Philadelphia

#TBT My 80s BACK TO THE FUTURE BIRTHDAY – July 23, 2013

July 23, 2015 by HughE Dillon

Two years ago I had the most fabulous birthday party, with 150 of my closest friends, even though I did forget to invite a few dozen. I should have double checked my list.


Thanks to my sponsors for my Bday Party:
Focused Studios – Thank you Kristyn and Kyree for filming the bday party, and for being such great friends. Korbel – cheers!! (& Carol Drumstas, Brown Forman heart you), Yards Brewery – Tom Kehoe  Stark Raving and BV Century Cellars & Christal Watkins – Multicultural Sales and Marketing Manager at North American Spirits and Wine – PA) HUGE THANKS COOL PIXS with PHIL ANDREWS,  DENISE FIKE illustrations AND Professional Tarot Card Reader
MARILYN SUKONICK-ZEFF who entertained my guests.

(Please Save the Date 11/14/15 for my next celebration, more on that soon.)

 One of my favorite event spaces in the city is Top of the Tower, and was excited when I could work out a plan to have it there. Thanks to event coordinator, brand ambassador, public relations guru Christie Honigman (r), The Honigman Group
for organizing the event, working with all the vendors, decorating the
room, doing the layout of the room, and all those details I had no idea
that went into creating such an amazing event.
 
  Isn’t this a fabulous cake from Potito’s Bakery.  They
created it from a description that Christie and I gave them.  Thank you
for the delicious fro’nuts too. So delicious. They were a huge hit!!
(The following year I approached Potito’s to advertise with me cause they’re make fabulous cakes.)

Krista Guidi, and Katie Griffin
Mike, Me, Tim Young, Laurie and Benny

Tania and Marc Schade, Jamyra Perry, Tony Luke, Jr
 Katie English, my brother Ray LaGreca, Laura Burkhardt, Senator Larry Farnese, Dafni, Annie Heckenberger, Vasiliki Tsiouris and Christie Honigman
 Greta Greenberger (and I have been friends for 17 years), Mickey Rowley, Top of the Tower – (Thanks to you, and Lou Kochman co-owner, your staff, especially Vanessa and Charmaine.) Phyllis Halpern, my good friend and #1 supporter.

 Susan Barnett, moi and Chris May

  Barry Eichner and Sara Kelly
 My sisters Margaret Goleash, Crista Bateman, and Tracy Bonaventure, with bud Matt Ray
 Jade Starling belts out her top hits, and a new one

Yesterday I was able to place Jade Starling in the Philly DN and pitch a story about her to Jenny DeHuff for her gossip column. (Jenny then did an interview with Jade) I adore Jade Starling. Such a huge fan, can’t believe she sang at my bday party, and call her my friend. Pinch me!!

 

 Marisa Magnatta, Kory Aversa, Natanya DiBona and Mike Jerrick

 

 Annie McCormick and Allison Young

 Mike Chobart and Barbara Katz-Chobart
Tempa Berish, Sabrina Tamburino and Lauren Colabelli
 Jacquie Fanelle Winner and Angel Mancine 
– Two lovely ladies I went to Paul VI High School with.

 

 Stacey Kracher, Justin Wineburg and Aida Strata
Fantastic Dynasty inspired outfit – Rachel Moore and John Paz
 Michelle Leonard

Michelle Cassidy and Arthur Etchells
 
 Evan and Lynsie Solomon

 Michelle and Bruce Shannon, Michelle and Shawn Waters
 Cindy Wanerman, Board Chair of ESP, and Larry Wanerman
 Gervase Peterson, Burnz Cigar Lounge in Lawnside, Madison Alpern, Chef Consultant, Jackie Baik,
 Gary DeVito, Dan Cronin and Carmen Tomassetti (CTO Entertainment)
  Thank You DJ EDDIE TULLY for spinning the heck out of the ’80s. You made the party!! I can’t recommend him highly enough. 
 
Chip and Henry
 Mr Philadelphia, Al Lee. On the left is my friend Sue Fee, who I went to college with. So fun to see so many old, new and great friends.
 Jodi Clark (cuts my hair, and I’ve known her for 30 yrs) and Mike Jerrick
 Ian Crumm and Randyl Case
Robert Mendelson, Bobbi Booker and Patty Jackson 
  Gerri Matveenko DeMarshall and Sandee Bengel- (high school friends, but in my brother and sisters class.)
 Renee and Don Freeman
 Desiree Peterkin Bell,  Mayor’s Dir. Of Communications and City Representative and Brian Bell.
 Amber G Ramos and  Pedro Ramos
 Michelle Conron and Matt Ray

 Justin Pizzi and Ben Haney

 Craig Robinson and his date that night.

 Craig Spitzer and Erin Elmore
 Hadas Kuznits, Michelle Leonard and Marilyn Zeff The Professional Tarot reader.
 Kyree Tyrell and Krystin Aldrige
Not photo’d:
Le from Hop Sing, Reggie,
Valerie Knight,

Cass Hallacker and Tina Elmer,
 Jacky Wright, Rakia Reynolds,  Stephanie Rybczyk and Tommy Chiacchio,

Jenine and David Neff, Roberta and Rick Pipito,

Elaine Graber and Jin Hee Park,

Bill Reichert, Diane Johnson and Christian DiCicco,
Phil Andrews, GN Kang, and Ian Butler, and I’m sure more. Sorry.

  I had the most fabulous party for my 50th Birthday, now some of you are
probably thinking to yourself, holy hell Hughe is over 50. I sure am, and at the party I didn’t tell anyone til nearly the end, only a handful of close friends knew before than. As for me, I embrace the age, how much fun is my life,  to do this crazy career in the 2nd part of my life.
I’ve lived a full life, long life which helps me bring life’s expertise to this job. In my 20s I was on drugs, an alcoholic, homeless, aimless, and jobless living in temporary housing, in abusive relationships and sleeping on couches. By the grace of God, I dragged myself to an AA meeting and got
sober at 28, started building my life and my relationship with my family who I was estranged from. I went to Community College
got an 2yr degree as paralegal; I worked in that career for 20 years at Kohn Swift & Graf, started PhillyChitChat as a hobby in 2007, was laid off in 2011, and then my hobby became my career/life.

The Last Family Photos before Grandmom, Dad and Judy died.

The best part of of reaching 50 is you really do care less about how others think you should live your life. But I also care a lot that others live their best life. I hope I help them through my work.

 

Today 52 is a blessing because I’m still here when I really shouldn’t be. I live on borrowed time.