If you are looking for a fun-filled adventure, head on over to the #1 casino in Pennsylvania, Parx Casino, located on Street Road in Bensalem. Recently nominated for best dining and nightlife, you will find state-of-the-art gaming, thoroughbred racing, thrilling promotions and events, and, my favorite, live entertainment and delicious dining!
Parx was originally known as the Keystone Racetrack back in 1974 when it first opened, but it was not until August 2010 that the track was rechristened as Parx Racing and Casino. After driving through what felt like a monsoon on a Friday night, my girlfriend from the second grade, Andrea, and I met in the parking lot at Parx. Parking was simple and our walk was close to the front doors. We were visiting this vast entertainment complex to see a band that not only pays tribute to the legendary band, Queen, but also takes you back in time. “Almost Queen” performed in the Xcite Center, an outstanding venue for entertainment. Xcite Center has cutting-edge technology, two 16 by 9-foot video screens, advanced modern lighting, the highest level professional grade sound system, and advanced engineered acoustics. There is also seating for fifteen hundred guests, which means every seat is a good seat! It was evident throughout the night how much care and planning went into the design of this space. If you’re looking for something more unique to entertain you, you can find boxing, MMA, and comedy shows on their schedule.
Not sure what to eat? Parx Casino has many dining options to choose from, from fast counter service, to award-winning fine dining. There’s Parxgrill, an upscale signature steakhouse that offers a unique menu of classic cuisine alongside chef-inspired seasonal favorites. Bambu offers a menu designed by Chef Joe Zhou that includes creative appetizers, noodle soups, dumpling dishes, wok favorites, sushi specials, and even Peking Duck with a steamed lotus root bun. You can't go wrong with Chickies and Pete’s, Philly’s favorite crab house and sports bar. Foodies focuses on freshness, quality, and the finest ingredients where everything is cooked to order. If you are in the mood for their delicious pizza or pretzels for something quick, or want breakfast, lunch or dinner, you are in luck since Foodies is open 24 hours! BurgerVana is the perfect place for a fresh, made to order burger where you can either build your own burger or pick a Chef inspired creation. They also offer crispy onion rings, Chicago Dogs, and Chili Cheese all beef Dogs. Parx’s Xlounge offers plush lounges to hang out with friends/family before or after a show, where you can enjoy a nice variety of superior cocktails or craft beers. The staff at Parx were very friendly, informative and helpful, answering our many questions (since it was my second time in this venue).
We decided to ask around for what they considered to be a good spot to have a quick appetizer and drink before the show and decided on Liberty Bell Gastropub, followed by a walk through the beautiful Beer Garden. The host, James, was very sweet and pleasant, seating us quickly at a high-top table. Andrea ordered the Just Peachy, which is a drink concocted with peach Ciroc, orange liqueur, cranberry, and lime, while I sipped on a Long Island Iced Tea. Their frozen slushy drinks, like the Peachy Palmer which is a unique spin on the Arnold Palmer, are fun frozen drinks many bring into the shows in a portable plastic cup. Brandon, one of the managers at Liberty Bell Gastropub, was one of the friendliest, kindest, and most knowledgeable guys I have ever met! He shared that their lime margarita is one of the crowd-pleasers because it is very refreshing. For dinner, we ordered the most amazing french fries and Cheesesteak Dumplings. When we have more time in our schedule, we are coming back to enjoy their thinly sliced Prime Rib roast beef sandwich. If you are looking for a great deal, Liberty Bell offers a $25 Prime Rib special on Wednesdays! Being a teacher, I was impressed with the fact that during the month of May, this restaurant offered free slot play to teachers for Teacher Appreciation Month. How special! Brandon then walked us through the beautiful Beer Garden, where there was plenty of comfortable seating, greenery, corn hole, and even a Foosball table!
You'll "want to ride your bicycle” or drive your car to any venue that hosts the amazing band “Almost Queen”. We were lucky this amazing group of guys were performing only a stone’s throw away from our houses in Bucks County. I told Andrea, “You’re My Best Friend” so let’s do tonight right! We danced and sang along all night with the wonderful crowd we were lucky to be a part of. “Keep yourself alive” and balance the work week with a little night-time fun at Parx. You can check out their schedule online to see what new performances will be available. Snooki and Joey are coming at the end of June and Straight No Chaser in October. Andrea and I are really looking forward to Debbie Gibson coming there soon (one of our high school favorites!). There are many shows in between, so make sure you take a look at the Parx Casino website. After the concert, my girlfriend and I stopped by 360 Night Club to hear a couple of songs from Slaytown City, the band that happened to be playing there that night. We sat on a comfy couch to watch some dancing and listen to some great live music. The lounge is a great place to hang with friends and you don’t even have to pay a cover charge to enter this space! If it weren’t for us being a bit tired from the concert and a long week of work, we would have been out there tearing up the dance floor! Next time, we will aim to go on a Saturday for just that reason.
We left Parx Casino wanting to come back for more! As a matter of fact, I am looking at the schedule to figure out the next show I can bring my husband or some girlfriends to, so that “The Show Must Go On” while “Another One Bites the Dust.” There is no doubt in my mind that Andrea and I caught the live performance “bug” after watching this incredible show in this amazing venue. We recommend ordering your tickets as soon as you see a show you are interested in because they sell out quickly! Whether you go with a group, a date, your brother or sister, your children, your parents, or yourself, you will not be disappointed when you make the trip to Parx Casino in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. It is a must-see, must-experience venue in this beautiful county of Bucks!
