Category: Philadelphia

Countdown to Noon at the Please Touch Museum! supported by Macy’s (P.S. the light show goes on until tomorrow. So catch it now, or wait another year for the magic.) The little ones can’t quite stay up until midnight to celebrate the New Year? Bring them to Please Touch Museum for the annual countdown party that celebrates the “noon” year before moms and dads go to their grown-up festivities!

This annual celebration helps families celebrate the beginning of a new year together with party activities, music and confetti all in one place.

The museum is open from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Countdowns will be at Noon and again at 1 p.m.

Last week I was driving around in the snow and noticed that Valanni’s changed it’s marquee sign – It’s discofied According to the Urban Dictionary Discofied means: To invoke the disco era in a person or thing by using a combination of color, patterns, lighting, grooming, and/or other funkiness in a manner reminiscent of 1977.

That’s not exactly what you are going to find at the “new” Valanni Social, but there is a cool colored swagger lounge vibe going on since they renovated the place shortly after their 10th anniversary in the Fall. (Valanni will still be operating as a restaurant on one side of the building, and serve the full menu in the lounge, as well as have a late night menu as Executive Chef John Strain offers a late-night menu every night after 11:00 pm.)
Reinventing the space by removing the traditional diner tables and replacing them with beautiful WHITE banquette Lounge Chairs and cocktail tables, the ceiling adorn with globe lighting fixtures, the wall lit with a hint of a blue and pink glow. There is seating for 28 in the front room, and 22 in the back. A DJ booth is in the back, and although there is no dance floor who’s to say there’s a law against standing in place and grooving when you feel like it. The DJ will be spinning music Wednesdays through Saturdays, starting at 10:00 PM. Each night of the week there will be a different DJ playing different tunes, from hip-hop to house. Although there is not a live DJ on Sunday and Tuesdays, SOCIAL is every night of the week until 2:00 am.
Valanni’s has always had a nice neighborhood feel, and I think they’re still going for that crowd as well as folks who just want to go to a bar/lounge and hang out with their friends, and not be so disconnected from the outside as most clubs are windowless. In the summer the front windows of Valanni Social will open wide.
SOCIAL is the first place in Philly to serve “Splits.” SOCIAL Split Service offers SOCIAL guests the option of enjoying all the fun of bottle service, but with affordable prices and less of a “commitment” than a full bottle. All “Split” size bottles are 375 ml, or half the size of a typical bottle, and has 9 to 11 pours. (P.S. I love this new lens I bought, the pixs look so much better now. What do you think?)
Owner George Anni is excited about the changes, and shares that “I’ve always envisioned this for Valanni, and I’m thrilled that we’ve made it happen. There’s nothing like this in the neighborhood.” Valanni and SOCIAL complement one another perfectly—Valanni has maintained its cool, sexy atmosphere, and SOCIAL has a new life of its own.

The address and phone number for Valanni Social is 1229 Spruce St,Philadelphia, PA 19107 Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 790-9494

The Ritz-Carlton’s GM Michael Walsh has left the building, and City for that matter.
The last time I saw Michael Walsh was on December 1, at the 10 Arts Top Chef All Stars party for Chef Jennifer Carroll; before she defended her dish to the death.
Michael Walsh, Kathy Walsh and Kayla Walsh (pictured above at last years Top Chef bash), have loaded up the truck and moved to the Big Apple where he will oversee the Morgans Hotel Group, which includes The Morgan Hotel, Hudson, Royalton and the new Mondrian opening in 2011. I’ve stayed at the Hudson many times and it’s really a unique concept of minimalism, hip, chic and the hotel lobby functions as a night club in the evening. (Look for a similar concept to open in Philly next year, but I can’t say anything more about it even if you pull out my fingernails, ewww.) I spoke with Kerri-Lee Mayland (Halkett) right after the Christmas Tree lighting in Rittenhouse Square, and told her that it was Philly’s loss that she left Fox29. She appreciated the sentiment, is grateful for the support of the viewers and told me she may be reporting in Connecticut now, but will maintain a house in Center City as well as a life here. I guess my follow up should have been “Are you commuting?”
Last week someone asked me what happened to Kerri-Lee, why did she leave. I said I think it was the Jane Pauley/Deborah Norville scenario all over again, where a popular favorite anchorwomen was replaced by a younger popular anchorwomen upsetting the dynamics of a ratings winning show. Last summer someone even started a Facebook page encouraging Fox 29 to bring back Dawn Stensland. Kerri-Lee made her exit shortly after that, which only fueled the rumors of a return. That hasn’t happened, and these days Dawn is enjoying raising her family, but I don’t think we’ve heard the last from her. I wish both women well. (Above Dawn participating in one of my favorite charities fashion show, The Career Wardrobe.) As for Kerri-Lee she’s landed on her feet in the anchor chair at NBC Connecticut.
In this town I always say our “celebrities” are news people, and everything restaurant. This weeks star is Stephen Starr’s new British inspired pub/restaurant Dandelion (Which opens Friday New Year’s Eve). All the foodies have been on this story since it first broke that the building that held Stiletto Shoes was going to be the next genius creation of Stephen Starr (I think he’s a genius, although he’s much more eccentric than I am [ie Philly Mag called me the eccentric paparazzi in an article in their December issue.])

I walked by last night to see what the outside looked like as I had only seen shots of the inside (Meal Ticket) WOW it’s right out of the An American Werewolf in London movie with it’s ivy, shrubs and even mysterious fog,
ok there was no fog but you can imagine it drifting around a country pub with a thatched roof in the countryside. Oh wait what’s that in the distance,
no doubt the next big restaurant to open in Rittenhouse Square, the Philly branch of the highly successful New York eating establishment, Serafina, who must have just installed their signage this week as I didn’t see it up last week.Serefina looks to open in the Spring right across from Danilion. This just extends the 18th Street Rittenhouse Row which now includes other major players Parc (Starr), Rouge, Devon’s Seafood House, Tria, Continental (Starr), and Elephant and Castle (The other English Pub, but not half as stylish as Dandelion). PSS We have a winner for the R2L New Year’s Eve Party. Thank you all for participating

What are your plans for New Year’s Eve? If you want to head out to a dinner that not only has a special menu for the evening, but allows you to stay through the evening to enjoy the festivities as well as the fireworks then R2L is the place to be. (R2L is located on the 37th Floor of Liberty Two)

High above the City is where you can celebrate New Year’s Eve at R2L! Prohibition? Not here! Come ring in 2011 at R2L and celebrate the undying wisdom of the folks who brought us Prohibition and then had the vision and common sense to repeal it! Night includes: a four-course dinner; and cocktail party (premium open bar, deejay, dancing, live entertainment, food).

The R2L Menu for New Year’s Eve

Here’s a little video I did with Chef/Owner Daniel Stern yesterday (I trekked through the knee high snow to get this nugget. [ok maybe in Jersey it was knee high, but I bet you weren’t at work yesterday.] Don;t hold it against R2l just because I don’t have my swagger interviewing skills down yet. Soon I’ll have plenty of time to practice.)

Besides the delicious food (Barbra Streisand, Kendra and Jamie Foxx have eaten at R2L in the last 60 days), the flapper fun, I recommend R2L and it’s exciting party because of the views especially of the fireworks. I had a contest for two tickets (over 3 dozen people sent in their entries) to the party and I will be emailing the winner now. Thank you, and thank you for considering R2L. There’s a parking garage in the building too. Check out Marnie Hall’s review of where to party on New Year’s Eve check here
And if low key is the way you want to go, think about MidAlantic the Daniel Stern restaurant in University City (January’s Philly Mag calls that the new Center City and they’re right.) Ring in the New Year at Midatlantic’s first annual New Year’s Eve Roadhouse Pig Roast. Drink specials, vintage jukebox (Stern tells me he’s gonna keep the jukebox. good move I love a good jukebox myself.), pool table, pinball and more! Including: champagne shrub, fire roasted peanuts, farmhouse salad, buckets o’shrimp and mussels, pig roast buffet, house made condiments and chutney, kraut and slaw, fried spuds, herb spaetzle, seasonal veggies, chocolate moon and oatmeal cream pies, and vanilla buttermilk ice cream.
(Sponsor)

I received a tip that Minnesota Viking’s Brett Favre was at the South Philly Target on Sunday right before the big snow storm.

Grub Street Philly reports that Double Dare’s “Marc Summers Does Dinner at Han Dynasty”

Facebook Updates: (A new segment here at Philly Chit Chat. Friend me at Philly ChitChat and I might give you a shout out.)

Jet Setter, animal lover and savior, Dana Spain is torturing her friends with daily details of her warm trip to Ginger Island, BVI via facebook. Every snowy, cold day I think should I unfriend her?

Amy Stratton, GM of Sporting Club at the Bellevue and a few brave, adventurous souls who are committed to fitness goals, participated in a run this morning up the Art Museum Steps. (You’ll recall it was a week ago today that Kate Gosselin and her merry band of 8 did the run for their TV show.)

Mark Marek tells his friends to be on the look out for “Rumor” his new club slated to open at 15th & Sansom, but I already told you that in a cryptic headline last week on PhillyChitChat.com and mentioned the club opening up in this entry earlier this month. I hear that the opening is gonna be in March. So now we’ll have a Rumor and a Whisper within blocks of each other. I think Center City can support those two as well as Recess in Old city.

Logitech Revue with Google TV – Philadelphia’s Kevin Bacon. Entertainment this Week has a great interview with Kevin Dillon on the commercial where he depicts his greatest fan.
Kristen Alderson and her brother Eddie Alderson, who are both on One Live to Live. Not sure why Eddie has a black eye here, but lately he’s been a real bastard on OLTL maybe someone slugged him. She twittered this pix saying they were all ready for bed in time for Santa to come down the chimney. They live outside of Philly.
Last week was the Lunar Eclipse on Winter Solstice. I mentioned that I had seen a Lunar Eclipse before but couldn’t find the photo. I finally did. I took this with a pocket digital camera and I believe it was around 2002.

Thanks to my friends Katie & Simon Curtis for shooting the VisitPhilly banner on at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan.

(Catching up with an event that occurred last month and happens again next month that you might want to attend.)

On Friday, November 12, 2010 from 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., SYNERGY, a charitable networking initiative, will tackle hunger with a benefit for Philabundance & Stop Hunger NOW at The Comcast Center, 1701 John F. Kennedy Blvd. The goal is to heighten awareness to the growing epidemic of hunger which affects “900,000 low-income residents of the Delaware Valley” according to Philabundance’s website.
This premier networking fundraiser will also collaborate with Why PR and Marketing as they host their sixth annual “I’m Still Here Networking Mixer and Holiday Shopping Night” to bring together young professionals, political activists, and community leaders to spend an evening to Stamp Out Hunger.
One of the co-creators and host Baba Renfrow, managing partner of DistanteCo -1510 Sansom Street, Philadelphia
Rochelle Lashley, selling Traci Lynn Jewelery, which seems to be very popular and she was doing a brisk sales
Maria D’Arcy is attending the networking event for the first time and told me she had a nice time. The place was fairly packed, and has been growing since their first event held at Octo over the summer.
Sheila Hall, Stan Watson, Judge Rozanne Covington, Lotus Gibbs and Paul Smith (who used to work with me at Kohn Swift eons ago.)
Chi-chi Enrique, Linda Blanding, AKA and Charlene Shuler, AKA

Chi-chi Enrique sporting robin egg color pumps matching her earrings, with Anne Marie Blake (Which reminds me where is CBS3’s Anne-Marie Green, she got all married and disappeared from my radar.)
Stop Hunger Now Join The Fight Against Hunger

Antoine Cruel, Richelle Payne, Hurst & Leigh Communications, Shelton Mercer, Advisory Bpard, Stop Hunger Now and Blake Jennelle, My Dunk Tank. MyDunkTank is a fundraising website powered by laughter. (Blake’s Christmas Tree in his NYC pad: Stolen from Facebook)
Tracy and Steve Davis (Tracy is in the center of this page) have a stylish eyeglass place in the Comcast Center Omega Optical’s at 1701 JFK Blvd.
James Robinson and John Byars

Thanks to the sponsors that made this event possible:
3BG Marketing Solutions, Bountiful Design Productions, Dime Universal, Femmes D’allure Magazine, IM3Media, Philadelphia Weekly, Shawn Rivers Photography, Why PR and Marketing, The Streets Are Talking Radio Show, Synergy, Omega Optical, Ciroc Vodka, Prestige Concepts, Eatible Delights Catering, Mercedes-Benz of Fort Washington and many more.

Snow styling it. She told the women next to her “I just felt like it was a pink shoe green pants day!” (That is my fingerless glove getting in the way of the lens.)
I think now that I am #funemployed I’m going to cover a lot more street stylin’ fun. (Not like Jimmy Style though, he’s got that fashion beat down.)
OK Brett Favre & Hank Baskett how much security do you guys need as you exit the Four Seasons to get on your bus after the Snowpocalypse?
Lady I’m in the law field and you will have a hard time saying you didn’t know there was falling ice coming off of Liberty One & Two
See the penny I placed over to the right in the snow. OH and BTW the bleachers for the Mummer’s Parade are in place for the parade on Saturday when it will be 50F and raining. Happy New Year, see you tomorrow.

I decided to venture out into the snow about 8PM on Sunday night to find the Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore. Earlier in the day he was by the Constitution Center, where Kate and her 8 spent last Monday, and as I told her people, I’m the paparazzi of Philadelphia so I had a mission.

So I toured the City
Varga Bar had a healthy crowd, as in it was busy, not healthy as they weren’t hanging out on this corner having a smoke.
Hmm did he forget to pick up something at the jewelery store, or did he want to pick it out after hours?
Dear in headlights
Jim’s Steaks is open
Strolling South Street
OMG I never see a cop in the Rittenhouse Roundhouse, but there’s one in there tonight

there were plenty of lovers strolling the snowy paths. Hello lovers

He was shoveling with a Michael Myers Halloween Mask on
Self portrait. I look so tiny in that bulb. OK count down to my big diet. I’m starting on 1/3/11 at the Sporting Club at the Bellevue. In fact there’s gonna be a lot of new things that happen on that date.
aaah snow. so pretty. No call from Joe Kohn so I guess I will be going into work today.
I think it’s only 4 of us who used up all our vacation time and will be in the office this week.
Ought oh trouble

Color?
or do we like it in Black & White. I never found Jim Cantore. Darn he probably moved onto Boston by night fall.

Teena Marie, an award-winning singer-songwriter known for her R&B
performances, has died, her manager said Sunday. The performer was 54. Marie was found dead by her daughter after apparently dying in her sleep,
manager Mike Gardner said. (CNN)
Teena Marie and daughter Alia Rose. Teena, who says she is Portuguese, Italian, Irish and American Indian, notes, “I’ve always been accepted by the Black community and I think that’s a beautiful thing. I wanted to sing R&B. I’ve just been doing music that I like to do. I only had one big crossover record, which was Lover Girl, but basically my music has always been geared to a Black audience.” Alia is not the daughter of Rick James, the great love of Teena’s life, “her dad is a postman.” (Source)

I’ve only seen Teena Marie in concert twice. One time was with Sheryl Lee Ralph for an AIDS benefit in Washington DC about 15 years ago.