Dan Gross: Christie wants The Boss to play Revel

NEW JERSEY GOV. Chris Christie wants Bruce Springsteen to play Revel, the new megacasino in Atlantic City, over Labor Day weekend as a tribute to the hardworking casino employees.

The hotel opens Monday but celebrates its grand-opening with several Beyonce concerts over Memorial Day weekend.

Christie's remarks, reported by the Associated Press Tuesday, were made during a tour of the hotel and were prompted by a reporter's question about "Wrecking Ball," Springsteen's new CD of songs about hard times in America.

"I would make a direct plea to Bruce: He missed out on the opportunity to open this place," Christie said. "Cut out Labor Day weekend and come here to Revel, which would be a strong sign of support for those working men and women."

But, it still seems strange that rather than asking Springsteen to play a benefit for a Jersey charity, he's imploring the Jersey boy to play a multimillion-dollar entertainment palace as civic pride? Christie will attend Springsteen's concert Thursday at the Wells Fargo Center, his 127th Boss gig, he told AP.

"If I get a chance to talk to him personally Thursday, I'll ask him directly," Christie said.

* Speaking of Springsteen, Wednesday's episode of CBS 3's lifestyle program "Talk Philly" is an all-Springsteen episode featuring radio host Cyndy Drue's interview with Clarence Clemons, believed to be the last with the E Street Band saxman before his death in June, among other interviews with rock historian Denny Somach and Judy Sciaky, widow of Springsteen pal and longtime local radio DJ Ed Sciaky.

Monday night Norristown-native actress Maria Bello auctioned off a trip to the Cape Cod set of "Grown Ups 2," in which she stars with Adam Sandler, David Spade and Chris Rock, at the Merion home of Gail Slogoff, founder of beauty blog BeBlushing.com.

Slogoff hosted a benefit for We Advance, Bello's charity, which works to provide medical attention and education and advocacy programs in Haiti. Malvern's Joanne Hopkins won the set visit with her $4,500 bid. Bello also attended Saturday's Human Rights Campaign Equality Dinner at the Ritz-Carlton.

"Dancin' on Air" returns at 10 a.m. Saturday to myPHL17 after 25 years. The show later became "Dance Party USA" and aired on USA until 1992. Creator Mike Nise and producer Frank Swider, a former dancer on the show, and the Omni 2000 crew have been taping new dancers, aged 16 to 23, at the Fuge in Warminster and have a 13-week commitment with Channel 17. Phillies ballgirls, Sixers Dancers and the SoulMates have been taped for episodes. On Sunday the SoulMates will be featured in a dance clinic/casting call for "Dancin' on Air" from 9 to noon at the Wells Fargo Center before the Soul's home opener against the Cleveland Gladiators. For info, visit DancinonAir.com.

Ralph's (760 S. 9th) owners Eddie Rubino and Jimmy Rubino were in New York Tuesday taping an episode of ABC's "The Chew," which should air in late April. The brothers made chicken trombino and shared their family secret recipe for carmelized garlic in the segment with co-host Clinton Kelly.

They gave out cookbooks to the audience, which included 10 of their family members.

Christy Turlington Burns, supermodel-turned-mom-turned- maternal-health advocate, will be the keynote speaker April 3 at the Public Health Management Corp.'s Mosaic: Ruby Anniversary (40 years) at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Burns, a filmmaker like her husband, Ed Burns, runs an organization called Every Mother Counts. The event includes a tribute to recently retired, longtime PHMC leaders and retired board members.

For more info, visit phmc.org/ mosaic.