The Trump Marina was sold today for $316 Million to a New York-based company that will rename it “Margaritaville.” There’s no timetable in place yet for the deal to close and the identity to switch, but experts agree that the transaction should go through very quickly.

Trump Entertainment has made no bones about trying to unload the property for months. It’s had a couple of suitors including the investment group Elevation, owned by U2, but none of the previous negotiations proved successful.

Apparently they weren’t playing the right tune or the Trump execs are die-hard Parrotheads, because Jimmy Buffet’s team as well as the group that owns the Hard Rock Seminole will be the new owners.

The re-branding of the facility should do wonders for the new property. The Trump Marina still has one of the best outdoor spots in town with the Deck and the clientele for most of the Marina looks like they’ve been to a Jimmy Buffet concert or two. In fact, a good number look like they might have toured with the Grateful Dead or Phish for a year, but that’s a blog for another time.

The Marina suffered from being the third in line in the Trump organization behind its big brothers, the Trump Plaza and the Trump Taj Mahal. It also was taking the bronze medal in the Marina competition behind Borgata and Harrah’s.

The sale of the Trump Marina was the best possible outcome for Trump Entertainment who not only gets to stop the financial bleeding caused by the Marina’s unprofitable operation, but also gets cash to fund their other two AC casinos.

Good luck to Trump Entertainment and a big welcome to Margaritaville, it’s going to be a smash hit.

One of the true harbingers of summer is finally upon us. No, it’s not the longer days or the warmer weather, although those are important - it’s the opening of the Atlantic City Beach Bars and all the good times that come with it.

Can there be a better way to enjoy the boardwalk than to add alcohol, sun and the beach? We don’t think so either. Add some steel drum to the mix and you’ve got yourself a party.

The beach bars aren’t in full swing yet. They won’t have their full-time regular hours for a couple of weeks - but don’t worry, we’re keeping a close eye on this one. Check back with this blog to get more details as they develop.

Anyway, last year CityAtlantic declared the Trump Plaza beach bar to be the best in Atlantic City. We see no reason that this year would be any different. It’s the biggest in the city and has all the key ingredients you need for a great beach bar - good food, an enormous bar and lots of people. Good times on the beach are back.

It’s this time of year where we at CityAtlantic take a moment to remember Nikki Beach at Resorts. What a shame. An opening concert by Ja Rule and a White Party that was absolutely nuts! Oh, what could have been? Take heed beach bars! You can’t charge a $40 cover no matter how cool you are. The power of the people (and the $) prevails.

Anyway, Bikini Beach bar at Bally’s is also opening today as well as the Beach Bar at Hilton and the Deck at the Trump Marina. There are plenty of options for outdoor cocktails this weekend. Give us a chance to check them all out this weekend and we’ll let you know how it goes. More to follow…

Sonsie has been one of the most famous restaurants in Boston for years, but the Atlantic City location has had a hard time garnering the same type of attention….from patrons. Reviewers have fawned over Sonsie’s eclectic menu comprised of bistro classics and some innovative new dishes such as salmon wrapped in crispy prosciutto - but at the end of the day, food critics don’t pay the bills.

The new Sonsie menu has a much stronger emphasis on steaks, chops and other dishes that appeal to a greater number of palates. Despite having a Morton’s steakhouse downstairs in Caesars, the Pier itself doesn’t have a steakhouse. The change should do wonders for both the Pier and Sonsie.

Perhaps the fact that Sonsie defied an easy category like “Italian” or “Seafood” made it an uphill climb from the beginning. Even now when I describe it as “bistro food”, most people would say “Ok, what does that mean?”

A Sonsie steakhouse should be packed with customers who will change the whole atmosphere and make it a scene instead of just a restaurant.