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Philadelphia

Photos: Annie Duke & Beth Shak together at the Jewish National Fund: Seventh Annual Poker Tournament at Del Frisco’s

The Jewish National Fund was established more than 100 years ago by a small
group of leaders, including Theodor Herzl. By purchasing plots of land,
they hoped to establish the groundwork for the birth of our nation of
Israel. JNF continues to make a commitment to the land and people in the
21st century. While we still plant trees and create parks, our
organization does so much more. Read on to see how we’re making a
difference for generations to come.”

Every year they hold a fundraiser at Del Frisco’s. The evening starts out with a cocktail party, reception with hors d’oeuvres and a great silent auction.  Then everyone heads downstairs to play fun casino games.
Rob O’Dell, Brett Hersch, Rich Cohen and Beth Lloyd

 Anna Boni and Michael Boni, co-chair

Bill Glazer, Marina Furman, Regional Director , Rob Kitchenoff Esq and Daniel Eisenstadt
Ari Stanger, Aliyah Furman and Yedidya Harush

Poker Queen Beth Shak, Beth Cutler and Nikki Donzee.

William Bredt, Wendy Cohen and Joel Kramer
Reid Rosenthal and Aaron Kaplowitz
Eric Brooks and Poker Champion Annie Duke
Lisa Ostroff and Ashley Ostroff

From http://bleacherreport.com Frennimies…join forces for charity..
A true poker star. Annie Duke is the best poker player on my list.
She has won almost 5 million dollars in the poker world.
She is good at poker, mother of four, incredibly intelligent (double
major in English and Psychology from Columbia), and has a beautiful
smile.

Beth Shak is gorgeous, has her own clothing line, is one of the best poker players today, and is a mother.
But my favorite thing about Beth is her website, Bethshak.com. It is the coolest site of all the women on the list.

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Philadelphia

FOX 29’S STEVE KEELEY WAS DAVID LETTERMAN’S TOP TEN LIST LAST NIGHT – HERE’S THE LIST

Top Ten Thoughts Going Through This Reporter’s Mind At This Moment

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

10. “Hey, that snow almost hit me”
9. “I blame Obama”
8. “Usually snowplow drivers are a little more curteous”
7. “My outfit is ruined!”
6. “Get my consultant to tell that snowplow driver he’s a jerk”
5. “Well, it was worth it to show our viewers what a snowplow looks like”
4. “I must’ve pissed off Governor Christie”
3. “Snowblow me”
2. “Snowblow me”
1. “Help me, Winter Jesus!”

Dave got all the facts wrong about who Steve Keeley cause he doesn’t work for the Weather Channel Dave, he’s on Fox 29’s Good Day Philly.

Here’s the video.

Categories
Philadelphia

THE LINKS TO THE PHOTOS I TOOK THIS PAST WEEKEND….

OMG I almost went a day without posting something on my blog. That hasn’t happened since my beloved sister passed away in 2009. It’s 11:46PM so here goes. I photographed 13 events since Thursday. All day long I have been prepping columns, in addition to prepping photos that go back to the clients that hired me to shoot their events.

If I photographed you this past week, you’re photos may be up and online right now. Here are some of the links.

PHOTOS: The Gays Dazzled at the 10 Arts Oscar Viewing Party- G Philly

(please like the columns if you like them, and retweet if you can. Thanks.)

 A whole bunch of other folks at the 10 Arts Oscar Viewing Party- Philly.com

 Photos: Cheers for CHOP benefit – Philly.com

Action AIDS Charity Casino on NBC10 Philadelphia

 

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Philadelphia

TV PILOT TO FILM IN PHILADELPHIA – Photos of the Actors Who Will Be Roaming Our Streets

Viola Davis, two-time Academy Award nominee (The Help, Doubt) will star in ABC’s Shonda Rhime and Betsy Beers (Shondaland producers and the powerhouses behind Grey’s Anatomy & Scandal) new TV series “How To Get Away With Murder”. Viola is no stranger to the Philadelphia area as she starred in “Law Abiding Citizen” with Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx a few years ago and walked the red carpet when it screened here.

Described as a “sexy, suspense-driven legal thriller,” Murder
centers on ambitious law students and their brilliant and mysterious
criminal defense professor (Davis) who becomes entangled in a murder
plot that could rock their entire university and change the course of
their lives.

 
YEAH, the drama will film in set and filmed in Philadelphia and will also features

 
Ohhhh maybe we’ll see him at the Sporting Club.

 Matt McGorry 

Aja Naomi King,

He was in Harry Potter too

Alfie Enoch,  

Karla Souza,  

Jack Falahee and  

Charlie Weber. This is Davis’ return to television as she was previously featured on Showtime’s United States of Tara, NBC’s Law & Order: SVU and City of Angels but this will her first full-time role in a television series. One can only imagine that How To Get Way With Murder may be paired with Shondaland’s hit drama, Scandal in ABC’s lineup. Let’s hope the Shondaland magic happens and this show gets picked up for a regular series, and succeeds.

For more info check out: Molly Eichel, The Source, Vibe and The Hollywood Reporter report

*********************

The best part about this show filming here, it’s set in Philly and they’re looking for lots of Philly actors. 

Heery Casting is still casting this TV show:

Feature Film and TV Background neededWe
are looking for SAG-AFTRA and non-union background talent for a feature
film and a new ABC TV Pilot that will be shooting in the Philadelphia
area.

Needed are men and women, age 18-70, all ethnicities. Shooting will begin February 18, 2014 and continue through April.

All Positions are PAID.

Please email: heery2014@gmail.com

Please include in the body of the email:

-Name

-Height

-Weight

-all clothing sizes

-Phone numbers

– make and model of your car, if you have one

-2 photos: A close-up & A full body (in .jpg format) taken within the last 3 months NO HEAD SHOTS!

-SAG-AFTRA status & SAG-AFTRA membership number (If applicable)

If you are unsure of your union status, please contact the SAG-AFTRA office.

Reminder: this shoots in the PHILADELPHIA AREA- all talent are “local Hire” for this job.

Categories
Philadelphia

WHERE MAGAZINE CELEBRATES THE PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW AT SHOPS OF LIBERTY PLACE

We need a little Springtime, right this very moment, and the annual Philadelphia Flower Show couldn’t have arrived at a more perfect time.

Last week Laura Burkhardt, Publisher Where Magazine, and Drew Becher, President, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society hosted guests and concierge to their preview party at the Shops of Liberty Place.
The concierge represent many of the hotels in Philadelphia. They are
the front line to the visitors who come to our City, many who during the
first week in March.

Charles Croce and Anne Callahan fresh off of the Academy Ball Gala were looking forward to the Phila Flower Show Black Tie Preview Party this Friday. Tickets are still available
Evan Urbania, Chatterblast and Jimmy Owens, PHS
Matt Ray, Chatterblast and Laura Burkhardt, Where Magazine Publisher
Al Lee and guest sitting in the lounge that occupies the Rotunda at the Shops of Liberty Place
Drew Becher, PHS president and Rick Mollineaux, DM Where Magazine,

Ted Simon, Esq and Bev Arum,
A few highlights this year:
Join us for an unbelievable party! The 2014 PHS
Philadelphia Flower Show Preview Party is an exclusive, first look at
the fanciful flowers, luscious landscapes, and dare-to-dream designs of
“ARTiculture” before it opens to the public.
Feb 28, 2014 7:00 PM
 

LGBT Party
PHS and G Philly invite members and friends of
the LGBT community to the 2014 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show for an
afternoon of creative cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Mingle with friends
before taking in the sights and scents of the world’s most celebrated
indoor Flower Show.
Mar 2, 2014 4:00 PM – Mar 2, 2014 6:00 PM
 
Wedding Wednesday
PHS, Philadelphia Wedding magazine, and Tourism
Ireland invite brides-to-be for an evening of royal treatment at the PHS
Philadelphia Flower Show’s “Wedding Wednesday.” Bring your bridesmaids
and get advice (and take-aways!) from more than 50 local experts on
fashion, music, catering, honeymoon planning, and much more.
Mar 5, 2014 6:00 PM – Mar 5, 2014 8:00 PM
Categories
Philadelphia

Young Friends Winter Gala: A Royal Affair – Happy Hour at Gaslight – PLUS INFO on the Gala This Saturday

The Young Friends of the Philadelphia Museum of Art held a series of happy hours leading up to the black tie affair in honor of Treasures from Korea: Arts and Culture of the Joseon Dynasty, 1392-1910 Saturday night. 

 Christine Kennedy, Winter Gala co-Chair and Ernie Poon, Winter Gala co-Chair,

The last happy hour was held 2 weeks ago at Gaslight in Old City. It was a cold night, but the place was hot and happening a few days before the official opening of Jason Cichonski new eatery.
Gabrielle Frederico and Jeff Devine
 Maria Molina and Arturo Munoz
 Christina Iliadis and Faith Aquino
 Jhanna WHite and Jenna Williams
 James Hagar, Erin Eddy, David Pinski and Liz Brown
 The
Young Friends are a vibrant group of young adults committed to
promoting the arts in the greater Philadelphia area. Through a broad
range of special events and educational activities organized around the
Museum’s world-famous collections, the Young Friends
provide a forum for increased appreciation of the arts. The evening
will include music by K-Pop DJ, DJ Sanchez, dancing, a raffle, and
silent auction.  One of the highlights of the silent auction is
a
“Hollywood Getaway” package which includes round trip airfare and tickets to Season 13 of American Idol.
 Funds
raised through the efforts of this dynamic and committed group are used
primarily
to support art acquisitions, as well as conservation and preservation
of works in the collections, and educational and outreach programming.

 Treasures from Korea marks an unprecedented cross-cultural exchange and the first
comprehensive survey in the United States devoted to the art of the
celebrated Joseon dynasty (1392–1910), an era that profoundly shaped
the culture of Korea in ways that continue to resonate today. Included
are more than 150 works among them national treasures displayed for the
first time in the United States.  Philadelphia is the only east coast
venue. 

 The exhibition will travel to the Los
Angeles County Museum of Art (June 29–September 28, 2014) and  The
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (November 2, 2014–January 11, 2015).

TICKETS
 Kharisma McIlwaine and Alloyius McIlwaine
Ernie Poon, Winter Gala Chair, Liz Lanpen, Winter Gala Publicity Chair, man about town- Alexander Hankin and Emily Gerstell 

  Zeynep Goral and Deirdre Sawinski
 Johanna Morales, Chris Borden, Tom Horton and Molly Horton
John and Jhanna White told me that I photographed them on their fisrt date, May 8th 2009 at the Magee Rehab Night of Starts. And as many of you know, I can’t remember names but I was able to tell them exactly where I photographed them that night. It was out in the parking lot, I was leaving to go to another event and they were just arriving. So I’m not always good with names, but if you tell me where I photographed you I usually remember.
 There’s a baby in a bar..says Reese Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama.
 Dan Loew, Rachel Loew, Christine Bugg and Dana Kessler
Which reminds me:  The AfterParty is at the Loews on the 33rd Floor
Stephen Welsh, Laila Reilly, Kathrin Rieger and Nathen Maggee want you to know you can still buy tickets to the gala on Saturday night. INFO HERE!!
Categories
Philadelphia

Celebrities in The City – NYC Mayor’s in Town, A Dancing With The Star, star, Young Media Royals, Mario Lopez Likes Ocean Prime

On Saturday, reporter Michael Boren spotted NYC Mayor Deblasio in the Italian Market:
Celeb sighting mt Now I’m 99.9% sure: NYC walking around ‘s Italian Market w/his son. Just saw them up-close (But he was only 99.9% sure)

 I’m 100% sure that former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani was at the Italian Market today,as he stopped by Geno’s to grab a wit, with.

 Also in town this weekend:

 Mario Lopez appeared on QVC Sunday, but the night before he was at Ocean Prime for dinner. Seems he enjoyed his Baked Alaska dessert. Yes that is the normal size of that serving. Mario stayed at the Four Seasons while he was in town.

Dancing with the Stars Louis van Amstel stopped by the trade shoe LA Blast Fitness which was at the Marriott as well as the Pennsylvania Convention Center. He was super nice, and posed with fans.
There was a big wedding in Philly on Saturday, as Jamie Gayle Shupak and Brian Patrick Stelter were married Saturday evening at the Sheraton Society Hill in Philadelphia.
Mrs.
Stelter, 32, is the morning traffic anchor in New York for NY1, a cable
news channel. She graduated from the University of Maryland. The bride is the daughter of Helen R. Shupak and Neil L. Shupak of Philadelphia. Mr.
Stelter, 28, is the senior news media correspondent for CNN, based in
New York. He is also the host of “Reliable Sources,” a Sunday morning
program on that network. Until November, he was a staff reporter at The
New York Times covering media news. I follow them both on Social Media and they seem to have the pulse of the millennials. Although Reliable Sources is taped on Friday to play on Sunday, Brian wore his wedding ring to be factually correct by the time it aired Sunday morning.
Philly Resident Star: Marc Summers spotted in Miami at the Food and Wine Festival.
Categories
Philadelphia

1st ANNUAL PHILLY SPORTS ROAST COCKTAIL PARTY & PHILLY MAG LINK TO ROAST of TERRELL OWENS

A man of a thousands voices Joe Conklin thought Philly needed something more than just the Wing Bowl to tie folks over between sporting seasons, and created this idea of roasting a Philadelphia Sports Athlete. And what a great time had by all. The night started out with a VIP cocktail party in the atrium of the Crystal Tea Room where guests dined on passed butlered hourdouvers, and notables walked the red carpet.

 Susie Celek, Skin Palette and mistress of ceremonies,  Natalie Egenolf of
WIP, Cindy Webster, marketing director for Marketing Director for 98.1 WOGL,
SportsRadio 94/610 WIP, Talk Radio 1210 WPHT, and Julie Dorenbos, Skin Palette and mistress of ceremonies,
 Ron and Karen Johnson

Michael Mandale and Craig Robinson

Rob Molinaro of Chorus Communications team
 Lisette Gonzalez and Sam Hoggs
 Maria Cronin and Perry Camerlengo, Luxury Limos
 Harold Shaw and Dallas Shaw pause for a selfie
 Lauren Westerman and Helda Schmitt
 The proceeds from the event went to Mary Kate’s Legacy Foundation, an
organization that helps families with special needs children, as well as All Hands Working Foundation, an organization that helps with
firefighter health and wellness.
 Dustin Stover and Cherisse Cavan
 Santa needs to eat too
Lisa Kevnard Gind and 2 Lovely Scores Ladies, Betty Boop and Daria

 Joe Yocavitch (JML Financial), Melissa Leonard and Tracy Kelly
 Aida Sparta and Stacey Kracher
 Kelley Quigley and Stu Bykofsky
 Reuben Harley would like a new camera for Christmas and thought he’d ask early
The winner of a CrossingBroad.com contest, Kevin Matuszak.
 Damon Feldman – someone said when they cart him off to jail he can wear this shirt cause it already has prison stripes on it.
 Joe Conklin & The City All-Stars of Comedy at Keswick Theatre 3/28 8PM
Loretta Runyan, Renee Reese and Melissa Young
 Al Anderson, Sarah Cooperson and Leah Figher
Terrell Owens has a thick skin. When the doors to the grand ballroom closed, the room was reminiscent of Vegas, what was said there stayed there. I was able to get permission to write about a few quips, as well as snap a few photos from inside, read them in my  PhillyMag column HERE.
Categories
Philadelphia

PHILLY COOKS, THE CROWD, CREW AND CHOW AT MARRIOTT HOTEL PRESENTED BY FOOBOOZ

This year Philly Cooks was held at the Marriott Downtown. It was a great space and very spacious I bet if there wasn’t 1200 hungry souls packed in there. Everyone had a good time, especially because many of their favorite chefs were manning the table. It was a great opportunity for patrons to meet the chef at their favorite restaurants, it’s not something that usually happens during a busy dining experience. On this particular night, everyone was excited to see newly crowned Top Chef winner Nick Elmi, who I noted on twitter had gotten a Hollywood makeover. Oh sure he was a looker before, but now he’s right up there with that Jason guy.

 Dayna Leaventon and Alexandra Price
 Kate Chimicles, PHS and Kelly Mansfeld 
See Rachael Ray at the Phila Flower Show

Tucker Bagley and Ed Seiders,
owner/operator at Branded Productions
 Tom Heck of Davios
 Stacey Lyons, Hostess at Ela and Chip Roman- Blackfish & Mica
 Dr. Michael Glauberman, Elaine S. Glauberman, Dana Margolis and Lance D. Margolis, Esq. (Sorry I didn’t end up doing this for PhillyMag, time constraints. Next time you’ll pull me aside and have me shoot you again.)
JonCarl Lachman, Nord and Reny Alfonso, Continental
Thomas Szymanski, John Suley and Steve Van de Merve
Grilled kielbasa sausage, tarbais beans, homemade mustard and chicharron on the Celebrity Cruise.
 Chef and Owner Christopher Kearse, Will BYOB and souschef Mark Regan South Philly Taproom

Claire Witherel, Continental Old City
Lamb meatballs- Delicious!
 Marc Simon, Leigh Simon, Valerie Sings and
Geoff Gross
 Chocolate covered bacon was served in the chef’s hospitality room
 The performance team was cooking up a storm in the hospitality room for the chefs
pretty desserts that the chefs got to taste
 This local band entertained the crowds and consisted of industry folks
Cindy Abraham, hostessgoddess.com
Susan Graeser and Gina Verrastro Chow Noodle Barn- sweet hat (The only women in my photographic history that didn’t make me retake the photo after an arm shot in front of body. Now that’s a women with confidence.)
Corie Moskow, Kimby Kimmel (Benjamin’s Desk – I plan to set up shop there in the spring at least once a week) and
Jackie Wells,

Save The Date: The Annual Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival . 5/2/14

A rising chef Star, Leah Crompton with a Top Chef Star, Nick Elmi, Laurel (who tells me he’s taking reservations after May 2014, but by today it’s probably June 2014)

Donal and Jennifer McCoy, Managing Partner Serrano Restaurant/ Partner Sassafras Bar with Marlo and Jason Dilks, Slice Pizza (Or as I like to call them, Kory Aversa will bring his clients across a room to be photographed by me, and that’s why he’s so good. Runner up is Anny Deirmenjian

who will entice me across the room to photograph her client, Davio’s – LOL)

Kristin Conrad, Capital Wine & Spirits, Seth Fink, Caroline Gulpin, Kaitlyn Ambrosone and Pat Henderson
Categories
Philadelphia

PARTY LIKE YOU’RE GOLDEN 10 Arts’ Red Carpet Party on March 2, 2014 – Oscar awards ceremony

PARTY LIKE YOU’RE GOLDEN
10 Arts’ Red Carpet Party on March 2
 
The 3rd annual party
includes Peroni Nastro Azzuro, cocktails from Casamigos Tequila &
Caliche Rum, lite fare, a dessert bar, best-dressed awards and is hosted
by Philly fashionistas Kristin
Detterline and Jimmy Contreras
  
must RSVP: 

The Red Carpet Party is free for guests age 21 and over who RSVP. RSVP is requested by Thursday, Feb. 27, email
10arts@vlahospr.com or call 267-687-0224. Space is limited. 10 Arts Lounge is located on Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts at 10 S. Broad Street.
More details below:

 

PHILADELPHIA (Feb. 16,
2014) – The Academy Awards, Hollywood’s biggest night of glamour,
fashion and celebrity, is just a weeks away, and Philly will be rolling
out its own red carpet at
10 Arts Lounge to celebrate.

On Sunday, March 2, 10 Arts Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia, will play host to the 3rd Annual Philadelphia Red Carpet Party during the 86th
Annual Academy Awards.
The event will feature complimentary beer from Peroni, cocktails made
with Casamigos and Caliche, lite fare and a dessert bar by Chef Nathan
Lingle.

The party
– free for guests 21 and over – begins at 6pm with the complimentary
cocktails, food and desserts during red carpet arrivals, followed by $8
drink specials, champagne bottle service
and a live screening of the Oscar awards ceremony at 7pm. (Unlike in Hollywood, guests are invited to arrive at any time during the event.)

“The Oscars
red carpet is one of the most-watched, and most elegant, events in
Hollywood. Honestly, what better place to take all of that glamour in
than with a fashionable crowd of your
friends in the lobby of The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia?” said co-host
Jimmy Contreras.

Contreras and
Philadelphia Style magazine Editor-in-chief Kristin Detterline
will be offering live commentary – sassy and unedited – as guests watch
the broadcast projected on big screens in the soaring rotunda. The
evening will also include red carpet looks by Saks
Fifth Avenue and complimentary gift bags for the first 200 guests.

The dress code is
“cocktail chic” and Contreras and Detterline will select a best-dressed
lady, best-dressed gentleman and best-dressed couple at the party
for awards. The prizes will include
dinner for two at 10 Arts, a spa gift certificate from Richel D’Ambra
and, for the lucky couple, an overnight stay at The Ritz-Carlton,
Philadelphia.

UBER – the on-demand car service – is offering new users a ride to or free the party up to $20. (When requesting the car via the smartphone app, use code 10REDCARPET.)

The Red Carpet Party is free for guests age 21 and over who RSVP. RSVP is requested by Thursday, Feb. 27, email
10arts@vlahospr.com or call 267-687-0224. Space is limited. 10 Arts Lounge is located on Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts at 10 S. Broad Street.

# # #

NOTE TO EDITORS: We’ll be
using the Twitter hashtag #RitzRedCarpet. Guests (and those watching
from home) are also invited to weigh in on the red carpet styles using
the hashtag.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Matthew Vlahos/MVPR, 267-687-0226 or matthew@vlahospr.com
Bradley Pacana/The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia, 215-523-8272 or bradley.pacana@ritzcarlton.com