As you know my sister and her family just bought a cute house in Longport, NJ. I stayed there over the Memorial Day Weekend. It was wonderful, and great to see them. So they’re here until Mid-July but then need to rent it out for the rest of the summer. Here are a few pictures she took, of course if I photographed it it would be a little be more in-depth, but hey she was probably running around after the 3 kids, 2 of them are boys. So please please please rent it out for the summer cause I don’t want her to have a year long tenant cause I want her to come down every June so I can see her kids.

Charming Longport cottage for rent. 3 bedrooms main house, living area, kitchen and 2 full baths. Front deck with awning.

I guess the boys were sleeping or didn’t clean up their room cause this is the baby’s room

Master Bedroom – Do you think a seashore picture would be nice here. I was thinking of buying her a cute picture from Absolute Abstract of the LOVE Statue? Thoughts?

Attached apartment has 1 full bath, living area and loft. $2400 week. All furnishings brand new.Available 8/1 through Fall. 103 N. 31st Ave. Longport, NJ

I’ll be down there on Friday and get a few more cute pictures. Any questions? Crista Dillon Bateman crista08us@yahoo(dot) com

A few people we know were honored at the 2012 John Wanamaker Athletic Award Ceremony and Luncheon along with a few people we should get to know.

Claude Giroux and Ed Snider of the Philadelphia Flyers (if a shot is in b/w, it’s because I just got my new camera and there’s a learning curve. It looks good though does it?)

Amy Needle, Michelle Vondak, and Melanie Johnson. Thanks to Phyllis Halpern for pointing out that “Once Upon a Nation” has 11 benches not 13 this year. (Thanks to the cut in funding to Philly) Congrats to my two tweeter followers who named the correct location of the benches. Send me your emails and we will arrange for you to pick up your gift bag.

Amerimar’s Steve Gleason who manages the Wanamaker Building.

Larry Needle is executive director of the Philadelphia Sports Congress
(PSC), a division of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
(PCVB), which attracts major sporting events and conventions to the
Philadelphia area. Larry’s primary role is to pursue bids for future
sporting events and to facilitate their implementation in Philadelphia.
PSC is also the producer of the annual Army/Navy Game, a tradition held
in Philadelphia for a century.

The City of Philadelphia’s Parks & Recreation Department presented its second annual Sports Volunteer of the Year Award to the Katie Kirlin Fund accepting is Joe and Roseann Kirlin. After their daughter, Katie, became a wheelchair athlete due to a spinal tumor (1990) and then passed away, Joe and Roseanne have dedicated their lives to raising funds for wheelchair sports and seeing they are utilized to change the lives of athletes.  Through the years their hands on approach in the Philadelphia area led to the development of track, swimming and junior basketball teams all functioning under the name, Katie’s Komets.   They have raised over $10 million dollars since starting their organization twenty years ago.

Adam Taliaferro,is a former American football player whose recovery from a paralyzing spinal cord injury sustained while playing cornerback for the Penn State Nittany Lions, Jerry Segal, (c) whose golf fundraisers support Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, was honored with the Sports Congress’ Robert P. Levy (r) Community Service Award. Segal who is an attorney from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who was paralyzed as a result of neck surgery in 1988 and later learned to walk again. He is also on the board of trustees for Magee Rehabilitation Hospital and has raised over $10 million with his very successful charity golf tournaments. Taliaferro credits his successful rehabilitation to Segal and to Magee Rehabilitation.

Dave Montgomery, owner of the Philles and Ed Snider, Owner of the Flyers. Ed Snider received the Lifetime Achievement Award. I had no idea that Ed Snider picked out the location for the Vet, and also brought the Flyers here 9 months later. Snider says that in 1967 when the Flyers first came to town they had a parade down Broad Street. No one came, but 7 years later 2 million people lined the same street to see the Flyers bring home the Stanley Cup. Snider went on to say a few praising words about Giroux , and believes he will bring the team to the Promise Land next year.

The Philadelphia Sports Congress awarded this year’s John Wanamaker Athletic Award to Claude Giroux of the Philadelphia Flyers during a ceremony and luncheon on Tuesday, June 5 in the Crystal Tea Room of the Wanamaker Building. Giroux emerged as one of the elite players in the National Hockey League this season. Flyers Coach Peter Laviolette explains why Claude Giroux was tapped for the Wanamaker Award, which in previous years was given to Roy Halladay, Jimmy Rollins, Dawn Staley and St. Joe’s Men’s Basetball Team.

You may ask, as did Claude Giroux, why did he get this award and what’s it mean? The press release gives us a few details:
This season, Giroux tallied 28 goals and 65 assists for 93 points. He also led the NHL in scoring during the first round of the playoffs. This is the third time a Flyers player has been recognized with the award, but the first since goalie Bernie Parent in 1975. Giroux also joins Bobby Clarke and the Flyers Stanley Cup Champion team from 1974, coach Fred Shero in 1976, and the 1980 squad which reached the Cup Finals. Since 1961, the Wanamaker Award has been presented to the athlete, team or organization that has done the most to reflect credit upon Philadelphia and to the team or sport in which they excel.

The End

PS peeps who rent the Crystal Tea Room. This is how to light the podium. Get someone up on a ladder and adjust the fixtures to shine on the participants on the staged. There’s nothing worse than going to an event and everyone is in the dark. (This is not directed at you, I know you think it is. It’s for all the people who spend good money to rent this sometimes terribly lit plate. It’s awesome for gala’s, but can be challenging for award ceremonies unless lit properly.)

Two weeks ago, Philadelphia Hospitality celebrated their 30th Anniversary as the prestigious Union League. (TG it’s after Memorial Day and I can ditch the sports coat. It gets so hot in the summer) Above Dr Maria Traub, Elizabeth Barber and Marlene Brenner Ferguson

Jason Miller, Elizabeth Beatty and Dr Maria Traub

Anne Bedie, Laura Burkhardt and John Kroll

Eric Settle, Richard Huffman, Susan Huffman and Alice Dagit

Craig Lew, Dianne Semingson, and Mary Carrol. Dianne was just honored by the “The Institute for Women’s Health and Leadership” as a community leader with the tenth annual Woman One award at the Rittenhouse Hotel in April.

John Knoll and Mariska Bogle

George Koch and Santo DiDonato

Mayor Nutter and Bill Mifflin

Mary Carroll, founding member of Philadelphia Hospitality Inc

Congratulations on 30 Years of giving great cultural behind the scenes tours.

CHECK OUT MY PHILLY MAG COLUMN YESTERDAY ABOUT THE ARTS BUSINESS COUNCIL AWARDS. THANKS A BUNCH.

Toby Mazer, founder of the Delaware Valley Stroke Council (DVSC) and the Dr. Howard

Mazer Strides for Stroke 5K Run/Walk, invites you to celebrate this memorial event named in

memory of her late husband, a Stroke survivor. The Dr. Howard Mazer 18 annual Strides for

Stroke 5K Run/Walk is part of the Delaware Valley Stroke Council’s continued effort to fundraise

for their fiscal year to assure their continued education of Stroke to the Greater Philadelphia

community. Fundraising each year allows the DVSC to remain a resource to inform the Greater

Philadelphia area on the signs and symptoms of Stroke and for Stroke-related support material,

and free health screenings at local area hospitals including Jefferson Hospital & rehabilitation

facilities such as Moss Rehab.

One of the most powerful messages the DVSC promotes is that Stroke can affect

anyone. Stroke does not discriminate based on age, gender, or ethnicity. Philadelphia native Lisa

O’Rear learned this first-hand when she suffered a stroke at the age of 34. As a marathon runner

and yoga enthusiast, Lisa never thought she was at risk for a stroke. Describing the days after

her stroke, Lisa said, “I remember the frustration and defeat I felt at not being able to balance

as I tried to place one foot in front of the other while trying, unsuccessfully, to walk in a straight

line.” Now a year later, Lisa has recovered from her stroke and is training for her 9 th marathon.

Her story of not knowing the symptoms of stroke is a common one in the stroke community,

and with Lisa’s help, we can encourage more education within Philadelphia!

Faithful volunteers of the medical community and supporters of the Delaware Valley

Stroke Council make events like the Dr. Howard Mazer Strides for Stroke possible. To help

celebrate the day, the DVSC has partnered with local businesses and corporate partners to

provide refreshments and information in community-sponsored vendor alley. Participants and

volunteers will enjoy awesome race-day freebies, gifts and prizes including free Powerade ZERO,

pretzels from Philly Soft Pretzel Factory and fresh fruit all day. Ten lucky registrants will win a

pair of Red Star designer sunglasses, four will win tickets to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and

one will win an autographed John Mayberry Jr. Phillies jersey.

A smashing after party will be hosted from 11:45 AM – 12:45 PM at center city dining

destination El Vez, located at 121 South 13th Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 for all Strides

for Stroke volunteers. Participants, volunteers, media partners and friends of the race are

encouraged to enjoy the post-race festivities after crossing the finish-line including refreshments

and awards. Please come and join us!

For more information about race registration, inquiries can be directed to

www.firstgiving.com/dvsc/stridesforstroke2012 or found at the Delaware Valley Stroke

Council’s home page, www.phillystroke.org

About Delaware Valley Stroke Council:

 WIZARD WORLD – Philadelphia Comic Con: Wizard
WAS PACKED ALL WEEKEND at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

I was there Saturday for 7 hours and really got the flavor of it. Lots of visual.

People take their science fiction, Super Heroes and Fantasy very seriously.

There is nothing weird or odd here, everyone is accepted. Baby they were born this way.

Everything was big about Wizard World this past weekend; The venue; the crowds; the insatiable appetite to enjoy the atmosphere from making new friends to meeting your idols.

to looking cool

So much fun and imagination

The “Snow White and the Huntsman” hunk  Chris Hemsworth (His brother Liam will be here 7/15/12 to start filming Paranoia with Harrison Ford.)

The Vampire Diaries’ Paul Wesley (Stefan Salvatore) with his wife co-star Torrey DeVitto (Dr. Meredith Fell) participate in a Q&A session at the Wizard World. Paul told the audience that he’d rather play thrasher Stefan than nice Stefan, it’s boring.(P.S. Spoiler, Stefan falls in love with another person in the new season, and it might not be a women.)

Shannon Elizabeth

I love how random groups of people find each other and pose

Who you’ll gonna call?

Peter Gerhart and Ashley Sindaco

Dean Stockwell from Quantum Leap.

Sci-fi Speed Dating

Waiting in line for the Q&A for the Star Trek Captains. For the first time all five of them would be together.

Five Star Trek TV captains at Philadelphia Wizard World Comic-Con. William Shatner (Kirk, Star Trek), Patrick Stewart (Picard, Star Trek: The Next Generation), Avery Brooks (Sisko, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), Kate Mulgrew (Janeway, Star Trek: Voyager) and Scott Bakula (Archer, Star Trek: Enterprise)

Kate Mulgrew (did not look happy to be there.)

Kate, Scott Baluka and Patrick Stewart

Avery Brooksand William Shatner, having a great time.

Hayden Panettiere

Lou Ferrigno pondering a question from a fan. All the celebrities charged a price for their autograph & for photos taken of them. They ranged from $40 a photo to $100 for a signature. (I guess that’s to keep the resellers away.)

Supermen

WWE superstar CM PUNK

For the right price, you could pose with Stan Lee.

Sam Trammell, aka Sam Merlotte of TRUE BLOOD

Super nice, superman Dean Cain

This group won the Best Group Costume for the weekend

The End

As you know I spent the whole weekend at my new favorite place Revel in Atlantic City, NJ This weekend was The Premiere and they kicked off their universe with a Beyoncé  “Back to Business” concert, or 4 as it were.  The last night was the best night, and even the Queen B said so, because we were the group/fans that almost didn’t get to see her as the final night was an add on and we were grateful and excited. The following are photos from every night, but Friday of the fashion. The BEY’s turned it out with fabulous style and SHOES. I wish I could have asked them all where did they get those shoes?

Katrina Moise. She was the winner of a Good Morning America Beyhive Costume Party in Times Square, which gave two “Beyhive” tickets to the show (right in front of the stage), an overnight stay at Revel, spa therapy at Bask, dinner at one of Revel’s restaurants and a dress from House of Deréon International Collection, a kick-off the summer beach towel  and a beach bag from the House of Deréon Collection to the winner. There were also three runners up who won just tickets. More than 300 people competed for the grand prize.

A few fans heading into the #BeeHive VIP Party. The folks who attended the party were all staying in the hotel, and paid a special premium price to attend the party, and concerts. Beyoncé left them each a present of her lotion, perfume and a handwritten note thanking them for coming to her #BEYWeekend and being part of the #BeyHive.

Sasha Fierce would be proud!!

Orange is in

Are they fierce?

Looking hot mama, and on vacation this week: Christine Maddela – NBC10’s evening traffic reporter, now moving on up to reporter. Christine was a reporter from the last station she came from, but there were no openings when she came aboard, now a few people having left and I see she’s movin on up.

Near the #BeyHive

Amber–Joi Watkins and Tommy Domalski

I came across this couple just after he had popped the question to her; She said YES!!Congratulations Maureen Bekheet and Robert Girgis over Outerbridge, NJ

Margaritaville ie Jose Garces – Distrito Cantina

I know I worked for them this past week (for one night), but I have to say I do love the place. Lots of eateries, seating, sights sounds, can’t wait for the club to open in August and I really can’t wait to stay there. So many amenities when you are a hotel guest. You get the 10,000 gallon pool, the 2 acres of by the beach sitting among the NJ wild greenery, pool, air hockey and a vacation inside a vacation. The casino is nice too – NO SMOKING, lots of games, great energy. If I’m going to be in Atlantic City, my choice is always going to be Revel

Saturday night it was like Mardi Gras at Revel. Lots of craziness going on.

Revel PR team which also includes partner agencies Weber Shandwick, Lisa Johnson Communications and Outthink

So wonder to see my sister (orange top) last weekend. She and her friends, their husbands had dinner at Amada. They raved. Later in the evening their was a Flamingo dancer which was quite enjoyable.

#BEEHIVE

Angela Ferguson, GPTMC and Robert Williams

Brother Beys

What the hell, the poor zebra’d abominable snowman wants his boots back.

Simple, elegant, green

Nice, Kristen Insalaco is currently reading “Freedom”

Super bass

John and Amy Dunfee,

This guy was funny. He is hawking Oui black stretch pants with Beyonce on the cover of the box. I said has she sued you yet. He said “I’m hoping she would, I could use the publicity.” And there you have it.  Maybe he could looking into “Shark Tank.”

Oh why couldn’t I shoot her direct n her face with that aqua blue green lip stick. “Born this Way” baby.

TATTOO’S & TOES

Spikes on those shoes.

SASHA DAMN FIERCE!! – but who’d want to undo all those buckles if you were a little tipsy or tired.

Thank you Revel, The Revel PR team which also includes partner agencies Weber Shandwick, Lisa Johnson Communications and Outthink and everyone I met this weekend. What a great place to work or play.

Pennsylvania Innocence Project’s (PIP) 3rd Anniversary Celebration was celebrated with a cocktail reception last week at the Power Plant in Old City.

The innocence movement and the Pennsylvania Project have enjoyed a busy, productive year; they have exonerated or have been awarded reduced sentences for over 290 wrongly convicted people based on the advance development of DNA science.

James Giles, Samantha Southal, Denis Lawler and Howard Scher; The Project works to exonerate those convicted of crimes they did not commit and to prevent innocent people from being convicted. Based at Temple University’s Law School, the Project is working with a small dedicated staff as well as partnering with several prestigious law firms in Pennsylvania; they do not limit themselves to cases in which biological evidence exists for DNA testing, but they also look at cases in which questionable forensic evidence or other investigatory issues are identified

Chermei Wong, Chris Hanson, Mary Creamer and Dan Berman

Joseph Nullmeyer, Ryan Hancock, Jen Sperling, Mike Lee and Jennifer Tobi; PIP is a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Law students from Temple University Beasley School of Law, Villanova Law School, Earle Mack School of Law at Drexel University, and the University of Pennsylvania, earn credit while working for the Project investigating applicants’ cases.

If the facts that are uncovered through investigation reveal new facts that support an innocence claim, the next step is to prepare a petition for a new trial; most often, this is in Pennsylvania state court using the Post-Conviction Relief Act (PCRA). Generally, law students will write the first draft, with either the legal director or the staff attorney working with them to perfect the filing. Before we file the PCRA petition in court, we invite a firm to co-counsel with us, pro bono. If co-counsel has particular concerns or suggestions for the petition before it is filed, then we all work together to have the petition in perfect order before filing in court. Once the PCRA petition is filed, Project lawyers and pro bono counsel share in the work and responsibility of moving the case forward as quickly as possible, including meeting with prosecutors to discuss the merits of the case and a possible disposition.

Doubles Helix was a special aerialist performance by AirPlay Entertainment

At the event they honored Pepper Hamilton LLP (Pepper Executive Partner receiving it is Bob Heideck) with the “Hero of Justice Award” which was presented by Richard Glazer, Esq. Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Innocence Project,

Lacey Soslow, Rob Whitmore and Jen Sperling

Theresa and Jim Figorski , Dechert LLP

Another “Hero of Justice Award” given was given to John Thompson (r), who was saved  from execution at the hands of the state of Louisiana by Morgan Lewis& Bockius lawyers J. Gordon Cooney (L) and Michael Banks (who wasn’t present), who represented him for 23 years. Check out the The Pennsylvania Innocence Project.   Thanks to event sponsors:  Pepper Hamilton, LLP; Frank and Denise Quattrone Foundation; Kairys, Rudovsky, Messing & Feinberg LLP; Ballard Spahr LLP; Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC; Glazer Family Foundation; Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP; David Richman and Janet Perry; Anthony B. Creamer and Navigant Consulting, Inc.; Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller; Greenberg Traurig LLP; Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP; Joan C. Mazzotti and Michael C. Kelley; Raynes McCarty; Cornerstone Legal Consultants; Fox Rothschild LLP; Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads LLP; DLA Piper US LLP; Glickman-Pivnick Family Foundation; Kenneth and Susan Kaiserman; Cozen O’Connor; Anne Poulin; Sam Silver; Joseph A. Sullivan; Rich Myers; Jeff Lindy.

Oh boy PhillyChitChat.com’s 5th Anniversary is coming up on July 7 (07/07/07). I had been planning since the begining of the year to do a few special 5th Anniversary Posts, but the time has escaped me. So I give you one now, and throughout June I will pop a few more up. On twitter I will highlight a notable party or two, and the occasional random entry from my nearly 3,000. I haven’t missed a day in 4 years. Sorry I  may be rambling cause that’s what I do best, it’s a conversation, I don’t have an editor, I never took formal writing or even photography courses, but I’ve always been curious. That’s how these pages started, I’m curious and then I like to share the results with youse. Thank you for that.
For the first three and a half years of PCC I was a paralegal, and the blog was my hobby. Since January 2011 it’s been my full time job. Before 7/7/07 I didn’t know anyone I covered on these pages, sure I knew of some of the more notable people like
 Sharon Pinkenson, Mary Patel or Mayor Nutter, and by knowing them, I mean from reading about them in the newspaper, never met them. My anniversary is in a month, I had planned all year long to revisit some of my favorite parties every month but I ran out of time as I was keeping a busy schedule. Now here at 2AM on the eve of a holiday weekend I was thinking now is as good as time as ever, even though I do have at least a half dozen current events I need to get to.

Although I started in 2007, this party – The Philadelphia Style Magazine White Party – which was held in August 2008, was really the beginning of my foray into covering social Philly life, the previous entries were really chitchat about anything, especially the celebrities I covered on my trips to NYC. Plus I had covered the Phila Film Festival and followed Thom Cardwell around, but a lot of that I’ll save for my book called “Off The Record”, which I definitely won’t be writing for at least 20 years, I’d like to still eat lunch in this town again. (Does anyone remember that book?). Actually I’m only kidding, it was great having him as my mentor and chronicling his life. It’s how I got my first photo published in a Philly Newspaper, in Dan Gross’ column. It was at one of the film festival parties I met the biggest mentor of my career, Michael Klein, and then we subsequently worked together for 4 years.

guest, Thom Cardwell, Farley Granger and James Dugan at the PIGLTF 2008

On occasion I would cover charity events, but I really didn’t know how to get invited to them, or even what a PR person did or that they were the key to to accessibility.  Over the years the blog has been our teacher to the elements that go in throwing a party, (what does PR do, who created the environment?) events, or getting publicity for a client. Above Sarah Doheny and John Soden. Over the top and stylish, I named her the Style PR Diva after seeing her in this Bjork inspired outfit, and the name stuck as I believe she uses it in her moniker.

This was the time in my life where I hadn’t yet adopted my trademark of wearing black. In the first 2 years when I started PCC, once or twice a week after working 8 – 3PM (no lunch) at the law firm, I would hop a train to NYC and cover a red carpet or three, hop back on the train at 11PM or sometimes at 3AM. (Sometimes I would go straight into work w/o sleep.)

I remember for this party I had to buy white clothes. I don’t look good in white. In this picture we have Nathan Lerner (with black jacket on). He’s a writer and the king of movie ticket giveaways. i realized I made it in this Philadelphia Social World when I made it on his VIP movie list for tickets. I’ve never had the time to use any of his tickets. After years of harassment  I gave a pair of Mann Music tickets to Mike to take his mom. Nathan has been a tremendous mentor to me, especially in the beginning when I was completely clueless. On the right, David Wagaman, Capriccio Cafe Cret and and Dennis Fee, Co-owner of Tavern on Camac & Uncles.

Jill Rizen (3rd from left) – 5 years later she’s in love and planning a wedding to Andy Henning, Elaine Grabar (2nd from right) and Michelle Ranieri. This was the first time I photographed these girls.

Sheryl Raskin and Meredith Trotter – two PR peeps you don’t see on the social scene as much anymore, but still working in their fields and raising their families in the burbs.

Carrie Nork, now Minelli and hubby Dino Minelli. Carrie at the time was VP for Cashman & Associates and is not the Marketing Director at Parx Casino. I’ll see her tonight when I photograph the Mob Diva’s at 7PM, stop by. Dino represents Devotion Vodka.

Nicole Cashman, President and founder of Cashman & Associates Public Relations Firm.  In 2008, Cashman was the Queen of PR. She set a standard that PR peeps today still look to for promoting clients, whether it’s creating a buzz or throwing fabulous parties that will have people talking about them for days, months or even today. Once I heard she sent invitations to a party for a client and it came in a block of ice.  Now that’s memorable.

Michelle Miller. I didn’t know her back then. When I was reviewing my shots I saw her in them. I remember shooting this photo thinking a delicious tall glass of something beautiful.

Matt Vlahos, he had only been in town about 8 months by the time of the White Party, and really hit the ground running making his mark. A former reporter he is meticulous, organized and has a creative mind, all of which makes for a good PR. Once he included a cantaloupe in everyone’s gift bag at the James restaurant opening.

Susan Helfrich and Rich Wolff, They were heavily on the social scene, but have now taken a back seat to their thriving film studio. Right now they’re at the Cannes International Film Festival selling their products.

I think this is the party I where I met Donna Coghlan. Sweet, engaged now.

Man of Mystery: The guy on the left was always at all the right parties, but I don’t know what he did or what his name is but he is always with the beautiful ladies.

Mary Patel, was a political writer for the City Paper, plus appeared weekly on the news show hosted by Monica Malpass. She was probably the “biggest” name that I photographed in that first year.  She had a brilliant command of the political social scene, and no one has ever replaced her. She lives in LA now with her fiance.

Carly Walko, John Colabelli and Lauren O’Dorisio. This was the first photo of them together taken. They had gone out on about one date and a lot of people didn’t know they were dating. There was no Sabrina Tamburino on the scene yet, that was to come as I met her in the fall of 2008. Have a safe and wonderful Memorial Day Weekend. I’ll have a special entry on Monday, and coverage of Beyonce next week. I think these two look exactly the same since August 2008.