Month: February 2014

Categories
Philadelphia

CELEBRITIES in Town, Philly Out of Town: Nicole Ritchie, Manny Pacquaio, Lindsay Lohan, Brad Smith, Amber-Joi Watkins, GN Kang Butler, Allison Young and Dave Maser

Oh I’ve been so busy chasing the snowflakes that I haven’t had a moment to put up a few photos over the past week or so of notable people and events you might find interesting…

Nicole Richie stayed over night at the Wayne Hotel, having lunch at Paramour restaurant adjacent to the lobby before heading to QVC on Monday for her 5PM “House of Harlow”. Nicole was flawless without makeup on and styled herself into perfection
in the matter of 4 seconds for the photo! Such. A. Doll says Kristy Seveg (PR for the Wayne Hotel on the right) Nicole
took over QVC’s Instagram and posted this photo on her account.


 Boxing Legend Manny Pacquaio (l) and Boxer Tim Bradley (r) stopped by Comcast, then headed to The Rocky Statue and the Art Museum Steps for photo opps on Friday.
 I hear the line to meet them in Ralph’s Cafeteria on the 45th Floor of the Comcast Bldg snaked through the eatery and out the door. Thanks to Team Derek for these two pixs.

Soul Football co-owner Cosmo DeNicola, Lindsay Lohan and Jen Frederick, Fox 29 at DeNicola’s Super Bowl Party in NYC. I was invited but couldn’t go.

 Thanks to Michelle Miller – The Nouveau Image for inviting me to the Super Bowl Celebrity Gaemes Pro XP event at New York’s Crowne Plaza hotel on February 1 hosted by Hank Baskett.

 With an appearance by his baby on board wife  Kendra Wilkinson. Here’s a national placement of some of my photos from the event.

Also at the event: Mob Wives star Renee Graziano’s son AJ Pagan and Philly’s Alicia DiMichele. 
This event was produced by a local Philadelphian’ Cheldin Barlatt Rumer, CEO/Executive Producer at i-g creative d/b/a This is It NYC as well as This Is It Philadelphia

Philadelphia Eagles Player Brad Smith at his fashion collection debut with Jen Abrams, Stylist, promoter, in NYC at NYFW.

This past weekend Susie Celek and Maria Papadakis with Cara McCollum Miss New Jersey at the Red Line Classic in Atlantic City this past weekend.
 Congrats to Holly Kammerer and former NBC10 weather guy, Doug Kammerer for 10 years of wedded bliss.

 Speaking of wedded bliss, remember last week we attended the Super Bowl Party at Tommy Domalski and Amber-Joi Watkins (pictured above), they got engaged on Saturday night. Domalski designed the ring himself, inspired by the ring Jay-Z gave Beyonce. Amber is a huge fan of Queen Bey.

 Alison Young and Dave Maser look fabulous at the Taj
Mahal, looking like locals, but not on purpose since US Airways lost
their luggage. I think they did them a favor, how sexy is this photo in
front of the monument of love.

Congrats to GN Kang and Ian Butler who were married 2/1/14 in Los Cabos. I was supposed to go but for family reasons had to back out. G N tells me she will take her husbands name and going forward will be known as GN Butler.

Categories
Philadelphia

Event: Action AIDS Glamsino Royale 2/27/14 9PM – $50 per person

The 9th
annual Red Ribbon Campaign, Kimpton’s Hotel Palomar Philadelphia
channels the essence of Agent 007 for a night of style, taste and
purpose with its
“Glamsino Royale” event on February 27 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event will benefit local HIV and AIDS service organization
ActionAIDS, whose mission is to ensure that no one with AIDS walks alone.
 
The Palomar’s 24th and 25th
floors

will be transformed into a high-rollers’ paradise with casino
table games and a high-charged, glamorous party atmosphere with passed
bites from Kimpton’s
Square 1682 and signature cocktails from Philadelphia Distilling
(shaken, not st

irred).

Tickets are available for purchase for $50 per person at
http://actionaids.org/Glamsinotickets.
Five casino chips are included with each ticket purchase, you get an
extra five if you purchase your ticket before February 15. Chips will be
used to play casino games
and those with the lucky hand will be given even more chips based on
their winnings for a chance to win one of five big-ticket luxurious
raffle items, including jet-setting getaways to stylish Kimpton hotels
in New York City, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco
and San Diego.
Categories
Philadelphia

The 2014 Flower Show Green Room Host Audition Tapes – Hot or Hot Mess?

New in 2014, the Flower Show will have a social media hotspot called the Green Room. 

PHS is currently in the process of selecting a dynamic extrovert with
endless energy to be the first-ever host of the Green Room, a new
interactive Flower Show attraction. The application process is now
closed, but click here to vote for your favorite wannabe host. Details about the gig are below.

I’ve included a few of my favs, friends and of course a hot mess or two.
I’m not voting for anyone, cause I know 1/2 of the folks who signed up. I did list a few of my favorites, a few hot and a few hot messes. Check them out…here then head over to The Shops of Liberty Place on 2/12/14 to check out the auditions of the top vote getters-

1PM – 3PM in the Rotunda.

Alexander Hankin – He lives high above Rittenhouse Square so he knows what a tree looks like, he proclaims.

 

Sexy Katy Beaver, you remember her from that dress last year at Hair of the Dog, right?


Trying to guess what his business is? Dexter is that you?


Danny Z is bringing back the Pee Wee Herman style. Plus he still has his Christmas Tree up (The audition request went out around 1/15/14).


Gina Gannon. Neat flower side bar.
Marisa Millerick – I want to be her BFF. LOVE LOVE HER
(I’ve never met her, I just love her video & personality.) 
I think she was raised in the jungle or a lily field?

Ashlyn Gardner – Joe Conklin’s Job is Safe
Dave P. – I bet his Match.com profile is a hoot.

Francesca Ruscio, Miss Philadelphia 2013 – She gets extra points cause she filmed the Alexander Hankin audition tape. Either she’s not worried about competition, or she really likes the view from his terrace?

Twins – double the fun
Rachel Luber, she’s a people person
Melanie Renee‘ – Pretty in Pink
Miss Knockout from Queens. She does have all that, but I’d knock her out cause she’s not from Philly.
Aleksandra Svetlichnaya – The Russian Women are not like your grandfather’s Russian Women
Shannon DeVido – Adorable, very funny.

Mr. Pregnant – If Mr French had a child, this would be him

Stephen Beasley gives a running list what makes him unique, failing to mention he did his entire Green Room audition tape while crossing the street. (Oh and he’s from Kentucky, so no.)

I was impressed with
Damian M. video. He went to Longwood Gardens to tape it.

 

On 2/12/14 at the Shops of Liberty Place, the top vote getters will audition in public between

1PM + 3PM in the Rotunda.

 

Categories
Philadelphia

ICE ICE BABY & A LITTLE SNOW. PHOTOS FROM THIS WEEK & THE FROZEN DELAWARE RIVER

And this weather goes on and on and on….

 Washington Square Park
 Independence Park
 Penns Landing

 Penns Landing Basin
 This is the boat that was used in the upcoming movie with Richard Gere “Franny”
 Hot Wheels the movie begins pre-production in March. A lot of the filming will be down in the Northern Liberties and Northeast areas of Philly.
The Hyatt Penns Landing has a share bike program.
Categories
Philadelphia

Jason Cichonski Soft Opening at The Gaslight in Old City Last Night. Guess Who Stopped By…


 Last night Jason Cichonski invited a few friends over to check out his new bar/restaurant The Gaslight, in Old City at 120 Market St. and watch a little TV.

I caught up with Jason who introduced me to his chef de cuisine James Fujioka who was with him at Ela and now will over see The Gaslight. Over the past week the two have had a few soft openings, but the actual grand opening will be on February 17, 2014.



Candice Lauren, Aaron Repucci, Tara Marie, Jen Carroll, Billy Riddle Sam Shoap, (who works as campaign manager to Jared Solomon who I used to work for at Kohn, Swift & Graf.) and the soon to move to LA to be a big star, Cheryl Vu. Not pictured Joe Corrigan, Brian Sims campaign manager, who stepped away for a minute and was out of ear shot.

 A nice crowd was on hand to try some delicious menu items.
 Peanut Butter Cup Pudding. Everything is edible. Katie Griffin, of Katie Griffin Casting (currently casting the host thing for PHS)
 There’s a whole section of fun chips and dips to choose from
These chicken wings were delicious, and I know a thing or two about wings. Above the wings is the pickle plate.
 Nick Elmi are #TopChef and the crowd erupts

 After everyone left I took some photos.
 The 2nd bar

 I love the eclectic chars

Amazing wall coverings: Reclaimed DOORS line the wall.
Look who’s here Joe from @philawoodcraft and girlfriend Tina. He did the tables and those great doors. Aren’t they great, and he’s local. 
Categories
Philadelphia

Philadelphia Eagles Connor Barwin Puts A Smile on Sarah Lockwood

On Sunday, Philadelphia Eagles Connor Barwin delivered a Super Bowl Tailgate party to Sarah Lockwood,
a bartender at South Philadelphia Taproom who had entered A Super Bowl
Tailgate Party sponsored by Uber and Geno’s. 

 An Uber car picked up
Barwin at his Center City home to take him to Geno’s Cheesesteaks to
pick up 21 wiz wit’s.
 
Barwin posed with Geno’s Employee Joey Lemons
 Sarah Lockwood,
a bartender at South Philadelphia Taproom, Philadelphia Eagles player Connor Barwin and  Meagan Norman, Community Manager at Uber, Inc
 Then around 2pm Lockwood was ‘kinda” surprised at work
with the steaks, and party snacks provided by Pretzel Crisps,  2 cases
of red bull and Team Eagles gear. Lockwood told me she entered just
once, and she planned to share the delicious spread with her co-workers
before the dinner shift started. 
 
Barwin posed with friends of Sarah Lockwood and several
of her favorite customers. Barwin tells me he’s been to SPTR several times. “It’s chill, and laid back.” ie no one bothers him. Although he is really a friendly guy.
Categories
Philadelphia

SOMETHING HOT ON THIS SNOWY DAY: TEMPLE UNIVERSITY’S MEN’S GYMNASTICS TEAM STRIPS DOWN FOR A SEXY ALUMNI CALENDAR

The Temple University Board of Trustees has recently announced that they
will no longer be funding several sports programs, one being men’s
gymnastics. Temple gymnastics has been a pillar to Temple University
with its academic and athletic excellence. We have produced national
champions, world team members, and Olympians since our inaugural season.
Please help us SAVE OUR SPORT!


Over the weekend the alumni gathered as they do annually, to attend the first meet of the season, a bitter sweet season as it’s the last. 
The Alumni, friends and supporters are rallying ways to raise funds to save the program. One way is to do a calendar to raise awareness to the dire situation. The idea of the calendar was conceived by Dash Sears and Clay Stewart.
Photographer is Michael Thomas a seasoned sports photographer who flew in from NH to shoot.
 Sign the Petition to save the gymnastics program
  • If someone wants to get involved, inquire about donations, or ask questions about the calendar, please email Clay Stewart at forest.clay.stewart@gmail.com.
  • We have one of the most dedicated alumni bases with a 25%
    donation rate, compared to a 7% donation rate of the overall Temple
    alumni base.
  • Our team is self-sustained with a combination of tuition money and donations.  We are not an expense to the university. 
  • The team operates on a budget less than the helmet and chinstrap budget of the Temple Football Team.
 Susie Celek stopped by to lend her support
 and give the guys some encouragement
  • The team’s GPA is the highest of all teams at the university for the past 3 years. 
  • The team has one of the best winning records of all team’s at the university. 
  • Team has been around since 1926.

  Let your voices be heard by going to Templegymnastics.com,
check the Save Temple Gymnastics online petition. For addresses of the
president and board members visit the Temple University Men’s Gymnastics
Facebook page. (Paige Ozaroski took this photo)
On Saturday the boys did a photo spread for the calendar at the Goldtex Apartments in Center City. Slice pizza provided the sustenance for the enduring and endless posing.
Categories
Philadelphia

TRASH PICK UP NEWS: STREETS DEPARTMENT WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY

STREETS DEPARTMENT WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY
Trash and Recycling Collections Impacted; Citizens Must Place Collections Curb Side

Philadelphia – The Streets Department is preparing for the next snow
event expected to begin around 6:00 AM on Monday morning, announced
Streets Commissioner David J. Perri. Rain is expected overnight
tonight prior to changing to snow just in time for the morning rush
hour. The Streets Department will deploy 230 pieces of equipment at the
height of the storm. Crews will deploy
at 3:30 AM to begin treating roads. Primary, secondary and hilly streets
will be treated and plowed throughout the event. The snow is expected
to fall heavily at times throughout the day and end in the afternoon.
Total snow accumulation of between 4-inches to 6-inches is anticipated.

The forecasted snow accumulation requires trash and
recycling collections in rear driveways to be suspended for the week of
February 3. Citizens must set their collections out on their regularly
scheduled collection day at curb side this week. We ask resident for
patience as crews navigate through the snow.

Citizens are urged to employ the following tips for successful snow and ice management:
· Allow extra time while driving and maintain safe driving distances.
· Apply commercial de-icer to your stairs and sidewalks early.
· A clear sidewalk path of at least 36” wide is required within
6 hours of the end of a storm. For owners of properties located on
corners, the path should extend to the curb cuts to assist pedestrians
and wheelchair users.
· Do not place snow in the street as
it can create unsafe driving conditions and hamper operations when
salting and plowing streets. Place all shoveled snow against your
property wall or between parked cars.
· Check on your elderly neighbors and family.
· Use caution when navigating over bridges and overpasses where slippery spots may develop.
· Remove ice and snow from car…