The Philadelphia Sports Writers Association hosted its 107th annual Awards Dinner on Monday night, Jan. 31. The event was held at the Crowne Plaza hotel on Route 70 in Cherry Hill, I was unable to make the event, so I sent my trusted right hand man Mike Hirata .
Ruben Amaro and Hunter Pence from the Phillies, with Peter Laviolette, Philadelphia Flyers center Claude Giroux, the National Hockey League’s leading scorer, has been named the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association’s Pro Athlete of the Year, Paul Holmgren, and Ed Snider from the Flyers.
Phillies right fielder Hunter Pence has added another accolade to a distinguished season. The 2011 All-Star outfielder received the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association Good Guy award. . D.J. Tim DeMoss can’t believe the Phillie Phanatic has seized the turntable.
Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel poses in the VIP room before receiving his Special Achievement award at the Dinner.
Penn State Football legend and former NFL player Blair Thomas.
Steve Cwitkowitz of the Sports Network poses with Temple Head Football Coach Steve Addazio.
Kim Maroon (center) recently became the first Women’s Volleyball player in Villanova’s History to be named an All American. Here she is posing with her parents Susan Kelly and Robert Maroon.
The biggest award of the night is Most Courageous Athlete, which went to champion wrestler Anthony Robles. Despite being born without a right leg Anthony went 36-0 and won the NCAA 125 pound championship for the 2011 season.
The Phillie Phanatic with Kelly Pfeiffer and Jen Pfeiffer.
Hunter Pence poses with undefeated Boxing Champion Mike Jones. Hunter won the good guy award, while Mike helped commemorate boxing legend Joe Frazier.

OMG I’ve been sick as a dog these past two days. Right after this I’m heading back to bed so I can be ready freddy for the Wing Bowl Friday. So don’t call me please, unless you’re bringing my sugar free jello and saltines. Thanks Check these few pixs out, and then head over to my column at Philly Mag. I can only be thankful that I started it on Saturday, cause I had half of it done before I woke up at 4AM to finish it.these BFF’s didn’t discuss what they were going to wear beforehand.Classy shades: Trisha Gieder and Laris McShade. Trisha told me she dropped her nieces camera on a FC Kerbeck & Sons Rolls Royce, and was told she almost caused $10,000 worth of damage. Probably should have taken off the shades. I think I want to hang out with these two.
The Philadelphia Auto Show is at the Pennsylvania Convention Convention Center until Sunday. Jenine and David Neff

Jessica Hawkes and Scott Webster. Congratulations on your engagement.
Donna and Caitlin Quirk. Caitlin goes to Phila University and designed this gown herself.
Mommies from the Mainline out on the town. Flexible: I have a photo of one of them doing a split on the yellow line. I think I’ll save it for my the recap of The Shot In The Dark series that I just made up in my mind to define those shots that can’t be readily defined. Margie Klemick, Kellie Brogan and Tracy Malloy.
I don’t know these ladies, but they have never seen a camera they didn’t like and thus they get a spot on PhillyChitChat (Shot in the Dark)
I love this gown
Philadelphia magazine/Metrocorp president David Lipson
Barry Everett and Latrice Bryant looking fly
Craig M. Spitzer and Erin Elmore, worth the wait, I would say so.
WOGL producer Jamyra Perry singing Steve Perry’s “Don’t Stop Believing.”
Find out whose shoes these are over at my Philly Mag column on The Philly Post. Could you retweet it and FB it too, cause I”’ be sleeping all day, I hope.

This weekend was chock full of exciting events, from the Black Tie Gala at the Auto Show (which you can read about in my online Philly Mag column tomorrow), to the Winter Jam 2012 at The Piazza at Schmidts, to Christine Phillips Fashion Show at the Armory to the grand daddy of them all, the Academy Ball and the baby of the bunch, the first year of Sapphire Ball at the Franklin Institute. Masks and sapphire attire was suggested, and I was impressed by the compliance. Now I didn’t get there til after the Academy Ball, which was around midnite for me. (Then I ran back into town about 1AM, and went to the AP party at Union League, that’s when I shot the cab accident at 19th Street.)
John Moeller, Joe Carlucci, Samantah Giusti, Amber Hikes and Christian Edge are decked out in their sapphire finest. Sapphire Fund was established in 2002 to support the organizations contributing to the health & well-being of Philly’s GLBT community and it’s supporters.
Chris Dougherty and Kristin Detterline-Munro, Deputy Editor, Philadelphia Style Magazine
Will Aldridge, Jay Anhorn and Noel Zayas
Stephen Falcnek (hmm that doesn’t look like it could be right?) John Offidani III (Johnny O), and Gabor Szuhay
Thom McIntyre, Owner and Artistic Director at Philadelphia Dance Center, Tim Murdaugh, Personal Trainer at PTrainer at 12th St Gym (No doubt he was thinking to himself, hasn’t HughE started his diet yet?) and Jeff Price
Dancing the night away, Maryann Helferty and Krystle Williams were on the dance floor grooving to Bounce for most of the night, but I caught them when they sat down for a breather.
Stella D’Oro, Will Aldridge and Anita Manhattan light up the night in their fabulous gowns.
Bryan and Amanda

Michele Gallelli Paul Hamilton, Esq and Jessica Slack

Our Mission
Sapphire Fund was established in 2002 to support the efforts of organizations contributing to the health and well-being of Philadelphia’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community and those who support them.

Sapphire Fund identifies organizations that advance the GLBT community through education, advocacy, arts and cultural opportunities; in addition to HIV/AIDS research, education, prevention and treatment. To this end Sapphire Fund engages in activities that raise monies so that grants may given to those chosen beneficiaries in support of these goals.
Lisa Martinicchio and Domenic Gallelli is the Founder, President & CEO of Prodigal Private Security Inc. and President, Sapphire Fund

Your Valentine’s Day Weekend (2/11/12) could be very romantic and delightfully fun! Philadelphia’s Top of the Tower invites you to experience romance 50 floors above Center City. With stunning views, exquisite gourmet food, and entertainment by Eddie Bruce…this unique experience is designed to melt your Valentine’s heart.

• $90 per person includes:
  sumptuous dinner stations, dessert,
  cabaret show, & dancing the night away
• Full cash bar (All drinks under $10)

an Eddie Bruce Cabaret show, and all of that is topped off with dancing to a live band!
For More Info: HERE

Hope you’ll read my Academy Ball column at Philly Mag in the Philly Post section, under The Scene. It took me about 12 hrs to write, and I’m pretty proud of it. Sometimes I put photos up of fashion don’ts, but I have to say everyone looked awesome so enjoy. And like I will be doing on days where I will be posting on PhillyMag, I’m not going to give you a lot of details of the event on PhillyChitChat, you’ll get it over there. I might be more opinionated here though
Adrian Hardy was spinning at the Young Friends of the Academy Ball part at R2L. He’s so crazy.

Christie Honigman (not pictured) was the PR for the Young Friends of the Academy Ball and helped organize a wonderful event at R2L before the gala at the Academy. Alexis Williams, wearing Ralph Lauren, brother Mark Williams and Carly Haroutunian. The girls had a beauty day at Oggi Salon then over to MAC for their make-up before coming to the party.

Glamour, glamour, glamour. Not your traditional red carpet ready gowns, but an air of sophistication in dress. Elizabeth Zelov, John and Nancy Galloway at the Tiffany & Co party.
And although the ladies were looking fine, we’re still not at the “Oscars” so not everyone knew what they were wearing. I did forget to mention in my Philly Mag column that GN Kang was wearing a Heidi Hamels borrowed dress.
I’m so excited that we have an exuberant, emotional, exciting new music director in Yannick Nézet-Séguin. This director will attract people of all ages and walks of life. You can see his enthusiasm for his job. Sorry I think jazz pianist singer Diana Krall was boring. I found her comments to be insincere. Has she ever been to Philly before? Yo-Yo Ma was mesmerizing and expressive, as you can see here.
I love that these two just stayed in their box to watch all the action of the party that was going on in the famed music theater. Then the hall was converted into a beautiful party hall.
Kelley Reilly, Carolyn Nagy, Renee Haggerty, Natasha Van Der Griendt and Alex Nagy had a front row table on the stage to see all the action.Doc Holliday, Chief Revenue Officer at Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, philly.com, (Philadelphia Media Network) and Sandra HollidayTina Lamsback with mom and dad at the afterparty.
I will be putting up most of these photos in my online album for you to buy in a week, only $7. In the meantime check out my Philly Mag Column Here.

Tuesday night I headed over to the NJ Aquarium for a The Variety Club event.
The Children’s Charity welcomes new members and honors returning members of their Board of Directors. The Board of Directors, Young Variety Board, Camp Advisory Board and Delaware Advisory Board will all be officially sworn-in by Judge Waters. 14 Variety children will also be honored as the 2012 Young Ambassadors for the Charity.
Ashley Cardoso, Michael Gray, Fameco Real Estate, L.P. Erica Lester and Dan Cassidy.

Kharisma McIlwaine, CW Personality and Rakia Reynolds, Skai Ble Media were about
Stu Bykofsky has been a columnist with the Philadelphia Daily News since 1987 and Mary Brady
Sheila Hess, Board Member, and husband Michael Hess.

Alicia Vitarelli 6ABC Action News team. Wonder if we’ll see her at the Reading Terminal Market Valentine to the Market 2/25/12 again this year.
Kelly Green, Executive Director/CEO at Variety Children’s Charity and her staff are recognized

Young Ambasodors being introducedMany of these kids are involved in the various programs of the charity including camp, the talent show. Their duties include smiling, being happy representatives of the organization. So sweet. I think a lot of us should take on those duties.
FRAN NASELLI TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT FOR 2nd YEAR IN A ROW
Board of Directors being sworn in: I think you’ll recognize some of the names: Ken Adams Loraine Ballard-Morril Alisha Boyd Stu Bykofsky Gary Cardi Robert Caruso Cynthia Conron
Michael DiComo Don Faul Bob George Jack Gilliam Harry Giordano Sheila Hess Tim Hughes
Rob Lail Bob MacMinn Ed Mahon Vince Melchiorre Paul Michele Fran Naselli
Scott Palmer Bob Pantano Bernie Prazenica Ed Radetich Geoff Surrette
Dorothy Swartz Joseph Sweeney Frederick Vidi Stu Weitz Marvin Welsch
Dan Mita Roman McDonald John Gorman
Young Variety Members: Michael Gray, Jr., President; Stephanie Balan; Dan Cassidy; Justine Giordano; Maureen Sullivan Brian McGeehan; Brian Pressler; Lauren Serianni; Rob Spires; David Stagliano; Marc Virga Stefania Veneziale; Christin Markelwitz; Mike Barker; Kyle Boland;
Mark Zoller Michelle Conron (5th from right); Erica Lester; Nicholas Verrecchio; Lauren Miller; Meredith Bush and Ashley Cardoso
A few upcoming events where you can participate:

Upcoming Variety Events

03/24/12 – 3rd Annual Vegas at VarietyWishing you could take a trip to Vegas? How about the next best thing? It’s time …read more…04/07/12 – Variety’s 3rd Annual Autism Awareness Night at Please Touch MuseumThe Please Touch Museum is opening it’s doors for the third year in a row exclusively …read more…04/15/12 – Variety’s 6th Annual Autism Walk for Awareness, Resources & EducationJoin us for our Annual Autism Walk for Awareness at Plymouth Meeting Mall! It will be …read more…