Debbie Reynolds tops the weekend entertainment lineup with her show at the Hard Rock, while Kenny G. performs at the Beau Rivage, and the Biloxi Yacht Club opens its doors to the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum annual drawdown.
To get the scoop on these events and others, courtesy of listings provided by the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau, click here.
Health fair: If you’re looking for another diversion this weekend, the Excel by 5 Biloxi coalition will hold a free health fair for children up to age 5 on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Michel School. For details, click here.
Biloxi casino market scores a milestone
The Biloxi casino market had its second biggest month in two years in August.
The casinos grossed $78.6 million in August, which was nearly a 9 percent increase over the previous month and 7 percent over August 2009.
Said Mayor A.J. Holloway: “Anytime you have an increase these days, it’s encouraging, but before we have a parade, let’s remember this is just one month. It’s good news, but we’re far from out of the woods.”
To see background on how the casino revenue is divvied up between the state and local governments, and to see casino gross gaming revenue figures (the city’s true-month figures and the state’s monthly collections),
click here.
Chamber to recognize Biloxian Made Good
The Biloxi Bay Chamber of Commerce holds its 18th Annual Biloxian Made Good Shrimp Boil on Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Dr. Frank G. Gruich Community Center, formerly the Biloxi Community Center.
The 2010 honoree is retired Col. Harold Ericksen, a 1958 Biloxi High School graduate who had a 26-year military career that saw him earn four silver stars and a bronze star for valor. He also played for the Philadelphia Eagles NFL in 1962 after attending Georgia Tech.
Among those scheduled to speak: Donal Snyder, Eddie Khayat, Ed McCreedy, Mayor A.J. Holloway and Walter Blessey.
The menu will include boiled shrimp, jambalaya and other local fare, as well as wine, beer and soft drinks. Tickets are $25 per person or a reserved table of six for $200. To purchase tickets, you may either call the Chamber office at (228) 435-6149.
News and notes
Council preview: Members of the Biloxi City Council will resume budget negotiations at 9 a.m. on Tuesday and hold their regular meeting Tuesday afternoon at 1:30. Both meetings, which will be conducted at City Hall, are open to the public. To see agendas, click here.
Web award: Juggle.com, an encyclopedia and reference resource, has selected the City of Biloxi website for a Top City Government Website Award. The service, which reviewed more than 3,000 government portals nationwide, touted the Biloxi site’s relevance, design, and navigation. Four other sites in Mississippi also were recognized by Juggle.com: Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Vicksburg and Southhaven.
Webcast: This week’s webcast revisits Mayor A.J. Holloway’s presentation to the Biloxi Chamber “Breakfast with the Mayor.” Among the topics: city finances, progress on rebuilding, and annexation past and present. To listen to the 10-minute program, click here.
Sea of Red: The Biloxi Indians are off this week, but Athletic Director Tom Gladney is hoping to create a sea of red for the next home game, on Oct. 8 against Ocean Springs. For details, click here.
