Tony Luke

FOR A TOWN whose economy is built on luck, Atlantic City has seen plenty of the bad sort the past half-decade or so. First came casinos in eastern Pennsylvania, which brought full-scale gambling to millions who previously had to go to AyCee for their wagering action. Then the economy went south, wiping out discretionary income and capital to invest in new casino-hotels. Last fall, national news media erroneously spread the word that Superstorm Sandy had destroyed the world-famous boardwalk when, in fact, only a part of the Great Wooden Way - in the Inlet area away from the casino strip - was obliterated.

THERE'S A FEELING you get, walking toward the Wildwood Boardwalk at night; an anticipation that hits you all at once when that wide, eclectic, electric expanse unfolds before you. There's nothing else quite like it in New Jersey, a tourist destination defined by first kisses, cotton candy and rock 'n' roll, muscle cars and muscle shirts, a mix of Northeast Philly, South Jersey, Quebec and everywhere in-between, all aglow in neon and wedged into...

LAST MONDAY night, nearly a million American viewers tuned in for the season 4 premiere of "RuPaul's Drag Race. " The extra-sassy show is a reality-based elimination, a madcap mash-up of "Project Runway" and "America's Next Top Model. " Only the competitors are men who dress like women - and who survive or get eliminated by lip syncing "for their lives. " Last Monday's viewership was a 50 percent increase over season 3's first episode and set a record for the lil' Logo channel (163 on your Comcast dial)

Patrons of Noc's Bar in South Philadelphia bleed green for the Eagles. Most of them also blow blue clouds of cigarette smoke. When the Eagles knock heads with Green Bay next week, one fixation at the bar at Front and Wolf Streets may have to go. Philadelphia goes smoke-free today. But local taverns where drink sales make up at least 90 percent of their gross revenues can get an exemption. That won't help Tom West, 29, who likes his Eagles with a brew and a smoke at Tony Luke's Beef & Beer Sports Bar. It's his bar of choice, but it also has a family dining room.

A couple weeks ago, Tony Luke's became the fourth well-known South Philly business to open a shop in the Rittenhouse Square area. So is the hot-sandwich shop all uptown hoity-toity now? You could decide for yourself from this recent phone call to Tony Luke Jr., the owner. Phone rings six or seven times. Finally, somebody answers. Caller: Is Tony there? Man's voice: Yeah, hold on. (Sound of phone being put down. Pause.) Man's voice in background (very loud)

WITH MONDAY'S death of legendary Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas , we wondered when fans would see the SuperPretzel commercial he was to appear in, taped last month in Ardmore. "We were deeply saddened by Harry's sudden passing, as he'd become part of our work family, too. At this point no decisions have been made as far as the release of the SuperPretzel commercial," said Tom Weber , VP of operations at J&J Snack Foods, which owns SuperPretzel. We called Harry's voice-over agent, Marc Guss of the William Morris Agency, to see what additional work Harry had lined up. Guss said he couldn't talk about any planned projects, but he remembered Harry, as we all do, as "the ultimate gentleman with the highest level of character.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. - The late South Philly mob figure Salvatore Testa probably isn't remembered by most people as the purveyor of inspirational words. But Steve Martorano can argue that Testa not only motivated him to change his life for the better, but he actually may have saved it. "I remember Salvie Testa tellin' me, 'Stevie, I'm gonna live hard and fast. I know I'm not gonna be around long, so I'm gonna live that way,' " recalled Martorano during a recent chat at the flagship store of his three-outlet Café Martorano restaurant chain.

* Eating well to fight hunger is also the theme for a six-course dinner "Top Chef" Kevin Sbraga is putting together at his restaurant Sbraga (440 S. Broad St., 215-735-1913, Sbraga.com ) with a stellar lineup of local chefs May 14. Nicholas Elmi, Walter Abrams, Shola Olunloyo, Jonathan Adams and Dave Katz will join him in support of Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign. Tix are $150 each. * Food-truck operators stake their claim to be the city's best at the Philadelphia Vendy Awards' third-annual competition from 2 to 6 p.m. June 8. A limited number of early discount tix, $45, are available now at eventbrite.com . The event raises funds for the nonprofit Food Trust.

Mail-order Bowl food Omaha Steaks offers up to 40 percent off retail prices for phone-in Super Bowl packages - filets, steak and gourmet burger combos and burger, chicken and pork combos. Orders can be shipped right up until the start of the big weekend. Shoppers can order by phone at 1-800-228-9055. Check the Web site at www.omahasteaks.com for other specials. Mail-order Bowl food Omaha Steaks offers up to 40 percent off retail prices for phone-in Super Bowl packages - filets, steak and gourmet burger combos and burger, chicken and pork combos.

To: Ford, Bob; Sheridan, Phil Subject: Baseball & boil bags The World Baseball Classic begins tomorrow. Alex Rodriguez will pretend to be Dominican while every bad American player with vowels in his name will pretend to be Italian. Hooray for international competition. Meanwhile, here in Philly, Tony Luke's is preparing to sell frozen steak sandwiches in boil bags that you'll be able to buy in the supermarket. Which are you more (or less) excited about: baseball played for faux national pride or a frozen Whiz wit?