Man Who Went To Space With Shatner Dies In Plane Crash

HAMPTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) — A man who traveled to space with William Shatner last month was killed along with another person when the small plane they were in crashed in a wooded area of northern New Jersey, according to state police.

The one-time space tourist Glen M. de Vries, 49, of New York City, and Thomas P. Fischer, 54, of Hopatcong, were aboard the single-engine Cessna 172 that went down Thursday.

De Vries was an instrument-rated private pilot, and Fischer owned a flight school. Authorities have not said who was piloting the small plane.

The plane had left Essex County Airport in Caldwell, on the edge of the New York City area, and was headed to Sussex Airport, in rural northwestern New Jersey, when the Federal Aviation Administration alerted public safety agencies to look for the missing plane around 3 p.m.

Emergency crews found the wreckage in Hampton Township around 4 p.m., the FAA said.

De Vries, co-founder of a tech company, took a 10-minute flight to the edge of space Oct. 13 aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft with Shatner and two others.

“It’s going to take me a while to be able to describe it. It was incredible,” de Vries said as he got his Blue Origin “astronaut wings” pinned onto his blue flight suit by Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos.

“We are devastated to hear of the sudden passing of Glen de Vries,” Blue Origin tweeted Friday. “He brought so much life and energy to the entire Blue Origin team and to his fellow crewmates. His passion for aviation, his charitable work, and his dedication to his craft will long be revered and admired.”

De Vries co-founded Medidata Solutions, a software company specializing in clinical research, and was the vice chair of life sciences and health care at Dassault Systemes, which acquired Medidata in 2019. He had taken part in an auction for a seat on the first flight and bought a seat on the second trip.

De Vries also served on the board of Carnegie Mellon University.

Fischer owned the flight school Fischer Aviation and was its chief instructor, according to the company’s website.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.

Caesars, De Niro-Backed Nobu Unveil Project In Atlantic City

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — A hospitality company involving actor Robert De Niro will open a restaurant in Caesars casino in Atlantic City and renovate hotel rooms there.

Caesars Entertainment said Tuesday it is joining with Nobu Hospitality for a project to be called Nobu Hotel Atlantic City.

The development, including a Nobu restaurant, is part of a $400 million investment Caesars Entertainment is making in Atlantic City over the next three years. It also will include the rebranding of several floors of hotel rooms in Caesars as the Nobu Hotel.

The new eatery and rebranded rooms are expected to be ready by summer 2022.

Caesars casino in Atlantic City was founded by chef Nobu Matsuhisa, De Niro and film producer Meir Teper. The company is doing similar projects in New Orleans and Las Vegas.

The Largest Indoor Water Park In North America Will Open At American Dream On March 19th

The largest indoor water park in North America will open at American Dream on March 19,

along with the beginning of retail

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — American Dream, the unrivaled destination for style and play, is set to usher in its next chapter on March 19, 2020, with the highly anticipated opening of the world’s first and only DreamWorks Animation Water Park, and the celebration of American Dream’s first retail offerings. March will provide guests with endless opportunities to discover and explore American Dream.

“We can’t wait for guests to visit DreamWorks Animation Water Park and experience the completely unique, jaw-dropping and awe-inspiring destination that we have created,” said Don Ghermezian, Co-CEO of American Dream. “We also look forward to welcoming a new audience to the property with the introduction of retail, opening some of the largest flagship stores globally.”

The world’s first and only DreamWorks Animation Water Park will begin to preview its unmatched experiences on March 19. Guests will be introduced to this over-the-top water park, where the worlds of DreamWorks Animation’s most adored franchises are brought to life.

Swirl through your favorite ogre’s swamp on Shrek’s Sinkhole Slammer; find your inner champion with the Dragon Warrior Po at Kung Fu Panda’s Temple of Awesomeness; be among the first to hang-ten in the world’s largest indoor wave pool,  the 1.5 acres of Far Far a Bay, inspired by Shrek’s magical kingdom . Whether you prefer to challenge the waves on one of two themed Surf’s Up Surf Riders, relax meeting more of your DreamWorks Animation friends on the Bubbly Lazy River or discover your own secret operation at the Penguins of Madagascar Play Zone, you can do it 365 days a year at American Dream. Not to be missed experiences coming later this year include luxury cabanas designed by Jonathan Adler, private party rooms, and so much more. Tickets for DreamWorks Animation Water Park will go on-sale Thursday, February 27, 2020 at www.americandream.com, with limited quantities available.

Fashion’s leading brands and a revolving, always-fresh collective of new shopping experiences will begin to open on March 19.  The world’s largest retailers will open immersive flagship and specialty locations, including Aritzia, Zara, Sephora, H&M, UNIQLO, Primark, Ulta Beatuy, Old Navy, Morphe and much more. Retail will continue to open at American Dream throughout 2020, with The Collections, American Dream’s luxury atrium, opening in September 2020.

Fresh and exciting family entertainment will also join American Dream throughout Spring. Challenge your loved ones to a round of 18-holes at North America’s first and only Angry Birds Mini Golf course, experience ‘the city under the sea’ at New Jersey SEA LIFE® Aquarium or build to your heart’s content at LEGOLAND® Discovery Center New Jersey.

While March 19 is the next landmark chapter in American Dream’s ever-evolving story, the world-class destination ignites a sense of discovery and exploration, encouraging guests to return over and over again, delivering new and memorable experiences with each visit.

ABOUT AMERICAN DREAM

American Dream, developed by Triple Five Group, is an unrivaled destination for fantasy, fashion, food, family, and fun. For more information visit www.americandream.com or follow on Instagram @americandream.

ABOUT DREAMWORKS ANIMATION

DreamWorks Animation (DWA), a division of the Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, within NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation, is a global family entertainment company with feature film and television brands. The company’s deep portfolio of intellectual property is supported by a robust, worldwide consumer products practice, which includes licensing, and location-based entertainment venues around the world.  DWA’s feature film heritage includes many of the world’s most beloved characters and franchises, including Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon, Trolls and The Boss Baby, and have amassed more than $15 billion in global box office receipts.  DreamWorks Animation’s television business has quickly become one of the world’s leading producers of high-quality, animated family programming, reaching consumers in more than 190 countries.  Creating a diverse array of original content in a variety of formats and delivering deep, fully immersive worlds served up with compelling characters, the prolific studio has garnered 25 Emmy awards since inception in 2013.