“There has never been and never will be another you. You have a purpose – a very special gift that only you can bring to the world” a popular quote by Marie Forleo and repeated to a crowd that gathered to hear her speak last month at Karin Copeland’s CreateXChange’s 2019-2020 “The Next Big Thing” Master Class Series at 2300 Arena in South Philly.

When guests arrived they enjoyed a networking cocktail party where they could also fashion and functional items for sale at the pop up boutiques.

Karin Copeland has been creating thought provoking events for nearly a decade with global thought leaders are Amy Cuddy, Sheryl Sandberg, Simon Sinek, Malcolm Gladwell, Ariana Huffington, Peter Thiel, and more including panel chats with local leaders. Check out her website, and follow her on Social Media for her curated content to keep you thinking. Karin will be speaking Saturday at 11AM at #GREATPPHL19 – “What’s your next big dream?: Founders Over 40” with Karin Copeland Of CreateXChange  Link

*Thanks to Andre Flewellen for shooting this for PhillyChitChat. Check out additional photos on Philly Style Mag.

Happy Fall, I think it’s finally here. Break out the pumpkin spice, flannel and rakes. Let’s check out Around Town With HughE which you’ll find every Thursday on the blog.

I missed this little nugget last month, but a surprise wedding guest attended the wedding reception of Dana Gallo White and Matt White on Sept. 14, at Cescaphe Events Vie!! As the father of the groom’s speech concluded with “Let’s have a party!”… out came country super star Toby Keith along with Red Solo Cups for all of the guests for the sing a long. He also serenaded the couple in a solo dance on the floor. **In case you weren’t at the wedding, you still have a chance to see Toby Keith as he’s appearing at Parx Casino Xcite Center on Friday, Nov. 1, and Saturday, Nov. 2.

A Roxborough popular spot called Hilltown Tavern, is now expanding into Fairmount at 23th and Brown. They’re hiring as well. 795 N. 24th Street

Speaking of expanding, I see the very poplar by the ounce pizza, called Alice, is expanding to Market Street in the Septa building at 1234 Market Street.

Another business booming is coming to Center City is Joseph Anthony’s, a very popular Glen Mills, PA Spa and Salon. They’re expanding and moving into The Loews Hotel. I highly recommend them. Super nice people and philanthropic. See you on Social Media, or right back here on Friday for more party coverage. Have a great day!!

Delicious Brain Food

Over the past 10 years Philadelphia has really come into it’s own with it’s hot, hot, hot food scene, arts & culture, collaborative spirit, development and a concerted effort to create a future filled with interesting and thought provoking projects. One of those projects if definitely the upcoming GR8PHL 2019 This 24-Hour Ideas Festival Marathon at 421 N. 7th Street. They have an extensive list of thought provoking leaders in the community who are going to talk about what’s going on in these areas I just mentioned, and where we are going. Similar to Phila Magazine’s Think Fest, but on the grass roots level where a lot of great ideas begin. I plan to pop in and out between my gigs, I hope I see you there.

Another fantastic similar event coming up is the B.PHL Innovation Fest October 15 – 17. Philadelphia’s first citywide innovation festival. The three-day event, which will take place October 15-17, is designed to further Philly’s reputation as the most innovative city on the East Coast, though, as Independence Blue Cross CEO Dan Hilferty noted, groundbreaking discoveries in the life sciences are already helping the city make its mark. Read more about it over at PhillyMag Then remember in November, there’s Philly Mag’s Think Fest. It’s great to have these events which brings like minded, and not so like minded folks together to move Philly forward. One thing is for sure, it’s an exciting time to be in Philadelphia.

Hope you had a fantastic weekend. I’m ready for fall temps, how about you. Pumpkin Spice coffee when it’s 90f out is not my idea of sweater season. Let’s check out Around Town With HughE and see who’s where, and what’s happening…

Jason Segel, who’s been in town for several months filming Dispatches From Elsewhere with Sally Field and Andre 3000 was spotted around town this past weekend with his longtime girlfriend, photographer Alexis Mixter. (So last week when he was out with her at the Jewelers Row Festival, he was pulling our leg when he said he was on a “First Date” while declining photos, they’ve been dating since 2014.) Saturday night they dined at one Jason’s favorite restaurant Pinefish (my favorite too as you know, plus an advertiser. ) I reported a few weeks ago he had visited twice and ordered the Swordfish and wanted it blackened , which wasn’t a choice. Now Pinefish has added it to the menu that way. Here he’s posing with his frequent server Lindsay (Thanks to my Tipsters for these shots) Sunday in the Park with Jason – spotted yesterday being a Philadelphian, hanging out in the park enjoying summer and hopefully stomping on Spotted Lantern Flies.

Sunday afternoon I spent it with friends: Brandon Morrison and Stacey Kracher celebrated their daughter Auri Eliz Morrison Blessing on Sunday at Union Trust with family and friends. It was great to see so many friends, most I met before they had even had met their loves, married and started their families.

I noticed last week that a bus was parked at the base of the Phila Art Museum with the words “Shop & Snack” on it. I had a chance to go over and check it out this weekend and chatted with the Parks & Rec folks, who run the pop up shop. They showed me around the gift shop that is a partnership with the Art Museum, Visit Philly and Fairmount Park. They’re selling tourist items related to Philly, and especially an extensive collection of items promoting and celebrating Rocky. As I noted last week with the opening of the North entrance to the Art Museum, and the items in the new museum store, the Art Museum has done a complete turn around in the last few years, embracing Rocky, and the Creed movie franchise, even noting on their website that the West Entrance of the Art Museum is at the top of the Rocky Stairs. Bravo!!

I forgot to mention a few weeks earlier that the cast and crew of Concrete Cowboys enjoyed PBJ softserve on the set on a hot summer night in August.

They’ve since wrapped, but maybe PBJ will serve the cast of the new Kate Winslet series being filmed for HBO which will be filming in West Chester starting in October or perhaps the Robert De Niro and Shia LaBeouf film “After Exile” scheduled to start in November.

Opera Philadelphia’s Festival O19 kicked off with a free showing of “La bohème” at Independence Mall on Saturday September 14, 2019.

La bohème” is regarded as one of the greatest love stories in opera. Set in 19th century Paris, it tells the story of how a chance encounter changes everything for Mimì and Rodolfo. Concertgoers began arriving as early as 4 p.m. for the 7p.m. show to get prime, front-row blanket seats near Chestnut Street where one of the screens was located.

Festival O19 celebrates great music and storytelling with 12 days of exciting and groundbreaking performances, including an award-winning world premiere and a cabaret in South Philly ( “Late Night Snacks”, a Fringe Festival show starring the Bearded Ladies and honored guests ). O19 unites seasoned opera lovers and audiences experiencing their first shows and began Sept. 18

Tonight at the Academy of Music is the first show of Opera Philadelphia’s main stage season reviving a comedic opera that is rarely performed in the United States, but remains a favorite on European stages. Famous for its “March”, Sergei Prokofiev’s satirical opera “The Love for Three Oranges” follows the story of a young sweet prince cursed by a witch to wander a faraway land in search of three oranges. “The Love for Three Oranges” runs for four performances from Sept. 20-Sept. 29. Tickets are $25-$275.