Categories
Philadelphia

Photos: The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Gala Honors Criag Robinson and Patricia Gainey

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention held their fifth annual Masquerade Ball, November 15, 2014 at the Crowne Plaza, King of Prussia.

This year the gala honored AFSP Regional Director Patricia Gainey and AFSP Supporter Craig Robinson with Trailblazer Awards.

Jan Evans and Pat Gainey.

Gabi Winick
of Second Vision Band.
Caryn Hersh and Garden Wellington.
 The gala guests got into the masquerade spirit.
DJ Shawn-T.
 The Philadelphia Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention created a fun and festive atmosphere for the gala.
  The evening began with a cocktail party, followed by the program,
dinner, and dancing. All proceeds raised at the gala went to The
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Greater Philadelphia
Chapter.
Get down boogie oggie oggie.
Jim Robinson, Craig Robinson, and Susan Robinson. Craig Robinson is a “celebrity” in these parts. He’s appeared on the 6ABC Bachelor program, and makes appearances throughout the country with the alumni cast. Last year, fellow cast member, Gia Allemand, committed suicide. These days Craig donates his time to prevent suicides and to get information out there for people in distress to reach out for help. With his involvement he’s raised the profile of the organization where donations have increased tremendously to help those in needs. Congrats Craig!

Silent auctions are always fun at these events. They raise additional much needed monies, and we get a chance to own or experience unique experiences, sometimes at a discounted price.
Brian, Rachel, and Brandon.
Melissa Robinson and Carolyn
Cline.

At the AFSP Gala there was also a raffle auction. Tickets were sold and guests were able to put them into the hats for a chance at winning the gift baskets. These are great items. You collect a lot of different donations, combine them, wrap them and sell them.
Corinne DiVario and Jodi Diamond.

Second Vision Band.

The team at American Foundation of Suicide Prevention.
Categories
Philadelphia

Walnut St Store Closing, Brent Celek Revisit’s, No More Snapping Your Wrists, Hardcore Pawn, MANNA and more news

 I’ve compiled the latest interesting news culled from my SM, as well as a few of our friends….

Tatyana has closed up lock stock and barrel down to the last store fixture. I hear the duty was done Friday 11/21. Corporate pulled the plug on the Philly store. Their online presence is still alive.  I know a lot of people were sad to see the “vintage” store close.

The Shops at Bellevue had a ribbon cutting on Friday for their new Walnut Street doors. You’ll recall the old ones were so heavy it felt like your wrists could snap at any moment especially if you got caught in the wind tunnel.
 Drew “The Mayor” Carballo and DelFrisco’s GM Carmen Tedesco
 Chef Jen Carroll whipping up something delicious on Thanksgiving.
 Fabulous Alexander Faymous Kacala with Lance Bass and friend during the Pink Crawl on Wednesday night through the Gayborhood.
Tony Frick, Bd President of Manna, Alyssa Ingram, Rob Saxon, Director of External Affairs – MANNA, Sue Daugherty, Executive Director of MANNA, Ben Cross and Rosemary Connors serving up some grub on Thanksgiving at Manna.  October 9 is MANNA’s 25th Anniversary Gala. Hope to see you there.

 The NBC10 Morning Crew back together again to celebrate Bill Henley’s induction into the Broadcast Pioneer’s Hall of Fame. Justin Pizzi, Bill Henley, Terry Ruggles and Jillian Mele

 My friend from Paul VI High School, Gerri DeMarshall and the fabulous Flyer’s Alumni. Can you name them?
 Marshall Harris visiting Lauren Johnson from CW fame, in her new hometown of Dallas Texas
Sweet Jenn is enjoying Paris on a press junket.
 Sheena Parveen is rocking her sandy brown hair for the winter.
 Pick up these great maps at Macy’s or the Christmas Village for all things holiday in Philadelphia.
 These cups are only $3 at the Christmas Village.

 Will Bozarth met the cast of Hardcore Pawn at Forman Mills over the weekend.
 Brent Celek is launching his accessory line at Joan Shepp on Wednesday.
 On Instagram I’m chronicling my favorite holiday windows.
For
many years in the 1990’s The Love Park sign would be covered in an act
of protest on #WorldAIDSDay and a mock funeral held at the famed
location. #ACTUP #philly #gay The first photograph I ever had published
was from this series and appeared in Philly’s now defunct GLBT newspaper Au Courant in 1993.
RIP: My BFF Shawn Conley, Michael Root and Wayne Cohen.
Categories
Philadelphia

Thanksgiving Parade – Behind The Scenes, Lance Bass Outfit Changes, Jordan Fisher, Kendall Schmidt and more

Another successful 6ABC Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade is in the books for November 27, 2014. It was a lot of fun to cover the parade, differently than I had in years gone by. Thanks to Sevag Creative and 6ABC for taking care of my late request press credentials. 

Lance Bass makes his way down Market Street.
 The vendors  putting their merchandise together.

 Keeping Warm
 The parade comes together at 20th and JFK
 Miss America – Kira Kazantsev and Ginger Zee, Good Morning America kick up their heels.

 Frozen
 The All American Cheerleaders
 The Boy Scouts collect cans for needy families.

 I love these turkey hats, and I love when spectators love to wear them.

 I’ve always hung around the Parkway area near my home to watch the parade. I had no idea it got so crowded on the lower streets closer to the start of the parade. I think it’s better here, more room, better sight-lines, although less bathrooms.
And they’re yelling SPIN, SPIN

The postman picks up letters to Santa at the 6ABC Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade (I had no idea, I would have brought mine.)

 Eden XO
 Dedicated parade watchers sitting on the cold street.

 I bet someone in their family crochets

 Windsor Hotel
 Four Seasons (Soon to be maybe St. Regis, but I’m not betting on these things anymore!)

 Adorable Logan Square Cafe, great lunch place which you can rent out for parties too.

 Soft Pretzels, and E Cigarettes. Yes I would think they would be sold together.

 Lance Bass’ 2nd outfit
 Scooby Doo is not full of hot air.

 Philly Jesus’ brother, tells me he’s Philly Santa!

6ABC’s Alicia Vitarelli behind the scenes.
 The camera operation behind the scenes.
 Candice Glover, American Idol Fame

 Jordan Fisher
 Kendall Schmidt
Miss America – Kira Kazantsev, Miss Jersey – Cierra Kaler-Jones and  Miss Delaware – Brittany Lewis
Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!!
Categories
Philadelphia

Today: CHRISTMAS VILLAGE GRAND OPENING CEREMONY

MEDIA ALERT

TODAY: CHRISTMAS VILLAGE GRAND
OPENING CEREMONY TO FEATURE CHRISTKIND FROM GERMANY ARRIVING ON
HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE, MARCHING BAND, SING-A-LONGS AND LIGHTING OF THE
FOUNTAIN

WHAT:
Grand Opening Ceremony for Christmas Village in Philadelphia: Presented by NRG

WHERE:
Philadelphia’s LOVE Park (15th and JFK Boulevard)

WHEN:
Today, Saturday, November 29, 2014, 4pm to 6:00pm

SCHEDULE AND TIMELINE:
4:00 –4:25  

Father Judge Marching Band performance on stage

4:25                

Father
Judge Marching Band starts walking through the market to pick up
Christkind & guests – Christkind will arrive on horse-drawn carriage
by 76 Carriage Co

4:30 – 4:35

Christkind & guests with Father Judge Marching Band walk in                      

4:35 – 4:40   

Introduction of the speakers

4:40 – 4:45    

Speaker – Thomas Bauer, President of Christmas Village

4:50 – 4:55    

Speaker – Presenting Sponsor – NRG Home

4:55 – 5:05   

Christkind
lights fountain, gives traditional prologue & officially opens the
market, Clearview High School Choir will support prologue with German
“Stille Nacht”

5:05 – 5:30    
Clearview High School Choir sings onstage

5:05 –  5:15        

Official Photo Shoot with the Christkind and guests in front of LOVE Sign!

5:15 – 6:00

Christkind is doing the market walk with basket full of candy

WHAT:
Sing-a-long
to holiday selections by the Father Judge Pep Band, Clearview Regional
High School Choir and other entertainers. The original Christkind from
Nuremberg will arrive in a horse-drawn carriage from 76 Carriages. She
will then officially open the market by reciting her traditional
prologue and rings in the official lighting ceremony of the Christmas
Village Fountain (not the tree), presented by NRG Home. She will then do
her traditional walk of the market.

WHO:
Thousand of
neighbors, visitors and tourists will flock to the opening weekend of
Christmas Village. This season, over 550,000 are expected to visit
between Thanksgiving Day and December 28, 2104.

VISUALS:

* Christkind will light Christmas Village Fountain and walk the village
* Santa will take photos with children
* Live music
* Twinkling lights and decorations throughout LOVE Park
* International and local shopping in 65+ decorated booths
* Food and mulled wine served
* Wish Wall for Make-a-Wish Foundation

MEDIA CHECK-IN POINT:
We would appreciate it if you could confirm coverage by emailing kory@aversapr.com or calling 215-840-9216.  Aversa PR will have a check-in point for the Grand Opening at the information
booth located to the right of the stage (as you face City Hall).

Thank you for considering for TODAY.

# # #

ABOUT CHRISTMAS VILLAGE

The
Christmas Village will again transform Philadelphia’s LOVE Park (15th
and JFK Boulevard) into a traditional, open-air German Christmas Market,
open daily between Thanksgiving and Sunday, December 28, 2014. Shop for
high-quality, international and local gifts and decorations. Enjoy
holiday sights and sounds with thousand of twinkling lights, the LOVE
ParkChristmas Tree, live music, children’s activities and photos with
Santa Claus. Warm up with a glass of warm mulled wine or hot cocoa while
enjoying European and American food and drink. Admission is free, with
food, drink and shopping pay as you go. Now in its seventh year, the
village has grown into one of the region’s most unique and charming
holiday attractions. It expects to attract more than 550,000 people in
2014. Sixty-five international and local merchants and artists are busy
preparing high-quality gifts that will be sold in decorated tents and
wooden houses that will pop-up throughout Center City’s famous LOVE
Park. With toys, apparel, jewelry, decorations, homegoods, artwork and
more, there will be something for everyone on Santa’s list.

ABOUT SPONSOR

NRG
Home empowers residential energy customers with a new way to think
about, buy and use energy. Innovative, exclusive energy products give
customers unprecedented choice and control through customized
electricity plans with unique rewards and access to emerging energy
technology solutions. NRG Home is part of NRG Energy, Inc., a Fortune
250 company that serves almost three million retail customers across the
country. NRG Energy creates value through reliable and efficient
conventional power generation, while driving innovation in solar and
renewable power, electric vehicle ecosystems, carbon capture technology
and customer-centric energy solutions.

Categories
Philadelphia

CHRISTMAS VILLAGE RINGS IN HOLIDAY WEEKEND WITH PREVIEW ON THANKSGIVING

CHRISTMAS VILLAGE RINGS IN HOLIDAY WEEKEND WITH PREVIEW ON THANKSGIVING, CONCERT ON FRI NOV 28 AND GRAND OPENING CEREMONY ON SAT NOV 29

WHAT:
Opening Weekend for Christmas Village in Philadelphia: Presented by NRG

WHERE:
Philadelphia’s LOVE Park (15th and JFK Boulevard)

HOURS: 
Thursday, November 27 preview 9:00am to 5:00pm
Friday, November 28 preview 11:00am to 7:00pm
Saturday, November 29 official opening 11:00am to 8:00pm 

EVENTS THIS WEEKEND: 

Black Friday Holiday Jams Concert (Fri Nov 28, Noon to 1:00pm) – Christmas Village kicks off a new Friday lunch series with Good Girl, Jacqueline Constance and Jay Marie. Future dates: 
* Dec 5 – Walt Anderson, Felicia Punzo and others
* Dec 12 – BridgeSet Sound
* Dec 19 – Gin Canaries

Grand Opening Ceremony (Sat Nov 29, 4:00pm to 5:00pm) – Sing-a-long to holiday selections by the Father Judge Pep Band, Clearview Regional High School Choir and other entertainers. The original Christkind from Nuremberg will arrive in a horse-drawn carriage from 76 Carriages. She will then officially open the market by reciting her traditional prologue and rings in the official lighting ceremony of the Christmas Village Fountain (not the tree), presented by NRG Home. She will then do her traditional walk of the market. 

WHO:
Thousand of neighbors, visitors and tourists will flock to the opening weekend of Christmas Village. This season, over 550,000 are expected to visit between Thanksgiving Day and December 28, 2104.

VISUALS: 

* Christkind will light Christmas Village Fountain and walk the village (Saturday)
* Santa will take photos with children (All weekend)
* Live music
* Twinkling lights and decorations throughout LOVE Park
* LOVE Park Tree and LOVE Statue
* International and local shopping in 65+ decorated booths
* Food and mulled wine served
* Wish Wall for Make-a-Wish Foundation

MEDIA CHECK-IN POINT: 
We would appreciate it if you could confirm coverage by emailing kory@aversapr.com or calling 215-840-9216.  Aversa PR will have a check-in point for the Grand Opening at the information
booth located to the right of the stage (as you face City Hall). 

Thank you for considering for your weekend holiday coverage!

# # # 

ABOUT CHRISTMAS VILLAGE 

The Christmas Village will again transform Philadelphia’s LOVE Park (15th and JFK Boulevard) into a traditional, open-air German Christmas Market, open daily between Thanksgiving and Sunday, December 28, 2014. Shop for high-quality, international and local gifts and decorations. Enjoy holiday sights and sounds with thousand of twinkling lights, the LOVE ParkChristmas Tree, live music, children’s activities and photos with Santa Claus. Warm up with a glass of warm mulled wine or hot cocoa while enjoying European and American food and drink. Admission is free, with food, drink and shopping pay as you go. Now in its seventh year, the village has grown into one of the region’s most unique and charming holiday attractions. It expects to attract more than 550,000 people in 2014. Sixty-five international and local merchants and artists are busy preparing high-quality gifts that will be sold in decorated tents and wooden houses that will pop-up throughout Center City’s famous LOVE Park. With toys, apparel, jewelry, decorations, homegoods, artwork and more, there will be something for everyone on Santa’s list.

ABOUT SPONSOR

NRG Home empowers residential energy customers with a new way to think about, buy and use energy. Innovative, exclusive energy products give customers unprecedented choice and control through customized electricity plans with unique rewards and access to emerging energy technology solutions. NRG Home is part of NRG Energy, Inc., a Fortune 250 company that serves almost three million retail customers across the country. NRG Energy creates value through reliable and efficient conventional power generation, while driving innovation in solar and renewable power, electric vehicle ecosystems, carbon capture technology and customer-centric energy solutions.

CONTACTS:

Kory Aversa                                                                              
CEO/President  
Aversa PR & Events                                                                            
215-840-9216     
kory@aversapr.com
@koryaversa @aversapr   

Timo Kargus
Project Manager
German American Marketing, Inc.
215-391-3017
kargus@philachristmas.com
@philachristmas

(Press Release)

Categories
Philadelphia

Photos: The Urban Affairs Coalition Breakfast and Award Winners

For
45 years, the Urban Affairs Coalition has worked tirelessly to improve
the quality of life in the region, build wealth in urban communities,
and solve emerging issues. Our network of 55 + partner organizations and
programs serve more than 150,000 children, youth and adults annually,
addressing critical issues in our communities including — digital
literacy, summer youth employment, free tax services, small business
financing, anti-predatory home improvement loans, special needs housing,
economic inclusion, HIV/AIDS prevention and so much more. Last Friday they held their annual breakfast in the Grand Ballroom at the Hyatt at the Bellevue.

Jerry Sweeney, Steven Bradley, “Living Legacy Award” Recipient Romulo “Romy”  Diaz, Jr., Esq. (VP & General Counsel, PECO), and Ron Bradley.

Former Ed Rendell greets the guests in his jovial way.
Good morning Philadelphia !! – Mayor Nutter
 City Councilwoman Marian B. Tasco and president of City Council Darrell Clarke.
Rose Samuel, Congressman Chaka Fattah, City Councilwoman Marian B. Tasco.
 Karen Lewis and Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Derrick Sawyer.
Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro, Anthony Williams, and Romy Diaz.
Former Governor Ed Rendell, “Doer” Award Recipient Grant Rawdin, Esq.  (President and CEO, Wescott Financial Advisory), and CEO/President of UAC Sharmain  Matlock­Turner.

Inspired
by Governor Edward G. Rendell, this award honors an individual who has
made the communities of Philadelphia a better place to live, work and
play.
Pennsylvania Governor Elect Tom Wolf and UAC Board Member William Moore
.  UAC Board Member Dan Fitzpatrick and
Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro

Honorary Co-Chairs

Nelson Diaz
Partner, Dilworth Paxson LLP

Michael Rashid
Former President & CEO, AmeriHealth Caritas

Romulo “Romy” Diaz
receives the “Living Legacy” Award. 
Inspired by Dwight Evans, this award honors a policy leader who has committed to fostering the Coalition’s mission. 
Philadelphia
Fire Commissioner Derrick Sawyer and Community
Leadership Award Recipient Judge Renée Cardwell Hughes (CEO, American Red Cross
SEPA.)
The award is inspired
by Ernest E. Jones, this award honors a community organization and its
leader for contributing to the quality of life in the region.
Thanks to Mike Hirata for shooting this event for PhillyChitChat, Skai Blue Media and the UAC Breakfast 
Happy Thanksgiving. I’ll be covering the 6ABC Thanksgiving Day Parade via my instagram at PhillyChitChat and on Twitter: @Iphillychitchat
Be safe, go EAGLES and enjoy your nap after dinner. 
Categories
Philadelphia

Photos from the Opening Night Party: The Gifts from the Earth E-Modern Gallerie

Edward Fong, owner director of E-Modern Gallerie, curated another gorgeous exhibit of new artists at his Old City gallery (116 Arch Street). His passion for finding new artists and introducing it to Philadelphia is apparent in his monthly exhibitions.

Edward Fong (2nd from right) with artists: Brendan McAtammey (woodworker), Santiago Galease (artist) and Diane Gale (sculpture).
Gorgeous bowl by Brendan McAtammey. He created this bowl from a fallen tree from the Quaker Meeting House at 4th and Arch.
Diane
Gale
and Trina Robba McKenna.
Bob
Morrison, Rosa Torres
and Ricardo Torres.
Galeas specializes in doing haunting realistic portraits.

Xing
Yang and Danching

John Romano, Bob Morrison and Brendan McAtamne,

Rachel
Sigmund and Izzy Sigmund.
Lisa
K and Clayton Blunk
Diane Gale (sculpture).
Wojo,
Roger Wing and Elaine Lander.
Jay
N and Nadia Kunz.
Guest, Stormy Lundy, Mark Mitchell and Cristina Jackson.

  Santiago Galease
 The exhibition runs from November 15 through December 28

Meredith Rainey and Thaddeus Squire.

Nathan
Distefano and Laura Distefano
Donald
Harrison and Adrian Plascencia w
ith gallery owner Edward Fong.
Categories
Philadelphia

Manita Burrito, Fairmount’s newest burrito joint, Intimate Dinner Party

Manita Burrito, Fairmount’s newest burrito joint, had their VIP grand
opening preview on November 12, 2014 at Mugshots Coffeehouse, where
they’ll be taking over the kitchen every
Thursday-Saturday for dinner.

 At the intimate party, the guests mingled
around bowls of housemade chips and guacamole. Guests enjoyed a variety
of bite-sized burritos, including chorizo, chicken, beef, carnitas, and
more.

Chef Michael O’Halloran (r) (also of Bistro
7 on N3RD St.) and managing partner Noam Kugelmass (L) circulated through
the crowd, introducing themselves to the new Fairmount patrons. The once
“pop-up” shop is nicknamed the “Casa del Freekeh Burrito” after the
signature menu item – a burrito filled with an
ancient super grain called freekeh. Manita Burrito started dishing out
their locally-sourced and organic cuisine earlier this month and is now
open for business every weekend for dinner.

 Linda Berger and Sue Boehan
 Megan Lunny and Alex Coll – Cashman & Associates
 KYW’s Hadas Kuznitz and husband Dan Reinherz with son Geffin Reinherz
Guests enjoying Tacos, Quesadillas, Ensaladas at the Manita Burrito takeover at Mugshots Coffeehouse.
 Laura Krebs – Cashman & Associates and  Jacklin Rhoads – Cashman & Associates
 I ate entirely too much at the event, the food is delicious!!
 Danny Cevallos (CNN) and  Rebecca Ganim
 Liz Whitman,  Amanda Hill, Jenna Fisher and Brittany Boswell

 Jeff Kralik, The Drunken Cyclist

 
Kate Marlys, Michelle Boyles and Victoria Lam
Categories
Philadelphia

A stylish crowd came out to celebrate ellelauri’s grand opening of their new flagship store in Center City.

Exclusive women’s apparel brand  ellelauri celebrated the grand opening of their new flagship store, located on 114 South 19th Street last week and some of Philly’s most beautiful,  stylish, young social gals were on hand to check out the latest fashions and enjoy the evening.

 Alan Greenberger, Deputy Mayor cuts the ribbon with ellelauri founder Liz Rymar. There’s no one that has worked harder than Alan Greenberger to bring new business to Philadelphia, he’s the deputy mayor of commerce as well as City Planning.

 Good Day Philadelphia’s Alex Holley models a new Fall/Winter ellelauri fashion design.We had a great time Saturday night at the Please Touch Museum for Little Stars.
 ellelauri staffers Amanda Campfield and Erin Callaghan.
 Beth Rymar, Liz Rymar, and George Rymar.
 DJ Adrian Hardy and Sarah Cossa.
 Philadelphia Deputy Mayor Alan Greenberger and ellelauri founder Liz Rymar.

 Celebrity Chef Jennifer Carroll models new ellelauri fashions.

 Michelle Boyles and Randyl Case
 NBC10 Reporter and Anchor Keith Jones and ellelauri founder Liz Rymar.
 Miss Philadelphia Diamond Edmonds and 6ABC’s Melissa Magee.
 Good Day Philadelphia’s Alex Holley and Mike Jerrick with Liz Rymar.
 Amanda Ryan and Lauren Hughes from BreastCancer.org
10% of all sales from the evening went to
breastcancer.org.
 Kristina Jenkins, editor of Uwishunu (I would say Uwishunu is the number one site to see what’s going on in Philly, illustrated. It’s a must read.) and Alex Walsh of Neff Associates PR.

 Kate Maryls and Lexie LaCava from the Bronzed Bee.
 Allaire Corbett, Brittany Corbett, and Liz Rymar.

 Joshua Jenkins, Kristina Jenkins, and Nicole Paloux.

 Joseph Lentini, SignaCurl and Liz Rymar.
 Marthe Mbuy, ‎Judicial Law Clerk at City of Philadelphia and Liz Rymar.

 Ann Marie O’Shea, Liz Rymar, and George Rymar.

 DJ Adrien Hardy. He’ll be one of three DJ’s spinning at New Year’s Eve at the Piazza on 12/31/14 – Check out info here

 A nice crowd was on hand to celebrate the opening.
 Starla Keith and Kent Keith.
David Neff, President & Chief Brand Strategist at Neff & Associates, Liz Rymar, and George Rymar.
You can find all this fashion fun at two locations:
114 South 19th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
1625 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Small Business Saturday Promotion

ellelauri will provide a 10% discount on all merchandise and a gift with purchase for all shoppers on Small Business Saturday.
Valid through November 29, 2014
Categories
Philadelphia

Photos From GORE-TEX Philadelphia Marathon 2014

Photos From GORE-TEX Philadelphia Marathon 2014
 This was the first time I photographed the Philadelphia Marathon since I attended to cheer on my brother 5 years ago.
 The set up was amazing, lots of layers of security, good information on how the race is run. 
 
The Marathon starts off with the Elite Runners first, then they feed in a dozen corrals of runners holding 300++ runners each. Then they start off with the half marathon runners about 20 minutes later. And feed the racetrack the same way, that way all the runners are paced out and not on top of each other. In this video you hear Mayor Mike giving words of encouragement as he goes for the Guinness Book of Record’s for the most high fives.

 

 This is the orange corral getting into place, they would walk in unison from say near the Art Museum, to the starting line where I was standing. (No that women is not smoking a long cigarette, that is just the line in the road.)

 This is kinda fascinating. these volunteers are picking up the discarded sweatshirts of the runners at the starting line.

 They are put into the trashbags and then donated to homeless shelters, and underserved communities.
As for the runners other stuff, these UPS trucks were originally parked closer to the Art Museum Steps.

 It was there that the runners checked their bags in, which might contain warmer clothes, cell phone, and other essentials needed after the race. The UPS trucks then lined up here at the end of the finish line for the pick up of these items in alphabetized fashion per truck. (They thought of everything.)
I liked the clever signs.
Gore-Tex had a sign making area too.

Kiprono Kurgat, (l) won the 13.1-mile half marathon race with an
unofficial time of 1:03:58 greets the Etaferahu Temesgen, (r) who won first place by a women, with an unofficial time of 1:12:48.

 I missed the first man crossing the Marathon Finish Line as I realized I was on the wrong side of the street, where the half marathoner’s ran in. To cross the street I had to walk 2 blocks south at 20th Street, but I did catch the first women crossing the finish line  Leonora Petrina of Bayport, N.Y. with a time of 1:12:48.

 
 Runners get their medals at the finish line.

 They also take selfies.

 I love the people who can run a whole race holding an American Flag
 Or wearing a cowboy hat

 His lucky Mike Vick jersey.

 Never tutu much
 inspiration

 Puppy purse
  Leonora Petrina the women’s winner of the Gore-Tex Philadelphia Marathon.
 Dan Vassallo wins the 2014 Gore-Tex Philadelphia Marathon
(I think he’s doing Movember too. (bottom right)
Gov Elect Tom Wolf, Mayor Nutter, Desiree Peterkin Bell (City Rep) and the women winners at top with the men at the bottom. 

 Look for me I’ll be in the blue wig!
 Or if you were a runner, look for me we will be wearing what looks like candy on my head
 Or perhaps we’ll have your head on sticks as you run by