So many great events happened in 2015, it was hard to choose, but I did. Let’s check them out. Criteria was definitely about execution, and participation of guests. I do try and find out who does what, but sometimes the event coordinators and or PR don’t know. Everyone who does these events should be recognized, some of them are just spectacular.

Founded by the local start up Chatterblast, the  Annual Flip Cup Championship at Field House brings together friends and family in the name of charity and serious competition to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Yep everyone seems to be participating and dressing the part.

Each year the Young Friends of National Museum of American Jewish History hosts two big events, the “Midsummer’s Eve” Dance where guests wear white, and the Maquerade Ball: Celebrating Purim, where guests wear costumes. It’s a great organization to get young people involved in supporting the museum, and nearly everyone participates in dressing for the theme.

One of the best events this year was at the Eakins Oval, as “Future Sensations.” The exhibit, which celebrated the 350th anniversary of Parisian building materials company Saint-Gobain, featured five distinct light-up “pavilions” that weigh between 20 and 50 tons, and were between 13 and 32 feet tall. It wasn’t an earth shattering experience (more of an advertisement about what the company does for billionaire corporations), but because it brought Philadelphian’s together to experience it, as well as wait in lines for hours to chit-chat, it earns a place on the Best Philly Event’s list. Also Philly was the only spot in the USA it stopped on it’s tour, and we got lots of great press.

Diner en Blanc will always be on the list. Because seriously who would have thought 4500 would carry their own tables, food, and chairs; wear white to picnic with strangers in the rain at an undisclosed location. Again this is an experience, whether you do it once or all 4 times it’s happened in Philly. What I don’t understand is why people mock it or outright hate it. OK you don’t like it, why do you think it’s ok to be so mean about it and judge others? It’s not ok bully.
Above: Theresa Grady and Narberth Mayor Tom Grady make their way through the Navy Yeard to attend Diner en Blanc for the fourth time.

  Jazz Age on the Delaware
Amazingly successful. Happy it was a reasonably cool August day.
Event Coordinators of Diner en Blanc
Natanya DiBona and PR : Aversa PR
With musical selections by Mole Street Productions

This is one of my favorite photos of the year. It was taken at the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s “Discovering the Impressionists” Opening Gala. It was a crazy hot day. I had covered the Molestice earlier in the day, and it was a client event. I didn’t have time to go home and change, even though home was across the street from the Art Museum. To me this was a must cover event, and it had to be covered during the cocktail party. I like to choose the people I photograph, if you don’t arrive during the cocktail hour, but during the dinner hour, you don’t get the pixs you really want, just the shots people are willing to interrupt their dinner for to pose for you. Anyway, we’re so lucky to have such amazing institutes in our City. To have these galas where supporters pay $1,000 of dollars to attend these events, and the proceeds go to acquire more exhibits as well as fund art education at the museum. Below is what you would call the money shot. I always want to shoot Gerry Lenfest, he’s very philanthropic and an important person on the cultural scene. The museum’s PR built this shot for me as I told them who I wanted in it. I stood by the paintings I thought would be a good background, and the photo happened.
Jennifer Thompson, Curator, Philadelphia Museum of Art; Hannah Henderson, Trustee Emeritus, Board of Trustees, Philadelphia Museum of Art; Sally Sharkey; H. F. “Gerry” Lenfest, Chair Trustee of the Philadelphia Museum of Art; and Gail Harrity, appointed President and COO of the Philadelphia Museum of Art

The Franklin Institutes Vatican Splendors – Just amazing. Go see it, it’s there until
Food: Frog Commissary  
Music Production: Mole Street

The POPE IN PHILLY. 

Thank you Archdiocese of Philadelphia Office for Communications, Brian Tierney, Donna Crilley Farrell, Meg Kane, and City of Philadelphia for making this happen, and happen for me.
Many people had their hands in the production of this event, but none more than
ESM Productions


These are the Top 5 Best Events of 2015

The Friends of Rittenhouse Square hosted the 32nd annual Ball on The Square. Over 400 well-dressed
guests attended, dining on Starr Events Catering and danced to the
Eddie Bruce Orchestra while surrounded by the beautiful decor of Evantine Design, all to raise funds for the popular park. – This year they are re-doing all the flower beds.
Audio/Visual/Lighting: Eventions
Food: Starr Catering

I hope you had a marvelous Christmas. As some of you may have heard my beloved mother in law, Eleanor Toub, passed away on Christmas Eve after a short illness. She lived a few floors above us at The Philadelphian, so I got to spend many cherished moments with her. Soon I will write my memorial to her so you too can see how remarkable she was. Today let’s focus on celebrations of love, and joy this holiday season.

Congratulations to Molly Sullivan French (sideline reporter for the Philadelphia 76ers on Comcast SportsNet.) and her hubby Tommy French and baby makes 3 in May. Maybe on their anniversary as Molly and Tommy were married in May in Honolulu.

Former CSN reporter Maria Papadakis popped up on Christmas day with her squeeze Chris Konopka at his parents house in Toms River. Maria and Chris then jetted to Naples to spend the rest of the holiday at her mom’s house.Usual the pair live in Toronto where Chris is goalie for their professional soccer team.

Congrats to Adam Joseph, partner Karl K and Jacob as they welcome a new addition to their family

Merry Merry, Happy Happy. Tomorrow I will start posting my Best of 2015 columns. Monday we return to posting events and Philly Gossip. I still have Philly events I haven’t written about, instead of saying last week, or last month I’ll be saying last year.

Last week WMMR’s Preston & Steve Show took it on the road and

 broadcast their annual Christmas show at Parx Casino’s 360’s lounge in
front of an audience of listeners who called in to the show to win
tickets to attend the private, year end party.

 Guests were treated to a breakfast buffet, and generous gift
bag filled of goodies for everyone, and everyone had a chance to be
chose for the quiz show part of the day to win great prizes like a years
worth of beer (Beer for a year from Yuengling – 24 cases from them!), a $500 Dunkin Donut’s Gift Card, computers and more.

On Friday the Preston & Steve Show entertained with their regular sense of humor, keeping the crowd in stitches, and held several contests where they gave out really amazing prize packages. PS next year I think I want to be in the audience instead. Prizes included: Parx Casino VIP Night Out, including $200 to any Parx food &
beverage outlet including Parxgrill and Bambu, $200 free slot play,
free valet parking and complementary entrance to 360, plus $200 in parx
‘chips’.

• Dinner for two at 11 Stephen Starr Restaurants in Philadelphia.
   Some folks won beer for a year, a tankful of gas, $500 gift certificate to Dunkin Donuts.

Medical Guardian (1818 Market Street 
Suite 1200,
Philadelphia,
PA
19103) held their annual holiday party on Saturday night at Union Trust in Center City.

The evening began with a cocktail party in the mezzanine over looking the dining area

 Employees, managers, spouses and friends enjoyed a lite buffet and cocktails while chatting holiday shopping, traditions and favorite holiday songs.

More than two decades after its original release, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” continues to hit new heights. The 1994 carol rises 22-18 on the Billboard Hot 100  (dated Jan. 2, 2016), scoring its best rank ever on the chart. The song had previously peaked at No. 21 peak on the Hot 100 dated Jan. 5, 2013.

Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is also Geoff Gross‘ favorite song no doubt with wife Val Gross at the top of the list (newlyweds after getting married September 26, 2015)

Every Tuesday and Friday PhillyChitChat brings you PhillyGossip:
Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, only 3 more days til Christmas. My plans as you know have been thwarted this year, but I am spending a great amount of time with Mike and him mom, who is in hospice at home. The awesome part she’s lived in our condo building for the past decade, so we get to be there for her night and day and we are having such a good time reminiscing. Anyway as Liza says, the world goes round and round and Philly Gossip is all about. Last night my phone started blowing up with Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill sightings in the 9 O’Clock hour.

Meek Mill is restricted to the Philly area for the next 2 months til his sentencing for a probation violation, in February. Tuesday afternoon he and fiance Nicki Minaj stopped by a Philly group home for girls (see pix). Last night Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill had dinner at Capital Grille with 8 friends. Nicki looked beautiful, in tight blue jeans, a light blue shirt and a dark blue blazer. She was super nice to the staff, even addressing them by name. Meek wore jeans, tshirt and a blue hoodie. The duo smiled through out their steak dinners. (PS Nicki blurred Meek’s shoes cause he wasn’t wearing the ones he has a “contract” for to endorse.)

Earlier in the day Nicki was kinda pissed off tweeting that a staff member of the hotel she’s staying at walked into her room even though the Do Not Disturb sign was on the door. She notioned online she wanted the staff person fired. Hmm that’s not very Christmas spirit like.

Anyway I allowed the duo their space last night, but did tweet greetings to them during their dinner.

HughE Dillon
‏PhillyChitChat 930PM

In January it will be a year since they were first seen coupled up, taking an instagram photo at the club 1925 at 17th and Chestnut Streets after attending a Wale concert at TLA on South Street.

Labor Day Weekend they appeared together at Made in America on stage during his set. Now they’re engaged. It’s the real thing. Meek Mills bodyguard was found not guilty of murder in a Philly court yesterday, but he wasn’t at dinner. He gets out of jail today.

Last night Philadelphia 76ers players Jahlil Okafor and Isaiah Canaan surprised 20 children from the YMCA of Greater Brandywine with a holiday shopping spree at Dick’s Sporting Goods, supported by the Believe & Achieve Foundation at King of Prussia Mall.  Okafor and Canaan posed for photos and escorted the children through the store on their special “Shop with a Pro” experience. Check out the full article here.

SIXERS HOLIDAY HOOPS CAMPS PRESENTED BY ROTHMAN INSTITUTE OFFERS THREE DAY BASKETBALL CLINICS DECEMBER 28-30 in towns near you. For more information about Sixers Holiday Hoops Camps or Sixers Camps
contact the Director of Corporate Communications, Lara Toscani, at
LaraToscani@Sixers.com

Rumor has it: Chancellor Hotel Associates have delayed the “Little
Pete’s” hotel project, which had the parking lot at 17th & Chancellor being torn down and building a luxury Hyatt on the location. Little Pete was to vacate by February, but believes he’ll be there through the summer.

 More Eagles out and about, Jordan Matthews stopped by Del Frisco’s (15th & Chestnut Streets) for a holiday party and to get measured for a new suit by custom clothing by Daniel Morroni Sr., who’s a super guy. Speaking of Del Frisco’s their Sommelier, Jeffrey Mayfield, has created a selection of rare reserve wines by the glass that has recently been added to the restaurant’s extensive wine list.  Del Frisco’s Philadelphia is using a wine preservation tool called a “Coravin,”
which allows servers to pour a glass of wine from a $500 bottle without
even uncorking it. A needle goes through the cork and pumps the wine
into a glass. Once the needle is withdrawn, the cork naturally reforms a
perfectly airtight seal. The wine is then preserved and can be enjoyed
for up to two years.

Speaking of wine – Mayor Michael A. Nutter toasted the owners and new staff of the
Parkway’s historic and picturesque new addition – The Logan Hotel. Joe
Santore, General Manager The Logan Hotel greeted the mayor and then gave
him a tour around the property. The mayor told the gathered employees
that the building had a special place in his heart as he and his wife
Lisa, had brunch in the Swann Fountain 24 years ago the day after they
were marriage. The mayor marveled at all the art that decorated the
newly renovated hotel, which was curated from local artists. Nicole Cashman & Michelle Conron of Cashman & Associates gave me a personal tour last week. I’ll have photos up soon. Cool place. Can’t wait for the rooftop bar to open next year.

Eagles Sam Bradford has good taste. He stopped by Sweet T’s Cake Shop in Haddonfield and picked up a cake.

Have you seen their cakes, pretty fancy as well as delicious.

 Forgot to mention last week my two buds, Ben Haney and Jamie McFadden got engaged in LA last weekend. (Justin Pizzi photo credit) I missed their engagement party on Friday night as I was photographing Kenny Rogers at Valley Forge Casino Resort.Mazel Tov!

Linda Davis, country singer, Jennifer Galle, chief marketing officer, Marie Anderson, Musical Director of Main Line School of Rock and Kenny Rogers, front row with “Main Line School of Rock and Vocal Fusion” choir

The Today Show’s Tamron Hall made at least two visits to Philly this past year. Once to appear at the Lutheran Settlement House 2015 Women of Courage Breakfast where she was honored. At the breakfast she talked about domestic violence, and how her sister was killed at the hands of her husband. A few months later at a luncheon with Philly Style ladies to celebrate her cover shot on the magazine. She was much warmer and personable than she appears on TV

Penn Alumni – 250th Celebration Gala was held on the steps of the Art Museum. The largest tent every erected held a party with nearly 2,000. Entertainer Harry Connick, Jr entertained the guests. I was one of the few press people invited to shoot the event as Harry had rules. That background is a live version of the Parkway, the only thing, it’s an LED screen which was projected what a camera was recording on the outside of the tent facing the parkway. It was quite clever to do.

L-R: Sarah Megan Thomas, Alysia Reiner, David Alan Basche, Samuel Roukin and Roe Hartrampf  The cast of Equity arrived in Philly last week to begin filming a movie about women on Wall Street.  Equity is the brainchild of Sarah Megan Thomas and Haverford native and Orange Is the New Black prison maven Alysia Reiner, and is the first film produced through their production company Broad Street Pictures.

Fox 29’s Quincy Harris and M Night Shyamalan at the Prince Theater.  After photographing the cast of Equity, I headed over to Philadelphia Film Society’s Prince Theater, which hosted a screening of the season finale of M. Night Shyamalan’s hit Fox miniseries Wayward Pines

Danielle Cohn takes a selfie with Kate Gosselin and Vivica Fox. Thanks to John Deming (r) and Danielle for inviting me to the special screening of Celebrity Apprentice at Comcast with the stars.

 
Fox 29 celebrated in style this year at Halloween bringing Tom Brady, Nikki Minaj, Kris “Momanger” Jenner, Arianna Grande, Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, and Drake flank producer Jessica Klein of Good Day.

Dr J Gala at the Rittenhouse Hotel with George Lopez, Alan Thicke, Cedric the Entertainer, Reggie Jackson and Vivica Fox

Mayor Nutter holds a poster of a fighting mural installed earlier in the Front Street Boxing Center where Creed was filmed, presented by Michael B. Jordan (Fruitvale Station) and Tessa Thompson (Selma, Dear White People), writer/director Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station),  longtime Rocky producer Irwin Winkler and Sylvester Stallone.

Vince Papale, Janet Papale, Mark Walhberg and Alexandra Papale. It was crazy how some media outlets identified her as Mark’s wife. She doesn’t look anything like his wife.

Jon Dorenbos, Mark Sanchez and Annalise Dale at Zarwin Baum’s Fashion Touchdown

Celebrity Photo of the year is Amber Rose. “I was a stripper since I was 15 years old,” Amber Rose, a former Ford model, told FOX411 in 2011 “I was a South Philly hood rat my whole life. Amber Rose went from Delilah’s Strip Club to Kanya to superstar.

In October she returned to Philly sporting the popular jumpsuit fashion, while bringing back the corduroy fashion

A little bit of gossip to start your day.

Congrats to Mikey and Allie on the birth of their daughter Cora on Dec 7. These two are a great representation of millennials, finding their way through the world. It’s great to see their lives progress from their first date, to courtship, through their first real jobs, to marriage to today.

Congratulations to Diane Johnson DiCicco and Christian DiCicco on the arrival of Charlie John DiCicco. So adorable.

Happy Birthday Alissa Frick. Friends gathered earlier this month to celebrate. Pearl stole the spotlight.

Kristin Detterline, Marisa Magnatta, Alissa, Sheena Parveen, Vasiliki Tsiouris, Christie Honigman and Erin Como.

Baby Dillon is about to be a big brother. Congrats to the Widell’s

Today is the last day for filming the M Night movie #Split starring Betty Buckley. So bummed I never had a chance to photograph her, but she did provide plenty of photos herself and the locations of the movie every day. Even filming across the street in Fairmount Park, but I was too busy to go and photograph the action. Here they are at Sun Center Studios in Chester, Pa, where they filmed for the past 4 weeks.

Congrats Alex Eckman-lawn and Kate Glasheen who can be found on SEPTA buses in this advert for River Rink.

dasheikeeStoked to announce @divinelorrainehotel collection is now available @lacolombecoffee Fishtown and http://www.DivineLorraineCollection.com // #ShopLinkInBio Categories Philadelphia Spectacular Holiday Lights In the Area – Chip Kelly, Vince Papale, Muhammad Ali & Joe Flacco’s Neighborhoods Lit Up Post author By HughE Dillon Post date December 17, 2015 Over the past week I went out on my annual holiday light tours, being a visual guy I’ve always enjoyed Christmas and the lights that celebrate the season. When I was a kid I was in charge of putting up the Christmas lights on our house. I was always sad when the season was over and I’d have to take them down and store them in the attic til the following year. I was happy when those white bulb candles became popular and were placed in the windows of houses throughout the year. Rittenhouse Square Lit Brother’s Building Audubon NJ  Audubon NJ Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens QB and Super Bowl XLVII MVP grew up a few houses away from this house in Audubon PS My dad was the town’s OBGYN and delivered Joe Flacco, but that’s the only time dad met him. Audubon, NJ – You can’t go wrong seeing great houses in this town.  I mean check out their fire station on Merchant Street, Audubon NJ Haddon Hts Haddonfield NJ In the movie When Harry Met Sally… (directed by Rob Reiner), Billy Crystal‘s character, Harry, is from Haddonfield Half the Flyer’s Team lives in Haddonfield. Chase Utley never lived in Haddonfield no matter how many rumors said he did. Marlton, NJ Cherry Hill – Winding Way in Charleston Ridings (2 streets over from where I grew up, and one street further to where Muhammad Ali used to live. His house is on the market again I hear [Ali moved away about a year after we moved to the neighborhood) Cherry Hill – Nice Caddy in Driveway Vince Papale’s House in Cherry Hill Cherry Hill Haddon Hts Cherry Hill – I’m not a fan of these new Christmas lights Ali Larter (born 1976), model, actress, and star of Heroes.[25] was born in Cherry Hill  Country Club Lane – Woodcrest – Cherry Hill Flyers great Bernie Parent lives in Cherry Hill. I used to attend his son’s annual Halloween party, we both went to Catholic schools and had off the next day for “All Saints Day”.  Bernie would play air hockey with the kids at the party. Morris Drive – Woodcrest – Cherry Hill Tavistock NJ  Tavistock, NJ – right off of Warwick Rd/Haddonfield NJ  Tavistock NJ Country Club Drive – Woodcrest – Cherry Hill Country Club Drive – Woodcrest – Cherry Hill Haddonfield, NJ on the same block as Chip Kelly’s House Haddonfield, NJ Main Street ie Kings Highway. Every Friday night in December, they have shopping late night with lanterns lining the street and horse drawn carriages touring downtown. Chip Kelly lives about a half mile from this spot. Warwick Road – Haddonfield, NJ Christmas light touring in New Jersey A video posted by Philly ChitChat (@phillychitchat) on Dec 16, 2015 at 5:21pm PST click on video above Cherry Hill is made up of a series of neighborhoods Woodcrest, Barclay Farms, Wilderness Acres etc. I lived in Charleston Ridings, this video is from Lucerne, which is a new development down the street from where I lived. When I was a kid it was a farm field I used to ride by on my bike to get to my job at the gas station on Rt 70. I always thought Ichabod Crane was going to ride out of the field and snatch my head on those late nights when I rode my bike home from work. City Hall  If you have a car, or a friend with a car and want to see fun, whimsical lights head to South Jersey Categories Philadelphia Fashionable Friends Celebrated the 5th annual Chic for CHOP Post author By HughE Dillon Post date December 16, 2015 On Friday, December 4th, the 5th annual Chic for CHOP took place at Manayunk bar Beat Street Station. Hosted by the Lynn Saligman League and co-chaired by Jen Liss, Lindsey Schneider, and Brooke Borsky, this year’s Chic for CHOP also included a sweepstakes and an amazing silent auction which helped raise nearly $90,000 for the Pediatric Stroke Program at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Hundreds of supporters came out for the festive event for a fun evening of dancing and cocktails. The Lynn Saligman League was founded nearly 58 years ago for 12-year-old Lynn Saligman who died in a house fire along with her parents in Merion, Pennsylvania. Many of her best friends, who founded the organization, and attended school with the little girl, are active in the organization started in 1957. With 125 volunteers the Lynn Saligman League has became a constant presence at the Hospital, hosting patient parties, bake sales, golf outings and many other events. The Lynn Saligman League also raises funds to benefit the Hospital’s patient care programs and fuel groundbreaking research. Heather DeLine, MSW, LSW, is a social worker in the Pediatric Stroke Program at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia., Todd Levy, Lauren Krivizky, Ken Krivitzky, Executive Director of Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El, and Elisa Olson, MEd., CHOP  Ryan Resin, Jil Resin and Justin Resin  Maddie Benner and Sara McPhilmy, Event Fundraising Coordinator at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia  The Levithan Family: Mark, Sindy and Brandon  Stephanie Anselmo, Lauren Dorfman, Abby Prince and Trish Lukas  Tobi Epstein, ‎Learning Solutions Consultant Pearson Education, Jacqueline Frankel, Samantha Fox  Greg and Lindsey Schneider  Emily Rothrock and Yael Gross Rhode with Flywheel Center City  Jason Pearlman, Stacy Pearlman, Leslee Schneider and Pete Schneider  Jen Liss, Lindsey Schneider, and Brooke Borsky, co-chairs of 2015 Chic for CHOP  Remi Tammaro, B&R Services for Professionals Inc, Johanna Caplan and Heather Soloff, Soloff Wealth Management Group  Kevin and Jonnell Davenport Todd Levy, Andrea Donati, MS, OTR/L CHOP and Chris Donati   Loading Comments...   Write a Comment... 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