Category: Philadelphia

I took one of my fun walks around Center City last week.

 I remember chatting with the owner of no longer but used to be OK Pizza last fall and he told me he was going to open a cigar shop at the former location of his former fun gift shop XIII on 13 at 211 S 13th St.

 I forgot about it for a bit and walked by the other day and lo and behold it’s been built out and opened. I don’t smoke cigars, but it looked really impressive, seems like they have all the creature comforts of a full service cigar shop.

and downstairs there’s a cigar lounge, a BYOB cigar lounge with a TV, couches, magazines and privacy. Open till 11p.m. on weekdays 2 a.m. on weekends. BrYnell W. on Yelp says Village Tabako  “Wonderfully staff and services Prices are among the Lowest in the CITY”

 3 doors down another sushi place is going in; these days sushi places seem to be popping up everywhere like cupcake places. Across the street from the Criminal Justice Hall behind Applebee’s I noticed there’s another sushi place going in, at 19th and Chestnut, Crazy Sushi opened last year.

And around the corner from Village Tabako, in the old Mid-City Camera store, 1316 Walnut St, (where I spent a lot of time in the 90s),  Sumo Sushi is moving to this long vacant spot. Currently it’s located behind the Starbucks at 337 S. Broad St. and it’s delicious.

Danger Will Robinson: Bru: The indoor beer garden in Center City at 1318 Chestnut St. has taken over the sidewalk on Chestnut Street and forced folks into the street. This is insane. Do they really need the whole sidewalk? Is the facade falling?  I noticed the Scientologist have moved out next door. For the longest time they were planning a hotel in the building next door, but every time they made a move the protestors were out in force. They still maintain their location on Arch St where they seem to live in peace.

The Museum of the American Revolution will soon be building new Museum within walking
distance of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell.  The Museum
just held its “Wrecking Ball” benefit gala as they need to demolish
the current structure to make way for a brand new museum building. 

 

Michael Quinn, Museum of the American Revolution President  greets the guests and tells them about the new museum which will rise on this location.

 

The American Revolution Center is a non-partisan, not-for-profit
501(c)(3) organization dedicated to engaging the public in the history
and enduring legacy of the American Revolution. The American Revolution
Center owns a distinguished collection of objects, artifacts and
manuscripts, and is working to establish a living memorial to the
American Revolution–The Museum of the American Revolution. For more
information,  visit the Center’s website at AmericanRevolutionCenter.org.

James Shaver, Rosie Towchik, Jane Skinner, Peggy Shaver, Jeff
Shaver, Greta Shaver, and Julia Shaver

This past weekend I photographed the United Negro College Fund’s Mayor’s Masked Ball Philadelphia. It was low key in the media with only a few photographers & camera crew, but it was a gigantic success with lots of folks taking it seriously, wearing their finest and best of all their masks. I didn’t even recognize the Mayor and his wife Lisa.

Tuesday was a busy, busy day. I was on Good Day Philly with Mike Jerrick and Sheinelle Jones chatting about The UNCF’s Mayor’s Masquerade Ball and  

Ramona Singer at the Philadelphia Flower Show (next year’s theme – Flower Show planners are already working on the next presentation and
last week announced the theme of the 2014 show: “ARTiculture.”). Then I ran over to Transportation, Building & Construction Awards Luncheon at the Pa Convention Center. Those entries are to come.

 While I was at Good Day Philly, Michelle Williams, of Destiny’s Child
stopped by the studio to discuss her role in the play “Fela” which is at
the Merriam Theater until Sunday. More of the story, including a bunch of chef’s from the Philly area who participated in a cook off with Michelle Williams, and a photo over at Philly.com  (P.S. Michelle Williams owes me $2 for her purchases in this candy machine.)

Plus check out my coverage of the Brewer’s Plate event on Sunday. I found that beer drinkers are not only enthusiastic about the craft, but also have a bit of style. I have to say my photo/tidbit column on Rita’s new Spiked Ice is pretty impressive considering it’s #1 after a week since it was published Here

I was so excited to share in this exciting day, and grateful I was allowed to capture most every moment (a week ago today.) The Rabbi asks that no photos be taken during the snip part of the ceremony.

 The main element of a bris–also called a brit milah–is the removal of the foreskin from an eight-day-old baby boy’s penis. But a bris is actually more than just a snip; it is a ceremony that includes various traditions, rituals, and prayers.

 Before the ceremony, the baby is usually placed on a large pillow and
carried into the room where the circumcision will take place. In some
families and communities it is considered a great honor to carry a baby
to his bris, and parents choose someone (or more than one person) special in their lives for this job.

 

 When the baby arrives, the mohel–a professional specially trained in circumcision–welcomes him with the words: Baruch Ha-Ba. This means “blessed is the one who has arrived.”

The baby is handed to the sandek, which is the name given to
the person who holds the baby during the circumcision.

 This is often
one of the baby’s grandfathers, but parents can also choose to honor
other people with the role.

Before the circumcision, the mohel recites a blessing acknowledging that the mitzvah (commandment) of circumcision is about to be fulfilled.
The mohel uses a shield to protect the penis and to guide
the knife to make sure only the foreskin is cut. There are different
kinds of shields, some tighter than others. Some mohalim (plural for mohel)
use a tighter shield that functions like a clamp, which they believe
eases the baby’s pain. Jewish legal authorities debate the
permissibility of these different shields. The general concern is the
act of circumcision must immediately draw blood; some tight shields
delay blood flow.

 The actual circumcision consists of three separate acts. First, the mohel uses a special knife to remove the baby’s foreskin. Then the mohel tears off and folds back the mucous membrane to expose the glans. The final stage is called metzitzah, which means suctioning the blood from the wound.

 If you’ve been holding your breath up to this point, you can relax. Surgery is over.
In traditional communities, the father recites a blessing for
fulfilling the commandment to bring one’s son into Abraham’s covenant.
In liberal communities, both parents recite this blessing.
Then all the guests respond: “Just as this child has entered into the
covenant, so may he enter into (a life of) Torah, the marriage canopy,
and into good deeds.”

The mohel then takes a cup of wine and recites over it a special prayer that announces the baby’s Hebrew name. If the name has been kept secret until this point, this prayer can be an especially poignant part of the bris.

After the naming, a drop or two of the wine is placed in the baby’s
mouth, the parents drink some of the wine, and the ceremony is over
 

Saturday Night was a whole lotta great charity events, The Kidney Ball, The Wrecking Ball, The Access Sports fundraiser and The Red Ball.

Sadly I only had time to hit up The Red Ball, but I did send my 2nd shooter, Mike Hirata to The Wrecking Ball so we’ll have photos of that event this week and you’ll see what that was like and who was there.  Check out my Philly Mag column HERE to see who was at the Red Ball and what they wore. Thanks to my beautiful date Christie Honigman, The Honigman Group, for going with me.

The National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc Pennsylvania Chapter presented its 24th Annual Madam CJ Walker Awards and Luncheon and Economic Development Seminar at the Loews Hotel on Saturday.

The NCBW-PA Chapter is an advocacy organization that advocates on behalf of women of color, through national and local actions, as well as strategic alliances that promote leadership development and gender equity in health, education, economic development and political aw3areness.  Before the luncheon guests participated in workshops, seminars and enjoyed networking with other guests in a shopping exhibit room.

 DA Seth Williams and Darisha Miller, Darisha Media, who tells me to go check out her clients fine luxury Mi Piaci 24kt Gold leather collection of purses, which can be seen on the lower level of Le Bec Fin.

 

Bram and Rakia Reynolds (less than 24hrs earlier all of us were at the UNCF Inaugural Mayor’s Masquerade Ball, which I will be writing about the event in my Out and About column on Philly.com today.)

Sarah Breedlove, known as Madam C.J.Walker, was an American entrepreneur and philanthropist, regarded as the first female self made millionaire in America. 1867 – 1919

 Mayor Michael Nutter addresses the article in Philly Magazine for the second time in 24hrs when I was at an event, stating if Huber had come today to the 27th Annual Madam CJ. Walker Awards Luncheon he would see successful, productive, women who are entrepreneurs, mothers, daughters and sisters. – It is one thing to think something so destructive, but completely irresponsible to commit to paper and then publish it. Then he went on to thank the guests for inviting him and greeting all the dignataries in the room including Council women Blondell Reynolds Brown, various judges and other notable people.

 Mayor Michael Nutter greets 98 year old Anne Garrott, who also presented the first Garrott scholarship to a young lady for her college education.

 Monique Braxton, NBC10 Reporter, Daralene Jones, NBC10 Reporter, Anzio Williams, Vice President of News and Brittaney Shipp, NBC10 Meteorologist (Who Monique said is the first African American women to be a meteorologist at NBC10)

 

 Rakia Reynolds, Skai Blue Media receives the PECO Power to the Community Award presented by Ramona Riscoe Benson, Corporate Relations Manager PECO, who called Rakia a women on the go, who has done amazing work with the City, and for her clients. She’s a mother, a wife and I (HughE) am proud to call her my friend. She’s compassionate, passionate, a friend, role model and mentor to me and others.

 Cassandre Luberus, MBA co-chair of the luncheon, greets the guests and emphasizes the theme of the luncheon “Educate, Elevate, and Advocate”, while acknowledging the entrepreneurs in the room. (Shalimar Blakely, was the other co-chair.)

Including Florcy Morisset whose art gallery in Old City is the very successful, and philanthropic, Vivantart collection

Scholarship Recipients : Asha P. Wescott, Nakeisha Gamble and Tuera Felice Clark, who also received new laptops.

I heard a Rumor: Sources inside City Hall tell me that the owners of Liberty Two have submitted a proposal to convert some of the floors to a hotel, sorta like the Rittenhouse Hotel.

The tallest Residential Condominiums in Philadelphia, Liberty Two has housed some famous residents over the year including Kendra and Hank Baskett, millionaire and former Philadelphia
mayoral candidate Tom Knox, Bon Jovi’s Richie Sambora, Phillies
pitcher Cole Hamels and socialite Sabrina Tamburino. The lowest floor is the 42nd, which is several stories above any other residences
in the Philadelphia. There are unobstructed views of both rivers, stadiums and all directions with wall to wall windows, but they don’t open and that has been the biggest complaint. The building already boasts an Owners Amenity floor with lounge, exercise rooms, an
“Endless” Pool, full time Concierge, refrigerated storage, home
theater, business center, Men/Women’s lockers w/ steam & sauna. A chauffeur driven town car for residents, and room service
is available from Daniel Stern’s R2L restaurant on 37th floor.

No word on which hotel brand wants to attach their name to the project, but I’m excited because it is a great property, with great amenities and will no doubt have a high occupancy, get it. No really it will do well.

Originally I tweeted this story out as a teaser about 4:15PM. Then Liz Spikol published a story on the project about 4:17PM, which I didn’t see til 7PM on Saturday. Here’s the link to her story over on PhillyMag and she has all the deets.

Everyone’s favorite treat Rita’s Water Ice created a new brand with liquor to liven up your party. Spiked Ice made it’s debut the other night at Table 31.

 So they had a little party to celebrate. Check out who was there in my Philly.com column ….