Month: April 2013

Categories
Philadelphia

Party Photos: A Photographer’s Journey – Jimmy Cohrssen at Le Meredien Philadelphia

Wednesday night Le Méridien and AirFrance

and AirFrance hosted a photo shoot by photographer Jimmy Cohrssen at the Le Méridien Philadelphia.

 Cohrssen was commissioned by the Le Méridien StarwoodHotels.com 
to shoot the surrounding areas around the many fabulous sites around at their hotels around the world.

  Air
France and Le Méridien, which was founded by the iconic French airline
40 years ago, populated their online gallery with Cohrssen’s
photography weekly around the themes of Style, Voyage and Art de Vivre.
Fans of both brands are encouraged to ‘like’ their favorite images and
engage with the galleries through a custom Facebook application. The top
thirty photos then went on a worldwide exhibit in the final exhibition.The number one photo, the turtles pictured here.

Jami Kirk, photographer Jimmy Cohrssen and Evan Evans

 

 
“Words can’t really capture the awe, inspiration, aromas, tastes and
smooth cotton sheets of the whole experience,” said Jimmy Corhssen “I
had one month and ten flights to show the world how dazzling these two
giants of luxury travel are, and I’m hoping that through this unique
exhibition, I’m able to offer fans a glimpse into this
once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Annie Heckenberger, Cortney Boothman and Susan Baraczek

“Travel is all about the experience and personal discoveries along the
way,” added Patrick Roux, Senior Vice President, Air France and KLM for
the Americas. “By tapping into an artistic talent like Jimmy, who can
showcase the details of our brands, we can inspire the curious, creative
minds and invite them to embark upon their own personal journey around
the world, where Le Méridien and Air France are their guides.” 

 Did you know the Le Méridien Philadelphia used to be the YMCA, then it was the District Attorney’s Office. This courtyard on the 5th floor, now has a skylight for a roof, but before 1912, it was an open air roof with a westward view of the sunset. After the Titantic sank, the architect, Horace Trumbauer, enclosed the west wing to add the Harry Elkins Widener Memorial in memory of the 26 year old, son of George and Eleanor Widener of Elkins Park, PA, who perished on the ship. When the Le Meridien took over the space, they added the white elevator pavilions on the right to mimic the deck of the Titanic. Pretty fascinating I think.

I wonder what she’s thinking of this shot from Thailand. It’s of a cottage that is situated over the water. I’ve always wanted to go there myself. 

Check out the exhibit until Sunday April 14, then it moves onto Atlanta Georgia.
(Thanks to Le Méridien for tapping me to shoot this event. Congrats to Evan Evans on his upcoming wedding.)
Categories
Philadelphia

North Shore Beach Club is bringing Sexy Back To the Northern Liberties Neighborhood with the 2013 North Beach Club Bikini Team,

It’s still a members only club for 21++ but now it’s celebrating it’s “nightclub with a pool” self.

 
Remember when North Shore Beach Club first opened under the moniker Arrow Swim Club and they were going for that upscale VIP vibe? Well rest assure that’s over, and it’s just an upscale anyone who can afford $600 a summer membership club. What’s really great is they have a daytime membership price of $300, which is really awesome since night time is the right time for crazy shit fun like Dayload Parties, DN Sexy Singles Party, and 

Tuesday Industry Night Parties  The best part, you can still swim during the parties. It makes for great photos too.

Well this season it looks like it’s going to be all out sexy, single and loving it. First up you get to pick out the 2013 North Beach Club Bikini Team, then go get your membership so you can instagram your summer at the pool.

Categories
Philadelphia

Event: Brewery Ommegang’s second-annual Philly Hop Chef 4/23 – Plus Game of Thrones Beer

HOP CHEF’S SELECT THEIR OMMEGANG COMPETITION BEERS
COOPERSTOWN, NY – On Tuesday, April 23 at 7 p.m., some of Philadelphia’s most talented chefs will compete in Brewery Ommegang’s second-annual Philly Hop Chef for a chance to represent the city in a cook-off at the brewery’s annual Belgium Comes to Cooperstown event. 
As the event date gets closer, more information is coming in about this
thrilling competition, including each competitor’s chosen beer, the
illustrious judges and more.
“The lead-up to Hop Chef
can be almost as much fun as the competition itself, with each
contestant trying to top the others on social media with teasers about
their dish, playful smack talk and inside jokes,” says Megan Maguire,
Ommegang Market Manager.  “But there’s a serious amount of culinary
talent in play, as well, and some awesome prizes – which makes being a
part of Hop Chef even more rewarding.”
Hop Chef is an annual competition: six chefs each create
one dish each showcasing their imaginative beer and food pairing
skills, based on five principles of pairing.  The dishes, all paired
with Ommegang beers, are served to a panel of judges and to all
attendees; each chef is on hand and gets 15 minutes to describe and defend his dish to the judges.  This year’s Philly Hop Chef will be held at Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden Street, 215-232-2100); tickets are $53.50 per person, with a portion of proceeds going to support the Mural Arts Program and Groundswell.  
 Shot March 15, 2013 at Le Virtu (HughE Dillon, oh that’s me)
  The outstanding line-up of competing chefs, already engaged in 140-character banter on Twitter, includes:  Yun Fuentes of JG Domestic (@JGDomesticPHL);  Lucio Palazzo of La Calaca Feliz (@LaCalacaFeliz);  Nick Macri of SouthWark (@Meat_Man_Macri);  Pat Szoke of The Industry (@PatSzoke);  Eli Kulp of Fork (@EliKulp);  and Mike Deganis of Alla Spina (@ChefMikeDeganis). 
Each chef has also announced the Ommegang beer that he has chosen for his dish:  Rare Vos, a traditional care-style ale that is mellow, fruity and spicy, for Chef Fuentes;  Witte, a traditional Belgian-style wheat ale that is flavorful, soft and hazy, for Chef Palazzo;  Hennepin, a hearty and rustic golden ale that is full-bodied, hoppy and crisp, for Chef Macri;  Three Philosophers, a blend of Ommegang Quadruple Ale and Liefman’s Kriek cherry lambic, for Chef Szoke;  Abbey Ale, a rich, fruity and aromatic Burgundian brew, for Chef Kulp;  and BPA, pale and hoppy with notes of citrus and tropical fruits, for Chef Deganis. 
The chefs will be judged based on five pairing principles:  Simple Pairing, a direct interaction between food and beer;  Incorporation, utilizing beer in the cooking process;  Mimicking, matching the flavor profile of a dish with the flavor profile of a beer;  Story Telling, tracing the history of the dish and the beer;  and Experimental, making beer the star of the dish.  
 Ommegang’s first Game of Thrones Beer, the Iron Throne Blonde Ale,
is available in all 45 states where Ommegang is sold. For specifics, use
the beer locater on Ommegang’s website.
Recently, Ommegang confirmed the judges for this year’s Hop Chef:  Art Etchells, founder of Foobooz;  Caroline Russock, food editor for City Paper;   Collin Keefe, editor of Grub Street;  Danya Henninger, editor of Zagat’s Philadelphia Blog and Drink Philly;  Scott Schroeder, the 2012 Hop Chef People’s Choice winner;  Will Blunt of StarChefs.com;  and Cory Baldwin, associate digital editor for Saveur.com.
The Hop Chef Competition is part of the Ommegang program known as Great Beer Deserves Great Food®, a
national initiative dedicated to the idea that fine beer deserves its
rightful place at the table with fine foods.  The Philadelphia event is
the first in a series of chef’s cook-offs across
the U.S., including other semi-final competitions in Boston, MA;
Chicago, IL; and Albany, NY, culminating in a Grand Hop Chef cook-off at Ommegang’s Belgium Comes to Cooperstown festival August 2-4 at the brewery.  

Fans and food and beer lovers should follow the chefs on twitter (hashtag #HopChef) as they taste Ommegang beers and create their competition dishes.  For more information, or to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.utphilly.com/event/241755-brewery-ommegang-hop-chef-philadelphia/.  You can also follow Ommegang on Twitter @BreweryOmmegang and @OmmegangPhilly.

Categories
Philadelphia

Night Market is back for the Summer – Fairmount Avenue, West Oak Lane, South Street and Chinatown

Philadelphia’s
favorite street food festival returns for the 2013 season with more of
your favorite Philly food and drink, more local music and arts and lots
more fun!

And, believe it or not, we announcing the full slate of four Night Markets right now.

So, get ready for :

Night Market Fairmount Avenue: May 16th – my neighborhood (zoink I was hired to shoot an event that night already, sad)

Night Market West Oak Lane: June 20th

Night Market South Street: August 15th

and

Night Market Chinatown: October


Keep
an eye on nightmarketphilly.org and sign up for the Night Market list. More details on Night Market Fairmount Avenue coming soon. (It’s just over a
month away!)

Categories
Philadelphia

Beautiful Sunsets, a Gorgeous House and a Great Cause – The Marla J. Gold Scholarship for public health students

Suzanne and Norman Cohn hosted a reception and dinner at their Center
City penthouse apartment for Drexel University’s School of Public Health
on Tuesday, April 2nd.

 

 The event established the Marla J. Gold
Scholarship for public health
students in honor of Dean Gold, who is stepping down after more than a
decade of leading the School, the only accredited school of public
health in the region and one of only two in Pennsylvania.
 

Among the
guests at the reception were (from left to right)
Drexel University President John A. Fry, Dean Marla J. Gold, and
Suzanne and Norman Cohn.

 Robert G. Sharrar, Karen M. Sharrar
 Valerie A. Arkoosh, and Eliana Papadakis
 D. Walter Cohen, Claire H. Reichlin and Stanley W. Silverman
 Janet Guthart, Assistant Vice President for Protocol and Special Events and Elizabeth A. Dale, Senior Vice President at Drexel University
 
 Some of you may recall Miley Cyrus used to tweet this view when she lived in Philly in this building.
  Ann Klassen, Associate Dean for Research and Heidi Gray-Devita, PTM Solutions- The Growth Professionals

 You may not recognize the name Norman Cohn, but you probably own
something he has promoted. According to a June 2012 Wall Street Journal
article “chairman of the Advertising Specialty Institute—a for-profit trade group
whose members concern themselves with all manner of promotional
knickknacks.”
Home, he admits…is mainly off-limits to swag.
His wife is a “minimalist,” he says, who comes into his office every
once in a while and helps clean it out. (source)

 Jeffrey Westphal, President and CEO of Vertex Inc, corporate tax software solutions.,  Jenifer Westphal, Margaret Greenawalt and Richard A. Greenawalt, Chief Executive Officer at Arcadia Financial Ltd. Last year in recognition of support from Drexel, the Breakthrough high school
program has been renamed The Peggy and Richard Greenawalt Program, in
honor of Drexel Board of Trustees Chairman Richard A. Greenawalt, and
his wife, Peggy.

 Mark L. Greenberg, Drexel University Office of the Provost, Debra Brady, Marla J. Gold (Debra and Marla, founders of Philadelphia Family Pride, just celebrated their celebrated their 28th anniversary on February 5), Dean Drexel University School of Public Health, Mary Grady Duden, and Drexel President John A. Fry

Drexel President John A. Fry and Cara Fry
The annual “Step Into Spring” gala to benefit Steppingstone Scholars is on Sat., April 27 at 7 p.m. 
At Drexel University.
H O N O R I NG DREXEL UNIVERSITY
Accepting on behalf of the University Community,
President John A. Fry

 

 
 After the cocktail party the guests dined on a delicious menu as they watched the shimmering lights of the City
aaahhhhh what a lovely party and spectacular view
Categories
Philadelphia

The Spruce Foundation Gala at World Cafe Live – Link to Philly Mag Story

My readers tell me they like when I link the stories to my PhillyChitChat blog.

 FUN PARTY go see the rest of the photos at The Scene on PhillyMag’s website >>>>

http://blogs.phillymag.com/the_philly_post/2013/04/10/photos-spruce-foundation-spruce-gala-2013/

Categories
Philadelphia

Serrano Executive Chef Gina Rodriguez Prepares Spring Menu – Press Dinner

Last month I attended a press dinner at Serrano, where my friend Executive Chef Gina Rodriguez now calls home. I first fell in love with her and her delicious cooking when she was the chef at Kokopelli a few years back.

Serrano’s is celebrating it’s 20th year and has enjoyed a fair amount of success, especially with diners who stop by on the way to the concert venue, Tin Ally, on the 2nd floor of the building. Last summer owners Donal and Jennifer McCoy brought Executive Chef Gina Rodriguez on board to re-launch the
menu, as he created a new bar menu, bringing with it a breath of fresh air.

 A press dinner is when the press and bloggers are invited to try out the new menu, and to meet the chef. It’s a great way to establish a relationship, and for generating future stories. Toasting to the new season, Michelle Boyles, South Philly Phasionista, enjoys a bit of wine as Brett Copol, Metro Philly, looks on. Others on hand for the dinner included Phoodie,  Victoria Lam, Ashley Johnson, WB17, Natanya DiBona, Ian Crumm, Kate Marlys, Thom Cardwell, Zoha Memari , Josh Kruger, Janeane Tolomeo, Alyssa Mutryn and Laura Burkhardt (Congratulations on her new home!!)

 I had the mussels that night, and then stopped in this past Friday to have them again. They’re that good.

 Interesting lamb presentation
 Danya Henninger, Gina Rodriguez and Allison Stadd

Two of my mentors were in attendance. I could never have gotten to where I am today without all the help and guidance from Nathan Lerner and Thom Cardwell. This is a very special photo to me. I’ve made career decisions based on advice Nathan has given me.

One of my fav dishes served that evening was the scallop dish. Just looking at this photo makes me want to return tonight to get another serving. It’s definitely on the Paleo food plan, which I’m just about to dive into on April 16. That darn City of Hope’s Let them Eat Cake, at Merion Caterers in NJ, event is on 4/15/13 and I can’t promise I’m not gonna have a slice.

Monday Executive Chef Gina Rodriguez appeared on MyPHL17 Eye Opener. You can also see her at Taste of the Nation Philadelphia April 28, 2013 Hotel Monaco 433 Chestnut Street.

Pan Seared Salmon, Spring Vegetable Succotash
Kory Aversa, Aversa PR, Jennifer Lewis Hall, Zach Lashway, Ashley Johnson all from MyPHL
17 Eye Opener, Donal McCoy
and Executive Chef Gina Rodriguez

Did you know Executive Chef Gina Rodriguez was at Cook last month, she makes an appearance on May 5th for Cinco de Mayo. The event sold out in 3 hrs after the tickets went on sale. I think I might need a photo of that event. (which reminds me these last 4 pixs are courtesy of aversa PR, who is one of my clients.)

This is a brand new drink and is be part of new hand-crafted cocktail list
– Serrano is having a contest to name it – enter on
their facebook page – it contains pressed serrano chili ,raspberry
vodka, citronage, fresh lime and white cranberry, rose water

I could use one of these, virgin of course, I’m almost done my taxes. Last night I got some good advice from my readers and friends on how to stay better organized this year. Go out and enjoy today, I am. Thanks for bearing with me this week as I do my paperwork.

Categories
Philadelphia

Street Scene & Themes; Plus Philly.com and Philly Mag Links

Thinking what I should call random columns of photos, hmm. Street Scenes & Themes

Oh I’m a little light on the entries these past two days as I get my taxes together cause there’s not like waiting for the last minute.

 

 Oh and it doesn’t hurt that the weather was spectacular either. Get out, get out, call out of work and enjoy the next two days before Spring returns…

Summer comes to Rittenhouse Square even before the buds on the trees bloom.

 So funny today outside the Fox 29 Studios there were two guys with signs trying to get the Good Day Philly peeps attention. One said Hi Mike and had the Fox 29 logo, but the rest was illegible. I suggest using a marker and not a bic pen next time.


 The theme today: bright yellow sunshine. Random shots on the street.

Not much yellow, but I love this shot of this very stylish gal eating outside Hop City Vedge
*************
Friday I went to the Girard College Good Friends Event.
 Lots of fun people were there. I liked their table settings too.
 Check out my Philly Mag column to see what else went on at the annual gala.
Saturday night I hit 3 events, including the Alzheimer’s Association of the Delaware Valley Inaugural Gatsby Gala.
 This was one of the more unusual auction items, it’s an elopement package.

Read more about the Gatsby Gala: http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/out_and_about/Photos-Inaugural-Gatsby-Gala.html#ixzz2PyQ1rgCy

Watch sports videos you won’t find anywhere else

Categories
Philadelphia

ZOMBIE RUN PHILADELPHIA 2013 & A LITTLE GHOST CALLED ADRIANNE CURRY

Listen to this as you check out the Zombie Run entry. Not too loud though or your office mates will evacuate the building, which on Monday morning is not a bad thing.
THE ZOMBIE RUN 2013 U.S. TOUR KICKOFF

5K APOCALYPSE ‘RUN FOR YOUR LIFE’ TO LAUNCH 16-CITY NATIONAL INFESTATION THIS WEEKEND IN PHILADELPHIA

PHILADELPHIA CITY COUNCIL TO OFFICIALLY PROCLAIM
‘ZOMBIE DAY IN PHILADELPHIA’
Reality TV Star Adrianne Curry to Be Celebrity Zombie Participant
Among 4,000 Runners in FDR Park

 Follow me on Instagram PhillyChitChat

Each runner will receive a flag football belt with a balloon
attached to the back and attempt to finish while hordes of runners
dressed as zombies pursue them to pop the balloon. The main objective of
the race — which will loop around FDR Park — -is to reach the finish line without having your balloon “attacked” by a zombie.
After all three of their balloons were destroyed, the runner didn’t have any bragging rights that he eluded the zombies.

U.S.
Tour Benefits Active Heroes, a Volunteer-led Charity Helping Veterans,
Active Duty Military and their Families; Philadelphia Event Also
Benefits Students Run Philly Style

Organized by Wharton sophomore Andrew Hudis and David Feinman, a
childhood friend who currently attends Bucks County Community College,
this unorthodox 5K race will test the runners’ abilities to survive a
zombie apocalypse.

“We have a lot of thematic elements like a helicopter, flipped cars,
fog machines … it’s a three-mile-long haunted house,” Hudis said.

“The
course is going to be a high quality production and even if you can’t
cross the finish line alive, it should be a fun experience either way.”

This is the first zombie run in Philadelphia that will be set in a movie-like setting.

 

 

June 8th there’s a similar Zombie Race in Medford, NJ with obstacle courses, and blood pits. I think I’m gonna go check that one out too.

There’s another one at the Well’s Fargo Center April 21

 All the shots up to this point were after the first mile of the race.
 This guy sprayed “blood” on you. I hear it didn’t taste too good.
This shots are the last 1/2 mile before finish line.

 

Rick and The Walking Dead

 

PS this was on the press release I recieved: 
By the way, reality TV star, model and spokeswoman Adrianne Curry (America’s Next Top Model, The Surreal Life, My Fair Brady – Mrs Peter Brady) will be arriving from Hollywood to compete as a celebrity zombie participant. She’ll have The Zombie Run co-founder Andrew Hudis, as her Zombie-made-up running partner.


The run was called for at 8AM and over at 10AM. I arrived about 815AM (about 45 mins late cause ya know if you follow me on twitter I shot 3 events Saturday night and got home at 2AM) and started taking most of the shots above, headed over to the stage about 9AM and found out that Adrianne Curry had already left. 
 
She tweeted she was headed to the airport. Lame, what’s up with that. Allegedly she was in town to shoot some unnamed TV Pilot,(You know how I like my celebrity “twitter fights” when I call peeps out…
After reading Curry’s tweets it looks like she arrived Saturday afternoon, filmed a 4 page scene somewhere in Philly, might have had a cheese steak, did call it the most beautiful City in America, so there is that, then stopped at the Zombie Run for photo opps for an hour, then tweeted she was on her way to the airport at 9AM, lame to be with her boyfriend and to watch The Game of Thrones tonight. Oh guess I lost track of her, what happened to Peter Brady?

Zombie Run was really a lot of fun. Check out my Vine I captured when I first arrived. Follow me on Vine for news/fun as it happens.


Categories
Philadelphia

TODAY: THE OYSTER HOUSE HOSTS IT’S FOURTH-ANNUAL SHUCKING CONTEST 2013

Last year you’ll recall I was a judge for the Oyster House Shucking Contest, and if you were there you’ll remember I was getting Sigourney Weaver sightings at Rittenhouse Square and was giving minute by minute details on her whereabouts. Wow a year goes by quick. If you like fun, fast competitions, head on over to the Oyster House today:
 
PHILADELPHIA, PA – On Saturday, April 6 beginning at 2 p.m., popular raw bar and restaurant Oyster House (1516 Sansom Street, 215-567-7683) will host their fourth-annual Shucking Contest, featuring professional oyster shuckers from across Philadelphia competing for a $200 Grand Prize.  An amateur shucking contest will follow the professionals, with guests hoping to earn a $100 Oyster House Gift Certificate.  Admission to the shucking contest is $5 per person, and includes all the varieties of the shucked oysters.  Oyster House’s bar will be open on a pay-as-you-go basis and bartender will also tap a special firkin of a local craft beer.
“Oyster shucking is an art, and those who do it well rightly take pride in their ability,” says proprietor and third-generation restaurateur Sam Mink, who ate his first oyster at age five.  “Our shucking contest gets bigger and better every year; we are proud to host these talented professional and amateur shuckers, and we can’t wait to see who takes home the prize – and the bragging rights – this year!”
The professional shuckers, including competitors from Oyster House and others from renowned Philadelphia-area seafood houses, will be judged by Danya Henninger of Zagat Philadelphia, Marisa Magnatta of WMMR’s “Preston & Steve Show,” and Joey Sweeney of Philebrity on their speed and accuracy as they shuck their way through two dozen oysters, working in heats of three shuckers at a time.  A one-second deduction will be made to each shucker’s overall time for each broken shell or ripped oyster.  After a winner is crowned, amateur shuckers will face the same guidelines, working on one dozen oysters each for a chance to win a $100 Oyster House gift certificate.  Onlookers can enjoy the fruits of the competitors’ labors; the oysters will be passed out to the crowd after each heat.
Mink grew up in his father’s Sansom Street Oyster
House, itself the offshoot of Kelly’s on Mole Street, operated by Sam’s
grandfather beginning in 1947.  Mink’s talent for sourcing the best
available oysters comes into play each day, when
he negotiates with his vendors for the day’s catch.  He is dedicated to
supporting smaller, boutique oyster farmers –
specifically, those who grow their crop responsibly and with an eye
towards retaining the original character of a given region or species.
Since opening in May of 2009, Oyster House has received rave reviews.  Philadelphia Weekly gushed that “at the sparkling new Oyster House, Sam Mink revives his family’s legend,” while City Paper raved “Sansom Street’s Oyster House is back in sure hands.”  The Philadelphia Inquirer reviewer Craig LaBan said, “Back
now with its original caretakers, the Mink family, third-generation
owner Sam Mink has recast it boldly into modern form, from decor changes
to draw energy and a youthful crowd, to a bright young staff that knows
its oysters, a quality cocktail bar, beer and
wine list, and a kitchen that updates the classics with seasonal
ingredients and a lighter touch.”

Oyster
House is open for dinner Monday through Thursday from 5 p.m. until 10
p.m. and Friday and Saturday until 11 p.m.  Lunch is served Monday
through Friday from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.  A limited menu is served
between lunch and dinner.  Saturday Brunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to
3 p.m.  For more information, or to make a reservation for groups of
five or more, please call (215) 567-7683 or visit www.oysterhousephilly.com and follow them on Twitter @PHLoysterhouse.