Jennifer Nettles, one of our favorite country singers, was performing at Foxwoods’ new 4,000-seat Grand Theatre on Halloween night, so we decided to head south to the Connecticut resort casino for our own treat or treating.

We drove the 50 miles south on Route 95 to Exit 92 (Route 2 West) in less than an hour, arriving in mid-afternoon, giving us time to visit the Race Book Room, try our luck at the slots, check out the new Tanger Outlets and grab a bite to eat before the show.

The complex has grown since our last visit, with the completion of the Fox Tower, with its many amenities.  Foxwoods is so big and spread out that we had to drive from the original casino to the Fox Tower.

Wear comfortable shoes if you want to cover all the areas. The facilities are handicapped accessible, and we noticed many wheelchairs, canes and walkers.

RACE BOOK ROOM

The immense Race Book Room has floor to ceiling giant TV screens, in addition to a couple hundred individual TV monitors, where customers can place their bets without having to go to the cashier’s counter.

It was a big day that featured American Pharaoh’s last race. We were given a personal tour by Race Book Manager Scott Fowler (Disclosure: our son) and enjoyed watching the horses, dogs and Jai Lai players.

Foxwoods has dozens of places to eat, ranging from their mammoth buffet to high end, first class restaurants, familiar chains, every fast food establishment you can think of, and some interesting shops in the food courts.

We found a Boar’s Head deli near the Grand Theatre and both enjoyed building our own sandwiches, which included the quality Boar’s Head meat, gourmet cheeses and a variety of toppings for $11.95.

While waiting for the show to begin I tried my luck at the nearby slots (They are always nearby), helping to fund Scott’s retirement fund.

Electronic signs posted upcoming shows at The Grand and the smaller Fox Theatre. Foxwoods attracts a virtual who’s who of the entertainment world, with all of those entertainers we used to enjoy at the Warwick Musical Theatre.

Jerry Seinfeld was expected to sell out the nearly 4,000-seat theatre, followed by singers, bands, and even Piff the Magic Dragon, who won everyone’s heart on “America’s Got Talent.”

Jennifer Nettles

We had the opportunity to meet Jennifer Nettles before the show, part of her national “Playing With Fire” tour, which featured a number of new songs, while managing to include a number of old hits, including her big Sugarland hit, “Baby Girl,” and the powerful “What Don’t You Stay.” Another great country singer/songwriter, Brandy Clark, opened for her.

Nettles has come a long way since her days as the other half of Sugarland, explaining that going out on her own was her chance to “recreate” herself as an artist.

“I needed to grow as an artist, to try other things,” she said. “The separation was amiable, and we never closed the door to working together again.”

Right now Nettles has a lot going on, including her current tour, hosting the CMA Christmas special on TV, being a part of the Macy’s Christmas Parade and playing a young Dolly Parton’s mother in an upcoming TV movie.

Her show was fabulous, with everyone on their feet as Brandy Clark joined her in a rousing encore. Nettles has grown from a young, talented country singer/songwriter to one of the top performers in her field in a very short time. And she is making quite a name for herself.