Category: Around Town With HughE

Hello everyone. Hope you are enjoying summer. I know it is so hot, and there is no relief even after the rain storms, but we have gotten some really great sunsets. This week I am house sitting, so I get to see sunsets from a different side of the building. Ahh maybe I will wake up at 5:30am Friday or Saturday and catch the sunrise from their balcony.

Last week started my summer vacation, which means I don’t have too many events scheduled to photograph. I will be re visiting events I photographed in the spring and placed in other outlets, to share here with a few BTS moments, and for us boomers BTS means Behind the Scenes. I’ve spent a some time down the shore, which was relaxing, with great family visits. I’ve spent a lot of time with friends, which is wonderful to do, and I get to see Mike more often, except he is working a lot, he loves his new position and they appreciate him and the positive changes he’s made in just a short period he’s been in this new role.

Tuesday night Mike and I hosted a few friends for a night at Flight Club (1417 Walnut) upscale entertainment concept combining food and beverage menus with dynamic tech-enabled Social Darts. It was soooo fun!! Very reasonable $17 pp for 90 minutes of play. Food and drinks were regular prices. For the 6 of us the bill was $400 plus tip. On Friday night they have a DJ pumping up the jam. The service and staff are terrific. It’s a lot of fun, I highly recommend it. We celebrated Mike’s birthday, which was the next day July 16.

Last night we went to see the Life of Pi! I never read the book, or saw the movie. Everyone has raved over it for years, as they did last night. Mike and I thought it was going to be an uplifting, musical with feathers and dancing. It was not. It was a thought provoking tale of life, choices and how to cope.

The acting was superb, there were animal characters who were puppets, and magnificent to watch. Yesterday Ensemble Arts hosted a “Master Class” with the star of the show, and the puppeteers, which was informative and entertaining. It’s at the Academy of Music through July 27th.

Nice work, Rouge! Their new streetery is compact, stylish, and lush with plants, umbrellas, and cozy tableside seating.

I visited a few weeks ago for Mike Jerrick’s birthday when his daughter’s diamond bracelet slipped through the floorboards. Staff marked the spot with red ink, and just yesterday, they told me they found it! Even better they also recovered a wedding ring lost back in 2022. Both items have been returned to their rightful owners… along with a whole lot of silverware!

Rouge is one of more than 20 restaurants that had to redesign their streeteries to comply with the City of Philadelphia’s updated outdoor dining regulations.

This looks like something fun for the kids to do during the dog days of summer next week.

Chit Chat soon, in the mean time you can find me on Instagram posting a few times a day. PhillyChitChat

Socially Yours, HughE

OMGosh it’s nearly July. I am sooo happy, as it means the end of Spring Social Season, and the beginning of getting lots done which I didn’t do at the end of Fall Social Season cause I fell. Things really slow down for me, events are few and far between after the July 4th Festivities.

Last year I went away, this year I will be covering a lot of events as my three big clients, PECO, IBX and Jefferson Hospital are sponsors. Hope to see you out and about, if not continue to follow these pages and my social for what’s happening in and around Philly.

I spotted a new mural, it is on Sansom Street, on the back of the Philadelphia Film Society Building. What great memories on the wall, many which I experienced like QFest, GPFO – twice they have had Rocky movies debut here with Sylvester Stallone in attendance, the Black Star Film Festival, Philly Cam. I hear the dedication will coincide with the re opening date of the theater, after it finishes the $4 million renovations, in September. Congrats to Carla Ricci, COO/CDO of the Phila Film Society “I am honored to join the Philadelphia Film Society at such an exciting time,” I worked with Carla at the Eisenhower Fellowships .

The Portal has landed in City Hall’s Courtyard! It’s open when the other side of the world is awake—spreading smiles across time zones. If you’ve passed by lately, you might’ve noticed one side is ‘out.’ Word is the heatwave knocked it offline last week. Don’t worry—it’ll be back up just in time for the Fourth of July fireworks!

Seen on the Web

A Call for artists; PCDC in partnership with the Trocadero Theatre Project is seeking proposals for temporarry public art installation on the boarded up building.

🖌️The chosen artist will work with a budget not to exceed $7,000 to design, produce, and install a piece that reflects the history of the Trocadero Theatre and Chinatown. 📅 Submit your application forml by email to hshang@chinatown-pcdc.org Application Form (English): tinyurl.com/trocaderocallforartistEN

Summer is here and we want to make the living easy. If you drive like me, and you want to spend time at the waterfront, it’s hectic with the building of the 95 cap to create the park. Here is a list of the parking garages in the area.

What to Know Before You Go: Coming to enjoy our incredible Independence Day Weekend celebrations on June 27-June 29? Level up your planning by checking out the nearby parking options before your visit. INFO

OK now go out and enjoy the day!!

Socially yours, HughE

As Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City gears up to celebrate its official seventh anniversary on Saturday June 28—an occasion proudly marked as “Hard Rock Day” by Atlantic City officials since 2018—the iconic resort is turning up the volume on its commitment to the local community.

Hard Rock kicked off a week of community give backs. On June 25, top leaders including Jim Allen, CEO of Seminole Gaming and Chairman of Hard Rock International, George Goldhoff, President of Hard Rock Atlantic City, and Michael Sampson, General Manager, joined Atlantic City residents at New Shiloh Baptist Church for a heartfelt Neighborhood Town Hall. The event wasn’t just talk—Hard Rock presented the church with a $10,000 donation to support their mission of providing essential resources to neighbors in need.

On June 26, the energy was electric as Hard Rock team members, joined by celebrity musician lookalikes, rolled up their sleeves to pack 777 birthday-themed food boxes

for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey—ensuring that food-insecure children get to feel special on their big day.

Michael R helped organize the kits. Each Hard Rock employee has a name tag with their favorite music player on it. He loves Culture Club.

No doubt he got a selfie with “Boy George” who was on hand all day for the festivities, along with Cher and Prince. Here they are on hand to cut the ribbon at the The Hard Rock Bet Digital Center, located at the Unity Player’s Club. Guests can now sign up, get access to exclusive offers, and receive in-person support from the Hard Rock Digital team

Later that day, Hard Rock hosted a community luncheon where $7,000 grants were awarded to seven outstanding local nonprofits, each working to uplift Atlantic City’s most underserved communities.

“As we welcome the arrival of the summer season, we are proud to showcase our unwavering commitment to excellence by offering the most unique entertainment and guest experiences on the boardwalk” said George Goldhoff, President of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. “Alongside our owners, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and our partners, Jack Morris, Joe Jingoli and Michael Jingoli, we look forward to providing our guests with the ultimate experience this summer.” George also re iterated the commitment to giving back to the community; partnerships who were making a difference in society, and the Hard Rock family was grateful to their service.

Among the honorees: Jewish Family Services, Covenant House, The Arc of Atlantic County, Veteran’s Haven South, AC Pride, Diabetes Training Camp Foundation, and Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation.

Tonight Hard Rock is celebrating the kick off of the Fourth of July celebration with fireworks and an invite party tonight. Tomorrow night rock icon Jackson Browne Live at Etess Arena

7TH ANNIVERSARY GIVEAWAY 🎉 To celebrate our 7th anniversary, we are giving away the ultimate Hard Rock “Floor Pass!” 7 lucky winners will receive 2 GENERAL ADMISSION tickets to 7 SHOWS of their choice

Thanks Hard Rock for your commitment to your guests, as well as the community at large!! Happy Anniversary!!

Last night’s An Evening in Franklin Square, presented by Parx, June 17, was a vibrant celebration of community, charity, and fun under the stars.

Guests were treated to an open bar and dinner by Cescaphe before placing their bets in the thrilling Parx Square Derby.

Franklin Square is a historic gem and lush retreat in the heart of Historic Philadelphia. Originally laid out by William Penn in 1682 as one of the city’s first public green spaces, this seven-and-a-half acre park offers a mix of history and family-friendly fun.

Managed by the non-profit Historic Philadelphia, Inc., which restored and maintains the park, Franklin Square features wide lawns, shady trees, and beloved attractions like the Rendell Family Fountain—with its stunning day and night water shows—Philly Mini Golf, the Parx Liberty Carousel, two playgrounds, and the popular SquareBurger run by Cescaphe.

Guests attending the Evening in Franklin Square also get a sneak preview of the 2025 Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival in Franklin Square which opens on Friday, June 20th. This year it celebrates the Year of the Snake with dazzling silk-wrapped lanterns, including the return of the 200-foot dragon and all-new giant displays.

Featuring over 1,100 sculptures across 40 scenes, guests will journey through glowing forests and underwater worlds, highlighting Chinese culture and nature in a stunning display of light and color.

The 2025 Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival will illuminate Franklin Square June 20 through August 31.
Open 6 – 11 p.m. daily (Franklin Square is open during the day to the public, but will close at 5pm daily for festival preparations and ticket holders)
*Festival closed July 4

For all Historic Philadelphia, Inc. event information, visit historicphiladelphia.org to buy tickets online. Follow on Facebook at HistoricPhila or FranklinSquare or on Instagram at historicphilly or franklinsquarephilly/.

PR Relief Communications cari@reliefcomm.com

Socially yours, HughE

OMGosh it’s June. Social Season is winding down, but I still have a lot to say and so many fun parties to still publish.

You might have heard by now that Philly Mag has ended my column. It was sad, not surprised, it was never the same after the pandemic, it was dormant for 3 years, and when it came back it was produced by a different department, which was already busy with regular monthly columns. It made a difference, we grew the Philly scene together. It was an honor.

Lucky for you, the parties which won’t be appearing in Philly Mag, will appear on PCC Instagram. We’ve grown quite a following there. Plus we will publish more regularly here on the blog. We receive 260ks impressions monthly.

Grateful to Philly Mag for taking a bold step a decade ago. I was a regular columnist there, but after leaving my paralegal job, I needed to increase my income and was offered a column with Philly.com. I approached my editors to see if I could also contribute to the Inquirer. It was a challenging negotiation, but they ultimately agreed—as long as I covered different events. That opportunity opened the door for me to collaborate with other outlets, and today I’m proud to have monthly columns in Philly Style Magazine, Main Line Today, CBSPhilly, Metro Philly and Philadelphia Tribune!!

Geno’s Steaks in Philly turned into a full-on Madden fantasy yesterday to celebrate Eagles RB Saquon Barkley landing the cover of Madden NFL 26. Picture this: a giant Barkley leaping over a cheesesteak on the roof (as one does), fans striking poses under a huge mock cover as the poor soul he’s hurdling, and even tiny Barkleys mid-air on the stanchions. Philly really said, ‘Let’s make cheesesteak history — with hops. The Madden cover is one of the most iconic honors in football.

“It’s something you dream about as a kid. There’s a lot of accolades you want in your football career, and Madden’s definitely one of them,” Barkley said.

The former Penn State phenom turned Birds backfield star becomes the first Eagle on the cover since Donovan McNabb in 2006. More Info

More Eagles Appearances on the horizon!

Save The Date: It’s going down! Oh Brother’s turning 7 and we’re throwing a block party to celebrate — June 5th from 5–9pm at 206 Market Street! We’re shutting down the street for a night of free food, Casamigos drinks, live music, giveaways, and all the Super Bowl vibes

Super Bowl champ Grant Calcaterra will be in the building for a meet & greet , plus IMMORTAL VISION STUDIO. is bringing the heat with a custom photo activation, and Nelly Jabbarnia is showing off an epic Eagles art display

Score exclusive Oh Brother merch, hit the photo booth, and enter to win a signed jersey Tunes by: @_djnellynellz

This one’s for the city. Rally your crew and come hungry — we’re celebrating in true Philly style!

The 45th Annual Elwyn Ball was a dazzling celebration of community, compassion, and commitment to empowering individuals with diverse abilities.

Held at the elegant Ballroom of the Bellevue Hotel (which by the way looks amazing after it’s renovation), the evening brought together supporters, advocates, and partners for an unforgettable night of dinner, dancing, and heartfelt moments.

Guests honored Elwyn’s enduring legacy of service and innovation, while raising critical funds to support its vital programs in education, behavioral health, and disability services.

This year, Elwyn are honored to recognize Bill and Judy Strine for their steadfast dedication to Elwyn’s mission of enriching the lives of individuals facing developmental and behavioral health challenges. Thanks to their extraordinary $1 million gift for Elwyn’s Judy and Bill Strine Student Transition Center to life. This new center helps young adults ages 18 to 21 build independence and develop job skills as they transition into adulthood. Their generosity is already changing lives and will continue to shape many more for generations to come.

A particularly moving moment of the evening came from Elwyn alumnus Kyle Woodland, now CEO of KWS Productions, who reflected on his inspiring path—from beginning early intervention services at Elwyn at just two years old to establishing a successful career in entertainment and advocacy. “Some people say it’s not how you start, but how you finish,” he shared. “For children with differences, how you start makes all the difference.” His powerful message highlighted the lasting impact of Elwyn’s mission and the critical role early support plays in shaping futures.

Guests enjoyed a gourmet dinner and elegant atmosphere as Elwyn President & CEO Chuck McLister shared exciting details of Elwyn’s most ambitious capital campaign to date, including plans for a new school and key campus updates that will advance Elwyn’s future and expand its impact. The evening continued with live music and dancing, adding joy and celebration to a night rooted in purpose.

The evening’s mission raise sparked a wave of generosity, with guests contributing $60,317 in just minutes to support Children’s Services. These funds will directly expand resources and opportunities for the youngest individuals we serve, helping them build strong foundations from the start. In total, the event raised $664,722, pushing Elwyn’s Ball’s historic impact to nearly $17 million since its founding in 1980.

From lively tailgates, elegant hats, Derby dress and galloping thoroughbreds, the Radnor Hunt Races brought together timeless tradition, tailgate parties, and steeplechase excitement. At its heart, race day is about more than just the finish line—it’s about “Racing for Open Space.”

For 45 years, the Radnor Hunt Races has proudly supported the Brandywine Conservancy’s mission by raising funds and awareness for its open space preservation and clean water initiatives. In a time when the benefits of nature are more evident than ever, your continued support plays a vital role in protecting these precious resources. By taking part in the Races, you help safeguard open space and ensure a healthier, greener future for generations to come.

This year’s weather was ideal, after the few years of clouds, rain and downright chilly. Chilly it was not. The smarter of the men ventured out without their suit jackets. I was not that smart and was sooo hot! But look how cool this set up was.

I don’t think I got one photo of the horses running, which is nearly typical of me as I am paying attention to the guests.

A great day was had by all, but I had to leave at 3PM as I was melting… look for more photos in an upcoming Philly Style Magazine column. Until then…

Socially Yours, HughE

A notable celebration gathering women of civic engagement and mentorship took place Wednesday morning – The Committee of Seventy hosted its annual Women in Public Leadership event . Among those being recognized was Charisse Lille, Esq., who expressed excitement and gratitude for the honor.

“I am thrilled to be honored by the Committee of Seventy at this important event,” Charisse said. “I look forward to the panel of outstanding leaders who will be discussing the Power of Mentorship.”

The annual gathering shines a spotlight on women making a meaningful impact in public life and encourages conversations around leadership, equity, and the importance of guiding the next generation. This year’s theme, The Power of Mentorship, brings together a dynamic panel of trailblazers sharing their insights and experiences.

I was especially excited to attend because, back in 1990, my first job as a paralegal was for Camden’s Solicitor, Karen Taylor-Lewis, Esquire (Office of the City Attorney). At the time, Charisse Lillie was serving as Philadelphia’s City Solicitor and was a mentor to my boss Karen. Much of the wisdom and guidance Charisse shared with Karen was then passed along to me. So when I had the chance to meet Charisse nearly 20 years later, in 2009, after I started PhillyChitChat, I was able to share that full-circle moment with her.

The event featured a panel discussion on the importance of mentorship, moderated by Sue Jacobson, President and CEO of Jacobson Strategic Communications. Panelists included Donna Bullock, Esquire, President and CEO of Project Home and former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives; Carlyn D. Crawley, MPA, Chief of Staff in the Office of Councilmember Quetcy Lozada and a Buchholz Fellow alumna; and

I was truly inspired by Trish Wellenbach’s mentorship story. I’ve photographed Trish and her husband Larry McMichael for over a decade and have seen her rise with purpose and grace. At events, she’s always approachable—offering a kind word, thoughtful advice, and genuine connection. On the panel, she shared how Rebecca Rimmel, former president of the Pew Charitable Trusts, mentored her early in her career and even wrote letters of recommendation that helped open doors, something I remember well as people had done the same for me in my paralegal career. Trish now pays that forward, mentoring others with the same generosity—always available, always leading with heart.

As a mentor myself, I can say there’s real joy and fulfillment in guiding others. Watching my mentees grow and succeed fills me with pride—it’s one of the most rewarding experiences in life. I always tell them, pay it forward. Be a mentor to others. We are all in this together!!

Socially yours, HughE