Philly Chit Chat

Just a little chitchatter today. I think the entire town was out of it this weekend cause it was fairly quiet.I was at the Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival on Saturday thanks to Ford Focus. It was packed. I didn’t really have anything to eat there as I was saving myself for a delicious meal at Michael Shulson’s Izakaya in Borgata. I can’t rave enough about it. Delicious seafood, sushi & skewers of meat in a really beautiful atmosphere. Michael stopped by our table and I got to introduce him to Mike, which was great too. Later Mike and I bunked in one of the fantastic Borgata rooms with a fabulous view of Atlantic City. I asked for a sunrise room and I slept in a chair by the window so I wouldn’t miss it. Tweeting the pixs to my followers. I’m that crazy it’s true.
I had big plans for myself that evening, but Harrah’s Pool Party Peeps never got back to me and I didn’t want to wait in line so I could maybe shoot Kendra Wilkinson Baskett, Julie Dorenbos and Susie Celek at her appearance, cause I hear it’s a Sh#t Show, and I just didn’t want to deal with that mess. Oh and I didn’t want to pay $30 bucks either. Then I was going to head over to the new GLBT club at Resort’s called Prohibition, but I was really just to tired and full from dinner. I plopped myself down in the Living Room of the Borgata hotel and people watched & played on the IPad for a couple hours. What I missed though was the cast of the A-List stopping by the club, as well as shooting a segment of their shallow, prissy show, very gay, very Jersey Housewives for the gays. The most notable star being TJ Kelly Ryan Nickulas, Ródiney Santiago, Reichen Lehmkuhl, cast member Nyasha Zimucha performed one of her songs at the club. (Photo by Hector Vazquez)Kendra stopped by Skin Palette on Sunday and posed for a shot with Julie Dorenbos.
Which reminds me, in the vending machines at the Borgata they sell condom’s between the Cheetos and above the Sprite, just sayin’

Thursday I found myself at the Philadelphia Magazine
inside the old car dealership Wilkie on North Broad. The space is undergoing renovations to turn it into a premiere dining spot with two of our Cities most innovated restaurateurs, Stephen Starr and Marc Vetri. A larger space connected with the location will become another great Cescaphe event hall. Everyone on PCC knows they are my favorite because of the plentiful seafood they always serve at their events, and this party was full of the already peeled ready to dip in cocktail sauce delight.
The entrance that is bounded by Broad Street. No doubt will hold many a wedding cocktail party. This space is much larger than Tendenza or the Cescaphe Ball room both in Northern Liberties. Philly Mag is one of the most difficult parties to get in if you weren’t invited. You know why I know this, because weeks out people write me saying they lost their invitations and could I give them the details. I always refer them to Philly Mag cause you gotta be on the list for this one cause the door is watched. I did see a few party crashers, and you know who you are.
And look who I ran into in the foyer, Davio’s Maitre ‘d Ettore Ceraso and Anny Deirmenjian, Image Unlimited Communications, Ltd.
Center City District’s Michelle Shannon, and Bruce Shannon


Jim Gatch Jr and Jim Gatch III
Aly Green, wearing green followed by James Boney and Ken Wellar. Ken owns Saxby’s, which I vote as best place to hang during gigs for their free wi-fi and spicy roast beef sandwich. Plus clean bathrooms, and IPad’s all several tables, oh and did I mention computers. Find them at 21st & Walnut.

Todd Blythe and Janine White, Digital Editor at Philadelphia Magazine (or as I like to say my new boss.)
Jessica Hawkes and Scott Webster. See if you can spot them in the Philly Best Of “Sunday Supper at Dandelion” photo.
Sandy and Shaughnessy Fraser won for Best Pretzel. I asked him what the secret was and he said the ingredients. I guess it’s a secret would have been fine to tell me too.
These two are responsible for the cleanse craze in the City. Joel Odhner and Jennifer Richmond, Catalyst Cleanse won best detox. Their new eatery should be opening soon on 13th Street. It’s been delayed because they decided to go with a new store design. Can’t wait.

Steve and Jenn Frederick.
Ryan Berley, The Franklin Fountain with Lizzie Reed. Lizzie loves the Taryan split and Ryan loves the vanilla malted milkshake. Winner of the Best Ice Cream parlor.
Alexis Small with Commonwealth Proper (at least that’s what his FB page says, for some reason I didn’t get his name, but he does look dapper. Maybe his name is his company, which would be clever. I have a 50% chance of getting it right, Aaron or Craig, I think Craig.)
Donna O’Brien, Beautiful Blooms and Kristie Bergey, KB Experience. Kristie tells me that after 2 years of Philadelphia Fashion Week they are taking a year off.
Sarah Evancho and Steve Duross. Steve’s soap company Duross & Langel won best reason to leave Philly and that was to visit their new store in Haddonfield, NJ
Denise and Braden Young. Braden is the inhouse PR and Marketing for Krispy Kreme. He won Best of for using social media to land that job.
My apologies for the hoards of people I missed in the beginning, I was on a James van der Beek mission. I found him in the VIP lounge. Brought to the party by Lauren Richmond, Esq & photographer, Kim van der Beek’s friend from LA. James tells me he’s been too busy shooting his new film “Backwards” for the past week to catch any of the Philly historical sights, but he’s been to a Phillies game, and out to eat and the some delicious restaurants like Rouge, Parc and Osteria.

Tommy, with Terry McNally, London Grill, Joanna Graham and Amanda Giddings. Terry tells me this year over 15,000 folks came out to Bastille Day.
Larry Giuffra, Keith Leaphart and Sarah Laffan

State Representative for the 179th District, Tony Payton Jr; Megan Smith, Jacky Wright and Jamyra Perry,
Two wild and crazy girls who had a blast
In no particular order cause it was late and night and that’s how things are late at night: Brian Mace, Andrea Sasso-Greco, Megan Lawless, Jin Lawless-Richards, Kim Gunther, Mayo Seitmedia, Brian DeVuono,
Kellie and Joe Gaglioti, Joseph Anthony Retreat, Spa and Salon
David Lipson, President of Philadelphia Magazine
Raise the Roof, and it will be done cause this space will become the communal courtyard for all three eateries
relaxing at the after party at Table 31.
Until next year may all your dreams come true. If your photo didn’t appear in this entry you still have hope as today I resume my column at Philadelphia Magazine online – The Post and it could be there when it goes live. (In a few weeks I will put all the photos up to purchase)

Pedestrians in Philly, remember things happen in three’s. In a matter of days another car careens out of control smashing into a building in Center City. Earlier this week a car crashed into a Burger King at 8th & Market, today this guy wanted to do a little window shopping.
I was hanging with my buds Julie & Susie at Skin Palette spray tanning salon, next to Sophy Curson’s, when we heard a loud thud. I didn’t think anything of it, cause I’m just that kind of City guy that ignores those things now, until the fire engines came screaming by to a haltAwkward. Driver of runaway car and Sophy Curson dba Susan Schwartz, who’s on the phone to the All State Insurance no doubt.

There was one hysterical women, not picture here, but someone who’s appeared on PhillyChitChat before, freaking out and yelling he could have killed someone, I was a block away and saw the whole thing, had I walked faster ie not been texting to see where happy hour was tonight, I would have been killed. Then she laid into me cause I shook the guys hand and thanked him for giving me the details. “What you are shaking his hand, he could have killed someone. OMG he’s a beast, then she gave an earful to the cop who basically gave her the yada yada yada look” Lady that’s why they call them accidents, otherwise he would have been dragged off to jail. By the time I took the last picture the cops were gone and he was getting in the tow truck. Bottoms up.
Egon(on right) tells me that he was making a right onto Samson street and a pedestrian crossed the street in the middle and he did a defensive move to avoid him.
taking the report on an ipad looking thingy
On the job training on how to break out the rest of the plate glass windown. Perhaps the first lesson is the photographer needs to get on the other side of the yellow police tape.
He noticed people sitting at tables alongside O’Shea’s and no one on the left side so he maneuvered his car to the left to avoid hitting the guy crossing the street and the folks at O’Sheas. (Note he knocked over one of those metal posts. Had that not been there he’d been way into the store. Lead sandal wearing foot driver.)
Next thing he knew he ended up crashing through the window. No one was hurt in the store, even though there were a few customers. Accident happened about 4PM.

I’m having random shots around town that I think you would likestarting with aren’t this lamps at the Berlin Mart preciousPINK
what is he shooting?
red
smoking on the phone crossing the Ben Franklin Bridge
I think Nicki Minagj and Britney Spears are staying at the Ritz. There’s a whole lotta buses there.


House in Audubon, NJ with big Peace sign on the side made of ivy
2nd Street
Happy Birthday Arthur Etchells with his babe Michelle Cassidy at the Philly Mag after party at Table 31. Watch Fox 29 this morning for my recap of the party, and check back here on Monday for the photos.

Revolution House 200 Market St opened about a month ago in the old location of the Snow White diner. What was once a one story building that housed the iconic, weathered Snow White diner is now a more modern two story eatery with a roof top garden, with a touch of historic Philadelphia and colonial accents through out the rooms. Luca Sena, owner of Ristorante Panorama and The Penn’s View Hotel, along with partner John Poulous, has opened Revolution House. The 144-seat restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night seven days a week. Luca’s son, Luca Sena Jr. serves as executive Chef. Sena enlisted longtime friend and noted commercial photographer Dominic Episcopo to design the look and vibe of Revolution House. Episcopo used a palette inspired by the Confederate flag. Crisp navy blue and soothing charcoal gray accent the former Quaker Friends Meetinghouse’s original 1798 brick. Episcopo sourced local reclaimed accents to create an aesthetic that he describes as Industrial meets Federal chic.The menu is extensive and Cristian David says it has a “Great Salmon Sandwich”I loved the lasagna muffins, there was shrimp, pasta etc, but the biggest draw is

the coal oven pizza. For the last couple years steak was king, but move over carnivores the PIZZA is king. Here’s Luca Sena showing a pie to John Bolaris who did not have his Playboy girlfriend with him (See Dan Gross’ column Wednesday)

Justin Giza, editor at Drink Philly.com and Adam Schmidt, the founder of DrinkPhilly.com, the Philadelphia-based drink specials website that won the People’s Choice Award at the 2011. In August they celebrate their 1 year anniversary, yeah! “Drink Philly celebrates their first anniversary First Friday Part & Art Showing with a fundraiser for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer. Donations requested at the door. 8/5/11 5PM 239 Chestnut St, Second FloorIs there an Attorney in the house? Spencer Creddy, Esq. Ross DiBono, Esq., Michael Mattioni, Esq. and Dawn Tancredi, Esq.

The antique bottle lighting 2nd floor bar is an interesting accent to the bar

Where Magazine Team: Kari Oriolo, Brett Copol and publisher Beth Douglas

Jerry Blavet with 6ABC’s Alicia Vitarelli showing the REVOLUTION HOUSE GM Megin Mowry the wine he would like her to carry at the restaurant. He likes it so much he brings it with him in a wine holder her carries over his shoulder to dinner wherever he goes.

Speaking of wine: Meet Alana Zerbe of the Wine School and Keith Wallace, Author of the forthcoming book “Cork & Fork CEO” out in August.

How pretty is food writer Maria Valetta, Weekly Press



Grub Street Philly’s Collin Keefe and his wife Holly Keefe were enjoying the view.

and the delicious food.

Joe Broderick, Lathan Hotel Doorman, and marketing director April Martin. Joe tells me that the Lathan is just about ready to open and he is eager to get back to work.

The landscaping for the deck was done by Luca’s son in law who’s name escapes me and my notebook. He won a ribbon at this years Philadelphia Flower Show too.

Luca Sena, Linda Sonnie of GPTMC and Meryl Levitz, President and CEO of Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC)

Beautiful twosome executive producer Mara Webb and 6ABC’s Brian Taff stop by to check out the new digs. I think it’s safe to say they both love their jobs and good things happen there besides getting to work with the genius Jim Gardner. Follow him on Twitter @Jim_Gardner

The most dramatic and some would say adventurous element I would have to say would be the steel wired stair case. Every step you take to the 2nd floor there is a distinct reaction, and if that wasn’t enough there is the illusion that the folks below you can see up your skirt. They can’t, but you can certainly look down id them as it’s like a two way mirror. It’s not exactly like plexiglass floor in the woman’s department at Boyds, it’s a little more obscured. I think you need to go check it out yourself, it will no doubt be a novelty in many future conversations, have you walked up the flying staircase at Revolution House, oh and their pizza yum.



and that roof deckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

I decided to start yet another segment of PhillyChitChat called About Last Night. As you know I like to troll the bars and restaurants to see who what and where everyone is. I can go out and in a couple hours I have interesting pixs and stories of what happened the night before. Occasionally I might write about what happened during the day too, like today’s entry…
Yesterday I met Marilyn D’Angelo for lunch at Davio’s. Marilyn recently left Philly2Night where she did editorial work, and is now on her own as a freelance writer as well as writer & editor for her own blog called Know it All Philly which is a cross between uwishunu and original opinions on subjects. (She’s also available to write for your publication.) Above with Executive Chef David Boyle who made us a delicious lunch including the best gazpacho soup with mozzarella & curry, crab salad and Panco encrusted fluke, which I tweeted was the best dish I’ve had. http://lockerz.com/s/123874517Also From Tuesday, July 26th, 2011 to Thursday, July 28th, 2011, guests that order the ‘Cheesecake War Dessert’ will be served 1/2 portions of both the Philly-favorite and ‘CESCA’s (The Northern Italian Steakhouse is known for their highly acclaimed “Vanilla Bean Cheesecake with Blueberry Compote,” created by Pastry Chef Thomas Heck.) acclaimed New York dessert on a plate along with a comment cards. With the honor system at work, each restaurant will tally their numbers and announce the winner live on each other’s Twitter and Facebook pages along with a photograph of the losing restaurants general manager wearing the other cities baseball jersey and eating a little humble pie.
Ruby Tuesday’s with Mike’s family. His mom, uncle in law Barry, Aunt Harriet and Mike. Have you tried their white bean chili, delicious.
I have a flag fetish and Freeman’s auction house has a great one in the window.
Then I took a stroll along Rittenhouse Row Restaurants. If you call out my name and PhillyChitChat.com I’ll take your pix and put it here. Unfortunately I didn’t have a notebook for names. I do recognize the girl on the right but can’t recall her name. The girls had mussels and they looked delicious.
I was on my way to check out my friend Anne Nikolaus’ Stella & Dot jewelery show.
Tina Lamsback, Anne Nikolaus and hostess of the party Becca Greller. I’m trying to convince Anne that we should take our Philly biz licenses, find a corner and set up shop on the weekend. I have some photo note cards I want to sell. Would that be tacky? What’s on the Menu? Delicious Rice Krispy Treats – Gluten Free, great tortilla chips & fruit. Afterwards though a few of them headed for Lil’ Pete’s cause they love the club sandwich.
Then I headed to Serafina to see who’s who was there. Passing a.kitchen which has a few diners inside, and a packed sidewalk made for another great place to sit back and people watch. Serafina also had a healthy outside presence at 9PM, and it was even more packed inside.
I checked in with Serafina Restaurant executive Chef Carlos Jeronimo who was checking the dishes before they left the kitchen. He tells me everything is going well and is glad the guests are enjoying Serafina as it’s busy from the time the doors open til they close.
I saw a few familar faces in the main dining room including Erin Elmore, Steve Rockman and Lesley Kozloff Goldstein. Erin just returned from Croatia and told me it is the most beautiful country, with gorgeous beaches. (What did they eat? Drinks at the bar.)I found this pix on her FB from the trip and well there were a lot of beautiful things in Croatia last week.
Finally I had a nite cap, Dinner for them was a tasting of the menu, then coffee for a nite cap, with Laura Burkhardt, Kelly Boyd and food writer Beth D’Addono. Also spotted was former congressman Patrick Murphy, a bevy of Cashman & Assoc alumni Ellie, Holly, Christa & current Ashley. and G Lounge hostess Samantha Marzullo.

Thanks to Opa restaurant at 1311 Sansom St, Phila. for throwing PhillyChitChat.com a 4th Anniversary Party. It was a hot time and I am grateful for all the peeps that came out in the suffering 100F weather to celebrate with us. Earlier in the day I had sent out a note to a bunch of people telling them I would understand if they couldn’t make it, and even Mike backed out. Thanks to Midtown Springboard Media president Everett Katzen for the computer set-ups that showcased the pictures that I took in the last 4 years. And to my friends brother-sister team George and Vasiliki Tsiouris who own Opa restaurant.
I can’t thank all my friends and supporters who showed up, did I mention in the 100F weather. Really have we ever had such an oppressive winter. (Update: I usually keep it a secret that I am dyslexic, but just now I see I wrote winter instead of summer. It’s so irritating to be dyslexic. I often forget the last letter on words too. Writing a blog has been very helpful to me. Although I am also orally dyslexic and have been know to say the opposite of what I mean. Mike doesn’t cross the street unless he actually see that the light is green. In our early years together I almost got us killed a couple times thinking the light was green. That’s my 4 yr anniversary confession.) But the parties and life go on, and that’s my bread and butter for PhillyChitChat.com Here’s two stylish peeps: Elaine Graber and Julianne Glatz. Julianne as I mentioned last Friday, was in town from Chicago, for the Philly Style Magazine party.

Ellen Rohlfing and Dave Maser
Thanks to Springboard for setting up these monitors to show some of the photos I’ve taken over the past 4 years.

Magee Rehab’s Meg Rider, G-Philly’s Natalie Hope McDonald and Jimmy Contreras, PhillyStreetStyleSara K, Ashley Brielle and Nnamdi
Karen Gross, who is now behind the scenes with the Constitution Center and friends stop by.Thanks to Opa, George Tsiouris and Vasiliki Tsiouris, Garden Wellington, and Noel Zayas, from Noel Zayas events for throwing me this party. And to all my readers for an amazing 4 years. Thanks so much for supporting my advertisers, if I didn’t have them I’d have to get a real job and hang up my key board. Follow me on twitter @iphillychitchat as I usually give out info & sightings there hourly, that doesn’t make it here. Back to the party.
Greta Baith, guest and Autumn Ashby
Thanks to photographer Patrick Hagerty and DJ Rahasaan for spinning. To see Patrick’s pixs go here. It was hard to give up the power of shooting pictures even at my own party. It’s just not in my nature. Thanks to Sandy Smith and the others who I may have missed cause I’m a dizzy blogger.
George Tsiouris, Vasiliki Tsiouris and Maria Papadakis
Kristyn Aldrich and Lauren Smith looking fabulous!!
Honeymoon glow Dan Reinherz and Hasdas Kuznits with best bud Marlo Polonsky
If you had told me that two of the guys from ABC’s Bacherlor show, that women fantasize all over the world, would come to a party held in my honor, 4 years ago, I would have called you crazy. But it was reality when Craig Robinson and Reid Rosenthal both came out on Thursday night. Thanks guys.
Sleek, sexy, stylish Lianna Shabin, Jaimie Donahue and Danielle Shwendman
Fran Fattah, Noel Zayas, Noel Zayas Event and Megan Smith, Brownstone PR
Craig Robinson, Monica Glass, Pastry Chef from 10Arts, guest and Ilana Waber, Gloss PR
Kei Kurimoto, Yakitori Boy (There’s a great article in Phila Weekly about Brittany Lynn’s weekly drag show.) Eden Blair and Matthew Vlahos, Vlahos PR
Thanks to the Cool Kids, especially because they were having a party that evening at Recess for their friend’s bday. Reggie Berry, and Jackiem Wright with Lauren Smith, Kristyn Aldrich

Thanks to the Where Magazine team for coming out and their continuing support (I promise to stop in soon), including the years that Laura Burkhardt was at the helm. Bret Copol, Kristina Jenkins, and Kari Oriolo, with Ilana Waber, Monica Glass, George and Demetri Pappas, Xochitl
Michael Biwa, George and Shelton Mercer. My tweet from Saturday night made it into the new revamped Phila Daily News today: http://lockerz.com/s/123542841 which I then saw on Fox 29 only because they were commenting about Dan Gross’ column.

WMMR’s Marisa Magnatta, and Marissa Nalani. And yesterday’s mysterious question can now be revealed it was Marisa. Question here.