Philly Chit Chat

Hilton Home2 Suites Hotel’s Grand Opening – A Mini Resort Packaged as a Short Term Hotel across from Pa Convention Center

Post author By HughE Dillon
Post date October 9, 2013

It was just a year ago that Hilton Home2 Suites hotel broke ground at 12th and Arch in April 2012

Bill Duncan, Hilton, Jake Wurzak,
Howard Wurzak, Sen Larry Farnese, Mayor Nutter, Robert A. Zuritsky, Parkway Rick
Lyons, Capital One and State Rep Dwight Evan, guest, Jake Winigrad, Parkway Corp

Fast forward to last week where nearly the same people in charge of the project cut the ribbon to officially open the new

246 guest rooms, a beautiful, spacious lobby, and generous sized rooms including one bedroom suites

I think the Hilton brand hotel turned out a lot like the Parkway and the Wurzak Hotel Group drawing before the project was kicked off, don’t you?

The hotel was completed on time, and opened in August. Last week, on a day that could have been August with the temperatures hovering around 90, many of Philadelphia influencers and political might turned out to celebrate the opening of the hotel including

Councilman David Oh, Louise Kang and David Laegen

Chris Barone, Mary Frances Fogg, Don Lange

Huge breakfast selections, mostly continental, plus a waffle iron and a microwaveable sandwich,

Jake Wurzak, Dwight Evans, Robert A Zuritsky, Sen Vincent Hughes, David L. Hyman, ‎Managing Partner at Kleinbard Bell & Brecker LLP and Larry Ceisler, wwner, Ceisler Media

Full size laundry facilities

very impressive sized gym

a pool, models not included

work station in lobby, this hotel has everything. It’s a mini resort.

This is the studio suite. It has a privacy curtain, and a pull out sofa bed

Nancy C. O’Meara, ‎Executive Director and Craft Show Manager at Women’s Committee of the Philadelphia Museum of Art checks out the rooms she blocked off for the upcoming PMA Craft Show at the Pa Convention Center November 7 thru 10th. It’s fabulous, and I’ll be photographing the show for the third year in a row.

An impressive amount of people came out to check out the new hotel, the first one built from the ground up in Center City in the past 10 years. Many of the guests were in the hospitality field, and are instrumental to tourism in our City so they can give honest reviews on the best hotels, eateries, sights and sounds of the City.

Bill Duncan is the global head of brand management for Homewood Suites by Hilton and Home2 Suites by Hilton welcomes the guests as Robert A. Zuritsky, Parkway Corp looks on.

Terry Gillian, Sen Larry Farnese, and former councilman Frank DiCicco

Paul Steinke, GM of Reading Terminal (which is right across the street) and James Curato, president and CEO of the Visitors Center Corporation

Jake Wurzak is a partner and director of acquisitions and development at Wurzak Hotel Group. and Kristin Wurzak with JoAnne and Howard Wurzak, CEO Wurzak Group

Wurzak Hotel Group CEO Howard Wurzak and his wife, JoAnne
Read more at http://phillystylemag.com/galleries/sheraton-valley-forges-grand-opening-event#dblg5iHqxhwjYC5d.99

The lobby is very spacious, and has this fabulous map of Philadelphia on one of the walls

Ron Werner, Arelene Peters, Paula Celletti-Baron and Alycia Scannapieco

Emily Nichols and Bonnie Grant

Donna D’Angelo and Ricci Vargas both of Parkway Corp. Did I mention the convenient Parkway parking garage next door to the hotel, and convention center?

Located at 1200 – 1212 Arch
Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, the hotel will features over 2,000 square feet
of meeting space and 9,750 square feet for ground floor retail and restaurants. in fact Center City’s first Panera Bread will be one of the tenants.
The total project cost is $60 million and was partially funded with $2.75
million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funding and an
Infrastructure and Facilities Improvement Program (IFIP) grant from the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Industrial Development
Corporation (PIDC) provided $5 million in HUD 108 loans and the building
will receive $3 million in EnergyWorks funding from PIDC and The Reinvestment
Fund. The energy conservation measures for the hotel will include a partial
green roof, high efficiency HVAC system and significant energy performance
upgrades, all in line with the Home2 Suites brand sustainability practices.
L.F. Driscoll will oversee construction of the development.The project was finished one month before it’s schedule completion by the Philadelphia building trades.

Philadelphia

Bradley Cooper’s Limitless coming to the small screen near you as a 1 hour drama based on the Top Grossing Movie

Post author By HughE Dillon
Post date October 9, 2013

The project to hail from Relativity TV, the television branch of ‘Limitless’ production company Relativity

Relativity Television has partnered with Georgeville Television and actor/producer Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook) for Limitless, a scripted TV series based on Relativity’s hit 2011 movie starring and executive produced by Cooper.

Cooper will executive produce the drama, with the film’s producers Leslie
Dixon and Scott Kroopf serving as co-executive producers. The
announcement will be made at the upcoming MIPCOM market in Cannes, where
Relativity CEO Ryan Kavanaugh will gave a keynote speech Tuesday. “Limitless
is the perfect example of Relativity’s multiplatform approach to
creating quality content,” he said. Added Georgeville TV CEO Marc Rosen,
“The film has an organic natural extension into a compelling and
sophisticated one-hour drama that is both a thrill-ride and a social
commentary.”

The Limitless feature, which starred Cooper, Robert De Niro and
Abbie Cornish (that’s her on the left making out with Cooper in Rittenhouse Square), is a paranoia-fueled action thriller about an
unsuccessful writer whose life is transformed by a top-secret “smart
drug” that allows him to use 100% of his brain and become a perfect
version of himself. His enhanced abilities soon attract shadowy forces
that threaten his new life. The film
opened at No. 1 at the domestic box office on its way to grossing more than $160 million worldwide and subsequently sold 2 million-plus home video units.

No word on whether Philly will stand in for New York City, as it did for the film

Me, on the left, hustling for a buck

Bradley Cooper at the Philly screening of Limitless.

Read the whole story at Deadline

Philadelphia

WHERE’S YOUR PHOTO THIS WEEK- understanding Philly Mag’s THE SCENE

Post author By HughE Dillon
Post date October 8, 2013

Philly Mag has a new look, and it looks good, well except my personal photo is gone so you’ll have to remember to look for the section called “The Scene”

OR JUST BOOKMARK THIS LINK HUGHE DILLON’S THE SCENE

On the main page of PhillyMag.com it’s on the 2nd line titled “Social Scene”. Click on that.

OR JUST BOOKMARK THIS LINK HUGHE DILLON’S THE SCENE

It takes you to the list of Parties & People I’ve photographed lately. The top box displays the top most

popular parties.

OR JUST BOOKMARK THIS LINK HUGHE DILLON’S THE SCENE

Click on those or scrolled down to check out a party. Make sure to click on “Read Here” to expand the article. You’ll see all the photos, as well as what I’ve written. It usually takes me about 2 -3 hrs to write so if you have a couple minutes check it out, I usually drop fun tidbits and news in my article. Then PLEASE Like the page, then I know you’ve stopped by. Also a comment, especially when I get someone’s name wrong like that last guy who I asked are you Eli Kulp, and he said yes. But it wasn’t I came to find out. Oh well that’s why I ask for your phone numbers or emails for verification if we’re to put your pix in the magazine the following month. Thanks so much. OR JUST BOOKMARK THIS LINK HUGHE DILLON’S THE SCENE

Philadelphia

Sophia’s on East Passyunk is Closed. Chef Christopher Lee has moved on….

Post author By HughE Dillon
Post date October 7, 2013
1 Comment on Sophia’s on East Passyunk is Closed. Chef Christopher Lee has moved on….

Sophia’s on East Passyunk is Closed. Chef Christopher Lee has moved on….

Despite it’s Yelp 4 star rating, cozy atmosphere, and a super buzz surrounding the Chef Christopher Lee helmed kitchen

the much herald Sophia’s on East Passyunk, has officially gone on a long, permanent vacation.

Chef Christopher Lee has moved on to Forty 1° North in Newport, Rhode Island

When I caught up with restaurant owner/founder of PAWS, Dana Spain at the James Beard Taste of America event on Friday; she told me a new concept will be going in at 1623 East Passyunk Avenue,

Philadelphia

MIDTOWN VILLAGE FESTIVAL SIGHTS AND SOUNDS and THE LETTER P including Karaoke with Maria Papadakis Singing Love Shack

Post author By HughE Dillon
Post date October 7, 2013

Every year I shoot the Midtown Festival. Yesterday I thought I would challenge myself and only shoot scenes related to the letter “P” (PS please don’t take the photos off for 24hrs and instead just link to this entry. My mortgage company thanks you.)

After photographing the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Walk the morning I headed over to the Pennsylvania Convention Center to shoot the Philly Bridal Expo’s celebrity guest (see entry later today), then I headed over to the Midtown Village Festival.

This guy might be confusing, but he’s wearing a badge that says he’s the pilot on the Oceanic. Do you remember where that airline is from?

Marcie Blaine Chocolates Frozen Budino Pops

I still Vine

Technically he’s a Brother, but that’s a priest, right?

James McManaman, Founder of Midtown Village Association & the Festival (r) and
who also owns nearby Absolute Abstract with his business and life partner David White

This is a treat

This might burn your eyes and ears

Philadelphia

MARKET STREET RE-LIGHTING: A PICTORIAL

Post author By HughE Dillon
Post date October 4, 2013

Philadelphia

The Legal Clinic for the Disabled held its Annual Fall Celebration at the Westin in Center City

Post author By HughE Dillon
Post date October 3, 2013
1 Comment on The Legal Clinic for the Disabled held its Annual Fall Celebration at the Westin in Center City

The Legal Clinic for the Disabled (LCD) held its Annual Fall Celebration and Silent Auction on September 27, 2013. The Legal Clinic for the Disabled (LCD) provides free high-quality legal services to low-income people with physical disabilities and to the deaf and hard of hearing in Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties, Pennsylvania.

The evening began with a cocktail party, then it was on to the honoring of partners and outstanding individuals who help The Legal Clinic for the Disable in their services. Vince McGinnis, and Cozen O’Connor were recognized with the “White Hat Award” for their assistance, especially for mentoring the young attorneys at LCFD.

Linda Peyton, Executive Director, Beth Freeman, Board President

Katie Samson, Board Member, Dan Jones, Board Member, Linda Peyton, Executive Director, Debra Jensen, Board Member, Matthew Faranda-Diedrich and Raymond James

Jeffrey Lichtman, Carole Crow, Marc Lamer and Jason Daria, Board VP

Sarah Besnoff and dad, Larry Besnoff check out the silent auction items

Melissa and Roger Levy
The Legal Clinic for the Disabled could use your time, and support for their worthy cause.

The work we do helps hundreds of people with disabilities in the Greater
Philadelphia region get the legal help they need. Take a moment to
donate to the Legal Clinic for the Disabled and help someone protect
themselves from violence and homelessness or gain access to much-needed
services.

Megan E Ellis, Esquire, Shannon Ellis, School psychologist and mom Catherine Ellis,

Bradford Craig, Megan Scheib and Joseph Carroll
Do you do Social Media? The Legal Clinic for the Disabled could use your help in setting them up. They’ll maintain it.

Shautich Brando and Krishna Narine, Meredith & Narine (In my former life as a paralegal I used to work on cases with his firm)

Mole Street Productions executed this event for The Legal Clinic for the Disabled. 61 North is the band, L-R Gooch Nelson, Andy Meyer – Drums, Brian LePann, Bob Comfort.

The Legal Clinic for the Disabled also honored St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children for their collaboration, support
and dedication toward achieving our shared goal of improving
the health and well-being of low-income persons with disabilities
through MLP.

Linda Peyton, Executive Director, Jodi Schaeffer, Dr Lee Pachter. Amir Hosendorf, Eileen Carroll, LCD staff attorney, Dr Dan Taylor, with LCD staff attorney Elizabeth Oquendo

Bob and Darlene Cavalier here in my happier moments with them. Later in the evening they would outbid me for a sleeve of vintage 1970’s Phillies baseball cards. Later in the evening their was a live auction where breakfast with the Phillies Phanatic sold for $500, a house in Colorado for a week $1800, and something I really wanted a week in Stone Harbor sold for $1900. That actually was a bargain.

Claudia Avicolli and Brian Fritz

Mark Ashton, Stephanie Deviney, Jim Deviney, and Amy DeShong

Katie Samson, Board Member, Raymond James and Katie Samson, Board member

Josh Buchs, Judith Palmer, Donna Torrisi, Family Practice Counseling Center (LCD awarded their Special Recognition Award to its MLP community partners the Family Practice and Counseling Network), Evelyn Shober.

Philadelphia

Spike TV Greenlights Frankenfood with NYC Chef Josh Capon and Philly’s Tony Luke Jr

Post author By HughE Dillon
Post date October 2, 2013

Tony Luke is headed for the big time with a new TV series on Spike TV called Frankenfood.

On each episode of “Frankenfood,” executive chef Josh Capon ( executive chef at New York’s Lure Fishbar, B&B Winepub, El Toro Blanco and three-time Burger Bash winnerm) travels
nationwide as the show pits amateurs and their unique food combinations
against one another. The winner gets $10,000 and their dish gets
featured on the menu of a popular local restaurant.

I caught up with Tony (I shot the above photo on Monday night at Chickie & Pete’s where Tony ordered a delicious lobster pizza.) today to congratulate him as well as ask a few questions about his new role. He told me he got a call from Sharp Entertainment, who is producing the show, they needed a temporary judge for a new food show that would be on Spike TV where Chef Capon was going to be the host as well as a judge with local judges from each of the town they visited. When Luke did the pilot, he and Chef Capon, who had just met for the first time, it was like working with an old friend, “they really clicked.” When the pilot was shown it to the focus group, they scored so well together, with Chef Capon being an expert on food, Tony loving food and having a few opinions a la Simon Cowell. Spike was pleased and made him a permanent judge. A dream come true for anyone, plus the show is so fun to do, it’s unique, not anything you would expect from a food show. Lot’s of stories to go along with the dishes, some traditional, some innovated, most interesting.

In each city there will be two additional judges. A local celebrity, and the host restaurant chef, where the cooking of the dishes will take place by the amateur chefs.

I asked Tony was there any dish off limits, he said no. In the pilot he ate Rocky Mountain Oysters, or bull’s Testicles. He proudly boasted they were the best balls he ever had, in his proud South Philly Italian swagger.

Don’t worry about the Tony Luke Jr franchise, it’s well taken care of by his amazing crew and staff, headed by John Moser.

Tony, as you know, has dropped some serious lbs, tells me he’s gonna be working out 3times as hard during the taping as he has a lot of tasting to do.

Plus his Gay Mummer’s movie is still a go, as they raise financing for it.

He’s excited for the opportunity, loves entertaining people, as well as the making people happy. Winning $10,000 for an amateur chef is a big deal, and then having the local restaurant carry your dish is a dream come true for anyone.

Check out Frankenfood coming to Spike TV in Spring 2014

Philadelphia

COLE HAMELS PITCHING CLINIC NOVEMBER 16 INFO HERE

Post author By HughE Dillon
Post date October 2, 2013

Come and learn from one of the best in baseball! This is a 4 1/2 hour
clinic where every child will get one on one time with Cole Hamels,
along with 4 other professionals!

Your child will participate in pitching exercises and learn about the
types of pitches, hitting, nutrition, and the “mental toughness” of
baseball.

Also included is an autographed Cole Hamels baseball, a photo of your
child with Cole Hamels, an EFX sport bracelet, and a Cole Hamels
pitching clinic T-shirt!

We will be accepting 60 kids per clinic from the ages of 8-16.

On November 16, there will be two clinics
Clinic #1 – 8am – 12:30pm: Age group 8-13
Clinic #2 – 2:00pm – 6:30pm: Age group 8-16

On November 17, there will be one clinic
Clinic #3 – 10am – 2:30pm: Age group 8-13
*Please sign up accordingly!

PLUS! Guest Speaker Jim Brogan!

* Ticket Cost: $300/pp

* All children will be accepted after we receive payment.
For More Info Click Here

(SPONSORED POST)

Philadelphia

Fashionable Photos & Stories of the Saks 5th Avenue/PAWS Fashion Event with Dana Spain

Post author By HughE Dillon
Post date October 1, 2013

Last week Dana Spain had here PAWS annual fashion show at Saks 5th Avenue. It was the same night as Phasion Phest, but I knew it was one event not to miss as the guest list is always fashionable, well heeled and fun.

Greeting me at the door was this sleek, stylish Lisa Silveri with the sponsor of the evening, Ferrari.

Francesca Ruscio, Miss Philadelphia 2013 on the red carpet. Philanthropic, Ruscio just hosted “The Miss Philadelphia Golf Classic” which raised $22,400 All proceeds went to the Wounded Warriors Project (in honor of Col. Kevin McAleese,) and the Miss Philadelphia Scholarship Organization. Congratulations!!

Erin Ginsberg, Jared Kerr and Ally Spavento. As this event fell during September, my question of the evening remained “What is a fashion don’t?” Ellen is completely against wearing dresses with Adidas sneakers. Jared isn’t a fan of socks and sandals. Ally cringes when gals wear jean shorts, especially on stage like Taylor Swift.

PAWS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to saving
Philadelphia’s homeless, abandoned, and unwanted animals. PAWS is the
city’s largest no-kill shelter and operates a high-volume, low-cost
clinic serving pet owners and rescue organizations that lack access to
affordable basic veterinary care. Through its adoption locations,
special events, and foster care network, PAWS finds loving homes for
thousands of animals each year. PAWS is working to make Philadelphia a
place where every healthy and treatable pet is guaranteed a home.

What a pleasant surprise it was to see Greta Russo, ‎Chief Executive Officer at Lotus Event Designs, Inc. Greta has made good on the promise to spread the word about her organization – SupportUrPet.com
, (pet fashion show) where proceeds go to aiding the Humane Law
Enforcement and other Animal Rescue organizations, nationally. Lately working in NYC, and next year in LA. During the live auction, her generosity was on display as she purchased a chef dinner for $2,000 and a VIP Philadelphia Style Magazine meet, greet & get to know R&B singer John Legend at Parx Casino on October 9.

Stanton Myerson, Shawn Myserson, Randie Berman, Ast Mgr Saks 5th Ave

No poker face here as Beth Shak shows off a big grin with new squeeze Scott Fagan.

Wearing her SunMyst tan, Marilyn Kellemer, Cara with Christie Honigman, The Honigman Group PR, and Kristin Detterline, Editor of Philadelphia Style Magazine

Nancy Glass and Dawn Stensland Mendte

Jan Reisener and Laurel Fairworth. Laurel hopes to see everyone at the Midtown Village Festival on Sunday. For the first time they’re closing Chestnut Street from Broad to 12th Street. They’ll be the regular stuff you enjoy at the Festival like Sumo Wrestling in front of Raw, lots of food by the restaurants you love, plus .”There will be piggys to adopt” The Pig
Placement Network will be set up at the 8th annual Midtown Village Fall
Festival – Look for them on Chestnut Street near the Sumo Lounge set up
just East of 13th Street.

One
hundred businesses and vendors will cover the eight blocks, and there
will be numerous stages of music and dance. A 20-piece samba band from
Hard Rock Cafe will perform, and Nest gym will create a “Little
Villagers’ area with activities for the kids.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/food_department/Pink-beer-at-Midtown-Village-Fall-Festival.html#8a2ZGMs7GDaaygmg.99

Renee Freeman (wearing Armani), Joan Pileggi (Akris), Hope Cohen (Prada) and Garrett Getlin (Hugo Boss, and Hermis) A prepared dinner by TV Chef/Author Hope Cohen, sold for $1,000

Tammy Venezo and Taylor Campitelli waring classic Chanel

Jennifer Brown and Sonya Bright – A fashion don’t wearing white after Labor Day, where Jennifer Brown said, oh no, wearing white after Labor Day is fine now. It’s called Winter White.

Remember an earlier PCC entry about Whipped Shopped Bakeries new line of cakes showcased at SAKS last month. “Cakes, Couture and Champagne” at Saks Fifth … – Philly Chit Chat

Backstage the models and celebrity models are getting ready. Brents giving one of the models a massage. An auction item: Dinner at Brent Celek’s restaurant Prime Stache, and for dessert Brent Celek, er I mean he’ll sit with you and enjoy a dessert. $1200

Front Row with Bernie Spain far right.

Blaire Galaton, producer B101 with Jenn Ryan and Michael Chew from the B101 Morning Show (I sometimes give celebrity reports during their show.)

Al Pough | The Sporting Club at The Bellevue

During the live auction, Al’s services were sold for $1,000. The lucky winner will get a personalized designed workout and training by Al. Al keeps Dana in tip top shape.

Speaking of tip top shape, Dawn Stensland Mendte, she looks great, a mom, a wife, a women on the move with her a successful career ( talk show host and news anchor working at WMCN). I really admire her, she’s got style, grace and class. She’s a survivor.

Mr Bachelor ‘Craig Robinson’ and Beth Shak, who was once on Millionaire Matchmaker (she’s the millionaire). Craig is a celebrity bartender next week at “Brides Against Breast Cancer” 10/7/13 6PM at The Waterworks with celebrity bartenders CBS3 Philly’s Syma Chowdhry, event MC (and bride to be), Carrie Denny, Editor Philly Wedding, Maria Papadakis, Reid Rosenthal, Susie Celek, Maxwell, Q102, Julie Dorenbos (married to sexy long snapper Jon Dorenbos from the Philadelphia Eagles), Randi Edelman, Donna O’Brien, and Marisa Magnatta.

Dana Spain, Brent Celek, tight end Philadelphia Eagles, Kristin Detterline, Editor in Chief at Philadelphia Style Magazine and Emcee/auctioneer Jeff Hammond.

Don’t forget the upcoming 7th Annual MUTT STRUT 10/19/13 at the Navy Yard this yeat.

DJ Eddie Tully

Jeff Hammond, Dana Spain and Joan Spain. Joan was generous and offered up her alligator bag for auction, which sold for $5200. In total the Saks event for PAWS raised $22,000.Yeah!!