Categories
Philadelphia

July Fourth Street Closures/Closings 2012 – Penns Landing, Chestnut Street & Art Museum Area

Office of the
City Representative                                                     Melanie
Johnson,
                                                                                        
City Representative/Executive Director,
                                                                                                
Wawa Welcome America!
For Immediate Release                                              Press Contacts Only:
                                                                                  
Randy
Giancaterino,
`                           
Randy.giancaterino@phila.gov
                                                                                                
215-683-2070   
                                                                                                
Heather Murphy,
                                                                                                
Heather.murphy@phila.gov
                                                                                                
215-683-2176
City announces streets closures, in effect today
through July 4, for the Wawa Welcome America! Festival
Motorists advised to steer clear, or proceed
with caution, in areas impacted by festivities.
(PHILADELPHIA) June
27, 2012
– City officials today announced information
regarding street closures – Wednesday,
June 27 through Wednesday, July 4, 2012
– before and during
activities in the vicinity of the ongoing 10-day Wawa Welcome America! festival.
Delays can be expected and motorists are advised to avoid, or
proceed with extreme caution, in the areas near these festivities before and
during Independence Day.
The following includes information about street closures for the 2012
Wawa Welcome America!
Festival, which includes 20 events citywide:
·      
Beginning at 9:30 A.M. Friday, June 29 until 9 P.M. Sunday, July 1,
Chestnut Street
will be closed at Front Street.
As a result, SEPTA buses will be detoured onto Front Street. SEPTA will not have any
buses lay over on the viaduct.
·      
Beginning at 9:30 A.M. Tuesday,
July 3 through Thursday, July 5
, the eastbound inner drive of the
Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be closed for set-up for the Philly 4th
of July Jam/Grand Finale Fireworks. The westbound inner drive will be closed
after the evening rush hour at about 6:30
P.M.
-MORE-
   Add
1
/ Streets Closures Wawa Welcome America! Festival
·      
On Monday, July 2, in
preparation for July 4th events in the historic district, the 500 block of Chestnut Street
will be closed, after the morning rush hour, at 9:30 A.M., for the event set-up of staging and related
equipment. The street will reopen at 3 P.M.
for the evening rush hour, and then will close again after 6:30 P.M. to allow for the completion of
event equipment set-up. The street will remain closed Tuesday, July 3
to allow for more set-up in
preparation for continuing festivities in the area.
·      
No street closures are planned during the
concert and fireworks at Penn’s Landing at the Great Plaza
on Saturday, June 30th; however, Columbus Boulevard may be heavily congested
during the fireworks later in the evening, so motorists are advised to avoid
that vicinity, or proceed cautiously.

Wednesday, June 27

Go
4th & Learn (10 A.M. – 12 P.M.)
                       Held
at Smith Memorial Playground in East
Fairmount Park.
No street
closures are planned for this event.

Hoagie
Day @ Independence Mall (12 P.M. -2 P.M.)
Held at Independence
Mall. No street
closures are planned for this event.

Philly @ the Movies (9 P.M.)                                  Philadelphia Museum of Art. No street closures are planned for this
event; however, traffic around Eakins Oval could be heavy at times.

Friday, June 29

Taste
of Philly (5 P.M. – 9 P.M.)                               Chestnut Street
viaduct closed at 9:30 A.M.
Penn’s
Landing at the Great Plaza                

Saturday, June 30

Taste of Philly followed by evening
concert and fireworks.)

Taste
of Philly (11 A.M. – 10 P.M.)                          Chestnut Street
viaduct closed however,
and
Concert & Fireworks on Penn’s Landing           Columbus Boulevard may
become
Fireworks
at 10 P.M.)                                                gridlocked during
the time of the fireworks show in the evening.
-MORE-
Add 2/ Streets Closures
Wawa Welcome America!
Festival

Sunday, July 1

Taste
of Philly (11 A.M. – 7 P.M.)                            Chestnut Street
viaduct closed until 9PM

Monday, July 2

Philly @ the Movies (9 P.M.)                                  The
Dell Music Center.
North 33rd Street.
No Street
closures are planned for this event.

Tuesday, July 3

Mural
Arts Paints Day (2 P.M. – 5 P.M.)
               Independence
Mall at Independence
National Park. 520-525 Market St. No street closures
are planned for this event.

POPS
on Independence
(8 P.M.)
                             Independence Hall. 500 block
of Chestnut St.
will remain closed.       

Wednesday, July 4 (Independence
Day)

July 4th Set-Up                                                           500
block of Chestnut Street
will remain closed for the final set-up.
The perimeter of the Benjamin
Franklin Parkway will be closed, beginning at 6 A.M., and will stay closed
until the end of the Parkway concert and fireworks — between 20th and
25th Street, and between Race Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.
-MORE-
Add 3/ Streets Closures
Wawa Welcome America!
Festival
Celebration of Freedom Ceremony/ Independence Day Parade
             
                                                                      5th Street,
from Walnut to Arch streets (6 A.M.)
Independence Mall vicinity                                     6th Street,
from Walnut to Arch streets (6 A.M.); 9th
Street, from Walnut to Market streets; Chestnut,
from Front (including viaduct) to 7th
Street (7 A.M.);
                                                                                    Chestnut
Street, 7th to 10th streets (9:30 A.M.            
                                                                          
Market, Front (including viaduct) to 11th  
                                                                          
Streets(9:30A.M.);                                                                                                 Front,
from Dock to Arch streets (9:30 
                                                                          
A.M.)
Sons of the Revolution Parade,                               Walnut,
from Front to 6th streets,
Independence
Mall area                                             2nd Street, from Chestnut to
Dock streets,
                                                                                    38th
Parallel, from Spruce to Dock streets
Let Freedom Ring Ceremony at                              500
block of Chestnut Street
remains closed.
Independence Square
Party on the Parkway (12 P.M. – 7 P.M.)              Eakins
Oval and all drives on the Benjamin
Franklin Parkway will be closed at 6 A.M.  Only authorized
vehicles will be allowed into the area, between 20th & 25th
streets, and Pennsylvania Avenue
to Race Street.

Philly 4th of July Jam/
Grand Finale Fireworks

(Concert & Fireworks, 7 P.M. – 10 P.M.)              There
will be a perimeter established at 4 P.M. for vehicular traffic that will be at
18th Street
and Fairmount Avenue,
and from John F. Kennedy Boulevard
to Spring Garden Street.
Area residents and persons with authorized parking will be allowed within the
perimeter; others are advised to use public transportation, or parking outside
of the area. 

Categories
Philadelphia

PAWS PARTY PEOPLE, HEY LET’S GET FUNKY HEY!

Over at Philly Mag on Tuesday we covered mostly the chefs (& by we I mean me, Bob Dole.)  P.S. Even if your photo appears on PCC, it could still make it in the magazine.

I don’t like Pink Floyd – Dogs, but I do like “Wish You Were Here”

Pet lover and founder/president of PAWS Dana Spain was front
and center welcoming her guests and then guiding them through the
evening from cocktail party, to dining tables, and then upstairs to
complete the night at the dessert bar under the watchful eye of
presidents Ronald Reagan, Abraham Lincoln and the George W. Bush—all
of their portraits hang at the Union League.
The Wineburgh’s and Evan & Lynsie Solomon.
On the social scale this
event is a 10, and no matter your political persuasion or your past
indiscretions, the crème de le crème show up for this event to support
PAWS’s animal-rescue initiatives,

which include adoption and foster
care programs, spay-and-neuter surgeries, low-cost vaccinations, and,
of course, to be seen in their party best.

 Michael Howard, Renee Freeman, Don Freeman and Ira Schwartz (Hope you caught up with him cause I hear this is his once a year outing.)
 Mariska “disappearing in front of us” Bogle and bestie Kecia Jordan
 Andrea and Brad Heffler

 Thank you Dana Farrell for forgiving me each and every-time I can’t remember your name. She is most gracious and just offers it to me cause she knows my brain is like swiss cheese.  And because she’s so awesome I’m gonna give her a live link to her business. Dana is partner at Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar

The Joans: Joan Pileggi and Joan Spain. What an honor that Joan Pileggi reads my blog, and told me she loves my photos. I’m keeping Philly Classy. (ie do not read my coverage of the scantily clad peeps at North Beach.) and Joan Spain. Before there was Carrie Bradshaw, there was Claire Rose.

I’m always amazed by the generous donation various charities get for their silent auction.

 Hayley Curry, Norman Jung and Amanda Murphy
 Judy and Buzz Miller
 Robin van Laer and Kim Curley on their sophomoric year at Paws
 Ronnie and Dana Donnutucci (They ate dinner next to Alycia Keys on Saturday night down at Revel)
Frank Ciprioti and Dave DiBello

Justin Wineburg, Greek-American brothersister team Vasiliki Tsiouris, Opa Restaurnt (2nd from left) and George Tsiouris with Mrs Wineburgh and Maria Papadakis.

Marilyn Keller and Sonya Bright
The Team from XIX: Wilmer Ranirez, Andrew Petruzzelli, Kristel Bryant, Richard Hebben and Adam Judeh

 Miss Philadelphia 2009, Ryann Richardson, now doing marketing at Reserve Steakhouse. The only venue with a cigar bar.
It’s Official: Nicole Cashman Richards and Nigel Richards

 

Sampan

Hickory Lane – Decorations by DAS Designs

Kirby Mallon and Evan Solomon. It’s like they knew the colors of the table? That could be possible.

Dana Donatucci and Lynsie Solomon

Hickory Lane
Luca Cena – Revolution House, 200 Market Street
will feature a 15% discount on select “All American” staples on their
menu, as well as American Local Beers from Friday, June 30th through Saturday, July 7th. Guests can watch The Fourth of July fireworks at Penn’s Landing on Saturday, June 31st from the restaurant’s rooftop deck.
Chef Jasper Alivia of Cuba Libre  and Matt Levin, Square Peg

Table 31, decorated by Chef Chris Scarduzio’s cousin

Decorators and florists volunteered their service on the beautifying of the Pods.

Ela decorated by guy who did the interior of the restaurant – Richard Stokes

This says Kemp florist all over it, and that’s exactly who did the Union Trust table.

Carol Tamburino is always in the best photos with some of the best lighting, which is a problem since I just had her in my Philly Mag column last week. I really like to rotate me peeps, but dang she is photogenic. With Brûlée Catering (formerly known as Max & Me) peeps Thomas McMullen and Larry Cohen (sorry, I do know it’s Larry.)

Professional Poker Player, shoe connaisseur who has nothing to hide, Beth Shak tells me that everything is A-OK and her shoes are intact, as she hangs out with Maria Papadakis.

Sharon Coia, Guest, Guest, Carol Tamburino and Maria Papadakis

Frank and Molly Napolitano, Donna Bright, Lea Knapik, Ellen Babb and Mark Kane
 
The Sexiest Chefs in Philly. 
Jen Carroll she’s off for a little Fly Fishing vacation next week. Sounds hot.
Categories
Philadelphia

SUMMER LOVIN HAPPEN SO FAST – Pop-Up Movie Palaces This Summer

I love movies, I love classic movies, I love special screenings of movies, and here’s a list of a few playing this summer around town.

“Philly At The Movies” Series
When: June 25, June 26, June 27, July 2, July 3
Where: Throughout the city
Cost: Free
More info: www.welcomeamerica.com
 Tonight ROCKY is playing at the Art Museum Steps 9PM

 The Philadelphia Theater Company presents their Summer Film Series. Hello Funny Girl my favorite movie, who doesn’t want to sing a long to Grease. (I’m looking at you Kristyn Aldrich. I just discovered my friend has never seen either movie, nor “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Who are you girl, said Lola!! Check out the schedule, I’m gonna try and make every movie. I love the Suzanne Roberts Theater, the seats are beyond comfortable. The movie nights, candy for the kids, and spirits for mom, dad and all my gal friends. (Look for some peeps to talk back to the screen warning Babs not to fall for Omar Sharif) Wednesday Movie Nite Info Here

 55 features from 26 different countries some of the best in international LGBT films for 2012. 
Did I mention parties, there are lots of them and if the legendary promoter Dan Contarino is involved in planning them then you’re not going to want to miss them.

Guys, Towels, Gay Movie = don’t bring grammie

Gay filmmaker Thom Fitzgerald’s bright, breezy and tender road
movie stars
Olympia Dukakis (1 degree from Cher) and Brenda Fricker as a pair of geriatric
lesbians who hit the highway, picking up a hunky young hitchhiker along
the way. (Sounds like Thelma & Louise didn’t die after all.)
The Trocadero Movie Monday’s

SECRET CINEMA EVENTS:

  • Saturday, June 30 @ The Trestle Inn: Saturday’s Child dance party with Jay Schwartz & D.J. Silvia (no films)
  • Date/Venue to be announced – Films from the Orgone Archive (someday, honest!)

  • Friday, July 13 @ Laurel Hill Cemetery: TBA!
  • Sunday, July 22 @ The Colonial Theater, Phoenixville: The Secret Secret Cinema
  • Friday, July 27 @ Anthology Film Archives, NYC: TWO Secret Cinema programs!
  • Friday, August 17 @ William Way Center: AIDS Law Project Summer Movie Party benefit
  • Friday, August 24 @ International House: 2 rare documentaries about New York
  • Friday, September 7 @ Eastern State Penitentiary: TBA
  • Sunday, October 14 @ The Colonial Theater, Phoenixville: TBA
  • Thursday, September 27 @ American Philosophical Society: “Time” film series, pt. 1
  • Wednesday, December 5 @ American Philosophical Society: “Time” film series, pt. 2
  • Categories
    Philadelphia

    FREE PHOTOS FROM JAN TO THE RED BALL #fb

    I need to delete a few dozen folders and am just going to dump photos into this folder for you to review. It’ll take me about a day or two to get all the shots in there.  Feel free to take your photos, not others, and please don’t put Susie Smith’s head on a porn star. Thanks.


    http://photos.phillychitchat.com/Other/FREE-PHOTOS-JAN-JUNE-2012/23804196_rcsWH9#!i=1928905842&k=pH4bZN7

    Categories
    Philadelphia

    JULY 4TH STREET CLOSINGS AND PARKING RESTRICTIONS NEAR ART MUSEUM

    WAWA WELCOME AMERICA FOURTH OF JULY 
     
    ATTENTION RESIDENTS
    This year the July 4th festivities will
    feature very popular musicians and performers. The City expects a larger than
    normal attendance at the Parkway events and is putting some additional
    temporary street closures and parking restrictions in place for traffic control
    and emergency vehicle access.
    Parking restriction signs will be posted on the
    evening of July 3rd and possibly as late as the morning of July 4th
    in some places.
    All parking regulations will be strictly enforced i.e.:
    Blocking driveways and Fire hydrants, distances from stop signs and corners.
    Since the City is having an added Police presence there will be a larger
    contingency of officers around who will interpret signs and striping more
    literally than our regulars do.
    RESIDENTS WHO NORMALLY PARK THEIR VEHICLES ON THE
    STREET MAY WANT TO CHECK THEM ON THE MORNING OF JULY 4th TO INSURE
    THAT THEY ARE STILL LEGALLY PARKED.
    If you are venturing out to watch or participate in
    the festivities, the Philadelphia
    Police Dept. recommend you be vigilant for pickpockets and purse snatchers.
    The Police have stated that residents would be allowed
    on closed streets as long as they could show a driver’s license proving
    they lived at the Philadelphian. In addition we will make up id sheets marked:
    The Philadelphian
    2401
    Pennsylvania Avenue
    Copies will be left at the front desk for residents
    with out of state plates, their guests and our employees.
    A preliminary list of restrictions is listed below.
    Remember these are subject to change.
    STREET CLOSURES
    At 4 pm July 4th Traffic Unit will close
    the following streets:
    Fairmount closes to westbound traffic at Corinthian,
    diverted northbound onto Corinthian.
    15th, 17th, 19th,
    & 21st Streets will be closed to southbound traffic at Spring Garden
    & diverted eastbound onto Spring
    Garden toward Broad St.
    Spring Garden
    Street
    will be closed to
    westbound traffic Broad St.
    Callowhill St. will be closed to westbound traffic
    at Broad St.
    Hamilton St.
    will be closed to westbound traffic at 17th Street.
    29th
    St.
    southbound shut down at Poplar St. and
    diverted onto Poplar eastbound or westbound.
    PARKING RESTRICTIONS
    Hamilton St.
    1900 – 2100
    20th
    St.
    Callowhill to Spring Garden
    21st
    Street
    Pennsylvania Ave. to Spring Garden
    Spring Garden
    Broad St.
    to 2300
    Fairmount Ave.
    2400 & 2300 blocks
    Pennsylvania
    Ave.
    22nd street to 29th street
    on the park side
    Categories
    Philadelphia

    ZOMBIE BEACH PARTY AT THE TROCADERO – Pixs

    It’s summer and the Zombies came out to play Saturday night at the Trocadero for it’s annual beach party.  This was a great event to get your toes wet in all things zombie because come September 29th it’s the annual Zombie Prom, which is spectacular in size and formal wear.

    This was a great event to get your toes wet in all things zombie because
    come September it’s the annual Zombie Prom, which is spectacular in
    size and formal wear.

    DJ Kiltboy

    For $10++ there are always make up artists on site to help you out

    Jimmi Shrode

    There’s a bar for the 21++ to enjoy

    Mike Toub

    Last year’s prom sold out ahead of time – so be sure to get your tickets EARLY – advance tickets are just $10 at The Troc Box Office
    window. The window is open 11:30am-6pm weekdays and til 5pm Saturday –
    Prom tickets can also be purchased at the box office during all main
    stage events; there’s no limit to the number of tickets one can purchase
    at a time.

    Categories
    Philadelphia

    MEEK MILLS STOPS BY THE THREE NERDS DAYLOAD PARTY at Brian Nagel’s Kings Oak

    The Three Nerds started dayload (“When you set aside a day to drink from morning until evening,”) a few years back at Tweed, then Valanni’s and now they’ve settled in nicely into Brian Nagel’s Kings Oak American Grill & Sports Bar at the piazza every last Sunday of the month (except a week early in June because of the holiday weekend next weekend.) Next week if you’re in town stop by Parx’s Casino with the Olympian’s live and in person.

    Mark Mattera, Ryan Dorsey, Zach Seidman, guest and another nerd? (Those nerds are multiplying.)
    Jenn Van Horn, Adrienne Diaz and Ashley Dunek. It must have been a good night cause when I took this shot Adrienne said she’d be home by nine to watch Newsroom on HBO. I left at 10PM and she was still on the dance floor. How was that Newsroom, my twitter was blowing up with the play by play?
    Daniel Smith, Fabio Azavedo and Julie Hixon.

    I had the good fortune to spend a lot of my day with Kyle Cuffie-Scott, Lola, Kristyn Aldrich and Ronnie Howard
    Maybe this is the Adele influence?

    Thanks to DJ’s Nemyiss and DJ Mach1 for not playing this song and instead rocking the house all night long.

    Justin and Jeff. Good to see everyone today, nice to get back to the clubs and day parties and see my old friends as well as meet all you peeps who read me everyday. As you can tell, I’m kinda shy (I swear I am), but I enjoy photographing you, bringing you good stories and ideas.
    Lindsay Furman, looking refreshed after the islands. You might have heard Lindsay Furman was part of the reality show “Love in the Wild.” I was at the premiere a few weeks back, but I never got a chance to put the photo up before she was kicked off Gilligan’s Island back into the arms of her man Terry Ju (r). You know how those things go, she was looking for love in all the wrong places, thought the TV show would come through as they Bachelor series has done so well (BTW as I predicted Reid Rosenthal is on Bachelor Pad this summer. To my reader, he was never engaged to Kristen Dalton, 2009 Miss USA. They still remain “good friends.”), any applied accepted, then found a guy right here in Philly. Gave the show the good college try, but her heart already belonged to Ju.
    Did I mention that Sunday’s Day Load theme was Fourth of July.


    Someday I’ll get this camera video thing down, in the meantime bear with me. (See if you can spot the guy in the Rocky time warp.)

    Clever mustache hanging from her glasses.

    Rocking style.
    The Geek Awards are coming up August 17, 2012 Check out my coverage last year on PCC. I love that they include me in their world.

    Marisa Magnatta and Amit Gabai, photographer for Philly2Nite, and massage therapist at North Beach. Hit him up.

    bob

    Ryan Banks is back in town and ready to thrown down. He’s gonna hit me up with some info and I’ll pass it along to you. Follow me on Twitter @IPhillyChitChat as that’s where I drop a lot of info, daily. The last time I saw Ryan I photographed the behind the scenes of a music video he shot at G Lounge.

    Look who was at Day Load, but G Lounge GM Waylon Nelson and his girlfriend Mackenzie, Marketing Director of Delilah’s

    Day Load is a mix of dancing inside, and socializing outside. People come and go all day, and some folks like moi just stay daylight into darkness. Dancing, chatting and my favorite, people watching …

    Baller for real: Jason Thompson – Sacramento Kings

    Not so much
    Red, White & Blue @SweetAssBridget
    Dress is comfortable, from casual to well kinda dressy for the gals.

    Match set: Herb and Ashley Reid

    Grace and LeeAnn at your service
    Yes!!!

    Not only are the shoes hot, the nails are done and she’s got an anklet on. Now this is working it!
    If she didn’t find what she was looking for Sunday, then I suggest wearing something different next time.

    Kate Beaver and Jackiem Wright

    Damon Francis, Adrienne, Kristyn and you look fabulous even though it’s the end of the night my new friend who’s name I forgot to get.
    Next big night for the Three Nerds is at North Beach on Tuesday.

    Wayne Ellington, Timberwolves, Philadelphia born rapper, now world wide know, Meek Mill, and Curtis Brinkley, San Diego Chargers. Maybach Music’s Own Meek Mill will be headlining his own Dream Chasers tour, which kicks off August 2nd in Denver, Colorado and stops by TLA 8/25/12
    Meek Mills new Aston Martin. He drove himself to the club. I saw him get out of the car.

    Self Made Vol. 1 CD drops tomorrow 6/26/12. No doubt the summer’s biggest CD for rap.

    Til next month: Brian Nagel and Ryan Dorsey. Great time had by all. In the meantime get your groove on at Recess Thurs to Sat

    Categories
    Philadelphia

    PHS new “Pops Up”, Jane Golden Salivates, Mayor Nutter Hot Under the Collar

    A tree grows in Brooklyn, and yesterday a garden pops up in Center City at 1905-1915 Walnut St. Years ago this is where a movie theater was located, but was damaged by a fire. I remember the day it happened as I lived at 19th and Lombard and saw it on my way to work.  For years it’s been a sad reminder of that day, and the loss of a great movie house in Center City, even though the building was quite ugly as a modern box.

    It’s surprising that this lot and the two buildings behind it are abandoned because of a failed attempt to build a high rise on these combined tracts. I remember my friend lived in the apartment building on the right, and all the tenants were forced out so they could make way for the new hi-rise that never got off the ground. Kinda Sad. BUT yesterday new memories were being made, a beautiful garden grows in Center City, and it’s going to benefit many families through the PHS City Harvest
    program, which grows fresh produce through a network of community
    gardens and helps feed more than 1,000 families in need each week. .
    IMPRESSIVE: Drew Becher became the 36th President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society in June 2010. Under his leadership,
    PHS has initiated the Plant One Million campaign to restore the
    region’s tree canopy; expanded the City Harvest program, which provides
    fresh produce to more than 1,000 families in need each week during the
    growing season; initiated the PHS Pop-Up projects; and introduced
    exciting new features at the Philadelphia International Flower Show.

    Spotted Jane Golden, Executive director of the Mural Arts,

    salivating over this blank wall yesterday.
    I thought it was a cat, but on closer inspection I see it’s a raccoon.

     

    I was impressed by how many people showed up

     and media on such an unbearable hot day, but then again I was there too. It is great they would take over this spot located in the heart of Center City and create a garden that will benefit others on several levels.

    The lot has be repurposed. I like that name repurposed, much better than hand me downs or handed off.

    Hot under the collar, but not really

    Garden Hours
    Tuesdays through Fridays, from 11 am to 2 pm
    Thursday evenings from 5 pm to 7 pm
    The second Saturday of each month from 9 am to 1 pm
    Be Part of the Pop Up
    To celebrate the Pop Up Garden and its
    theme of bringing everyone to the table, PHS will create a tablecloth
    like none other—a patchwork of photographs taken by garden visitors.
    When you visit the garden, take a picture (or two!) and return to this
    page to upload it. For a one-time $5.00 donation to City Harvest, your
    image will be featured on the ever-growing tablecloth that will debut
    on closing day of the garden. Click here to upload your photo.

    Chipotle Mexican Grill is sponsoring the project, focused on PHS City Harvest

    Categories
    Philadelphia

    YOUNG FRIENDS OF RITTENHOUSE SQUARE BALL 2012

    Wednesday and Thursday are the belle of the ball, the Rittenhouse Square Ball, which
    is held under the big tent in the park.
    Wednesday night is the Little Friends of Rittenhouse Square party, where kids gather to play games, face paint, and do the bounce house. This year was a little more challenging as the temperatures soared into the 90’s. I was surprised that there was still a healthy turnout.
    Ryder and Jill Jacobsen

    Caroline and Chuck Goodwin enjoyed the bounce house

    There was popcorn, hot dogs, Slice Pizza, Krispy Kreme and lots of fun delicious stuff to enjoy. Then I had to run off to the Bernie Robbins 50th Anniversary Party, which I will write about in PhillyMag online Monday or Tuesday. How’s that for not definite. But you can see it on Good Day Philly today at 9:20AM

    Last night was the big event, the Rittenhouse Square Ball. There are actually two events going on simultaneously, the main party and then across the street is the Young Friends party at Smith and Wollensky.  I cover the main party extensively in my online column in Philly Mag today. (It should be here when it goes live.), but in PhillyChitChat I cover the Young Friends portion of the party. Aaaah those young friends, it’s always a wild time when I get to their party. 

    David Lucca Bedussa and James Booney

    Brian Lipstein, Rachel Innerst, Rachel Hopwoop, Stephanie Smith and Garret Des Jardims

    Marco Nyiel and Stacey Kracher, Marketing director from Zarwin Baum.
    Tina Lamsback, Amber Goins and Anne Nikolaus
    Molly Cowley and Patrick Gangemi
    Erica Heilman and KJ
    I love that they have table games at the young friends events, that was a great idea. Katrina Lynch and Bryant Hosler

    David Freidman and Rebecca Growler
    Jackie Seigle, Jackie Bakes Cake and Matt Bean

    Ben Prusky, Jackie Balin, Rick Schuch, Emily Busch, Paige Barrow and Ray Jaffe. Then we all headed back to the big tent to join the main party. OK I went home, tired, hot and had to do my columns. I bet it was wild and crazy cause the young friends don’t hold back and were ready to rumble.
    Evantine Design, every year its something fantastic.
    Greg Persichetti and CBS3’s Susan Barnett. The duo are parents of 3 children under 5.
    Sal D’Angelo and Ivona Percec

    Doc Parghi and Kate Slattery
    Kathryn Ott Lovell, executive director of the Fairmount Park
    Conservancy, and Mark Focht, Executive Director of the Fairmount Park. Kate Chimicles and Chris Chimicles.
    Alison Young and Dave Maser, call it a night and take their Uber Car home. I love this service for a last minute call.

    Thanks to my sponsors:
    Having a party, need a photo booth rent a Cool Pix Photo Booth
    Need a wedding band, no not that kind, a musical kind CTO Entertainment is for you.
    Plus they have DJ’s all the way down to a guy playing a keyboard for your party
    or event. (I was just at an event at Tiffany’s Jewelers and there was a guy
    playing the keyboard for entertainment & he was from CTO. For great limousine service try
    Secrets Limo.  travel in style and have your limo wait for you at your beckon call. 
      July 4th is coming up, I think Teuscher’s Chocolate’s would be
    perfect for a cool treat after dinner. Need a massage, how about Hand and Stone. Need a cool relief check out The Shops of Liberty Place, it’s air condition and there’s lots of great bargains under one roof.

    Categories
    Philadelphia

    UNITED WAY IMPACT AWARDS – PHOTOS

    Every time I cover the The United Way I learn something new about them. I remember the first time I had heard about them it was through work, it was an organization that my firm, Kohn, Swift & Graf, insisted we as employees donate to our favorite charities through the organization. My boss Harold Kohn wanted to instill in us the responsibility in helping others less fortunate.  I usually donated to a charity that I was more familiar with as the UW gives you that option directing a few dollars to the United Way. But I really had no idea what the United Way did, or who they were. It was just something my boss wanted us to do, as I always opted not to go to the meet and greet meeting.  After photographing them 3 times my eyes have been opened and my friends tell me I have drank the Kool Aid, cause I tell everyone about the amazing programs they have, how they touch many lives, in every phase of their lives, especially children, seniors, low income and underserved communities. 
    I’ve even gone back to Kohn, Swift and Graf to apologize to my United Way administrator (legal secretary – Joan Burt) for all those years I would drag my feet in filling out my forms (usually just out of laziness), it’s really an amazing program. All of these people below already knew the great things the United Way did…

    Earlier this month the United Way held it’s Champions for Impact is United Way’s signature event for recognizing the
    contributions of local donors, advocates and volunteers whose
    dedication helps to improve education for our children and youth, create
    opportunities for families to achieve financial stability, and allow
    seniors to age with dignity in their own homes and communities. Joan went once as our Firm received an award. We always had 100% participation, the boss and Joan were always proud of that. Susan Van Buren, Jill M. Michal, president & CEO of United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania and Meghan Brown

    Gordon Cooney, managing partner of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP’s Philadelphia office, is the United Way’s 2012-2013 Campaign Chair, Ned Montgomery and Marty Freidman

    Jack Pyle and Lon R. Greenberg, CEO of UGI Corp.

    Sally Lee Community Service Award – Dene Liott, with my favorite quote ever U N I together every day – United Way.  Dene is founder, producer and host of her “What’s Happening” shows that
    air on PCTV and reaches people in western Montgomery County, northern
    Chester County and eastern Berks County shows since 2004. She’s a community activist and advocate for the rights of the elderly. 

    United Way and the United Ways of the Delaware Valley presented the John C. Haas Regional Champion Medals to Distinguished Individual Honoree Mindy Holman, Holman Enterprises
    Manus McHugh, manager of Retail Business Integration for Exelon Energy,
    was presented with the prestigious Volunteer of the Year Award. He’s surrounded by the important women in his life including wife Joanne (l), daughters Cassie, Susannah, and Meredith; with Jill M. Michal, president & CEO of United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania
    Champions for Impact also served as a public celebration of United Way
    reaching its $48.5 million campaign goal under the leadership of the
    2011-12 Campaign Chair Mary Stengel Austen, who received the Campaign
    Leadership Award. After accepting the award, Austen president of Tierney
    Communications, officially passed along United Way’s Campaign Torch to
    J. Gordon Cooney, Jr.,
    managing partner of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius
    LLP’s Philadelphia office.

    The complete list of people and corporations who were honored that evening.

    • Vanguard Award for Excellence – PECO
    • Campaign Leadership Award – Mary Stengel Austen
    • Best Overall Campaign – Ametek, Inc.
    • Best Overall Campaign – Independence Blue Cross
    • Best New Campaign – CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
    • Employee Campaign Chair(s) of the Year – Joe Geeter and Jim Crossan, UGI/AmeriGas
    • Campaign Cabinet Volunteer of the Year – Bobby Keyes, Enterprise Holdings
    • Corporate Citizenship Award – IBM
    • Live United: Impact in Education Award – Xu Lin, Youth Community Organizer, Asian Americans United
    • Live United: Impact in Income Award – Citizens Bank
    • Live United: Impact in Health Award – Allen Glicksman, Director of Research and Evaluation, Philadelphia Corporation for Aging
    • Live United: Impact in Basic Needs Award – Witnesses to Hunger, Drexel University
    • Live United: Partners in Caring Award – CBS Radio and MayoSeitz Media
    • Live United: Partners in Caring Award – Dechert
    • Live United: Partners in Caring Award – Vanguard Information Technology Division
    • Live United Award – Richard Binswanger
    • Live United Award – Susan Van Buren, SEPTA
    • Irv Sannit Labor Award – Richard Howell, International Association of Machinists 1776

    John C. Haas Regional Champion Medals

    • Distinguished Individual Champion Award – Mindy Holman, President & CEO of Holman Enterprises and ARI Leasing
    • Distinguished Corporate Champion Award – TD Bank
    • Sally Lee Community Service Award – Dene Liott