Philly Gossip: Nicki Minaj & Meek Mill dine in, Eagles Out and About, Kenny Rogers and Bradley Cooper’s Joy

Post author By HughE Dillon
Post date December 22, 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

Enjoy dinner @NICKIMINAJ and @MeekMill. It’s the holidays and I’ll leave you in peace. Hope to shoot u soon. Philly’s Gentleman Paparazzo

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.

Tracy Bucholtz is becoming BFF’s with man about town, Philadelphia Eagles most philanthropic player, Connor Barwin. Here the duo were gathering toys at Child Advocate at 19th and Arch Streets Saturday. Someone shot their selfie

Which looked like this. You’ll recall in the summer they also shared a selfie at another philanthropic event. This past weekend Tracy headed to Longwood Gardens and posted a few beautiful pixs of the local destination. Must put it on the list of holiday places to visit.

Happy happy birthday Renee Reese, with her hubba hubby Phila Eagles announcer, and former player Ike Reese.

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.

My sister Janine DeFeo who lives in Charlotte works for PhillyChitChat. She and her BFF delivered toys to kids in the hospital in Charlotte yesterday. She’s very philanthropic. When she’s not delivering presents to kids, she’s working on the Ovarian Cancer Teal Project organization she founded.

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!

Valley Forge Music Fair Presented Kenny Rogers for his Once Again It’s Christmas Tour, featuring Linda Davis (mother of Hillary Scott who is the other half of Lady Antebellum) Friday night at Valley Forge Music Fair at Valley Forge Casino. Joining Rogers and Davis’ on stage was “Main Line School of Rock and Vocal Fusion” choir. The choir made up of local students, were chosen to perform in the Kenny Rogers Christmas show. Musical director is Marie Anderson, from Main Line School of Rock, said it was an honor to perform with the country legend.

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 concert was great and I even got to chat with Kenny Rogers for a brief second backstage. Really a brief second, he said I don’t think that ladder’s gonna hold you, and then probably thought to himself, hope he’s going on a new year’s diet.

6ABC’s Walter Perez and son stopped by the MSB Building’s holiday party last week. Mayor Nutter also stopped by to thank his planning staff for a job well done.
Check out yesterday’s column for the best celebrity photos I shot in Philly in
2015
http://www.phillychitchat.com/2015/12/favorite-celebrity-shots-ive-taken-in.html

–

Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert DeNiro were last seen together in Silver Linings Playbook which filmed here in Philly a few years back. They’ve re-teamed in Joy, which opens on Christmas Day.

JOY is the wild story of a family across four generations centered on
the girl who becomes the woman who founds a business dynasty and becomes
a matriarch in her own right. Betrayal, treachery, the loss of
innocence and the scars of love, pave the road in this intense emotional
and human comedy about

Philadelphia

Philly: Best Celebrity Shots & Stories Behind Them 2015

Post author By HughE Dillon
Post date December 21, 2015

I’ve been lucky over the years to be in the right place at the right time, to have generous tipsters, as well as being invited or hired to shoot celebrities at events in Philly. Most of these pixs I try and place in media outlets, print, magazines online, then on my blog if all else fails. Here are a few of my favorite celebrity shots this year.

Breaking ground for SLS International Hotel & REsidences, the organizers brought together an interesting array of people like Gamble and Huff, who owned the land where the new luxury hotel will be built. Also on hand the famed designer Phillippe Starck, who will be doing the interiors of the new hotel.

Comcast Cares was a client shoot. Eagles player Brandon Graham stopped by with Swoop to help out the kids of Greenfield School do a little spring cleaning. I was impressed they really cleaned up the place, repainted rooms, installed shelves and planted greenery around the playground. Brandon actually chipped in to help, it wasn’t just a photo op.

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.

50th anniversary of LGBT rights protest commemorated on July 4th Weekend. There was a private cocktail party for VIPs, officials and sponsors at Stratus Lounge. Wanda Sykes and LGBT activist Edie Windsor, named plaintiff in the marriage equality case heard in federal court, were on hand at the event. I saw the duo sitting next to each other and I knew this was the most important shot to get. Wanda is always skittish about getting her photo taken, so I knew I’d have to be delicate. I stood there for a few minutes, trying to get shots without a flash and Wanda shot me a “i;m gonna slay you” look. So I stooped. Finally after ten minutes Edie stopped looked at me and I asked to get a photo. One, two shots then they turned to talk to each other. Thankfully I had what I could work with.

Phillies fans love them some Shane Victorino as he was welcomed back to CBP with an impressive standing ovation prior to April 6th’s opening day game. Shane and I were friendly, so I knew whenever he came to town he would stop by his favorite eatery Del Frisco’s. So I headed there that night and sure enough he and wife Melissa were there for dinner.

Scott Williams FOX 29 Chief Meterologist, Alex Holley, Good Day Philly and Bobby Rydell at the National Kidney Foundation Gala.

The ending of Creed, is different than the ending that was filmed for Creed. Michael B Jordan stands by the Rocky statue and cries, is not in the film. This photo appeared in AD Amorsio’s Metro Philly column with no in depth explanation. I pitched it to my producer at Fox 29, and although he loved the exclusivity of it, he didn’t want to spoil what we thought was the end of the movie.

Alysia Reiner’s local PR Paige Wolf: Philadelphia’s Favorite Green Public Relations connected me with Alysia Reiner who connected me with Sarah Megan Thomas. I explained that i’d love to get a photo of them either on the set or at an arrange spot. They chose the latter as we could never get dates that worked out. This was much better for me too, it was a great way to spend my birthday. This ran in Philly Mag. One the last day of filming

SPOTTED: Orange Is the New Black‘s Alysia Reiner Dining at Talula’s Garden

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

I randomly ran into Knock Knock Live filming in Francisville as Adrienne Bailon and Tyler Posey were knocking on doors and handing out money prizes. Truth be told, they weren’t random houses. Someone had nominated Rashaun Williams’ for his charitable works and he was received $25,000. They then went to their neighbors to see who would be around to “win” lower amounts and do it live on TV.

Mayor Nutter gives Fran Dresher the Liberty Bell and Philly Pride Award

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

Philadelphia

A little bit of gossip to start your day and And The Winner of the Pen & Pencil’s Best Use of Social Media in Journalism

Post author By HughE Dillon
Post date December 18, 2015

A little bit of gossip to start your day.

Not often seen of late, Socialite Kelly Boyd with William A. Carter IV, Esq. Chief Operating Officer from Darrell Clarke office at the Duane Morris (Kelly’s client) party at the Pennsylvania Society weekend in Manhattan last week.

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.