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While talking to Dina Manzo on the phone, one gets the idea that she is a really normal lady.
It's kind of a bummer, actually, when you consider she is one of the stars of the reality TV show "The Real Housewives of New Jersey," which ended its first season with women screaming obscenities at each other, wine-glass laden table-flipping and venomous backstabbing accusations flying -all while 4.6 million viewers watched.
Manzo, who some might say helped spark the season finale outburst, will come to Atlantic City for an onstage Q & A with three fellow cast members - her sister Caroline Manzo, sister-in-law Jacqueline Laurita and Teresa Giuduce. The show at the Atlantic City Hilton is at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5.
Manzo says she doesn't know what to expect of the live Q & A, the first cast members have done.
"I have no clue what it will be like," Manzo says fom her Laurel Lakes home. "Anytime we get to meet our fans is fun. Us being Jersey girls, we say anything that's on our minds."
Noticeably absent will be Danielle Staub, the most controversial housewife whose criminal past was revealed in a tell-all book by an ex-husband during the season. A lot of the drama in the last two episodes stemmed from the other ladies discussing Danielle.
Of course, Staub's absence from the Atlantic City appearance won't keep Dina Manzo and her glamorous counterparts from dishing out juicy tidbits about what goes on behind the scenes.
After all, don't we want to know more about what the Housewives really think of each other? Who's had work done (they love nothing more than discussing breasts, or "bubbies," as they call them)? Whose husband is most free with the cash or credit card? Who buys the most expensive clothes? Whose children are most spoiled?
You'll get the chance to ask the ladies anything, with comedian Geno Bisconte acting as host.
Manzo, the only blond in the cast, candidly admits the first season of "Housewives" was "no fun at all" for her - and she would not have agreed to continue if her newfound celebrity wasn't doing such good things for Project Ladybug, a foundation she formed to raise money for children's causes at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Paterson.
"There was so much drama. I'm just not that into drama," Manzo says. "I'm hoping this season is more lighthearted and funny."
Speaking of drama, Manzo sheds a little light on one of the mysteries left after the season finale. Viewers might not have understood some of Giuduce's rant against Staub. Manzo elaborates that it had to do with Staub allegedly acting inappropriately with a much-younger romantic interest in front of children during a visit to Giuduce's shore house. There, that should clear it up.
But Manzo sticks to her guns and refuses to explain what her sister Caroline was referring to during a post-season reunion show when she angrily told Staub she would never forgive her for what she did to Dina. Nothing to see here, people, move along.
No doubt, Season 2 will see the continuing theme of the challenges of raising children, with two new additions to the ranks. Laurita gave birth to a baby boy named Nicholas and Giuduce is to have her fourth child this month.
Manzo says viewers might not recognize her own daughter, Alexia, 13, who has blossomed - no more glasses and she wears lip gloss and straightens her hair.
And no, you still won't see Manzo's husband, Tommy, on "Real Housewives." He doesn't want to be involved, but supports her whole-heartedly.
"I love it that way," Dina says. "Our private time together is just that."
'The Real Housewives
of New Jersey'
WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5
WHERE: The Grand Theater, Atlantic City Hilton
HOW MUCH: Tickets, priced at $20, are available at the HIlton box office or Ticketmaster at 800-736-1420 or go to
Bombers come to AirFest
The 13th annual AirFest and "Wings of Freedom Tour" brings historic WWII bombers to the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum in Historic Hangar No. 1 at the Cape May Airport in Rio Grande. Walk-through tours are available from noon to 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, through Monday, Sept. 7. The museum is dedicated to the 42 airmen who perished while training at the station between 1943 and 1945. There will be music, food, vendors, exhibits and more. Museum entrance is $12 for adults, $6 for 12 and younger. Call 609-886-8787 or go to
'Walking With Dinosaurs'
Prepare to be wowed as you are transported back 65 million years when "Walking With Dinosaurs" comes to Boardwalk Hall, 2301 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Sept. 3 and 4; 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, and 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6. Fifteen roaring, snarling, life-size animatronic creatures tell the story of how dinosaurs evolved. Tickets range from $19.50 to $69.50. Call 800-736-1420, go to www.ticketmaster.com or buy them at the Boardwalk Hall box office. For groups of 10 or more, call 609-348-7021. Go to www.dinosaurlive.com
Margate Thrill Show
Members of the Philadelphia Police Department will perform daring bicycle stunts, below, motorcycle drills and K-9 demonstrations at a Labor Day Thrill Show from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5 (rain or shine). The event begins with a procession, led by the Margate Motorcycle Unit at Albany Avenue in Atlantic City, and ends at Vendome Avenue in Margate, where the thrills begin. Atlantic Avenue will be closed to traffic from Cedar Grove to Washington avenues. The Hero Thrill Show benefits children of fallen police officers and firefighters; killed in the line of duty. Go to