Philly Chit Chat

Last week Andre Richard Salon celebrated their 5th anniversary at their Center City location.

Andre Richard Baldini and his team prepare to greet party guests.

The always stylish CW Philly’s Kharisma Mcilwaine and Aja Chavis.

Gabriella Esser (So much fun following this next generartion of tastemaker @gabbyesser on Twitter), Linda Esser, and Valerie Evans.

Christopher Hill, Morgan Fitzpatrick, Christina Kelly, Katie Corrigan, and Morgan McLaughlin.

Since
opening its doors in 2007, Andre Richard Salon, beloved by its loyal
clientele, has experienced growth and success. “We are thrilled to
announce consistent growth these past five years,” Baldini said.  “I credit my stylists, who create a beautiful experience for clients time and again, to our success.”

Amanda Sendzik, Alyssa Tablonsky, and Gabriella Esser.

South Philly Fashionista blogger Michelle Boyles, writer Barry Eichner, Marketing & Social Media Specialist. Food Blogger

Andre Richard and Garden Wellington, Garden is due in June. (Congratulations to you both!!)

Kelly Martin, Kaitlyn Newman, and Christopher Hill.

Earlier this year in a chance meeting through Greta Russo, Lotus Events and Antoine Johnson, House of Talent at Yahitori Boy (211 N. 11th) the idea for a special charity idea was launched “Legends & Locals” Celebrity Inspired Sushi for A Local Cause”. The first sushi roll would be named after the Rollins’ and it would be called J-Roll.

Kei Kurimoto, Owner of Yakitori Boy & Japas Lounge welcomes the guests to the nights event.

Spicy Tuna, Tempura Shrimp, with a Lobster Salad on top and Jimmy Rollins favorite Eel Sauce. It’s delicious!!

Jimmy Rollins on WhoSay

Right before the J-Roll was dedicated Jimmy Rollins ran out as his wife Johari had gone into labor; Which I tweeted Sunday night at 7:30PM after it was announced that he had to leave. I was wondering why he ran by me so fast.

The next morning on Fox 29 Mike Jerrick and I discussed what had happened at Yakitori Boy with Jimmy Rollins rushing out, what I failed to say is what a great guy that Jimmy kept his commitment to attend the event, although friends of theirs tell me that Johari was not in labor when Jimmy left just a few hours before, in fact she wasn’t due for two more weeks.  (I probably should have written this on Monday, but it was epic Radnor Hunt Day. None the less follow me on twitter @iPhillyChitChat to hear breaking news first, then keep up with PCC, PhillyMag.com and/or when I appear on Fox 29’s Good Day Philly to hear the rest of the story. Thanks to the masses that retweeted my original tweet on Sunday and this guy…

It’s always interested to see social media jump on a hot story. It’s always hard for me to write about such a personal story like this too, but since it was announced from the stage I felt it was out there.  By the end of the night we had heard that the baby was born and it was a girl, which we reported on Fox 29 and tweeted Monday. Congratulations to Jimmy and Johari Rollins  on their new baby girl, the beautiful: Camryn Drew Rollins – Ck out video at the bottom of Jimmy Rollins interview with Arthur Kade. The moment he got done is when Jimmy got the texts saying Johari was on her way to the hospital.

The Party raged on to a packed house, with good music and lots of fun people.

Great entertainment too. Here Ginger Coyle belts out a tune. She included a CD in everyone’s gift bag.

There was another live performance, the beautiful GoGo Morrow belted out a song with equally beautiful back up dancers.

Jenea Robinson, Skai Blue Media, Keith Radford and Rakia Reynolds, Skia Blue Media

Ryan Barrie, Kei Kurimoto, Phillies outfielder Laynce Nix and wife Brooke. Earlier in the evening Chase and Jen Utley stopped by to support the J-Roll.

 Now where did I put that notebook, yes right I left it at Fox 29 dang? What’s your names? I know these peeps are from the

 Alba Gonzalez, DA Seth Williams and Lisette Williams. On June 6th, the Campaign for Set Williams will be holding their 3rd Annual “Seth in The City” event high above the streets at the 57th floor of Liberty Place. Tickets start at $50

Antonio Johnson looking fresh for his reality show now being filmed for the Bounce Network, with Fame Appeal’s Mohammed Irfan Shariff

Josh DeMarco, recently left Giovanni & Pileggi (which is moving to 11th & Locust at the end of May) and can now be found at Jason Matthew Salon (1735 Chestnut), which recently relocated from Walnut Street to 18th & Chestnut (got it?) (PS: Josh reminds me of Warren Beatty in the movie Shampoo, hot, straight, but JD doesn’t sleep around. Watch it on Netfliks, it’s a classic.), his fiance Michelle Miller of The Nouveau Image, Mia Tinari, Esq and Dave Fisher.

Mike Jerrick, Greta Russo, Antoine Johnson and Shelton Mercer

The J-Roll is now available to the public on our menu. Each J-Roll that is purchased will give a donation of $3 to the Jimmy Rollins
Family Foundation that raises awareness and offers assistance in the
fight against arthritis (in young adults) and families who are
struggling financially with extracurricular activities for children. 

Check out ArthurKade.com and the interview Jimmy Rollins was giving right as he got the messages that said yo dude your wifes about to have a baby. http://arthurkade.com/2012/05/sitting-down-with-the-heart-and-soul-of-the-philadelphia-phillies-my-interview-with-former-mvp-and-world-series-champion-jimmy-rollins/

Blondell Reynolds Brown Annual Old School Dance Party Friday June 1, 2012 6PM til 11PM The African American Museum – 701 Arch Streets

(Sponsored)

Last week I headed to Xfinity Live to check out the “Who’s Who in Technology Event” cocktail party. The first part of the cocktail party consisted of a seminar on various products that you will learn about here, then they had a networking event which I photographed.

The Chorus Communications Team: Justin Joy, Buffy Morgan, Ryann O’Donnell, Rob Molinaro, Amy Servis and Dan Cronin

Who’s Who in Technology “XFINITY AND BEYOND” was hosted by iMeet, the video collaboration tool, by PGI. Video for iMeet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOReLlxdTmY Following the presentations guests were treated to a networking reception that included complimentary light fare, a live DJ Set by Chorus founder Dan Cronin and of course Beer!

Debbie Rody, Jackie and Danielle Z enjoyed the seminar on the latest technology communications.

Michael Messina, Aida Sparta, Stacey Kracher and Dan Cronin. (Catch Dan at Reserve at 123 Chestnut Street, every Thursday night spinning the music that gets you moving)

The movers
and shakers of Technology experienced the unrivaled social experience that
XFINITY Live and Victory Beer Hall has to offer. This is comprised of
elongated, beer hall style tables, an outdoor patio and fire pit with unique
panoramic views of the Philadelphia skyline and makes for good photo ops. There’s a dozen other different options
all under one roof, and one large room with a 30 foot TV screen, a raw oyster bar all in the shadow of the stadiums.  

 
Alteva
offers
cloud-based Unified Communications solutions that were designed for the
Enterprise market space comprised of hosted VoIP integrated with hosted
Microsoft Communication Services, and complementary products including Fixed
Mobile Convergence, Advanced Applications for PCs and Data Backup Solutions.
Alteva has won myriad awards over the years, including a 2010 Stevie Award for
Customer Service, 2010 TMC Unified Communications Product of the Year, and most
recently a 2012 Channel Chiefs Award for Alteva Chief Sales Officer Louis
Hayner.

Greg Skala, Grace Flannigan and Darrin Suder

Calvin Purnell and Kristy Purnell

Warren, Laurel, Mike and Chris, Line Systems, Inc. (LSI) is a full-service, integrated communications provider. With a complete line of data and voice services as well as national and international networking capabilities, LSI helps companies in the Mid-Atlantic region expand their presence and leverage their communications technologies as a competitive advantage. For more information, visit http://www.linesystems.com.

Sean Clark, Meredith Barr with Kevin Calvey and Lisa Kunicki.

Michael Messina, Darrell Redman and Tim Rosebono

Stacey Kracher, Buffy Morgan, Sean Edwards and Aida Strata

More
on Chorus: Chorus Communications was founded in 1995 and has been ranked among
Philadelphia’s Top 100 fastest growing companies, increasing sales by more than
1000% during its existence. 

The management team of Chorus has a collective 45
years of experience in evaluating technology services and products. Chorus
representatives are known to be the best in the business. For more information on Chorus
Communications contact Buffy Morgan, Director of Marketing at 215-600-0009
(Promotional Consideration)

I did a little horsing around this weekend. First up on Friday I went to the long awaited Barnes Foundation, don’t call it a museum, opening gala on the Parkway (WOW).  Saturday was my new, as in the past 3 years, tradition of attending The Radnor Hunt Races, this year was their 82nd. A fun event rain or shine, this year the sun shone the brightest and the grounds were packed with people, horses and a few pets. 

There’s no party crashing here, if you don’t have a ribbon on your lapel, you will be denied entrance to the parties.  Each sponsor has a party tent, then there are the tailgaters who line the racetrack. Several dozen participate in a themed contest, this years was “The Islands”. You can also opt to buy a box seat, or just sit in the grandstand, but you must purchase a ribbon cause this is a fundraiser and Saturday’s event benefited the Brandywine Conservancy’s Racing for Open Space which helps preserve over 44,000 acres of open space in the region.

First, Middle and End stops for me is always the Philadelphia Style Magazine tent. Hands down they throw the best party at the races, with the best food (Chef Dan Stern at R2L) and have the best dressed people many of who I call my friends.  Congrats to Lauren O’Dorisio and John Colabelli on their upcoming nuptials on June 2 at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club, you’ll recall they were got engaged on New Year’s Eve 2010. The honeymoon will be delayed as good friends Nigel Richards and Nicole Cashman will be married on June 9 at the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center. They were engaged during the 2011 holidays; Nigel hid a ring inside Nicole’s fortune cookie while the couple had take-out Chinese at home.

Lots of fun people were out to enjoy the day including Chris DiGeorge, Heather Lee and WMGK’s John DeBella.

Glam girls were all about including Kristen Foote, Lauren, Sabrina Tamburino Thorne, Carol Tamburino, Tempe Barrish and Jill Rizen.

John Bolaris, daughter  Reina Sofia and Erica Smitheman

Beth Beverly

PJ Cline, Chris Cline, Charlie Pasquale and Donna Coghlan

Two first timers to the Radnor Hunt, Mike Toub and Kristyn Aldrich

I also headed over to the Bellevue tent where I found my buds from The Sporting Club, Clif, Amy and Jake.

guest, Saunders and Sallie Dixon of Thorncroft. Their Lobsterfest is coming up and I’ll have the photos.

Lauren Jendrasiak (Thorncroft) and John Reedy

Mary Dougherty, Nicole Miller at the Bellevue, Donna O’Brien, Beautiful Bloooms, Arif Hashuri, GM Hyatt at The Bellevue. and Laurie Gold, Director of Catering/Convention Services at Hyatt at The Bellevue. Catering for today’s picnic was done by The Palm Restaurant.

Then is was back to Philly Style Magazine to see who might have shown up while I was away. Kate, who along with moi, is in the wedding party of Maria Papadakis and Brendan Kent.

Christie Honigman, of the Honigman Group, Dana Spain, get your tickets for Philadelphia: CHEFS’ FOR PAWS DINNER and Bill Firth, Esq, who recently joined the Zarwin Baum law firm.

Julie P and Grace Flanagan

Sharilyn Drewen Gilfillan and Juan Vidal. Sharilyn’s sister Suz and I went to college together, eons ago. Her other sister, Sherrie married my friend Bill from high school and met indirectly because of moi.

Dani and Caitlyn

Fanning the flame

Chris Toton, Rosemarie Kushnir and Rob Laiacona

Kevin Keenan and Claire Bula, Electronic Ink

Marilyn and Gary Lucov and Rebecca and Bill Mifflin enjoy their box seats overlooking the track.

Winner of best group picnic

Hughie and Judy Giles, Chairman of the Picnic

Dwayne Zimmer, Kelly McCauley, Michael Muscarella, Christyn Muscarella, Megan and David Russell at The Freedom Council of Valley Forge

Don Caldwell, Linda Aversa Caldwell, Bryan Richforth, Doc Parghi, Cheryl Williams at The Freedom Council of Valley Forge

Chef Brian Duffy and Fox 29’s Jen Frederick soaking in the sun enjoying the communal pineapple express

If your photo doesn’t appear on this page, I’ll be putting them all in a folder on Friday for you to purchase. Thanks HughE. PS Check out my Philly Mag column for the who’s who who went to the Barnes opening on Friday night. HERE

You may recall a couple years ago I took a staycation at the Waterfront Condos and I LOVED IT.

Waterfront Condos hosted a re-launch, a get to know us again, cocktail party on Wednesday. It’s a buyers market and that would include this Exclusive 9.5 acre, gated riverfront enclave, with an indoor pool, a fabulous gym, and views to die for.

Every condo has a view of the City or Delaware River, and most have both.

Jen Creed entertained the guests at the cocktail party that was held on the deck overlooking the Delaware River

The new Eagle came to check out the property, DeMeco Ryans, here with Christie Honigman, of the Honigman Group and Grasso Holdings (David Grasso encouraged Christie to start her own PR/Marketing company) and John Bolaris.

• Around the clock concierge & valet services • Luxe private shuttle with leather interior • State-of-the-art fitness center with individual entertainment systems • Oversized sundeck overlooking the Delaware River • 25 meter indoor / outdoor lap pool • Spa, saunas and steamroom

Four long time residents: Susan Stein, Judy Palestini, Annemarie Tuffaer, and Michele Galasso tell me they bought here from the begining. They love it and echo my sediments that it’s like being on vacation everyday. Plus the building has a shuttle that takes you into town when you need to get there. They love that there’s easy access to 95 too.

George Cahill and Shari Karpo were also the first residents to move into the complex. Shari told me that even though she and her friends have lived there for years, they still get excited by the activity on the river, whether a tugboat is going by, sailboats or a large barge, it always draws their attention.

The property is now being managed by Grasso Holdings, David Grasso, owner of Grasso Holdings Development Company. The senior real estate professions of Grasso Holdings have extensive direct experience spanning all areas of real estate development.

It’s not out of the question for Marion, Melissa Kraut, Mary Kay Sideris, Janice Richards and Lori Roberts to live here they told me, but tonight they are hot for the nightlife to celebrate Mary Kay’s birthday. They were off to Del Frisco’s to enjoy a few VIP’s, the drink.

Thomas Finnegan, R2L manager, and Lex Wainwright with Christie Honigman. Wainwright told me he is seriously thinking of selling his Rittenhouse condo and moving downtown to the Waterfront Square Condos. The last I saw of him was drooling over a unit on the 11th floor.  With this view below.

Which over looks a 9 hole golf course, plus a park setting to walk your dogs, relax and just take in the views on any one of the benches around the space. It’s like a courtyard for the buildings and it’s on top of the parking garage making it a green roof.

Laura Burkhart, The LAB

Situated right off of Rt 95, and a short walk to the
Piazza and Old City, it’s a convenient location. Plus there’s parking so
you can own and car and not worry about where you’re going to park. 
But really who would want to leave. I love visiting my friends who live
there and dream about the day I’m going to move there. It’s really like paradise in the City with it’s amenities and lush landscaping. They have released a whole slew of afforadable condos for you to check out and purchase. Contact them http://www.waterfrontsquare.com/beta/?page_id=58

Go Sixers. Remember last week I was wondering if the blue lights on Liberty Place and the Mellon Bank Building were in honor of Jay Z and his baby Blue Ivy? I was wrong, they’re on to support the Sixers in their playoff series.  (P.S. I would really buy there if I didn’t own a condo already, and my mother in law didn’t live in our  building. Waterfront Condos really is paradise in Philly. Although they are a client of mine, I really do love the Waterfront Condos and these views are my own)

Teresa Giudice Faulicious Mother’s Day event at Parx Casino

Fans began lining up 8 hours in advance for the Celebrity Apprentice and Real Housewife of NJ, including WWDB’s Pearl Polto, author of Credit Life Line and friend of Debbie Gibson.

Jackie Palmer

Teresa cooked for the audience

Coming up MAY 25 –


drama fever celebrity event featuring Ramona from the
real housewives of new york, Drita from mob wives and Tracy from Jerseylicious Friday, may 25 • 7pm at 360. join us for a night of epic
drama with the divas of the hottest reality shows! meet & greet, ask
questions, get to know what really happened on their shows!

Parx Olympics weekend – JUNE 29 – JULY 1

featuring u.s. olympic gold medalists! fri, june 29 – Greg Louganis, sat, june 30 – Bruce Jenner & sun, jul 1 – Kerri Strug. each day at 5:30 pm during parx olympics weekend meet and greet
the famed u.s. olympic gold medalist of the day at parx casino. get in
the spirit of the games by joining us for three epic events of Olympic
stature!
PARX CASINO EVENTS

Last Thursday I was in the Sumo Club (1224 Chestnut St) house for Philadelphia Eagles Wide Receiver Jeremy Maclin 25 birthday party. Here are a few shots I took at the party. (a couple are out of focus cause it was a dark and I forgot my flashlight to find a focus point.)

I hit this party after I went to the Franklin Square, then wandered through the woods looking for Sigourney Weaver (Actor Sebastian Stan (who’s in town filming Political Animals with SW) had dinner with a lady friend @SerafinaPhilly Wed Nite. Now he’s dreamy. Where’s he staying?)

 Nicole Rossi on the VIP list, the whole party was listed and they did keep the party crashers out

 Wow, the friends wanted to go out for a theme night. Let’s just call it midway to Halloween. Welcome back Courtney Grant.