Fifteen Years of Mohegan Sun

This weekend will mark a milestone in gaming here in eastern Connecticut. Mohegan Sun celebrates its fifteenth anniversary. Jennifer Lopez, Regis Philbin and other celebrities will be on hand. I have a feeling it will be even busier than usual when I get in there for my live broadcast Sunday from 10 to 3 on 102.3 The Wolf. Yes, I admit to a shameless plug. While the casino has been a big part of my weekend radio routine this year, it has also been a part of my life since it opened in 1996. While I've deposited a few bucks in the slots, seen a few shows and even gotten a few Christmas gifts there over the years, I have to say the restaurants are what I enjoy the most. The dining options have really expanded over the years. On my last birthday, I had this craving for a burger from Bobby Flay's Burger Palace - the juiciest! The Summer Shack is a fun seafood place. Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville rocks. Most recently, a visit for Mexican food at SolToro was well worth it. You get my point. It is hard to imagine what this region would be like without Mohegan Sun and its competitor nine miles up the road: Foxwoods. Mohegan Sun was by far my mother's favorite destination for the last dozen years of her life. Her face would light up at the prospect of going there. These days, it is the place that allows me to do my radio thing. The "Sun" has evolved, and I suppose my relationship to it has changed as well.