Chef/restaurateur Richard Sandoval, who owns 25 restaurants around
the world, is said to be opening up a 100 seat restaurant in the space where Ten Arts formerly called it’s home.  (Hopefully they’ll get rid of those red tinted windows.)

His latest restaurant is Toro, Toro in DC. It can be pricey, but it is the Ritz. I did hear it was delicious. Here’s Yelp’s opinions.

And in what seems to be his signature move, he’s opening up a smaller tapas bar where the now closed Freshii once called home.   Amazing game changer for the Ritz-Carlton. What a great location, especially since it’s across the street from the very hot, and soon to
be happening Dilworth Plaze with it’s park, ice skating rink and outdoor dining.  Michael Klein reported in December that
Chef/restaurateur Richard Sandoval‘s brother (Chicago restaurateur Alfredo Sandoval) is opening a restaurant at 2116 Chestnut Street in the summer of 2014. Klein even hinted to him that he might have competition.

A Baby for the Warren’s, A Baby Shower for Kendra and a Baby Announcement for Nicole Cashman & Nigel Richards

This summer when Nicole Cashman does #DoAC, she’s going to be 5 – 7 months pregnant. Yesterday at the new signature event series hosted by The Market & Shops at Comcast Center, aptly named
#TSquared, which takes place every second and fourth Tuesday
of the month from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and runs through
November 2014 [shameless plug], Nicole and Nigel were bursting with the good news that that’d be parents in October. 

Congrats. Her mom knows how to keep a secret, I just saw my neighbor in the elevator an hour before heading to the Comcast Center and we talked about the weather.

 Congrats to Alison Frick + former NBC10 weather guy now in NYC with Aljazeera America @DaveWarrenAJAM on the birth of their baby boy Asher Dylan. He joins twins Evan & Lila.

Comcast Sports anchor John Clark stopped by to see the baby, born on April 15

Nearly $16,000 was raised this year by East Passyunk’s Alphabet Academy
during the Bunny Hop and new cocktail party for parents. Congrats! Every
year, Alphabet Academy gives back by raising money to grant a child’s
wish through Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Their sponsor child’s name is Izzy, and the money raised will help her fulfill her wish to go to Disney World.

Andrea and Tom Cola

 Alphabet Academy has provided excellent child care since 1998. In addition to traditional care, we provide the
children with a unique learning experience that promotes creativity and
self confidence.

Our mission is to provide a nurturing environment that gives
the children endless opportunities to express their imagination in our
many themed classrooms. We now proudly occupy four buildings on East
Passyunk Avenue, which allows the children to learn and grow while
experiencing a variety of learning environments. There are 4 Alphabet Academies in and around East Passyunk and people from all over the City utilize them.

Pam Zenzola, President, Passyunk Square Civic Association, Renee Gilinger, Executive Director, East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District, Kory Aversa, Aversa PR & Events, PR for Alphabet Academy and East Passyunk

Yesterday I went to my 5th South Street Easter Parade and it was the best. Great crowds, great set up, great weather, and wall to wall coverage from the media. Great job South Street Headhouse District and Aversa PR. These are a few photos that I wish I could have used in my Philly.com column, but it was already up to 30 and I had to cut them off somewhere, since I normally limited it to 20.

Kory’s Easter Bonnet so much better than at the East Passyunk Ave Easter Egg Hunt.

Then Mike and I headed to brunch at Christie Honigman’s, who you might know now lives in my condo building. We had a great time. She can cook. 

Afterwards Mike and I went for a drive in Fairmount Park. So gorgeous. Get there this week before the trees drop their flowers.

Please check out my column today at Philly.com for the best of the Easter Parade.

Every Good Friday my father had my 7 siblings kneel and say a prayer. I wished I had written it down. I asked my followers on FB and Twitter if they knew it. These are the responses. The first one is from Pat Ciarrocchi, who is 1 degree separate from the Pope, and knows the Catholic religion traditions like no other priest. I’ve been through a couple Pope picks with her, and she knows her stuff.

On Saturday night, Philadelphia Academies held its annual gala, “The Party,” at the Loews Hotel.
This year’s theme was “Get Your Geek On…” Philadelphia Academies
supports Philadelphia public school students with career-focused
programs that prepare young people for employment and post-secondary
education.

Honorees for the evening were University City Science Center—recognized as the “Stand and Deliver
Award Winner”; The “Pay It
Forward Scholarship Award” recognized Stephanie Chen, a 2012 graduate of Healthy Related Technologies Academy at Abraham Lincoln High School. She is currently enrolled at Temple University and is studying Neuroscience in a pre-healthy track hoping to apply to medical school.

The cocktail party fundraiser, dancing event started off with a buffet of light food and a silent auction. Then the program, after which dancing ensued. (I find these events to be a lot of fun, last week I attended the Donors are Heroes Party and it was set up the same way. No long program to sit through. In fact this year at the Rittenhouse Spring Festival Preview, there’s no program at all.)

For questions or sponsorship opportunities, please contact scott@cashmanandassociates.com.

Philly gays and friends bonded in the name of charity to raise funds for the Gay Bowl Committee and National Multiple Sclerosis Society‘s first annual Flip Cup Tournament 
held at Field House last Friday night. I sent a few photos over to G Philly on Monday, but I also did a video, which you’ll find at the bottom of the page.

 

Hotel Sofitel Philadelphia recently hosted a Wild Beauty of the Savannes Art Exhibit launch party.  Still life paintings from Marianne Maury-Kauffman were unveiled as guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres  and drinks.  

 

It was the official opening reception for” Savannes”, the new exhibition of art on display in the lobby until Fall 2014. The art was curated by G&O Art Agents. The artist’s name is Marianne Maury Kaufmann and she is from France. 

The art is inspired by the natural beauty of northern Africa. The event
was a cocktail party for art enthusiasts and Philadelphia VIPs. They sampled
new Spring cocktails from Liberte Lounge and hors d’oeuvres from the new
Spring menu.