Category: Philadelphia

Yesterday I got an assignment from a national magazine that I contribute to that at some point in the day Reading, Pa’s reality star, who just made news in all the glossies that she changed her hairstyle, Kate Gosselin and her brood of 8 would be running up the Art Museum Steps, “The Rocky Steps”. After waiting several hours the magic happened. That’s Dancing with the Stars Kate Gosselin on the right, chatting on her cell phone as she ascends the steps. I have no idea why she needed to chat with anyone cause her entire family was with her including her “bodyguard” who tried to prevent me from shooting these pictures.Kate’s been absent from the TLC airwaves for a couple months, except when she appeared on Sarah Palin’s reality show recently on the same network. The Palin’s and Gosselin’s went camping. Kate left before the day was out exclaiming the most notable dialog since Jessica Simpson asked if there was chicken in Chicken of the Sea tuna? Kate said to Sarah Palin as they were setting up the campsite, “Why would anyone purposely be homeless.” As she compared going camping as the same as being homeless. Last Spring there was a promise of a new show called “A Twist of Kate”, which was presented to the advertisers in NYC at the Upfronts, but so far there’s been no indication it was filming until yesterday.

Originally I was going to break this story with permission from the magazine, which I received, on my NBC10 Non-Stop Channel, but I was preempted this morning by a breaking news story, and having lost the exclusive story on Justin Bieber & Selena Gomez a few weeks back I wasn’t going to wait out this one so here are a few of the pictures, but I will have additional information regarding her filming in filming in the City for my TV segment that appears every night on Comcast Ch 248, or 10.2, that goes along with these pictures for when I film my segment tomorrow. (The night before Kate and the 8 were at the Flyer’s game, according to the 700 Level.)

Philadelphia businessman and former mayoral candidate Sam Katz, screened his documentary film project Philadelphia: the Great Experiment at the
Philadelphia History Museum which formerly re-opens next year. You know I’m in heaven about this museum and that Sam Katz is a producer on a documentary on Philadelphia. (I am a huge Philadelphia book, postcard, photograph and everything Philly collector, so this movie is right up my ally. [I feel stress about getting the grammar right on this entry as an editor and film maker might stop by to read it. Feel free to help me out.)
The Philadelphia History Museum used to be called the Atwater Kent Museum of Philadelphia History, but underwent a name change as well as an extensive renovation. Before I recall the museum was dark and jammed packed with objects important in the history of Philadelphia. Now it’s light, airy and roomy. As the museum isn’t officially opened yet, the only room I saw was the renovated meeting room, gone are the view obstructing columns, now there are clear sight lines, and a new sound system. Also you have to check out the new flooring, a full scale map of Philadelphia. Really amazing to see the City on that scale. Can’t wait to see the rest of the museum when it opens next year.
Tom McGrath, Editor of Philadelphia Magazine and Sam Katz did a Q&A after the screening of the 30 minute film which depicts the earlier start of Philadelphia, as well as the significant race and religion divide in the City occurring at the time.

You’ll recall that last January Jimmy Rollins donated several pieces to the new museum at a ceremony at the Visitors Center: http://www.phillychitchat.com/2010/01/jimmy-rollins-class-act-donates.html Sam hopes showing the film will create a buzz that encourages grants and foundation funding for seven one-hour films covering all of the city’s history. Each hour, with its educational features and webisodes for the Internet, costs $700,000 to produce. Visit his website to see how you can help, or schedule a showing at your organization. Philadelphia: the Great Experiment

R2L (or as I like to call it “A Room With A View” hosts its second annual New Year’s Eve extravaganza— The Cabaret. Daniel Stern Restaurant’s R2L is once again hosting the hottest New Year’s Eve party in Philadelphia! Last year, the opening of R2L was previewed by a fabulous New Year’s Eve bash to ring in its first year open for business. Since R2L’s official opening in January, R2L and Daniel Stern have had a great year and want to make the New Year’s Eve bash a memorable tradition.
The Cabaret at R2L will be fabulously swanky for those looking to start off the New Year red carpet style. R2L will make guests feel like they are a part of the flapper, 1920s, Prohibition-era. There will be a premium open bar, DJ, dancing, 1920s-style entertainment and food by Daniel Stern. Speakeasy general admission is $155 per person for all listed. VIP table reservations are available but limited, which includes a general admission ticket. In addition, private “backroom” seating is available. For tickets, table information and pricing, visit www.r2lrestaurant.com/newyears/
(Celebs likeBarbra Streisand love the food at R2L, this past weekend Jamie Foxx stopped by too)
Also, for those who are looking to ring in the New Year in a more casual, Daniel Stern Restaurants is also hosting its 1st Annual New Year’s Eve Roadhouse Pig Roast at MidAtlantic Restaurant & Tap Room. The party will have a true rustic feel with a pig roast buffet, buckets o’shrimp and mussels, fire roasted peanuts, $3 canned beers, a special champagne & shrub midnight toast and more. For fun entertainment, there will be a vintage jukebox, pool table, pinball, and more! Tickets are $65 per person. For more information, visit http://www.midatlanticrestaurant.com/newyearseve2010/ Sign up for a subscription to Philly Chit Chat.com

for your chance to win a pair of tickets to Daniel Stern’s New Year’s Eve extravaganza— The Cabaret. If you are already a subscriber send me an email saying you want to be included in the drawing. Name will be drawn on 12/29/10 at 10 AM

Last night at the World Cafe Live Senator Vincent Hughes and his wife Sheryl Lee Ralph Not only is she one of the original Dream Girls, she and the Senator work tirelessly for many charities, even tonight’s event calls for bringing can goods or a donation for the local food bank. (Where by the way my friend Robert Drake spins for WXPN, and speaking about holiday’s he will once again be spinning 24hr on “Night Before Christmas” Christmas Eve his magical blend of music and the original “It’s A Wonderful Life” radio show. Check him out midnight 12/24)
My new friend WDAS’ Patty Jackson. So thrilled to get to know her after being a fan for many years. We’re been twitter friends for a few weeks now and I was so excited when I saw she was hosting the event so I could meet her in person. She’s as beautiful as her voice. Patty Jackson has you covered check out her blog here (suddenly I want some peach cobbler.)
The man and women of the hour. Miss Sheryl Lee Ralph and Senator Vincent Hughes welcome their guests to the “Party With A Purpose”. Can goods and donations were collected at the door to feed those who are in need right now, in our area.
The crowd was stylish and I found a few standoutsCLASSY!!
new hair style.
Love that Christmas sweater

You’ll want to see this video where the crowd sings Happy Birthday to Sheryl, who responds that she’s 30 “Good Black Don’t Crack” – LOL; Plus her thanks to the women of Philadelphia for the gift of her man.
Urban Guerrilla Orchestra kept the bodies moving on the dance floor
and it was a large turnout. Delicious food.

Everyone was getting down including the Senator’s mom Ann Hughes. Above her is Sheryl Lee Ralph and her son Sen Vincent Hughes. I even got a little dancing in.
Love that Sheryl Lee Ralph is capturing the memories of the night.
Thanks Jamyra Perry, producer for WOGL for taking me to the party last night. So much fun dancing too. Jamyra would like one of these gift-wrapped please.

The Lunar Eclipse was well worth staying up for, but I guess it’s really not that much of a stretch for me as I am a night owl already.at 2AM I went out to see where we were at. i was following along on the Chile space watch so I had a pretty good idea as Chile is just below us I think, but warmer.

for awhile it was just like a 1/2 moon, 1/4 moon thing, so my mind began to wander
I thought what the heck pattern is that on the Cira Center? It seriously looked like Oh No Mr Bill from SNL, but then I realized I was tired, cold and seeing things.
Back to the show
Oh wait I can see the art museum parking garage from the front of my building, that’s pretty cool to see a Frank Gehry so close.
We’re getting there…

Oh then I thought foreground shots would look nice.
If I wasn’t so lazy I would have crossed the street, laid on the ground and had the art museum in the foreground.
I was getting artsy here, probably not though, huh?
Goose bump time
This was shot with a flash
This was without a flash
So worth it:-) The End and I went to bed. Well first I did this blog entry.

According to Philly.com “U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy had just left the Flyers game Saturday when his cell phone rang in the parking lot of the Wells Fargo Center. “Patrick,” the voice on the phone said, “this is Barack.” President Obama was calling to congratulate Murphy on the Senate vote repealing the U.S. military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, ending a 17-year battle over the role of gays and lesbians in the military.
“Today, we finally closed the books on the discriminatory ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy that hurt our national security and ran counter to our national values,” Murphy said. The Bucks County Democrat, who lost his bid for reelection in November, will be at the White House this week, when Obama is expected to sign the bill into law.”AFTER that he went to Mark Segal’s Annual Holiday Party where the crowd erupted in cheers on his arrival. After a few words he joined Governor Rendell, Mayor Nutter, Representative Robert Brady, Councilman DiCicco and DA Seth Williams in singing Christmas songs along with the Philadelphia Gay Chorus. Murphy tells me he leaves office Jan 2, 2011 and starts at Fox Rothschild on Jan 3, 2011

Last month Foobooz wrote that the Valanni/Mercato/Varga team was hiring a new staff for their new concept nightclub an undisclosed location as the powers to be were mum. I was driving by recently and noticed something different at Valanni’s. A little research andnow I’m here to tell you that the tables and chairs have been moved out and the disco balls have moved into the expanded space at Valanni’s. It’s now called “Social” at Valanni

They are just finishing up the white walls and shining their balls. Look for the opening in January.

What a whirlwind weekend of Philly celebrified news and sightings. My whirlwind began last Thursday I got a call that the LA Lakers were practicing at the Sporting Club at the Bellevue and did I want to come over and get a few shots. Damn straight, thanks to the Amy & her team for allowing me to run in and watch the practice for a bit. More than a dozen people on the floors about stopped their mid-day work outs to catch the action. (I wasn’t there too long as a coach came over saying the boys were afraid I was writing down their plays, and also some of them had in their contract that they can’t be photographed. Hmm)

I didn’t expect Kobe Bryant as there was a ceremony that evening for a new gymnasium at Lower Merion High School. The gym was named and dedicated to Bryant, a Lower Merion alumnus whogenerously donated $411,000 towards the cost of building the state of the art gym. Stating he was doing it for the next generation.
Maybe now the Philadelphia fans will overlook his dim witted actions in the past notably stating that while growing up in Philly he was a Mets fan. He must really hate Philly fans to come out with that statement.
I ran into serious LA Lakers fan Connie Johnson in the parking garage, she was tipped off that the team would be practicing that day and was planning to wait out their practice and get their autographs as they left the building.
She told me she’d been a Laker fan ever since Kolbe took Brandy to the prom. I had to disappoint her and tell her Kolbe wasn’t there, but she said she’d wait for the team to leave, she was a big Pau Gasol fan too. Pau Gasol getting his foot massaged. I got a few shots in and then headed out the door to Sigma Sound Studios and The Beat 100.3’s private meet & greet with Trey Songz. You’ll remember the last time Trey was in town he was supposed to do a signing at FYE record store at Broad & Chestnut and about 700 kids showed up.
Hosted by Star and Buc Wild with White Trash Helene from the “Star and Buc Wild Morning Show”

About 100 fans came out in the light snow for the “Ladies Afternoon” event. I had a picture in Michael Klein’s column on Sunday, and will cover this event more in depth this week, but the ladies were more than a little excited to pose with Trey. A few knocked him over and the backdrop; one excited girl burst out crying, and another had to be pried off of him and almost shown the door. Above Star doing the honors grilling Trey about all things him, including what his future holds. Trey says that until the Lord gives him another calling, he’ll be pumping out the albums.
FRIDAY: Keri Hilson’s new CD “No Boy’s Allowed” is going to put her on the map; it drops 12/21. Sure she’s been around a few years, but this CD is danceable, fun, naughty and nice with lots of love from Chris Brown in there. Look for a few cross over hits as they say. She hung out at Sigma Sound on Friday night with Kendra G, who could could melt any cold day with that red hot outfit on. Check out Kendra G as she does the Keri dance. Friday nights event was a bit more like a party, the crowd was dressed, the liquor was flowing for the 21 year old, there was Swanky Bubbles sushi on the menu and Skinny Water was there for the under 21 set. Friday night was also the Sixers vs. the LA Lakers, and the Wells Fargo Center was sold out for the first time in several years. I came across this Getty Images shot on the 700Level and noticed my friend Drew Milstein sitting next to Kijifa Frink and fiance Michael Vick with DeSean Jackson. First I have to say what a game yesterday, unbelievable. Secondly, I could do a whole blog entry on the re-emergence of Michael Vick. I hear he’s gotten himself a PR agent to re-build his image, and she’s doing a great job, and of course he’s doing a hell of a job himself playing great football for the Eagles. Back to her. First he throws his fiance a party at G Lounge, gives her a $90,000 Porsche then sells the pictures as exclusives to TMZ. That’s national and that’s getting his name out there. Then he does a small town commercial for a Woodbury NJ car dealership. Then another national story hits, he’ does an interview where he says he wants a dog after months of trying to distance himself from dog anything, except for the occasional visits to schools to talk against dog fighting, he lays a comment like that out there. Vick has to wait until 2012 for the Courts to allow him to have a dog? What do you think? Look for more Michael Vick in the press to come, and eventually for some of his big time endorsements to come back.
Also in town Friday night Jamie Foxx (a shot I took above at a Beat 100.3 conference) was at The Vault (Formerly Fusion) for a listening party for his new CD, but first he went to the LA Lakers game, then headed to the best restaurant with a view in the City, R2L, where he dined at table 95 (next to Barbara’s Streisand a few weeks ago). I got tipped off that he was there around midnight (I was at Whisper following up a Jeremy Maclin sighting, plus a few of the Eagles were headed over after their holiday party which was held at the Linc) but I was too slow getting over there to catch him as he finished up dinner; he then strolled to the bar with friends and bought a round of Patron. He also posed for a few photos with fans before heading out to the Vault around 12:30AM for the listening party.
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SATURDAY NIGHT: Mike and I donned our gay apparel and headed over to Philadelphia Gay Newspaper’s Mark Segal’s Christmas Party er holiday party, hmm I don’t know what he calls it, but I call it a lot of fun. I think my readers know in the past how much I admire Mark and all he’s done for the gay movement, and to have his holiday party on the day that DADT moved one step further to being eliminated, as well as having U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy in the house on this historic day was well historic. Murphy, Mark Segal, Mayor Nutter, Gov Rendell, Paul Steinke (Reading Terminal Market) If you could have heard the excitement and cheer of the guests at his announcement, it was really overwhelming and one of those moments to be treasured. A newsworthy moment that I got to witness. (Sorta like when I witnessed Britney Spears almost drop her baby cause her stir up pants got tangled in her high heels when she stepped off a curb in NYC.)Micah, Ryan, Oacha
Philly Daily News Dan Gross, Patrick Murphy and Holly Maher. Congratulations all around.

Sorry for the darkness of this video, but you can enjoy the Honorable Midge Rendell sing her favorite funny Christmas classic

Another favorite moment is when Mayor Nutter pays tribute to Gov Rendell.
A Saturday night event I didn’t go to was the Joy to The World black tie gala at the Ritz Carlton because I had a couple of friends parties to go to But I had lots of friends who went like Jonathan Vendrick with Vivica Fox (46) and her 29 year old you go girlfriend boyfriend Slimm
Ian Swain II and Miss Philadelphia Andrea Helfrich always the early birds got there at the starting starting time of 10PM, told me the celebs and VIPs didn’t start rolling in until midnight. “I will have to give them props on the Ice-Bar – that was a solid touch. Room was set up beautifully. There was a Ciroc shortage at one point, ironically at this time Diddy was yelling into the mic that everyone needed to loosen up and to pass some Ciroc out.”
Real Housewives of Atlanta star Sheree Whitfield (Twitter)
guest, guest, Uri Jacobsen and Ron Hansen (These next 3 pixs are from Uri)
Jermaine Dupri (formerly Mr Janet Jackson)
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs (Oh I have a doozy of a Diddy story but that’s gonna be on TV), Fabulous, Brian McKnight, State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams and wife Shari Williams, Miss Philadelphia 2010 Andrea Helfrich, Sabrina Tamburino-Thorne, Erin Elmore, Kijafa Frink, Megan Smith (Brownstone PR) and lots of Philly Phamous and beautiful people. I have a few more fun tidbits from the events mentioned above, but I want to save them for my NBC10 Non Stop Channel 248, or 10.2 segment for 9:30PM on Thursday.

A whole bunch of Philly Phamous ventured out in the snow last night to the Wells Fargo Center to catch the sexy Usher & Trey Songz
The Law Office of Zarwin, Baum, DeVito, Kaplan, Schaer & Toddy, P. C. hosted a bunch of Philadelphia Eagles players included Brent Celek, Stewart Bradley, Trevor Laws and Victor Abiamiri. Also in picture is on left Gary Devito, Mitchell Kaplan, Stacey Kracher, Anne and Sharon Kaplan, Anne Nikolaus and Aida Sparta. (Twitter – lovebunny)
Also in the house of Usher: Phillies Jimmy Rollins and his bride Johari. A few seats away were Ryan Howard and Philadelphia Eagles Jamaal Jackson. After the concert Trey Songz, Kevin Hart, Fabolous and Vivica Fox headed to North Bowl where they found DeSean Jackson hanging out. Look for DeSean and more Philly Phamous sitting court side at the LA Lakers vs Sixers game tonight. DeSean Jackson is confirmed front and center. Stay tuned to my tweets tonight @iphillychitchat cause I’ve heard some rumors where a few of Philly’s Phamous will be hanging out tonight. Sure thing that a few will head over to the Grammy/Academy Award Winning entertainer Jamie Foxx RSVP @ http://ciroc-jamiefoxx.eventbrite.com/ {$10 Reduced Admission before 10:30} www.vaultphilly.com