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Philadelphia

Patti Labelle is Going To Be A Grandmother – Sunday Was the Baby Shower – I have the name of Her Grandbaby & Pixs

Patti LaBelle and family hosted a baby shower at Kevin Parker’s Ms. Tootsies on South Street on Sunday.

It’s her FIRST Grand Baby
and a little girl. She is over the moon in anticipation of being a grandmother.

The baby already named Gia Patricia Edwards – is due in February to her son and doughtier in law, Zuri Edwards (L in back) and Lona Edwards.
Jalil Rahman took the picture of Ms LaBelle and Whitney Thomas took the hanging photos. 
Categories
Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Style Magazine Holiday Party – Better Late Than Never, Right?

Last month, I was bombarded with parties. I kept putting this nugget on the back burner as I said there was so much to chat about, then I didn’t want to cover it during the holidays cause 1/3 of my readers would be wrapping presents, playing with their new IPhones or shopping for bargains.

Where did that leave it, lost in my abyss. I found it. I still have fun things to say.

PHILADELPHIA STYLE celebrated its 2014 Holiday issue on Tuesday,
December 16, 2014 at The Historic Down Town Club in Philadelphia with
Sports Illustrated star, Guess model and cover star, Samantha Hoopes. 

The VIP guest list including friends, family, Philebrities and the like to the swanky soiree. Even though nearly 800 people filled the two rooms of the newly renovated event space, it was the see and be seen event of the holiday party season and if you were there then you were lucky as it was a hard to get, with minimum party crashers making it through if your name wasn’t on the list.

 Rebecca Goodman, Jacklyn Rhoads, and Laura Krebs Miller
 Love American Style. Talk about internet stalking, I’ve been following the meeting, the dating and the falling in love of Jamie Reibenbach and Ian Larson. When I met him at the party I felt like a fangirl. OMG I love the pumpkin you got for Halloween, oh and your first Thanksgiving together was divine. She’s so lucky to have a guy that gives great foot massages, oohhh ahhh ohhh aah. No doubt I frightened him. With them is the Philadelphia Style Magazine’s editor Kristin Detterline with her friend Ken Martz.
Kristen Conrad, (r) Brown Forman and friends
Thomas Ashley, Invincible Pictures, Jen Sherlock, Public Relations and Andrew Greenblatt, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Film Society
Alexander Mason Hankin,  Renee Dubyk and Kory Aversa
 The Season of Audi Cocktail Menu.
Songstress Jessy Kyle belting out a beautiful song to entertain the crowd.
The spread was the high quality seafood and Italian you’ve come to expect from the Cescaphe group.
If you look closely you can see my reflection and I don’t have a black shirt on.
CSN reporter  Molly Sullivan looking stunning on one of her last nights out as a single girl before officially changing her FB status to “in a Relationship” and Lauren Iske, Senior Director of Marketing & Promotions at Altitude Sports & Entertainment
 Melissa Leonard,  Eliana Raggio, Jill Rizen, Alisa Martino and Michelle Ranieri

 Melissa and the OSCAR nominated Bradley Cooper in NYC.
 Janice Waitkus, Lagos and her daughter Lauren Iannucci,Campaign Director, Light the Night (Dont forget The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® 2nd Annual Red & White Ball 3/21/15 and Raffle for a Mercedes Benz)
Sean Waters, Director at Morgan Stanley Investment Management and Michele Waters, Sofitel Hotel in Philadelphia
Lisa Gaudio (has been riding her horse through these cold winter days, and recently just added another beautiful Arabian mare to her family) and Jimmy Kazanjian (although happy for all of Philly’s great achievement, is proud of Chester County for being named one of the top 10 counties in the USA, where they live.)
CBS3’s Kathy Orr and Jessica Dean with Roberta Dranoff (center). It was at this party that developer Carl Dranoff was nice enough to tell me about the demolition party which will kick off his new SLS Hotel/Residential project at Broad and Spruce Streets. Each of his guests will take a sledge hammer to the building that is currently there and start the demolition. I’ll be among the swingers.)
Buffy Morgan Harakidas Director of Business Developments at Chorus Communications, Ryann O’Donnell  Business Development & Marketing Coordinator Chorus Communications, Jorge Bergara and Courtney Jones. (Don’t forget to get your Hair of the Dog tickets HERE. GA $119.00 w/open bar.)
Midora Middleton, who dances with the Philadelphia Dance Academy, captured the guests attention as she preformed a holiday number.

Samantha Hoopes and her parents, 
Theresa and Robert Hoopes

Samantha Hoopes, the latest face of Guess and newly minted star of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue, talks about race cars, growing up in Doylestown, and her overnight success in the world of modeling.
Read
more at
http://phillystylemag.com/personalities/articles/how-samantha-hoopes-life-has-changed-since-being-in-the-swimsuit-issue#evVj1rcH6xTq2e2g.99

Jon Iwry and Chelsea Berish (Was excited about the NY Times article that put Philly #3 of the places in the world you must visit in 2015; she said “Thank goodness- an article that can appreciate Philadelphia for something other than cheesesteaks!”)
Doug Rosenblum, John Kushner and John Bolaris.
Lauren Colabelli and John Colabelli, Publisher of Philadelphia Style Magazine
Jenine Neff and David Neff
Elaine Graber and her mystery man who has enough confidence to pull off those pants.
Dr Jen Caudle (Has had a great year, she’s a regular on CBS3 and has done national spots on CNN), Gervase Peterson (Survivor: Borneo and Survivor: Blood vs. Water), Shelly Hoffman, CBS3 and
 
Gervase Peterson and Tony Bruno

Liz Maillie, VP Friends of the Rail Park and Michael Green, City Space reality and Board of Directors of Friends of the Rail Park
 Deneen Marcel, (you might have heard of her company Deneen Marcel Lashes , you don’t have to be a celebrity to enjoy long, lushes lashes.) Iozis Simms, Stephanie Humphrey and Alexis Pena looking fashionably smart at the soiree.
 Mia Silveio and Alexmil Reyes
Tammi Toliver,  Makeup Artist Fashion Facez Artistry @ Le Rêve Spa and Terri Matthews, ‎Founder & CEO at Jaden’s Voice (seems to be the “It Girl” on everyone’s list lately.)
Jeff Sevag, Kristy Sevag and their pal Drew Colibitz.
Categories
Philadelphia

The Best New Year’s Party of 2014 to Help You Decide in 2015

Midway through January and I have something to say about New Year’s Eve, I did do a fun column at Philly.com, but what I didn’t do was really give my opinion on each party. Plus having gone to 3 parties I took a lot of photos that folks wanted to see still.

Normally on New Year’s Eve Mike and I have a party at our house, invited a few friends and catching the fireworks from our balcony; this year I decided to head out to the two hottest parties I’ve heard about in the past, as well as the new party at the newly renovated Down Town Club at 6th and Chestnut.

I was really excited to see the party held at the Piazza,

Hey NYE Philly has held a party at the Piazza for the past few years. It’s always been well attended, but this year they did a few new things as well as added a few more people on the organizational side.

For the price of your ticket you received an open bar and props.
Which really added to the ambiance.
The entire Piazza was tented over and heated.
With temps in the teens it was a little chilly for these gals
  but as the night wore on, no one was feeling the chill.
I thought this party was perfect if you were going with a bunch of friends, or even just a couple friends. But the crowd seemed to run 21 – 25 years old for the maximum enjoyment.
Also the two eateries on the Piazza were opened –  Gunners Run
and Crabby’s. There was food inside the two restaurants and access was granted if you bought the VIP ticket. I left about 9:30PM to head to the next party, but I left everyone in the utmost of holiday spirits. Ticket Price started at $79
I then headed over to the Loew’s Bang Bang New Year’s Eve Party organized by 3 Nerds, Old City Media & ADVENT Consulting, LLC
There was two parties going on, the one in the Millennium Ballroom was geared to a little older, chillaxed crowd
And then there was the Commonwealth Ballroom
which was geared to a much younger audience

with rotating DJ’s that packed the floor.

It was a great party. Did I mention the food, they had a nice pasta spread, pretzels and hourdouvers. Ticket price started at $100
It was nearly midnight and I headed to the Down Town Club for their New Year’s Eve Party.
Recently the Down Town Club underwent a renovation.
and the place looks great. I don’t recall the space having windows, and now it does. The views are spectacular.

The Downtown Club where the team behind
Philadelphia’s annual Diner En Blanc event threw a New Year’s Eve party
with Cescaphe Events.
 They transform the Club into an ”Evening in Paris”
with themed rooms and entertainers in French-style costumes, several
performances by Can-Can girls, and The Bearded Ladies.

Mole Street Productions helped produce the event by obtaining the entertainment, staging and coordinating along with Cescaphe and the Diner en Blanc crew.

It was a sophisticated crowd, there were three rooms for guests, two with DJ’s who kept the dance floor happening.
Another room had lounges and chairs, as well as a spread that was worth the ticket price, which was $150
Although all three were different, the one thing they had in common was that everyone looked like they were having a great time.

Categories
Philadelphia

Links to The Latest Parties in Philly, and What To Wear to The Hair of the Dog Gala

Good Wednesday morning, which reminds me I need to return to doing #WoofWoofWednesday reports as some of you told me you like seeing the friendly pooch post, anyway what dreary day, but I hear it’s pretty and white down the shore. I’ve always liked snow at the beach. Hope you’re all well. I’m looking forward to covering the Hair of the Dog party on Saturday, it’s always a fun dance party, a cross between your high school prom, and your high school 20th reunion. This year the event is being held at the Crystal Tea Room, so I’m excited to see how they lay it out. TICKETS & INFO

 Over the weekend I covered three events. Friday night I went to Holly Kinser’s birthday party at Stratus Lounge at Hotel Monaco. There was a dynamic crowd on hand, from Rendell, to Nutter to Monica Malpass to Anthony Williams. Holly had ordered a tent to cover the outdoor portion of Stratus, and now Stratus has decided to keep it. Good idea. Now it is really operational in the winter, the tent was nicely heated. Check out my PhillyMag column HERE for additional photos.
Saturday evening, after attending the lovely Sabrina Tamburino’s birthday party I went to the cocktail party for the screening of Maestro at Curtis Music Institute. It’s documentary on orchestra’s and the struggle of keeping them alive. As well as the importance of music education. A film crew spent two years trailing Grammy award-winning conductor and Curtis alum Paavo Jarvi. Check out who was 
there HERE
After Maestro I headed over to the Lemon Ball. Those photos will be up on PhillyMag later today and you can see which of your favorite news people were in attendance.
 The Hair of the Dog gala is this weekend. The dress is fabulous and fashionable.
Hope to see you there. Here are last year’s photos.
Categories
Philadelphia

Tamburino Baby Announcement….

Thirty-five years ago today, Carol Tamburino had a beautiful bouncing baby girl, and named her best friend….

 Sabrina Tamburino
 
Winter White Wonderland at Zavino’s restaurant brought all of Sabrina’s good friends out on a cold Saturday to heat up the afternoon at the Midtown Village eatery.

 Donna Coghlan Pasquale and Marilyn Kellmer
  Cake by none other than Isgro’s – where else Carol Tamburino tells me.
 Ladies day out dancing up a storm.
 Definitely one of the most admirable traits of Sabrina Tamburino Thorne is her ability to attract long time, loyal friends. 
Although these gals are always top of the list of rumored programs like The Real Housewives of Philadelphia, these ladies are a far from cat fights, back stabbing and table flippers of the franchise. They’re successful, dynamic and philanthropic supporting many of the charitable causes in the City. Sadly missing from the crew by the time I got there was Erin Elmore as she had to jet off to prepare for The Lemon Ball that evening.

  Kim Perri-Medini, Eliana Raggio and Marilyn Kellemer
 The well heeled Louboutin crowd, also sports beautiful bags.
 Lauren Collabelli and Alisa Martino

 Nina Tinari, Megan Heaton and Donna Pasquale

 After lunch and dancing, Sabrina’s friends each paid tribute to her. So many fun stories, I now know someone that did swing from a chandelier.

 To me Sabrina Tamburino Thorne is the same lovely girl I met in 2008 when I covered her engagement party to Steve Thorne at the Franklin Institute. She was to become PhillyChitChat’s first “It Girl” or more accurate a friend and someone who helped me form the basis of the career that I currently enjoy, which is chronically the lives and events of Philadelphia. For that I will always be grateful. Thanks.

 
Alicia Connolly Payne and Frances Connolly.
 
Elaine Graber, Sabrina Strickland, Megan Heaton,  Allison Halpin, Sabrina Tamburino Thorne, Donna Coghlan Pasquale, Eliana Raggio, Jill Rizen,  Lauren Colabelli, Carol Tamburino, Alisa Martino, Nina Tinari, Eliana Raggio, Alicia Connolly Payne and Frances Connolly.
Happy Birthday Sabrina Tamburino Thorne
Categories
Philadelphia

60th Anniversary International Debutante Ball at The Plaza in Manhattan 12/29/14

The International Debutante Ball is an invitation-only formal debutante ball to officially present well-connected young ladies from upper-class families to high society.I wasn’t able to attend, but the organization was nice enough to send photos over of the event. It’s such a unique, time honored tradition, I thought maybe you’d like to see what it looked like.

 Founded in 1954, it occurs every two years at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel
in New York City. Young women from around the
globe and all over the United States are brought together at the ball
and the surrounding parties, including daughters of Presidents of the
United States, diplomats, nobility, senators, ambassadors and governors.
Over the years the ball has benefited numerous charities from the
International Debutante Ball Foundation including the Soldiers’,
Sailors’, Marines’, Coast Guard and Airmen’s Club of New York, a social
club for members of the United States Armed Services.

Forty-six women of distinction from the United States and abroad made
their bows to society at the 60th Anniversary of the International
Debutante Ball, at the Waldorf Astoria.  The debutantes represented
Austria, China, England, Hong Kong, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland,
Ukraine and twelve American states.

 James Geishaker
 Philadelphia in the house: Marie Fritz, David Alexander Jenkins and Susan Jablokov

Frank Arlinghaus and Emma Xu who’s daughter Emma Jia Xue, made her debut. She goes to University of Pennsylvania and was a former Intern at Supreme Court of People’s Republic of China. She’s studying Social Welfare at University of Pennsylvania.
 Caroline Cooper greets guests in the debutante line.

 Grace Mannix and Katharine Giovannetti

This year forty six women took part in the 60th Anniversary International Debutante
Ball held at The Waldorf Astoria Hotel, NYC on December 29, 2014.

Each debutante was accompanied by
her own escort in white tie and tails, and a military cadet in dress
uniform, who carried the flag of the country or state which she
represents. There were five sets of sisters.

 Archduchess Isabella Maria Luisa von Habsburg-Lothringen
 Archduchess Isabella Maria Luisa von Habsburg-Lothringen

 Fanny Tang
 Joanne McGuire
 Miss Alexandra Kent Bratton

 Miss Elise Annabel Matustik Brown and Miss Camilla Francer Rose Harrison Brown

 

 
Nora and Pompeii Realuyo
Frannie Tang
Sponsored by Piaget, the Ball benefits The International Debutante Ball
Foundation Charities which Foundation supports numerous charities
including The Soldiers’, Sailors’, Marines’, Coast Guard and Airmen’s
Club, a home away from home for the military and their families.  www.internationaldebutanteball.com
Categories
Philadelphia

Meek Mill and Nicki Minaj Party in Philly at the new 1925 Cocktail Lounge Friday Night

 Rick Ross girlfriend Ming Lee shared a photo of the group together on Instagram and you can see Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill cuddling up together on the right.

Yesterday I asked where were these taken, 
I suspected it was the new 1925 Cocktail Lounge, in the Vault (formerly G Lounge) as the wallpaper and red velvet pillows gave it away. Today they got back to me and sure enough that’s where they partied Friday night after taking in Wale’s concert at TLA on South Street.
Categories
Philadelphia

Golden Globe Gowns For Affordable Prices at David’s Bridal, Plus Winter Sales at Nicole Miller and Sophy Curson

Good Monday Morning. Hope you had a great weekend. I’m working on my PhillyMag column regarding a fun party I went to on Friday night at Stratus Lounge. Besides being a fabulous party, I noticed that Stratus Lounge has tented over the entire rooftop lounge & it’s heated. This is a game changer and will definitely help the winter doldrums for a bar that celebrates the great outdoors.

 David’s Bridal sent me a press release matching gowns they have with some of the gowns worn on the red carpet at the Golden Globes last night. Last night’s Golden Globes produced some
show-stopping fashion moments. Below are some of the head turning red
carpet lookalikes that are both on-point and on-trend for your award
show fashion coverage. (you can click on the photos to make them larger.)
Whether you’re looking
for a classic black gown like Amal Clooney’s red carpet stunner,

 
craving
to achieve the shimmering style of stars like Reese Witherspoon

or
trying to emulate the red carpet aisle style of Salma Hayek’s ivory ball
gown,

Just like the Red Carpet season has begun nationally, the same goes for the Philadelphia area as well. The Hair of the Dog is next week, then it’s the Academy Ball, The Auto Show’s Black Tie Tailgate and before you know it the Philadelphia Flower Show gala. Another favorite place to shop, is holding their most fabulous sale of the year, Nicole Miller Philadelphia.

One last fashion fun, I spotted this cape at

Sophy Curson: Fine Clothing For Women

19th & Sansom Street

Kinda cute, and they’re having a nice sale too.

Categories
Philadelphia

Subscribe To Philly Chit Chat to Recieve it Daily Updates on Party Pictures, Tidbits and Upcoming events

It’s been awhile since I’ve reminded you to sign up to receive daily updates on PhillyChitChat.com It’s the easiest way to stay up on the parties that are happening, and upcoming in the City. Thanks! After putting your email in here, you will receive a verification email. Remember to click on that link and that’s all you have to do. In the future I will be having special giveaways only available for subscibers.

Subscribe to PhillyChitChat

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Philadelphia

Natalie DiDonato, Kate Gosselin, Vivica Fox, Random Fun Philly Tidbits

Happy 20,000th Twitter Follower today. And as I built up my twitter (& instagram) following over the past 6 years, I sometimes neglected my blog and posted a lot of what used to be tidbits that I used to post here on PhillyChitChat. Over the past few months I’ve run into readers and they’ve told me they miss seeing those items on PCC as well as #WoofWoofWednesday; Going forward I’m going to post these tidbits again, a couple times a week, everyday at 3PM I’m going to publish an additional fun column for you to enjoy (Today though I’m publishing this much earlier.) Thank you for the feedback specifically yesterday Joan, Megan and Suzan who I ran into yesterday and told me they aren’t on SM, they get all their news from PhillyChitChat.

Wednesday night VH1 debuted the new season of Mob Wives. It’s interesting that the show seems to be hell bent on having another Philly Mob Wife on the show and they’ve added Natalie DiDonato who is thoroughly a serious South Philly born and bred Italian women with a point of view. Here she is posing with fans at the screening of the first episode of the show.

Lots of her friends, and family were on hand to support her.

The screening was held at Voltage in the Spring Garden section of the City. The first episode even had a few of our friends on it including Antoine Johnson and Kharisma McIlwaine
Natalie “Don’t Mess With Me” DiDonato , which reminds me Natalie Guercio was spotted in my condo’s lobby yesterday, maybe going to Little Pete’s who knows. Unfortunately I wasn’t home.

I was at the Academy of Music offices “assisting” Christie Honigman, Lynsie Solomon and Claire Allamby with the seating arrangements for the upcoming Academy Ball on 1/24/15. The Grand Old Dame of Locust Street’s major fundraiser that funds the restoration of the Academy of Music.

Sheryl Lee Ralph took in Motown Musical January 13 — 18!
last night at the Academy of Music. I heard it’s excellent. Check it out.

 Yesterday I was at the Walgreen’s at Broad and Chestnut Streets. I saw these cute hats, they were only $12.99 and so adorable. I posted them on Instagam and they were huge hit, so hurry over there and pick one up. Some are downstairs near cash register, but I saw a few upstairs too.
 In September I tweeted that Target Express had been sneaking about Market East looking to open a Target Express. Last night it was on NBC10, so they must be getting closer to locking in a location. Yeah!

 I went to Opa restaurant for lunch. Hadn’t been there in awhile. It was as delicious as always. I also had a gyro, so, so good.

  Indochino, a worldwide leader in custom men’s apparel,
is returning to Philadelphia to open its third US showroom, hot on the heels of
launches in New York and San Francisco. Opening its doors at 1606 Chestnut
Street on Wednesday, January 14th, the new Philadelphia showroom will make it
easier than ever for men living and working in the Delaware Valley to get into beautifully
designed and perfectly fitting suits and custom shirts made just for them. Men
are invited to make appointments at www.indochino.com/philly. 

This is the old Liberty Travel office, which is moving down the street in the 1500 block of Chestnut Street. 

I had this for lunch today, with Lynsie Solomon at McCormick & Schmidt. It was good

 Another popular SM post, Godiva Strawberry cone at the Shops of Liberty. Cute idea don’t you think?

 FYE in the Gallery is closing, I heard FYE at Broad and Chestnut is closing, but for the meantime it’s open for all you music enjoyment. I hear Trader Joe’s has been looking at this space.

 I love these chocolate lipsticks, $16 for this box at Century 21.

 Happy Birthday Jen Carroll. It was so nice to see this crew. Vincent, chef de cuisine Natalie Maronski (Volver), Jen, Sous Chef Billy Riddle (Volver), Lily Cope (Audrey Claire’s Cook), Madison Alpern, The Chef’s Garden and Kristina Jenkins, uwishunu at Dandelion Monday nite
 


Kate Gosselin and Vivica Fox talk about what charities they are “playing” for on Celebrity Apprentice.