Lilac Club Casino grand opening this week in New Hampshire

The new Lilac Club Casino in Rochester, N.H., held a special VIP ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday ahead of opening its doors to the public. The exclusive ribbon cutting welcomed local dignitaries, business leaders, and special guests to celebrate the unveiling of the new casino.

Lilac Club Casino will hold a grand opening to the public on Friday. The new location will operate under the state’s charitable gaming model. In New Hampshire, casinos must donate at least 35% of table game revenue to charities and nonprofits and 10% to the state and can retain the remaining share. There are no commercial/retail casinos in the state.

Spanning 32,000 square feet, the new Lilac Club Casino features over 200 exciting gaming machines and a wide variety of popular table games like Blackjack, Roulette, Craps, a mix of Carnival Games with progressive jackpots and a 12-table Poker room. Guests can even try locally brewed New Hampshire beers on tap at Lucky Oak Bar & Grill.

The new facility is the second location for Granite State Gaming & Hospitality. The company has a casino in Hampton.

"We are truly honored to have celebrated this milestone with our fellow community leaders," said Eric Barbaro, chief operating officer of Granite State Gaming & Hospitality. "As we prepare for our grand opening, we are thrilled to welcome guests from near and far to experience everything our casino has to offer. Lilac Club Casino is more than just a business; it's a vital part of our community that will create jobs, foster local partnerships, and contribute to the region's growth. We are excited to play a role in the continued success of Rochester and look forward to serving our guests and community for many years to come."

The new casino expects to contribute an estimated $3 million each year to a projected 73 nonprofits in Rochester and surrounding communities while supporting up to 80 full- and part-time positions.

Will you sleep through the total lunar eclipse this week?

During the early morning hours of Friday, March 14, the Moon will enter Earth's shadow and appear red, a phenomenon known as a "blood moon.”

To see this event, you must be up at 2:26 a.m. EDT on Friday and have clear skies. A large portion of the U.S. population will probably be asleep during the eclipse.

For viewers on the U.S. East Coast, the eclipse begins at 12:55 a.m. with the Moon entering the “Deep Penumbral” stage of the eclipse. You won’t see much of a change in the Moon at this point. The first indication of Earth’s shadow covering the moon will occur around 1:47 a.m., entering the “umbra” stage.

The full eclipse phase will begin at 2:26 a.m., with the Greatest Eclipse point at 2:59 a.m., followed by the end of totality at 3:31 a.m.

The event will conclude with the Moon emerging from Earth’s shadow completely (Deep Penumbral) at 5:05 a.m.

Aircraft leased to China Airlines and EVA Air acquired by Phoenix Aviation Capital

Phoenix Aviation Capital, along with AIP Capital and LuminArx Capital Management, announced Monday that they have jointly acquired a portfolio of three Airbus A330-300 aircraft.

The portfolio includes two 2012 vintage Airbus A330-300 aircraft (MSN 1346 and 1367), both powered by GE CF6 engines and leased to China Airlines. The third aircraft, a 2015 vintage Airbus A330-300 (MSN 1690), is also powered by GE CF6 engines and leased to EVA Air.

"We are pleased to have executed this transaction with LuminArx," said Mathew Adamo, managing partner at AIP Capital and board member of Phoenix. "LuminArx was an exceptional partner – creative, solutions-oriented, and highly efficient in execution. Their ability to understand our position, then structure and close made this acquisition seamless. We look forward to building upon this successful partnership in the future."

"We are delighted to have partnered with AIP Capital to complete the financing for the purchase of these three aircraft," said Sanjeev Mordani, partner at LuminArx. "AIP's ability to navigate complex aviation transactions and find long-term value made them an invaluable partner in this acquisition. We found their hands-on approach and deep understanding of the aviation finance market instrumental. We look forward to expanding our collaboration and exploring new opportunities across adjacent asset classes."

Phoenix Aviation Capital is a full-service aircraft lessor. AIP Capital is a global alternative investment manager focused on opportunities in asset-based finance. LuminArx Capital Management is a global alternative investment manager.