Philly Chit Chat

Main Line Today Magazine and TV personality Jen Su hosted a fashion show at Rosalie Wayne, to benefit Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s upcoming Parkway Run and Walk on September 24th.  

The Philly native and Philadelphia Film Society Board Director, Jen Su found inspiration for the fashion show through her son, Michael Levin, who has been a 3-year cancer patient at CHOP for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Avascular Necrosis. 

Diane Oliva, Operations Analyst at Brandywine Realty Trust and Jaimi Blackburn PR Fearless Restaurants

Marcus and Faith Smith of Imperial Legacy (designs)

The ‘Fashion Moments’ Collection presented couture collaborations with renowned designers Dell Scott (NYFW); Nancy Volpe Beringer (Project Runway); Sue Moerder (Philly Fashion Week); Wear to Wall; Paper Shaper by Julie; Van Cleve Bridal; Imperial Legacy; and Conrad Booker (Vogue | Harpers Bazaar) and the Philadelphia Fashion Incubator.

Jen has worked with each of the designers in the show, in creating various red carpet looks which she has worn to this year’s Oscars, Grammys, Cannes Film Festival, New York Fashion Week, and Fashion Group International galas.  In addition to style and entertainment reporting, she was inducted into the Recording Academy Class of 2023 (yes she has a few recordings under her designer belt), and is currently filming a fashion reality series which will debut on The CW in October.

Media guests at the event, which coincided with Jen Su’s birthday — included Gina Lizzo, Kate Marlys, Michael Newmuis, Ramillionaire Carr, Whitney Ullman, Artur Kirsh, Marcia Williams, Jaimi Rubin Blackburn, Linnternational, Antoine Johnson, Colleen Salonga, Kimberley Kleczka, Sarah Rodowicz, as well as top models including April Jordan, Kylie Smith, Nadia Neubert, Jalen Hoang, and Sandra Yodesky.  

International DJ Gabriel Kirsh, who has worked with the likes of Martin Garrix and Matisse, had guests dancing and cheering at the CHOP fundraising event.  Who’s dad is the very popular Artur Kirsh of Artur Kirsh Salon, who did Jen Su’s and the models hair for the show.

Designer Nancy Volpe Beringer (Project Runway) and her models

Paper Shaper by Julie why yes this dress is made from paper.

Sandra Yodesky in a beautiful gown from the Van Cleve Collection

Model Jalen Hoang

Eileen Smith Dalabrida, Karen Cox and Donna Coghlin

Michael Newmius, FS Investments, joins Jen Su on the red carpet at Rosalie in Wayne.

“Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is excited about our upcoming annual Parkway Run & Walk that supports breakthrough pediatric cancer research and care at our Cancer Center,” said Kevin McMahon, Senior Director, Peer to Peer & Community Fundraising at CHOP. 

Definitely a Runway sensation, but looks dangerous if you fell.

Fashion designers Conrad Booker (many of Jen Su’s looks on the runway were created by the creative Conrad) and Sue Moerder, Pronounced Murder – Skull Assemblage Art Phila Pa

“We are grateful to Main Line Today, Jen Su and Team Michael for hosting this fashion fundraiser to benefit CHOP’s Cancer Center, bringing further awareness to the Parkway Run & Walk event on Sunday, September 24. It is through fundraising efforts like these that we can hope to one day conquer childhood cancer.”

The CHOP Parkway Run raised over $2 million last year.

Donations and Info can be found here

Recently the Poplar Apartments hosted their annual Solmar Summer Soiree with soaring views of the City.

It was a hot, hot night, and I’m not talking about the air temperature. The Poplar features brand-new apartments (studio to 4 bedrooms) and luxury amenities including an expansive rooftop terrace and pool club with panoramic views of the City with the most stunning rooftop pool in the city with 3 pools, hot tubs, cabanas and grills.

The Post Brothers Team was on site for any one who had questions about the property. Cashman & Associates curated a guest list of entrepreneurs, friends, and influencers who mingled, waded in the water and danced throughout the night to the tunes of DJ Royale. This year the building seems to be nearly full as I met so many residents, along with invited guests.

The Wooder Ice Team. You need to be following WooderIce on IG to keep up to date with all the events and happenings in Philly. Plus they pop up some funny memes along the way.

Le Dîner en Blanc Philadelphia marked it’s 11th year on August 10th at the renowned Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park, providing a stunning French-inspired backdrop for an evening under the stars. A unique and exclusive outdoor dining event that originated in Paris in 1988 and has since been held in various cities around the world. The event is characterized by its attendees dressing in all-white attire and bringing their own gourmet picnics to a secret location, which is revealed to them at the last moment. Participants are required to bring their own white tableware, tablecloths, and decorations, creating a visually stunning and elegant dining experience.

After a minor rain delay, guests were notified around 6:30pm to head to the location. (Excuse me tree in the background with your fall colors. It’s only August)

A few guests like the ones above, were ready for the in climate weather wearing clear plastic over their clothes. Although it has rained on Diner en Blanc in the past, they were often quick showers or rain towards the end of the event. In Thursday’s case it rained all day but stopped in time for the night time event. Either way Diner en Blanc is held rain or shine.

“We honestly didn’t think we could top our tenth-anniversary last year, but seeing guests celebrating tonight reminded me why I love this event so much and decided to bring it to Philadelphia. Each year, the Planning Committee continues to outshine the years past.  The entertainment alone is a reason to attend this event year after year,” Natanya DiBona, Co-Host, Le Dîner en Blanc Philadelphia.

The evening was brimming with excitement and energy due to the countless activities and captivating entertainment that delighted attendees, from several selfie stations, to face painting to a very active live entertainment stage thing were popping through the night. As a nod to the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop legendary and ever-so-talented Ernest Stuart with special guest Range da Messenga (feat. Code Grey) performed Hip Hop’s greatest hits from every decade. The Hot Club of Philadelphia and West Philadelphia Orchestra electrified the night with their live performances on Memorial Hall and Arch Stage, while DJ Mar and DJ Bazerk were stationed at different ends of the venue, ensuring that everyone had the opportunity to get up and dance. Roaming performers, including the captivating Philadelphia School of Circus Arts, Jewelz Entertainment, Hip Hop Fundamentals, Philly Girls Jump, and Raymond Charles

It was a hot night, but this time not because of the temperatures, which can often be brutal.

600 people an hour, for a total of 2000 for the evening road the carousel inside the Please Touch Museum.

Until Next Year Diner en Blanc….

It is with a joyful heart, and gratitude to thank Steak 48 ‘s Oliver Badgio (Chief Brand Office, Prime Steak Concepts) and Jeff Mastro (CEO & Co-Founder, Prime Steak Concepts), and Nicole Cashman, Cashman & Associates pretty in pink for hosting a dinner in honor of my blog/platform PhillyChitChat 16 years of covering Philadelphia and positively Philly, it’s people, happenings, charities, openings and everything possible pop culture, on July 18. Here’s a little bit of history of how it began, how it’s going. Thank you to everyone who has allowed me to photograph them, or tell a story over these past 16 years.

Mike Toub, my husband of 29 years, my biggest supporter and I on the red carpetn(Andre Flewellen took on the step and repeat photos)
There would be no PhillyChitChat without him. He is the one who encouraged me to start a “blog”, something very new in 2007. This is how it began, quite by accident, I was a guy working in a law firm for nearly 15 years , no photography education, but I like to take photos. A 2 year degree in Liberal Arts from CCP. I worked my way up from the file room to a paralegal position. I read the newspaper everyday, especially the gossip columns, and society pages. I was not a journalist, and I know I write in a conversational style, which drives some people crazy, LOL. I used to get a lot of feedback on this….

In 2005 I was working for a law firm in Philly, (ironically I was often told to stop being the office gossip) who sent me to NYC to work on a large case which needed to be prepared for trial, I was there for nearly two years, during which time I started a blog called “Confessions of a Paparazzi” at Mike’s urging to record my after work, late night outings and celebrity sightings. It was the beginning of online journalism, citizen journalists were online before the established media outlets. I began chronicling celebrities, along with Gawker, Perez Hilton, and we all became popular quickly.

Eventually the case settled in NYC, and I returned home, settling into my old life. BUT I missed chronically people and pop culture, and I was bored after the exciting life I lead in NYC, covering events every night, and celebrities (all from outside as I was really just a “fan” with a pocket camera) .

In Philly I knew we didn’t have a lot of celebrities and thought what would be great to amplify; CHARITIES, charities would be great to shine a light on. I retired Confessions and started PhillyChitChat 07/07/07.
In the beginning Philly maybe had one or two events a month, and I had to find them usually through print methods as nothing was online yet.

So I started covering everything, anything, people on the street, people in bars, made friends with key players where people gathered: Thom Cardwell, TLA & Film Festivals, Waylon Nelson, GM of G Lounge, and Ryan Dorsey, owner of Recess Lounge, Mary K. Dougherty, owner of Nicole Miller stores in Philadelphia, Carol Drumstas, Brown Forman, Buffy Morgan, Chorus Communications and John Colabelli, Philly Style Magazine, they had the most glamorous, well connected parties in Philly. (2007 – 2009)

PCC Post December 2007 – “Philly really is the Sixth Boro and with the opening of G Lounge near Chestnut Street in Center City, clubbing has entered a new and exciting era.” When I first arrived on the scene everyone I came in contact with would tell me I needed to get on Nicole Cashman, Cashman & Associates’ radar. She represented the most notable clients, retail, restaurants and produced the best parties where the most notable, well dressed, fun. I had met Michael Klein, Inquirer, who at the time had a gossip column called “Inqlings”.

I began contributing to his column, mostly celebrities who came to town, but also local celebrities. He credentialed me to the opening of G Lounge, a new exciting club which was operated by NYC guys, but funded by the Govberg’s hence the G in Lounge. I met Nicole, was nervous as hell, but she understood this new media “a blog” and started to invite me to cover events. I made it!!

Simultaneously Phyllis Halpern introduced me to Thom Cardwell at TLA, a group that hosted both the Phila Film Festival and the Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. I covered both festivals, and fundraisers as an “internship”, it kept me quite busy. It was through this connection I met both Michael Klein and Laura Burkhardt. Laura was the publisher of Where Magazine, which was a hospitality magazine. We spent the next year going to lots of restaurant events, meeting chefs and I got every immersed into the food scene of Philly. That was a great year of gain, LOL

Here I am with my friend Danielle Tripplett, Community Relations at AACR. I met her on the red carpet Stand Up for Cancer event in Manhattan in 2008, with the big celebrities at the time SJP, LL Cool J, Aerosmith, Shia LaBeouf, etc; Danielle asked if the AACR could buy my photos, but I donated them. We slowly became friends, AACR is now one of my clients and Danielle is a core friend, like family.

Around the time I met Nicole Cashman, I met Michelle Miller, who worked with several of the Philadelphia Eagles players. Through this connection I was able to meet a lot of Philly sports players, shoot their private parties (which were usually never photographed) , give them a set and also contribute to Michael Klein’s column, as well as my national wire service. Never did they ask to review the photos , they trusted me I would not publish an embarrassing photo or tell a sordid tale. That initial introduction to sports players helped me with recognition through out the sporting years until today. I made it a point to not publish click baiting stories, knowing I was in this for longevity. (Ironically Danielle, Michelle and I are all friends, they probably met through the Eagles connection as well). I met Rodney McLeod and his wife Erika through Danielle, they are also good friends with Michelle. Erika was at the dinner as well, Rodney was at the Cincinnati Browns training camp. The Eagles play them 8/17/23 here!!)

PhillyChitChat readers first met Sabrina Tamburino Thorne about a year into the start of the blog. She and her now husband Steve Thorne had been dating for a year or so after meeting at socialite Dana Spain’s annual Halloween party; Sabrina hired me to shoot her engagement party at the Franklin Institute (Nov 2008), attended by TV personalities, every local political person and a few b list celebrities. It was thrown by her mom, the effervescent Carol Tamburino, who was quite a fabulous women herself, with a social calendar that kept her busy nearly every night; I would occasionally accompany her to events, mostly political, to chronicle for my blog.

Around this time the blog was doing well with readership, but I needed characters, and I mean that in the most flattering way. I needed a story line, to fill in the gaps where nothing was happening, and at that time Philly still wasn’t having events on any other night besides Friday and Saturday. But people were still doing things, and I wanted to cover it, especially if it were at a bar/restaurant/business, I wanted Philly to be exciting.

At the same time there were some events going on I didn’t know were happening, or wasn’t invited to as a blog was a new form of media and people weren’t familiar with it (the first time I tried to get credentialed to shoot the Philly Mag Best of Party, I was turned down). Shooting Nicole Cashman events definitely gave me the credibility I needed.

At this time Paris Hilton, was famous for being famous. I met Sabrina and she was living as those girls, looking glam, going to clubs, dining out. Sabrina allowed me to cover all things Sabrina living. FUN certainly followed her. One Time Jamie Foxx was in town filming a movie, and he was more than happy to join her birthday party at G Lounge. I was able to get the photo in Michael Klein’s column, much to his chagrin as he wasn’t a fan where I made ordinary fabulous people into ” stars” or Philebrities . (Philly Mag wrote the first of 3 stories on my It Girls over the years and one on me in 2018) I have to thank Joey Sweeney at Philebrity for respecting my blogs mission. I met with him early on, thanks to Annie Heckenberger, to tell him my coverage was about the charities, not the people. He never wrote a negative thing about my blog or related to it. I’m forever grateful.

When I first started working for Philly Mag, they wanted a gossipy column. So every couple nights I would do the rounds walking restaurant row in Rittenhouse Square. I would ask people what was hot and happening in the City. Take a photo, then if it was interesting enough I would include it in my Philly Mag column which launched online 4/7/10. Other tidbits I would include in PhillyChitChat.
Stacey and Anne were regular fixtures on the restaurant scene as they lived nearby. They always had great info, and brought the fashion. It was a joy to get to know them, and their crew. We are all still good friends , even though we don’t see each other often. I am so grateful for them.

Table 31 opened and I declared Thursday the new Friday, and slowly over the years Wednesday was the new Friday eve eve. People now a days will go out every night of the week and it’s acceptable. Although Sunday’s and Monday’s are still chill days for the most part.

The media crew – 2008. I met Justin Pizzi first (who couldn’t make it to the dinner), he had me participate in an NBC10 documentary on a summer fitness in 2008. It won an Emmy. I will always regret not going to the Philly Emmy Awards, the organizers wanted me to go, and wrote me often. I was afraid of winning, and then having to speak in front of the audience. I have terrible stage fright. We won, I arrived in time for the after party and kiss the EMMY. Where’s that photo? Later that year NBC10 launched a cable show with an entertainment show hosted by Justin Pizzi. He tapped me to do weekly Philly celebrity/people/party happenings. It was a lot of fun. We would tape at 8AM before I headed to my paralegal job.

The Media Crew: We were friends, and often in between my events I would meet them out – Alissa Frick, Rosemary Connors, Jillian Mele, Sheena Parveen, Erin Como, Marisa, they would let me take a photo, I would catch up with their happenings, and it would be news the next day. They trusted me to tell a story, and not a sordid tale. One of them was always dating a bad boy, or a party boy, the stories I didnt tell.

This was really before Social Media took hold, and then media would just report on their own doings.

Guests had the opportunity to donate to my favorite charity Cancer Support Community at the dinner

I left my paralegal job in December 2010, I left NBC10 and in July 2011 headed to Fox29 to appear regularly on TV (Thanks to Karen Araiza I still maintained a photo column at NBC10 til she moved on)

Michael Klein gave up his Inqlings column in 2011. The Inquirer hired me to do the online Social Party Column.

In 2017 I started a media partnership with CBS Philadelphia where I have an online column . Today I have party photo columns at Philly Style Mag, Metro Philly, Main Line Today, and Philadelphia Tribune. One more is coming in September, but I can’t announce it yet. In 2018 Philly Mag wrote an article on my business. Hopefully my column in Philly Mag will come back soon, it’s on pandemic pause. My name is still in the magazine under writers etc so that’s a good sign. (In 2016 the Inquirer stopped running party photos online) Social Media is also part of the PhillyChitChat family as well. Most of what I cover there is just random thoughts and sightings I think others might find interesting.

Thank you so much for the out pouring of love over the years, which helped create PhillyChitChat for all of us. Philly is back and I am ready to go full steam ahead and cover the fun !!

The grand opening of Bluebell Fine Cabinetry & Design in their new showroom took place last month. Friends, family and and valued partners were among the first to view the latest in high-end kitchen design at the new showroom for Bluebell Kitchens and to see the new 5,000-square-foot showroom and design studio at 200 West Lancaster Pike in Wayne. (If the address sounds familiar, they were located 2 doors down in a 3,000 square food showroom, which they outgrew in less than 5 years)

“The four spacious, fully equipped, to-scale kitchens showcase our team’s exceptional design capabilities and allow clients to truly experience the craftsmanship, fit and finishes we offer and the fine product lines we represent,” says Peter Cardamone, Bluebell’s award-winning principal designer.

From its beginnings in 1989, Bluebell Kitchens has adhered to a simple purpose: create stunning, innovative custom designs based on enduring principles, ever mindful of the client’s own vision, aesthetics and lifestyle.

The team creates masterful designs that span the spectrum from traditional to modern for both period and newly constructed homes, often collaborating with leading Philadelphia area residential architects, interior designers and builders. Bluebell covers the Mid-Atlantic region—specifically the Jersey shore, Philadelphia, the Main Line, Bucks, Chester and Montgomery counties—and for discerning clients in such diverse locales as Aspen, NYC, Dallas, Santa Barbara and the Caribbean Islands. For more information, check them out at www.bluebellkitchens.com – Also check out the August issue of Mainline Today for more photos.

It’s been a minute, Philly is a vibe again. I have major fomo on missing Beyoncé , I had seen her twice before but not in a Stadium. I did feature fan fits on IG, and they turned out!!

Tony Luke, Jr is featured in the latest installment Gravesend featuring William DeMeo and Christopher Mormando. His character is Remo in the series. Also, his song ‘Lies’ is featured in the closing credits of episode one. Plus his song ‘One More Night’ is featured in the closing credits of episode two and the song I take care of business featuring Chris Day is featured in the closing credits in the season finale of episode nine. You can also hear these songs on Amazon Music. Every time I do a reel a song pops up.

A Philly leader in community building for others, Danielle Cohn left a long-held leadership role last year and went out on her own to inspire others as they make their own big life transitions. She’s now sharing her experience through a program she founded called My Inspirement.

I attended a workshop she gave last week with the Executive Members of the WICT Network Greater Philadelphia Chapter.

Focused on What’s Enough and What’s Next, the interactive My Inspirement workshop guides leaders at all ages and stages of transition to kickstart their future, challenge their status quo, rediscover their reason for being, and move forward before or after a planned or unexpected change.

The afternoon program including lecture, audience participation, with individual as well as group activities.

A lot of great ideas were shared, not only from Danielle, but the attendees contributed as well, working towards the goal of discovering what inspires us in our life, how to achieve it, what path should one take to find their inspirement. Danielle’s direction succeeded in igniting positive change and engagement from the audience, encouraging personal growth, to inspire individuals to overcome challenges and achieve their goals. She drew on her personal experiences, expertise, and knowledge to connect with the audience and deliver impactful messages. Her message motivated me, to further explore whats a head in my future.

Danielle is the founder and former executive head of Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs, and prior, led marketing communications at the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau. She’s now Founding Partner of her LLC, Wave Ventures, advising innovative companies and leaders on growth, and Founder and Chief Inspiration Officer of My Inspirement community platform.

A dynamic and authentic speaker, Danielle is one of the most open, innovative, and inspiring leaders I know. It’s awesome to see her sharing her practical experience, methods, and insights with companies, organizations and individuals. For a list of upcoming workshops or future availability for your group or 1:1, visit www.MyInspirement.com  or email danielle@thewaveventures.com