“SuperStar” Neon Hitch Sings Hits “Love U Betta” & “Gold” at Devotion Opening
  Philadelphia’s Shampoo Nightclub Reopens with New Name & Monthly Celebrity Party

Philadelphia, PA:  Promoters Bruce Yelk & Noel Zayas have combined forces for
Philadelphia’s
– “SuperStar”.    Each 4th Saturday of the month, “SuperStar” will feature a celebrity from film,
stage,
located at 417 N. 8th Street in Philadelphia will serve as SuperStar’s home each month.  The
event will also serve as Devotion’s “Grand Opening” party and will showcase the venues recent
renovations.

Opening on January 26th, Neon Hitch will take Devotion’s center stage to sing her two #1 chart
topping dance hits – “Love U Betta” and “Gold”.  Joining Neon in Devotion’s Main Hall behind
the turn-tables is one of the country’s hottest DJs from New York – Joe Gautreaux.   Spinning
tribal music and dance tracks known the world over, Joe’s fun, creative and powerful music is
sure to make revelers dance the night away.

Downstairs in the 611 Underground, “Superstar” will feature a fashion show presented by
fashion designer and DJ Nigel Richard.  Richards, famous the world over for trance music,
recently launched a clothing line under the 611 brand.  While Richards is spinning his favorite
beats, models will strut, dance and boogie while wearing 611’s latest fashions; which will be
available to purchase in the 611 Pop-up Shop.

In performers, and visual projections will round out the fabulous event which is sure to dazzle the
expected
“We are very excited to be launching this event with top talent like Neon Hitch and DJ Joe
Gauthreaux.
Shampoo produced so many memorial events when we were here 16 years ago.  We promise
to bring that energy back to Philadelphia under the Devotion name” – Promoters Bruce Yelk &
Noel Zayas.

“SuperStar” Vodka open bar from 9-10 pm. Doors to the nightclub will open at 9pm and close at 3am each
month. VIP Greet” with Neon Hitch after the show. 

For more information on the event visit SuperStarPhilly.com.

(Sponsored)

There was also a sports auction as well as these Michael Jackson memorabilia. For $25,000 each you could own Michael Jackson’s coat, the right and/or left shoe, all which were signed. (I shot this about 1:15AM, at that time there was a $25,000 bid on one of the pairs of shoes)

Update: Stop the presses Michael Jackson’s Shoes have returned. Martino Cartier, Martino Cartier Salon (who donated the shoes for the Hair of the Dog auction the sales benefit Friends Are By Your Side), Kenneth Moton, 6ABC, and Dan Cronin, Chorus Communications, as well as co-founder of The Hair of the Dog Gala. Seems three drunk guys carted off the shoes, got into a random limo to the after party with some random girls, then left the shoes behind as their minds wandered from the shoes into a different direction.

At the end of the night everyone let their hairdown at the Hair of the Dog Gala and danced off.

PS sorry I didn’t run into Buffy Morgan, Director of Chorus Communications (r), last night. She did an awesome job with Jen Sherlock putting on this whole thing. Every year it’s bigger, better and the most talked about event. Also in this picture Megan Heaton, realtor, guest and Lindsay Furman, Model. Check out my photos in my PhillyMag Column HERE.

 PS people please dont take the pixs off for 48hrs. Then they’re yours to take. Just link until then. Thanks. i need to feed my habits and pay my mortgage.


Earlier this month The Walnut Street Club closed in order to re-brand itself emerging at The Ten Six Club, 1709 Walnut St.. 

 The Cashman & Associates execute another memorable night for the taste-makers & VIP’s of Philly. Keeping the door on lock down are the gate keepers at the entrance to Philly’s newest hotspot Ten/Six Vlub. You’ve got to be on the list, which was an impressive 5 pages long.  Just when I was getting tired of all the lounges opening up in Center City Joe Beckham and Giancarlo Dipasquale open up a little spot catering to those of us who want a little more chill with a dance floor, than some of the bigger spots in the City.

 In the front room, which you can rent for private parties, I found Kristin Alexander, Jarett Giesler, Jessica Annas, Jeff Miller, Debbie Sloan and Rob Schrader

 Thanks to this crew for stopping by my 5 Year Retrospective Photos Exhibition of HughE Dillon 
the exhibit is at Replica Creative 33 s 18th Street til 2/15/13. Check out their services, especially their peel on/off the wall Step & Repeat. No more metal contraptions.
David Neff, Mike Jerrick, Fox 29, Marisa Magnatta, WMMR – & hostess with the mostess at Hair of the Dog Saturday Night, and Vasiliki Tsouris, Opa Restaurant. Kristen Johanson, CBS3 was there in spirit.

 Jennifer Graebel? I think that’s what I heard across the bar. I hear she’s going to the Hair of the Dog on Saturday.

Randyl Case (Happy Birthday Month) and Nichole LeShea

Marc D. Leone, Jason Cooper and Jason Bock, and P. Brandon Fox, the last three guys from Michael Salove Reality. 

 Greg Davis, Jennifer Gomex, Danielle Triplett, Nicole and Gar Giles. Great to see these peeps, especially Nicole, I never see her anymore since she’s settled into happy married bliss. Earlier in the evening they caught the screening of Reelblack Presents’s The Night JB Saved Boston, opening soon.

Sadie Sadie Married Ladies: Sabrina Tamburino-Thorne and Jill Rizen, just got hitched in a beautiful ceremony on a private beach in Miami and with Michelle Ranieri, and Alisa Martino

 

 DJ Marcellus keeping the dance floor packed, playing tunes from Like A Virgin, to Adele – Set Fire To The Rain to rock tunes mixed in. Really great, something for everyone. Now that I think of it the space reminds me of Pearl, but the opening was as exciting as Denim.

No longer lonely on the dance floor at Ten/Six

  

The only drawback is the bathrooms are on the other side of the dance floor. Now for me I’m not looking to cop a feel from anyone as they make their way across the crowded dance floor, but I did see more than my share of groping. No doubt a few people who arrived alone didn’t leave alone after going to the bathroom.

Philebrity’s Joey Sweeney, and college friend, co-owner Giancarlo Dipasquale and Conor Corcoran, Esq.

 If spending the entire night on the dance floor wasnt a high enough for me, seeing Erin Como (r) walk in was the stratosphere. As you know my good friend is working at Fox 17 in Nashville. She’s in this weekend for her birthday and all our friends are hitting up Hair of The Dog. (Tickets still available). Also always great to see John Walker (center) and Nicole Rossi.

Men of Style: Sean Olubodun & Duke of Duke & Winston, Nicole Cashman, Cashman & Associates and Nigel Richards, The 611 Lifestyle

At first I thought wow is the club open 10 to 6, I would love it. No it’s
an ode to the Mad Hatter who’s hat cost ten shillings sixpence to make.
Someone please ask the owners Joe Beckham and Giancarlo Dipasquale, what that means to them, I was too busy enjoying the club to think that deeply.

I saw on Instagram yesterday that my friend 6ABC’s Alicia Vitarelli was doing a piece on the show for the 4pm telecast TODAY. These are the chorus dancers, and are a huge part of the musical. When I first heard they were making the movie “Catch Me If You Can” into a musical, I couldn’t imagine how that would translate, but it does, well too with a little imagination. It’s kinda amazing to understand in detail how Frank Abagnale was able to pass off so many bad checks, and it’s done to music, singing and dancing. Go see it.
PS Check Philly.com  Out and About about noon to see the photos from my opening night photo exhibit at Replica Creative. Thanks

Noel Zayas Events brings Gorgeous to the Ritz Carlton on Sunday January 27, 2013

Hey GORGEOUS !!! See you at the Ritz Carlton on January 27th!!!
“Gorgeous” an event of fashion, music,
photography, and art benefits City of Hope

Philadelphia, PA: Noel Zayas Events has created a
high profile, luxury lifestyle event, entitled, Gorgeous, which will be produced at 10
Arts at The Ritz Carlton, Philadelphia’s historic landmark hotel on
the Avenue of the Arts.

The event, to be held on January
27, 2013, will attract major media coverage and an upscale crowd of
Philadelphians. Gorgeous will benefit nonprofit City
of Hope, an innovative biomedical research, treatment, educational institution,
dedicated to the prevention and cure of cancer and other life-threatening
diseases, guided by a compassionate patient-centered philosophy.

Gorgeous admission includes
thirty dollars, which benefits the City of Hope for biomedical cancer
research. Don’t miss out on attending a night filled with Philadelphia’s
finest artists, fashion designers, musicians, and photographers at The
Ritz Carlton on January 27th from 7-10pm!
“It’s just to showcase art in Philadelphia – whether it’s fashion, whether it’s art, we’ve got a dance company that is also performing.”

“Gorgeous” costs $25 at the door and begins at 7 p.m. Zayas says proceeds will benefit City of Hope.

 Natalie Fink wants to help kids, especially kids with autism.  For many years I suspect autism was misdiagnosed, but now that doctors have a better understanding of the behavioral condition more and more services are coming on board to assist families and their children. (I have relatives with autism and see first hand how many of these services make a difference in a child’s life)

 

Many individuals and families struggle because
they do not know how to access services. It is the goal of NFAA to give children and their families the tools to
lead successful lives and to provide ongoing support to ensure continuity and
consistency in the management of their lives.

Board Members include: George Sfedu, Carlos Hoz De Villa, Christina Fink, Sal D’Angelo, Ben Reiff and David Weathington

Some of these items up for auction are provided by an auction house, where they put a price on the item, then the event organizers do a mark up. The mark up price is the portion that goes to the charitable event. If the item doesn’t sell, the item goes back to the auction house. It’s a very efficient service for a silent auction.

 You often get great items, I saw a Barbara Striesand signed CD and photo for $475, very reasonable since she rarely signs as she’s fairly reclusive. There was a Ted Williams signed baseball, it was $525.  The best buy of the evening was a signed Sopranos framed poster, signed by the cast. Starting bid only $100. When that show was on the air, it would have sold for $1,000

I am truly humbled by your support of PhillyChitChat.com and my career over these past 5 years. Wednesday night Replica Creative is kicking off a month displaying some of my fav pictures that I’ve taken over the past 5 years (I feel like an adult now). Trust me it was very hard to choose among all the shots I’ve ever taken (and I’m sure I missed reviewing a lot even though I had a whole year to choose the photos.) I also included a few from the years I photographed celebrities in NYC and before that I was a landscape photographer. Most of those photos were taken with just a pocket camera.(This was the blog entry I thought I would have time to do in 2012, which was really my 5th year, but you kept me busy and I appreciate it)

 Alan and Greta Greenberger, granted I took this in 2004 before I became PhillyChitChat, but I photograph them alot now. We’ve been friends for 15 years, and unfortunately my job interrupted Greta and my twice weekly lunches.

 So fun this shot of Laura Burkhardt, but I have a fun one in the exhibit too

 Carrie Nork Minelli, Nicole Cashman and Dana Lombardo. When I started out these were the gatekeepers at Cashman & Assoc and they were intimidating. If you could get invited to a Cashman party then you were set. I think the list still runs the same way. Thanks to Michael Klein who introduced us and the rest was history.

Scott and Jessica Webster, now married, congrats. When I first went to work for PhillyMag, there was no one more excited and encouraging then Jessica. These two are really an “it” couple. Stylish and successful. They were somewhat reluctant to pose for me in the beginning, as most photographers are, but look at them they are “It”!

 Dana Spain. Fiercely loyal friend to those she trusts. I am excited to be among her friends. After five years of being PCC I enjoy not always writing about who I’m with or what I’m doing. I think that is the key. Privacy, people want it and you need to know when to give it to them. There’s so much I see, but it’s not news, it’s gossip and there’s a difference. Dana founded PAWs, which is an amazing charitable organization savings pets lives and this photo was taken at her annual event. We’re at the Hyatt Penns Landing. With her is Kerri Lee Hackett and Dawn Stensland. There’s a story there, but a lot of times I want my photos to tell the story for those of you in the know. I’m sure some of you saw this shot and thought Jane Pauley and Deborah Norville.

 Back in the day I was the one of the only social diarist around, especially one that would stay all night long. That’s when you would get exclusive shots like this, not like the Marc Vetri one that you’ll see in my PhillyMag column today, but the others come up and snap it, I mean it is the money shot, but as Carol Springer (RIP that iron lady of crazy) would say could you re-arrange them cause now it’s not as special anymore. The above shot is like an anchor paradise photo, taken at the Red Ball. I worked that room to get them all to pose for me in the middle of the room. NBC10’s Aidti Roy, CBS 3, Pat Ciarrocchi,  Sheinelle Jones, Fox 29’s Good Day Philly, CBS3’s Susan Barnett and Chris Mays. (This was shortly after Alycia Lane and Larry Mendte were fired from CBS3. When is that movie being made.) On this night I asked Sheinelle Jones if she were pregnant, she was. I knew because my readers kept asking me. She asked me not to say anything as it wasnt public yet. No problem. There was another popular anchor at this event, but she refused to pose with the other ones. Maybe when I write my book “Off The Record” I’ll say who it was.

 Adrian and Kerry O’Connor, he’s Senior Communications Manager at Einstein Health Network

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 I first met GN Kang in 2007 at an event at the aloft hotel. I had read about her in Dan Gross’ column as she was always meeting celebrities. I told her in my book she was a celebrity, at least a Philebrity and I definitely wanted to shoot her. She didn’t love the title that she was a celebrity, but I was excited to meet here, that was a good enough barometer. over time we became friends, and I treasure that. Unfortunately for me, when you become friends with “celebrities or philebrities” you’ve broken the 4th wall (look that up) and then special becomes normal. You have to work harder to see the news, but as long as you know the who whos and who should be in what photo with who, sometimes that’s half the work. Arthur Kade on the right. He’s living the dream. I’ll keep my analysis of his rise for the book, but it’s a lesson learned. He’s doing great things

CBS/KYW related peeps: Jamyra Perry, guest, Vittoria Woodill, Melony Roy,  Kharisma McIlaine , oh I can’t remember, Hadas Kuznits and Marlo Polonsky

Bob,  Mike Toub and Matt Vlahos. Aah I met Matt in 2007 through Paris Hilton, how many people can say that? We had a lot of fun in those early, crazy, what am I doing years.

The Carroll Family. No doubt my greatest joy is meeting some of the most wonderful people. I am so lucky I get to do something I love. If you’re able to afford to do what you love, do it. Life is really short, it might seem that way in your 20’s or even 30’s but in your 40’s you hear a clock ticking louder than any baby clock, sometimes it’s the boredom clock, it’s the unhappy clock, it’s the there’s got to be more clock. Well find out what color your parachute is because life will be much more enjoyable then.

 I love this shot. This would be the gods are smiling on me, I have all the right people in this shot. It’s at comcast and it’s the friends, family and press showing of the 3D Holiday Light Show. In the blue suit is Comcast founder Ralph Roberts, his son Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Comcast Corporation and on the right David L. Cohen, Executive Vice President, Comcast Corporation. (On the far left is Al Lee). Now at this time I was sending my pixs to Michael Klein at the Inquirer as well as well as doing a PCC entry. (That would be at least 3 chapters of who that happened, how awesome that was and how that opportunity helped grow my brand and skills. And lots of other stuff)

 Carie Brescia, Lisa Gaudio and Jen Frederick (She is not married to Steve Keeley PS Someone stopped me at the grocery store this week and asked me.)

 I’ve never missed writing a PCC entry in 4 years. I have written crappy entries though, especially in 2011 when I had a full time job as a paralegal, my blog, Michael Klein photos due and was on NBC10 – The Scene once a week.

 Now I don’t have a full time paralegal job, but I contribute to PCC, PhillyMag, Phillydotcom, Liberty City Press, and am on Fox 29’s Good Day. Oh and a twitter account that gets way more info then any of my media outlets.

 Natalie McDonald and Meg Rider. Two people we’ve wanted to get together with for years. If you follow me on twitter my hashtag this year is #2013CelebrationOfFriends I’m going to shift my priorities and see people more and make those connections (I want to go out dancing more, anyone?). It’s part of a balanced life, you don’t have time to have one when you build a business, but after 5 years there’s a lot of reflection, it’s like New Year’s Eve or one of those milestone birthday’s.

 In the five years I’ve covered events the opening of Del Frisco’s and the opening of Union Trust were tied for the most over the top, awesome parties. Everyone was on the list, if you weren’t there you were probably out of town.

Danielle Poe, Nina Tinari, Erin Elmore and Jessica Matthews or the marrying bunch. In the five years I started writing PCC, many of the ladies from the first couple years are now married or in serious relationship, and are not on the “social circuit” anymore. Hopefully their still reading me as my readership has steadily grown in those years. In 2012 I had a record 1.4 million page views on PCC. Crazy.

 Yesterday someone asked me between PhillyMag and PhillyStyle which party is the best. Philly Style Magazine is the best party around. Crazy, decadent, fun, fun fun, fun, but PhillyMag is the hardest party to get into hands down. That party is all business, very prestigious, deals are being made there and there are no drinks with umbrellas in them.

 No one knows how to have a better time than Hacina Saadi. She’s moved on to NYC to spread her joy. I miss her. I always loved this dress, held up by gravity and not one piece of double sided tape ever appeared.

 Some great people here: Matthew Izzo, Thom Cardwell, Michele DiVeterano. Assistant Director of Development at City of Hope Harry Giordano, Tony Luke and Phyllis Halpern

 Sometimes I would run up to NYC and shoot red carpet events like this one where Sarah Jessica Parker attended. Later the photo appeared in Us Magazine, as a full spread. They pay about $750 for a shot like this. (When I shot the photo I thought what a lousy spot I’m in, but through the magic of photoshop the mag to the window out of the photo before they published it.)

 

 Monica Glass, Jennifer Carroll, Jose Garces and Kevin Sbraga (after he taped Top Chef, but before it aired)

 Maria Papadakis at my 3rd Anniversary PhillyChitChat party. In three short years we went from strangers to besties. She knows all my secrets. We thrive on our late nite 2am chats.  This shot was taken at the Waterfront Square Condos. They’re advertisers now. Thanks. I had a lot of fun people at this party, all gals. Even Monica Malpass came. She was the first newsie person I became friendly with;

 Aida Strata and Stacey Kracher, Zarwin Baum. A new advertiser this year, after hiring me for years as their professional event photographer.  You can hire me to shoot your party. you get to keep the photos to distribute to the media, I write up a who was there and what was the event like on PhillyChitChat. I will also advise you on the distribution of the photos, as well as promote your event and connect you with the right people for your business/event/party if you’d like.