New sound-and-light extravaganza at Boardwalk Hall

Having drawn a couple hundred thousand spectators with its debut sight-and-sound presentation this past summer, the Atlantic City Alliance is now offering a second free, 3D display on the Boardwalk façade of Boardwalk Hall.

"Winter Sweet" is a season-appropriate fantasia featuring such wintertime tropes as "Nuctcracker"-ish ballerinas, toy trains, cascading snowflakes and the like. It also boasts what proved to be a crowd pleaser in its predecessor, "Duality:" An optical illusion that makes it appear as if the front of the historic hall is crumbling to the Boardwalk.

The free, seven-minute animated program was created by the high-tech graphicistas at the Montreal, Canada-based Moment Factory, and is sponsored by the Atlantic City Alliance, the non-profit marketing organization that works on behalf of the city's 12 casinos. It's one of the attractions AyCee movers and shakers hope will take the town beyond being a mere gambling destination.

While "Winter Sweet" would have been offered anyway, Jeff Guaracino, ACA's chief strategy and communications officer, noted that having such a unique draw is even more important in the wake of Hurricane Sandy and the resulting (and erroneous)  belief around the country that the "superstorm" all but obliterated the city.

"Winter Sweet" can be seen at 15-minute intervals nightly between 6 and 9 p.m.

DJ Pauly D, who helped forever change (or is that destroy?) civilization as a "Jersey Shore" cast member, is back at The Pool After Dark at Harrah's Resort Atlantic City Saturday for a Sandy fundraiser.

"Working with The Pool After Dark at Harrah's Resort for this benefit performance really allows me to give back," he said in a statement. "The success of this event is meant to help rebuild this community not only structurally, but also spiritually. I have so many irreplaceable memories at the Jersey Shore and I want everyone else to have that same opportunity. I will do whatever I can to help rebuild."

Incidentally, the event will be used to debut "GTL," the new Ben & Jerry's flavor named in honor of Pauly's famed mantra, "Gym, tan, laundry."

Doors open at 10 p.m. General admission is $25.

For the third time this year, House of Blues inside Showboat Atlantic City is offering huge discounts on selected show tickets.

Thursday (12/12/12) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., you can score $20.12 admission to the following gigs:

Estelle with Melanie Fiona (Dec. 21); Mac Miller (Dec. 26, first 100 tickets only); The Roots (Dec. 28); Rusko (Dec. 29) and Jane's Addiction (Dec. 31, first 200 tickets).

The only catch is you have to buy them in person. For more, call (609) 236-2583, or go to www.hob.com/atlanticcity.

Just in time to heat up the cold days ahead comes the 2013 "Babes of Borgata" calendar, featuring a dozen of the Big B's most babelicious employees in sexy, yet tasteful, poses.

You can buy one (or more)—for $13.95 each--at Borgata, or at www.shopborgata.com. For a behind-the-scenes look at the photo sessions, "like" Borgata on www.facebook.com.

Last Friday, we suggested that the reason Tropicana Casino and Resort didn't stage its annual "Spirit of Christmas" revusical was because of the city's ongoing financial malaise. But according to Eric Fiacco, the Trop's senior vice president of marketing, that was flat-out wrong.

"We are not taking the road of cutting back on any of our marketing or entertainment," said Fiocco in an email. "Our entertainment strategy has changed, focusing on headliner entertainment that is the right fit for our customers. Over the last few weeks KC & The Sunshine Band, two shows for Theresa Caputo, Gladys Knight, and Paula Deen (have) or will perform in our showroom."

Also last Friday, we misspelled the last name of entertainer Don Coulombe, who, through Dec. 20, is starring (as Don Who?) in the one-man "Christmas From the White Mountains" show at Resorts Casino-Hotel.