Category: Philadelphia

It’s that time of year again: the 8th Annual Chefs’ Dinner for PAWS is the singular event of the year that brings chefs and patrons together for an interactive evening of food, fun, and fundraising.
On Monday, June 25, more than 40 of the region’s best chefs will create an extraordinary gastronomic experience at The Union League of Philadelphia. Attendees will enjoy 4-course food and wine pairings prepared tableside by the chefs for 12 guests in decorated pods. All proceeds benefit PAWS’ lifesaving initiatives, including adoption and foster care programs, spay and neuter surgeries, low-cost vaccinations, and more.
Tickets & Info HERE

(Thank gawd i have an editor at Philly Mag. I wrote this kinda fast as I have work to do.)
For the past 3 days I was subjected to the Khater’s (Kate Gosselin haters), the Kate Lovers and then Kate Gosselin chiming in every once in awhile to call me a liar. On Saturday I went to an event and Tweeted I had a photo that would be seen around the world. Here’s what I reported on my Fox 29 appearance , you probably read my Philly Mag column on the subject. The twitter war started by Kate Gosselin was picked up by RadarOnline.com and then the National Enquirer. The Khaters wanted a scandalous picture, and were my new best friends on Sunday. The Kate lovers wanted me to follow my moral compass and not kiss and tell. Then Kate Gosselin chimed in. She blew the story way out of proportion by tweeting that I was a liar and she didn’t even know what I was going to say. You would think a women under this much scrutiny would know not to react to a random tweet of a local blogger wanting to promote his upcoming media outlets, unless they she was being sly as a fox and knew this would grab the attention of the mass media.

I did ask her to write me so I could tell her what I was going to say, but she didn’t.

When my reports came out Monday morning, the Khaters thought I sold out, cause they are so obsessed with their hate for her they. Then they were accusing me of pulling my pictures saying she pressured me.

The Kate lovers were like I told you so about the Khaters and repeating Kate’s mantra that I hyped it up to get fame and fortune. I did get carried away a bit with promoting my segment.
Seriously this is what happened Saturday night, and my thought process for my LOCAL PHILLY readers as well as my photos being distributed through my agency WENN, where I just sent the photos w/o great details (A good example, PEREZ HILTON who says she went to the event alone, you know why. I didn’t add a story to the photos except to say where the event was. I included other peeps in the set too.)(talk about making crap up, the Radar Online story just ran with it.)

OK here goes: I really thought the money shot was Kate with the Professional Tarot Card Reader Marilyn Sukonick-Zeff. For those of you who thought anyone could get famous off a celebrity for one teeny weeny story (as Kate and her followers have accused me of; let’s face it, I’m sympathetic to Kate, but she’s a D List celebrity sliding into obscurity if something doesn’t happen to change that.) For Me I already have a column in a major magazine in Philly, I have an entertainment segment on a Philly morning show and one of the most popular blogs in the City.

I’ve been photographing celebs for nearly 6 years in NYC. Courtney Love calls me the gentleman paparazzi. Writing about Kate Gosselin helped her career more than mine at this point in our lives. Everything I stated was factual. The bit about her and the Steve walking with his arm around her was not intended to come out. I said it in a private email with Radar Online who wanted the link to my photos. I saw Steve and Kate come out of the carousel room, she was on his right side and I believe I saw his arm around her waist but they it wasn’t a snuggle kind arm wrap, it was a guiding one. Maybe he was consoling her because her dress was too short to ride the carousel, who knows. I didn’t think anything of it. (Sure I wish I took the shot now that it is such a big deal, but at the time I thought I had the fun shot. I think it’s funny that the Khaters don’t see the humor in the shot I got.)
Comment from a Khater on a message board.

No balls, no glory. Dumb ass journalism at its very best. Maybe Steve called him and threatened to delete his camera OR maybe Katie was right (gasp), he was trying to make a name for himself. OR maybe she cried to his boss, “Please stop your photog from publishing the picture of Steve with his hand up my dress and his tongue down my throat! I won’t be able to feed my kids their daily slop, I mean, meals. And I won’t able to cloth them with donated, I mean cheap, I mean clothes I buy on sale with coupons.”NO balls, NO glory! Only ridicule for being a kool aide drinker. Sheeple are saying the non-fans were punked. Dumb asses, the photog was castrated! That’s my storyline and I’m sticking to it.

I say get a life and leave Kate alone, but as long as you’re not I’ll be photographing her and now the Phila American Red Cross chapter is know on a national level. Thanks. I hope does more events in Philly, and I hope she brings more press to these events. She has 80,000 followers, and polarizing or not she is a celebrity that attracts press and readers.
There’s a whole list of things the Khaters could do to protect children than to attack Kate Gosselin. Don’t buy the magazines, or visit the entertainment sites, step away from the computer, take a look at your own life. What’s your cat doing right now, do they need to be petted, your dog walked, your kids hugged? Check out what I thought of Bethenny Frankel’s reality in my Philly Mag column. She might be mad I blew the cover on her cozy life. What I don’t understand is these ladies call themselves Christians, but they torture and judge Kate. Odd especially during Lent. Ladies, her show is over. Your work here is done. It was like you weren’t satisfied until I had Kate Gosselin’s head on a skewer. I guess when you do a reality tv show and open yourself up, you give permission for others to judge you. But the Khaters should ask themselves why are so obsessed? I love this site and how wrong they got the story, but fun to see Kate is getting some press again. Whispering Down The Lane theory proven: Rumor Fix If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then Steve and Kate are dating people. Kate take the advice I said on my morning segment the other day. Pitch a new story, Kate Plus 8 and the Bodyguard, the next chapter. No doubt it will be a ratings bonanza with the Khaters and the Lovers tuning in week after week, then burning up the message boards with their opinions. You still got it girl. (BTW if you’re a fan of Kate Plus 8 they’re going on a cruise and you can too: http://Kategosselincruise.com )

On Saturday, March 10th, the Greater Philadelphia Film Office (GPFO) Board of Directors and Board of Advisors hosted a star-studded fundraising gala for the regional non-profit organization, at the home of M. Night and Dr. Bhavna Shyamalan. The event marked the first in a year of planned activities recognizing Sharon Pinkenson’s 20th Anniversary as Executive Director and regional film commissioner.Guests included Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett and First Lady Susan Corbett, cast members from Shyamalan’s latest local production After Earth, including the star of the film and co-producer Will Smith and his co-star, Jaden Smith. Other celebrity and VIP guests included Kim Delaney, Rebecca Creskoff and stars of the NBC/ Universal TV pilot, Do No Harm, Phylicia Rashad, Alana De La Garza and Mousa Kraish. Other elected officials in attendance included State Senator Vincent Hughes and State Senator Daylin Leach, former Congresswoman Margie Margolis and many longtime supporters of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office as well as special guests of Ms. Pinkenson and her family. During the formal presentation, Governor Tom Corbett delivered remarks and reaffirmed his support of the Commonwealth’s booming film industry, stating
“With our commitment to job creation, the Film Tax Credit Program is a vital economic development tool which not only fosters a solid relationship with the industry, but provides the commonwealth with thousands of family sustaining jobs.” The pièce de résistance was the presentation of Sharon’s gift by City Representative Melanie Johnson. First, an official Tribute Letter on behalf of the Mayor, and then a very special minted movie poster from the original production of Philadelphia, as well as an AFI certificate proclaiming the film as one of America’s Most Inspiring Movies, both inscribed with a personal and touching message to Sharon from Academy Award winner, Tom Hanks.(The Best and the Brightest Wrap Press Conference with Neil Patrick Harris and Bonnie Somerville with Amy Sederis)
“I have the best job in the whole world, just like everyone thinks I do because I work in the best business in the world. It never gets old. I continue to grow and learn and remain passionate about the work we do to help create jobs for other creative professionals, who are just as passionate about what they do! I am so humbled by the recognition and the wonderful friends who continue to support me and my beloved Greater Philadelphia Film Office,” stated an emotional Pinkenson. The brotherly love didn’t end there either. As a thank you for hosting the gala and supporting the Greater Philadelphia Film Office, Sharon and new GPFO partner Montblanc fittingly co-presented M. Night Shyamalan—a collector of unique memorabilia—with an Alfred Hitchcock Limited Edition Fountain Pen.

Selected Filmography Highlights during Sharon’s tenure:

PHILADELPHIA 12 MONKEYS FALLEN BELOVED UNBREAKABLE THE SIXTH SENSE SIGNS HACK JERSEY GIRL THE VILLAGE NATIONAL TREASURE COLD CASE THE REAL WORLD PHILADELPHIA THE WOODSMAN IN HER SHOES

ANNAPOLIS LADY IN THE WATER SHADOWBOXER INVINCIBLE ROCKY BALBOA SHOOTER THE HAPPENING MARLEY & ME THE ANSWER MAN TRANSFORMERS 2: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN LAW ABIDING CITIZEN THE LOVELY BONES THE MIGHTY MACS THE LAST AIRBENDER NEW YORK

HOW DO YOU KNOW NIGHT CATCHES US TEACH IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA BLUE VALENTINE THE ART OF THE STEAL LIMITLESS SAFETHE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK AFTER EARTH (in production) DO NO HARM (in production)

(blindingedgepictures.com – First two pixs)

M. Night Shyamalan Hosts Gala Honoring
Sharon Pinkenson for 20 Years of Vision,
Commitment & Accomplishments On Saturday, March 10th, the Greater Philadelphia Film Office (GPFO) Board of Directors and Board of Advisors hosted a star-studded fundraising gala for the regional non-profit organization, at the home of M. Night and Dr. Bhavna Shyamalan. The event marked the first in a year of planned activities recognizing Sharon Pinkenson’s 20th Anniversary as Executive Director and regional film commissioner.

Guests included several cast members from Shyamalan’s latest local production After Earth, including the star of the film and co-producer Will Smith, Jaden Smith and Zoë Kravitz. Other celebrity and VIP guests included Kim Delaney, Rebecca Creskoff, Phylicia Rashad, Alana De La Garza, Sheryl Lee Ralph & Senator Vincent Hughes, Senator Daylin Leach and many longtime supporters of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office as well as special guests of Ms. Pinkenson and her family. (More to come tomorrow.)
I say possibly as she was not on the set Friday when I went out to shoot
of Do No Harm she wasn’t on the set
although they were filming scenes. I did hear that Steven Pasquale and Alana De La Garza were filming scenes. Check out Philly Mag today for my Kate Gosselin attends the Red Ball photos. Click Here “The Scene for the article”

Sixers Lou Williams looking sleek, check out that watch. Here he is with Michael Young and Matthew Tucker and Jen Sherlock, PR for The Philly Sports Cave.
The Philly Sports Cave is in the Shops of Liberty. The Shops are at 16th and Chestnut Streets and often have lots of activities held in their rotunda, check the schedule here. Plus they have a lot of great shops under one roof – Nine West, Victoria Secrets, Express and a great food court.

November ushered in a whole new crop of elected politicians that will run our City.

Zarwin Baum DeVito Kaplan Schaer Toddy P.C.

have many friends in City Hall as well in the community at large. They thought wouldn’t it be nice if they hosted a “Meet the Leaders” for the incoming politicians as well as their clients and friends. It was a huge success. Look who showed up.Front row: Mayor Nutter, Darrell Clarke, Cindy Bass, Longtime aide to U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, Lorraine Williams, Vanessa Brown, Mitchell Kaplan
Back row: Tony Payton, Jr, Curtis Jones Jr, Councilman Bill Green,Ted Schaer, Gary DeVito, Sherriff Jewell Williams, Shariff Street,Monique Andes checks the list
Looking stylish as ever Brad and Crystal El of Boaz and Ruth stopped in.
Aida Strata, Stacey Kracher, Ann Nikolaus and Monique Andes
Kathryn Bryne, Guest and Don Pak, EsquireEntertainment by CTO
Christian DiCicco
DARRELL L. CLARKE is the President of City Council and represents the 5th Council District and Mayor Nutter
Stephanie Singer, City Commissioner, Curtis Jones, Jr, City Commissioner, Kenneth Johnson, and David Oh, Councilman At-Large will still be affiliated with Zarwin Baum. Food by B Smith Catering. Fun times had by all, lots of biz card exchanges and laughter. Happy 2012!!

Just a heads up about the new TV Show “Do No Harm”, with Phylicia Rashad,which I mentioned in yesterday’s blog post. It looks like it will be filming on Delancey Street on Friday. I love these notices they are finally getting more descriptive, which will help you plan your day. No Parking along 21st Street between Locust and Pine Streets
Also no parking on Delancey Street half way up the block in the 2100 bloc and 2000 block
Remember when the Neil Patrick Harris movie used this house for Bright Lights, Big City.
And the Answer Man with Jeff Bridges, he used this house at the corner of 21st and Delancey. I think this is the house they are going to use for the TV shoot, the upstairs windows are boarded up as if no one lives there. It’s a gigantic house

Also the bike lane will be blocked from 18th Street to 20th Street. The GPFO tells me that the Philly Bike Coalition will have a notice on it’s website soon with information, and hopefully alternatives. These restrictions will only be in place for 24hrs, which is nothing when you compare all the great revenue that will flow into the coffers generated by the business and people the shoots bring to the City via the Film Tax Credits. Also I do love to shoot the celebs and bringing the stories to you.

Last year I started reading about Catalyst Cleanse system, a juice cleansing routine many of the Rittenhouse Square gals were doing. Then I heard they were opening a Raw Foods restaurant, called JAR Bar, on 12th Street in White Building, in the space where Lotus Rugs used to be. It seemed to be on the fast track to open, but there was a delay.
JAR Bar, the raw-foods cafe from Joel Odhner and Jennifer Richmond, at 107 S. 12th Street is now opened as of yesterday. I was zipping by in a cab last night, when I noticed the lights were on, and like a scene out of Miracle on 34th Street I screeched for the cab driver to let me out there when I saw my dream house existed.
As some of you may know, I recently started the Caveman Diet, and those cavemen love raw foods, especially prepared by others in a way that it’s gourmet and within pricing reason.
I met Jennifer Richmond, last year at a few events. So sweet, and informative. I was already fascinated with the juice program ( Catalyst Cleanse ) that so many of my readers were on, and was wondering if the restaurant they were opening was all about the juices. She told me that although they were going to sell the juices they were also going to offer various delicious foods to take out or eat in. They’re even going to have curbside delivery. You call and order ahead of time, and then park at 12th & Samsom and they’ll run the food out to you. Convenient. I know someone who’s going to love it and that’s Gavin from Fusion Cross Training, which is located upstairs.

Last night I had sweet-potato spaghetti, and a tiny taste of chocolate mousse made with avocado and raw chocolate. It was delicious, really.I was really surprised what I always described as faux food was so good. I especially loved the Sweet Potato pasta, and that serving with a tall glass of water was just what my dietician always suggested.
I nibbled on the burger and fries. The burger is made out of almonds, flax, carrot, celery, red/green peppers. The fries, jicama, sweet potato, salt, pepper, garlic and paprika. There’s also plenty of salads and chips, kale chips to be exact. Taste similarly to potato chips. I see a new way of eating. I really had a different understanding of Raw Food, but now that I’ve eaten it there’s nothing foreign or voodoo about it. Jennifer also explained the juicing system, and described the smoothies they would be serving. I chatted about Mike’s new Vita Mix and her eyes lit up. They use that too, and said Mike must be serious into his raw food and I said he was. The other day he gave me a Kale smoothie that was delicious. “That’s raw food” Jennifer said. I guess I already experienced it and I didn’t even realize it.
On either side of Raw Bar are newly occupied spaces too. On the left, closer to Chestnut Street, the Philly Cup Cake boys rented the space and are selling vintage clothing. On the right will soon be the newly relocated Kitchenette, which currently is 1120 Walnut St. Last week I ran into the owner who told me the new space will also have a demonstration kitchen and lots of the same great items you love at the current store. Look for the opening in April.

Ms. Goody Cupcake at 1838 E. Passyunk Ave. Philadelphia, PA has a few treats up her sleeve. First up she’s celebrated the “Philadelphia International Flower Show – Hawaii Islands of Aloha.”

Saturday, March 3 – Saturday, March 10, 2012
Hawaii-inspired Cupcakes Support Flower Show Say “Aloha” to tropical themed cupcakes in time for the “Philadelphia International Flower Show – Hawaii Islands of Aloha.” Each day we will debut new flavors that pay homage to the islands by using traditional ingredients, such as coconuts, bananas, pineapples and macadamia nuts. A new flavor and theme will debut each day, including:

Island Breeze – Banana/pineapple cake, lemon curd, lemon cream cheese frosting
Shake Your Coconuts – Coconut cake, coconut buttercream, toasted coconut
Surfs Up – Blue Hawaiian cake, ocean blue buttercream, surfboard
Volcano – Chocolate raspberry cake, chocolate buttercream, with raspberry lava
Dream Vacation – Pineapple cake, vanilla butter cream, topped with coconut
Piña Colada– Piña Colada cake soaked in rum, coconut cream cheese frosting, cherry

Twenty-five cents from the sale of each Hawaii-inspired cupcake, including advance orders, will be donated to the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.

*************************
Next up, she’s debuting a new mobile cupcake truck with her special brand of delicious.

SAVE THE DATE!

Ms. Goody Cupcake will debut her new cupcake truch at the East Passyunk Ave Easter Egg Hunt on Sat March 31, starting at 11am. Stop by for a cupcake and Easter-themed cookie!

Random Fun Shots chock full of Info – Philly Chit ChatterTuesday I went back to the Flower Show to shoot the afternoon tea (twice a day) and a few other things. It was crowded. I suggest you go between 4 – 7PM if you’re not attending the Wedding Night tonight or Girls Night Out tomorrow night. The theme this year is “Hawaii: Islands of Aloha” as you may know from my earlier post on Monday. This guy really wanted be experience the full on effect as if he were on the islands, he wore shots & one of those shirts…I’ve been tweeting for weeks that Bristol, PA native Lauren Holly would soon start filming a TV show here in Philly. Yesterday I got a tip that filming of the NBC pilot called “Do No Harm” was being shot in Chestnut Hill. It’s a medical drama about a brilliant neurosurgeon who wrestles with his dangerous alter-ego that threatens to wreak havoc on his personal and professional life. As recently as 2/14/12 it was listed on Holly’s website that she would be starring in it as well as being listed on the IMDB of the show. But now according to TVGuide.com and the corrected online column of Dan Gross’ Philly Gossip , Mrs Huxtable – Phylicia Rashad will be starring in the show along with Steven Pasquale (Harrisburg Pa native who also starred in The Answer Man with Jeff Daniels which was filmed in Philly), Alana De La Garza, Ruta Gedmintas, Mousa Kraish and Michael Esper. I’ll keep an eye out for them at the Stephen Starr Restaurants around town. Keep reading as there is another A Lister coming to town to film a TV Show. (I took the above shot of Rashad at the Tony Awards in 2009)
Congrats to Cheap Chica’s Lilliana Vasquez on her book deal with Gotham!! The book will be all about bargains but quality items you could use.
Erin Elmore was on QVC this past weekend hawking the luggage she reps.
***************
PHILADELPHIA STAR SIGHTING:
TCM Host Ben Mankiewicz and Special Guest EVA MARIE SAINT
Coming to Philadelphia to Introduce NORTH BY NORTHWEST on
Thursday, March 15, 2012 Although the screening is free, tickets are required for entry. Free tickets may be obtained online at http://www.tcm.com/roadtohollywood, beginning today – March 1, 2012.

I Wanna ROCK…
Dee Snider, of Twisted Sister, signing copies of Shut Up + Give Me the Mic –
5/11 Barnes & Noble 1805 Walnut St Philadelphia 6PM
LA-based artist Mark Bradford will be in town on March 11 to talk about his work & connections to the urban landscape. Zoe Strauss (above with City Paper’s A.D. Amorosi last week at Xfinity) will also join the conversation. 2:30 pm, Free tickets req. after Museum admission: http://bit.ly/x0HIPv **This program is supported by the Albert M. Greenfield Foundation Endowment Fund for Education, and is also part of The Art and Social Transformation lecture series, made possible by a generous gift from Dina and Jerry Wind Larry Bowa Shortstop 1970-1981 Career w/Phillies signed autographs at The Sports Cave at The Shops of Liberty Place in Center City last week. This Week: Philadelphia 76ers Star Lou Williams will be appearing at The Philly Sports Cave, Thursday March 8th from 1:00pm to 2:30pm. $35 in the rotunda.
Last month Philly Mag’s Victor Fiorillo wrote on The Philly Post about the new Colin Farrell movie filming here (the production office was in full swing last week so it’s just about to start); the article also mentioned a new TV show being filmed in Philly for the USA Network, a 6-episode drama series from Greg Berlanti and Laurence Mark, starring Handsome Lone Star and Happy Endings actor James Wolk is to play the Secretary’s son and Chief of Staff , but he didn’t know who the actress would be playing the character that is not supposed to be Hillary Clinton, but a fictional character that was once a First Lady and then a Secretary of State. The show centers on Elaine Barrish (Sigourney Weaver), the divorced former First Lady and newly appointed Secretary of State who throws herself into the job after recovering from the dissolution of her marriage and losing the presidential nomination. Barrish relies heavily on her son Doug (James Wolk), an ambitious politico who serves as her chief of staff, but is tormented by his twin brother’s struggles with addiction. Shooting will begin in the Philadelphia region for 8 weeks very soon. (Source) (I shot this in NYC in 2010 as Sigourney and her husband were going to lunch at 21)

The maintenance office door at the Reading Terminal Market
The much talked about new men’s bathroom at the Reading Terminal Market. The women’s bathroom is yellow, but the women didn’t appreciate me walking in with a camera
The recently painted mural in the Moyer Foundation Office in Philly. Sad to see my bud Justin Pizzi leave NBC10. If not for Justin including me in the 2009 “Be A Ten in Ten Weeks”, then casting me in his TV show on The Scene, I certainly wouldn’t have been picked up by Fox 29 Philly’s Good Morning Philly. Thanks Pizzi. Justin can now be read on twitter @justpizzi