Following closely in his legendary late father's footsteps, Tito Puente, Jr. is beginning to leave his own mark of distinction in the world of contemporary Latin music. Combining the classic Mambo, Cha Cha and Merengue elements handed down to him by his father, one of the original Mambo Kings, with today's Latin pop and dance sensibilities, Tito Puente, Jr. aims to preserve his family's legacy while introducing this synthesis of sounds to a new generation. In addition to Tito Puente, Jr.'s performance in Fiesta Plaza, The Quarter will offer a wide variety of exciting activities to help ring in the New Year: -- Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar will serve its award-winning classic and contemporary Cuban cuisine with dinner seatings from 4 pm to 10:30 pm. Starting at 10 pm and running through until 4 am, guests will be dazzled by Cuba Libre's "Late Night Latin" floorshow, with lively performances, salsa dancing and sizzling Latin sounds, provided by a live DJ. Call 609-348-6700 for reservations. Guests without dinner reservations may also enjoy the exciting entertainment and dancing at Cuba Libre's numerous bars without an admission charge. -- Ri' Ra' Irish Pub & Restaurant will begin ringing in the New Year at 7 pm, which is Midnight in Dublin. Guests can revel with a lively performance by Ri' Ra's house band, Danny Beissell Band, until 3 am. Call 609-348-8600 for more information. -- P.F. Chang's China Bistro Savor the traditional Chinese classics like Mongolian Beef and Orange Peel Chicken or share innovative new dishes like Oolong Marinated Sea Bass and Singapore Street Noodles. Celebrate with one of our specialty cocktails like the Asian Pear Mojito or enjoy any of our 50 wines by the glass or bottle. Dinner served until 1 am. Call 609-348-4600 for reservations. -- A Dam Good Crab Shack & Sports Bar will feature a "Crabby New Year's Eve" with a crabby platter dinner special starting at 5 pm. The crabby platter includes King Crab, Snow Crab, crab cake and lobster, two side dishes and dessert for $50 per person. Champagne and party favors will be available for the Midnight Toast. Reservations are not required. Call 609-347-7770 for more information. -- Carmine's will offer their famous huge portions of Southern Italian family-style cuisine such as Chicken Contadina, cold and hot antipastos, Rigatoni Country Style along heaping portions of Fried Calamari plus other ala carte favorites. Upstairs and downstairs bars will be open until 1 am. Parties of 15 or more will be offered a preset menu ranging from $45 per person from 5 to 7:30 pm; $65 per person from 7:30 to 10 pm; and $100 per person from 10 pm to 1 am. Call 609-572-9300 for reservations. -- Red Square will feature their regular menu from 5 pm until 7:30 pm. Then, a five-course fixed-price dinner menu for $125 per person plus tax and gratuity will be available from 8 pm until 11 pm. Items on the menu include a choice of Charred Belgian Endive with Duck Confit, Colossal Shrimp Cocktail, Grilled Rack of Australian Lamb, Fire Roasted Lobster Tail and Chocolate Muddy Cake. Reservations are required. Red Square will remain open until 4 am. Call 609-344-9100 for reservations. -- The Sound of Philadelphia (TSOP) will entertain guests throughout the evening with the funky sounds of the TSOP Orchestra, led by Music Director Bill Jolly. A special three-course dinner (seatings at 6, 6:30 and 7:00 pm) will cost $93 per person and a four-course dinner (seatings at 9:30 and 10:00 pm) will cost $155 per person. The New Year's Eve dinners will include a choice of: Playboat Roast Sea Scallop Soup; Organic Baby Green Salad; Grilled Portobello and Cheddar Polenta; Oceanfront Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes; Roast Swordfish and Lobster Hollandaise; Skillet Breast of Free Range Chicken; Herb Grilled Domestic Filet Mignon; and a Fresh Sweet Plate. Call 609-887-2222 for reservations. -- Comedy Stop Cafe and Cabaret will host three nationally recognized comedians for two shows. Glen Jensen, Dave Merry and Louis Ramey start the fun at 7 pm; tickets are $60. The second show is slated for 10 pm and includes party hats and favors, horns, a split of champagne, a rose for the ladies, and of course, a New Year's countdown. Tickets for this show are $100. Call 877-FUNNY-AC for more information. -- IMAX Theater will show Polar Express and NASCAR at IMAX throughout the evening. -- Planet Rose Karaoke Bar will be open throughout the evening with live entertainment provided by bartenders and patrons alike. Cover charge is $30.00, which includes party favors and a midnight champagne toast. Planet Rose is also offering its Private VIP Karaoke Party Room from 9 pm until 2 am for $2,000. Call 609-344-6565 for more information. The Quarter is Tropicana's new $280 million non-gaming expansion that brings to life the exotic and glorious splendor of Old Havana through a three- story living streetscape. Within The Quarter's new Havana Tower are 502 guest rooms, including 466 hotel rooms, 34 premium suites and four Apex Board Rooms, as well as 2,400 new parking spaces, bringing the total number of parking spaces to 5,547. Hotel accommodations are available at Tropicana Casino and Resort by visiting the website at http://www.tropicana.net/ or calling 1-800-THE-TROP for room reservations. Source: Tropicana Casino and Resort CONTACT: Clare Pelino or Jennie Hatton, +1-215-985-2106, for Tropicana Casino and Resort; or Maureen Siman or Katie Dougherty, Tropicana Casino and Resort, +1-609-340-4029, msiman@tropicana.net Web site: http://www.tropicana.net/ ------- Profile: International Entertainment