I’ve seen the plans and programing for the new Eakins Oval – The Oval, which I mentioned on May 20th in my PhillyMag column.

It’s no longer going to be a parking lot, but a park. Like another Square, but instead “The Oval.”

Someone was nice enough to send me the plans, but I’m only going to post these two shots so we can all anticipate the news as it’s rolled out after July 4th.

I for one an so excited to have this in my neighborhood. Wow Twister, and one so large. Now that could be fun. There’s lots and lots of interesting program for the space which should be operational by mid July.  Kinda reminds me of Bryant Park in NYC, or Rittenhouse Square park in our City, but with Twister and a ping pong table. You can read more about the plans over at Hidden City.

These were the two links I talked about today on Good Day Philadelphia.

Philly Daily News’ Erin Gry column about It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=213552279888509178756.0004956b351e9b8c93cd0&mid=1371159979

It was a a night of great expectations at Hotel Monaco as movers and shaker from across the
city and across the country came together to celebrate the Community Angel Awards
supporting under privileged youth.

Community Angel Foundation (a 501c3 non-profit organization)
was founded by Veniece Newton (standing with Roberto Clemente Jr.) who had one simple goal – every child
deserves to smile during the holidays. What started as a gesture of
kindness by providing toys to hundreds of children, evolved into the CAF
mission to “Educate , Encourage and Empower Youth” to become the next
generation of leaders. Veniece realized a gift is not enough to change a
life. To change lives, you must change minds and get to the heart of
the communities that are in need!

Hey I apologize to a few events I haven’t gotten around to publishing yet, I’ve just been slammed with work ie covering events (which deserve a decent write up) . Yesterday I was able to squeeze out some time to shoot It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia at 7AM. Check out Good Day Philly today at 9:30AM for more of that story.

 

Last Sunday I headed out to the lush green fields of the Mainline

for the Young Friends of the Academy of Music Funday Sunday pool party fundraiser.

The hosts for the day were Sam Hamilton and Christie Honigman (Co-Chair of the Young Friends of the Academy of Music Ball), The Honigman Group, who along with Teresa Nino executed many of the fun details of the party. I love, love this invitation Christie created.

DJ Adrian Hardy and Sam Hamilton

 Jeff and Marilyn Kellmer
(The best looking married advertisers I have)

Jeff Kellmer Private Jeweler and SunMyst Tanning/Teeth Whitening

Please check out my Philly Mag column with a great story on the Great Chefs event, after you check out these pixs & tidbits. (Also would appreciate if you could “like” the page. Thanks

Congrats to Nicole Cashman and Nigel Richards on their ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY, (Cashman & Assoc did the press, and Alex’s Lemonade internally executes the event) plus today at The Shops of Liberty Place, catch Alicia Viterelli, Jamie Apody, Brian Taff and Shirleen Alicott “Stop by the Shops at Liberty Place tomorrow from 11:30a-1p! I’ll be at
our 6abc booth with giveaways & raffles for the Gary Papa Run.“

I just want to thank my editor Janine White, Philly Mag, for the amazing job she did in editing my columns for the three years I’ve been there. She makes me look so good, she’s been a tremendous mentor and I’m a better photographer because of her direction. In the past year or so she began to allow me to choose what columns fit the best at Philly Mag, and that kind of confidence doesn’t come easy. Thanks. I have to run out, but Please check out my Philly Mag column with a great story on the Great Chefs event, after you check out these pixs & tidbits. (Also would appreciate if you could “like” the page. Thanks

Last week The Voice Foundation held it’s annual gala and symposium in Philadelphia at the Westin Hotel. 

The Voice Foundation is the world’s oldest and leading organization dedicated to the care and training of the human voice.

 

According to Made in America’s Facebook page…The wait is over!  The daily lineup for the 2013 Budweiser Made In America Festival is here!

Performers will appear across three stages on the Benjamin Franklin
Parkway in Philadelphia’s Fairmont Park on Saturday, August 31and
Sunday, September 1. 

Lineup for August 31, 2013:

Redlight, Rudimental, Mord Fustang, TJR, Porter Robinson, Wolfgang
Porter, Walk The Moon, Haim, A$ap Rocky, Solange, Public Enemy, 2
Chainz, Imagine Dragons, Empire Of The Sun, Phoenix, deadmau5 and
Beyoncé (headliner).

Line up for September 1, 2013:

Jesse Rose, Robert Delong,  Alunageorge, GTA, Feed Me, Nero, Jay
Rock, Schoolboy Q, AB Soul, Fitz & The Tantrums, The Gaslight
Anthem, Emile Sandé, Kendrick Lamar, Miguel, Wiz Khalifa, Macklemore
& Ryan Lewis, Queens Of The Stone Age, Calvin Harris,  and Nine Inch
Nails (headliner).

Tickets on sale here.

Yesterday was the Philadelphia Pride Parade, an event I’ve attended nearly every year since it’s inception 25 years ago. It’s important to me, to be out, to be visible, to show support for the GLBTQ etc community. People are still getting gay bashed, and even murdered over something I was born to be. I’m not going to get into the Bible discussion, I’m no longer someone who needs to prove myself to anyone that I’m loved by God just the way I am. I wish that had come to me years ago, as I wasted so much time trying to convince others. I am proud to be gay, ecstatic to have a partner of nearly 20 years that supports my incredible career, and I’m so grateful to Philly Pride’s Franny Price (Executive Director & owner of Spruce Street Video), Chuck Volz (Senior Advisor & owner of Finnegan’s Wake, a Philadelphia pub) for saving this institution, nurturing it and growing it to the huge success it is today. It’s the best “family” reunion of people who were there for me, sometimes when family didn’t understand me.

 Congrats to Franny
and her legions of supporters/volunteers who made yesterday a safe and
fabulous day to be 25 years proud of all we’ve accomplished as a
community; there are still so many great days ahead of us. Great job and
thanks everyone for coming out today! – John M Loesch Jr

We invite you to join The Attic on
November 16, 2013 at the Crystal Tea Room for a festive evening of
performances, awards, and dancing to celebrate 20 years of creating
opportunities for LGBTQ youth. 
The Attic began in 1993 as a small,
weekly support group, and has since grown into a nationally recognized,
multi-service youth organization that is one of the largest community
centers in the U.S. committed exclusively to serving LGBTQ youth and
allies.   There is a lot celebrate!

Saturday, November 16, 2013