I forgot my anniversary was coming up so I whipped this together today. Now I’m running late for the Michael Klein event, opps Like a few of my other entries these past 4 years, this might seem a little disjointed cause I had to forgo my original entry and create this timely piece. Also Save the date for 7/21/11 OPA Restaurant is having an Anniversary Bash in PCC honor. I will be showing a lot of the photos I’ve taken over the years, plus a bunch I never published but were fun.
– thank you thank you thank you and thank you to the people who helped me along the way. I really appreciate it.
July 7, 2007 I launched PhillyChitChat.com
What started as a hobby has now turned into a career. I had no idea, nor did I ever plan it to go that way. I am grateful to you my readers who support me in this endeavor & especially for those who allow me to photograph them.
I had had a blog called Confessions of a Paparazzi for (The etc was in there cause even on that blog I wanted to cover a broad range of topics) the previous 2 years when I lived in NYC, but having returned to Philly I needed to come up with something that reflected where I was at that time. 
Over the July 4th weekend with my friends Kati & Simon, who were visiting from NYC, we brainstormed. Simon coined PhillyChitChat and the logo above. Thanks!! (We wanted to be able to include a lot of topics, not just celebrities. [and by the way that is how Simon smiles])
My first blog entry was complaining about the disappearing landscape of the cupcake store and too many banks popping up on corners. They were like the drug stores of the ’00’s.
I like covering charities, and the mainstream press didn’t always show up at ones that didn’t have a Philebrity attached and it wasn’t about not caring, it was about money and staff. Plus each event hires their own photographer that would distribute shots to the magazines and society pages. So there would be coverage, just not immediately.
Megan Smith PR for the Phila Film Festival which is now CineFest. This shot was taken in 2007. Tonight I will see Megan at the opening of QFest (CineFest GLBT Festival), but she also has her own full service PR Company with lots of clients. She’s been a great friend to me and PCC these past four years.
Every once in awhile a celebrity would pop up in Philly. Since I was such a “big time” celebrity photographer in NYC, I thought it would be easy to parlay that into getting photos placed in the local media. Not at all.
The first photo I had in any Philly Newspaper: Dan Gross’ Gossip column in the Phila Daily News in April 2007 (4 months after moving back to Philly). I couldn’t get anyone in Philly to pick this photo up, I thought it would be super easy since Sen Vincent Fumo is greeting hot actress Angie Everhart, plus was in the press a lot regarding his funds. But it wasn’t until I mentioned that Fumo had a red string bracelet on like Madonna (symbolizing her Kabablah connection) that convinced Gross to pick this picture up. Then he got to the bottom of the string, and even put in his column that Mayor Nutter wore one to after some Rev gave them both one. The day after this appeared several of the papers I originally contacted asked me why I didn’t sell them on that angle. Because I wanted I really wanted it in Dan Gross’ column. Having been a fan of Stu Bykosky’s and Dan being his successor, I was a fan of his too, it was a thrill to have him write about it.
At that time Dan’s column didn’t support a lot of photos and I realized how lucky I was to get a shot in. This was before he had the Phillygossip.com blog. Over at the Inquirer I was also a fan of Michael Klein. His column did support photos, but it wasn’t an easy sell, and why would it be, I was an unknown. I don’t remember specifically how it happened but it was after a lot of persuading and pitching that I would be places that no other Philly photographer would be, and I could get shots that would be interesting that would otherwise just be reported as words on paper. (I succeeded and am very proud of that accomplishment. There were more than Philebities in Philly, there was just no one to shoot them.) Barry Manilow was the first photo I had in Michael Klein’s Philadelphia Inquirer’s Inqlings Column in 9/07, and for the next three years my photos would appear in his column weekly. No doubt it helped my career tremendously. (Plus he’s a great mentor. Today he launches his new venture http://www.philly.com/philly/restaurants/ )
Later I had my own photo column in the Metro. CBS3 did two stories on me (Lesley van Arsdale & then Anne Marie Green) & NBC10 did stories on me and the celebrities that came to Philly.
My biggest thrill was when I got my own column in Philly Magazine. Then later in the year I was on NBC Philadelphia’s Non-Stop The Scene with Justin Pizzi. I still get recognized on the street after appearing in the show. Just last night a lady in Villanova told me she learned so much more about the Philly Social Scene from my segments.
The G Lounge opening introduced me to Nicole Cashman & a relationship that opened the door to the “Philebrities” like NBC10’s Dave Warren and John Clark.
Where are they now? Dana Lombardo – Now PR for the Phila Zoo, Brett Silver – Social Philly (A great site, and a great name) not sure what he’s doing now. I’m sure sitting behind a desk managing a mega powerhouse business and Carri Nork – Married, 2 kids and PR of Parx Casino
The first time I shot Sabrina Tamburino and Steve Thorne was at the Philly Magazine Best of Party at the Kimmel Center. I had no idea who they were or would become to PCC in this 8/07 shot. Charles Peruto, Nina Tinari, Mia Tinari and Carol Tamburino.
My sister Judy in the black dress.This is the last photo of my sisters together before Judy would pass away from Ovarian Cancer. Janine, Tracy, Aunt Mary, Judy, Crista, Margaret and niece Lauren.
Max Brenner Opens: Here’s mom with her 2 grand daughters Nicole & Kelsey
A photo I took of Kristin Cavalleri at Dusk appears in Us Magazine
They never did built Trump Tower Philly
My blog has given me access to places and events I always wanted to experience. Rosemary Greco, Genna Davis, Jane Seymour and Lynn Yeakel at the Vision 2020 Women Empowerment event at the Constitution Center
Things haven’t changed that much
Philly’s Terrence Howard at Philly Style Mag party – Next week is their Hot List Party.
For the first year of PhillyChitChat.com I covered a lot of events in the Gay Community, but found many people were reluctant to be photographed. These three had no problem, Matt Ray, Matt Vlahos and Troy Cassel. These days with the popularity of PhillygayCalendar and Facebook, GLBT peeps are more willing to be photographed, although that over 40 set is still guarded.
Greta Greenberger, City Hall Tour Director at work. I think the building should be seen by everyone, and the view of the City should be taken in at the observation deck. Go to Rm 121 for info on the tours or the deck. Get a timed ticket early as they sell out quickly.
Mayor Nutter, Thom Cardwell and Laura Burkhardt. Having worked in the law field for some reason I thought I should delete any sign that we are all adults and take out the beer that Laura was holding. Can you tell?
Thanks to John Colabelli & Philly Style Magazine for whole kindheartedly embracing me covering their events and letting me be an insider.
Thanks to the GPFO for their Film Tax Credits I’ve been able to satisfy my need to shoot film sets without having to travel to NYC where you can’t walk a blog without running into a shoot. That is really a feat to be able to take a bite out of the Big Apple and get a film to shoot here.
Ladies who Lunch: Mary Patel, Kelly Boyd and Monica Malpass. Sometimes it’s hard to maintain a balance between “friends” and what is news. I am really good with keeping things “off the record” and knowing what is damaging info to a person. For me it’s not worth the longevity of my career to publish a gotcha moment.
A few favorite shots
Gov Rendell at the First Annual Governor’s Cup at the Franklin Square Gala 2010 as Amy Needle and son Eli look on (This shot was published in Inqlings)
Look at Fox29’s Jenn Frederick sporting those fancy stockings back in 2008 right before that style took off. Here’s she’s with someone I admire a lot Sarah van Aken of SaVa
The name fits cause I never was one to be labeled or boxed into one category. Sometimes it drives me crazy when people call me “press’ even though that was my goal to get my blog out there as another news source. I always wanted to be considered someone who was recording moments, times and memories. One thing I do know is I like to cover charities, ordinary people, bold named folks, celebrities, openings, closings (although people do get mad when I write about that, usually the owners.), 
the fascinating and the not so fascinating, I sometimes write too much text, sometimes I just want you to look at the photos and come to your own conclusion, 
I try and live by the golden rule, sometimes I fail, I always regret it when I do. In the end I really do hope I have helped someone whether it was to enjoy a show, a dinner, meet a friend or make ones life easier. Thank you!
Arrow Swim Club last night.
Ryan Dorsey and Marc Mattera are two of the 3 Nerds, but Zach Seidman is an honorary Nerd (Like Shemp of the Three Stooges or Arnold of the Brady Bunch)
Arrow Swim Club closes at 9PM, but special interest groups can rent out the space for parties. 
I hear there have been a few doozies, I would include last nights
Splash with DJ Royale in the mix. (It was a Splash at Arrow Swim Club for Industry Night)
The speedo isn’t dead and you don’t have to be Canadian to wear one.
Lovely ladies poolside Judy, Alice, Laura and Jen were there, and will be there next week too and might go swimming. 
Swimming at night sounds great, especially if your not at the beach.
As well as a few cool kids, in this case just a cool kid Jacky Wright soaks up the moonlight while relaxing in his own corner of the pool. Who needs more than 4 feet of water when you just want a water bed.
Even on their nights off the Whisper crew want to spend it together. GM Clark Maloney, Brett, Jason Serpes and crew
Philly2Night’s Rob Wright and Danielle Dubois were enjoying themselves.
as were many of the peeps in the industry. Drinks were a fair price averaging $5, 
but there were passed snacks including sliders and pita with humus that I enjoyed. The doors open at 9PM, but get there before 11PM if you have the munchies.
Many people I spoke to said it was there first time through the Arrow Swim Club doors. A few even told me they would be signing up next year. I told them the price had dropped to $750, but some already had shore house shares.
Spotted at the pool, not in it though, Courtney Grant, Jaye Hamel, Megan Smith, Reggie Barry, Anthony Casey, and Arrow Swim Club Mgr Megan Kearney
The three Shaina’s although one of them spells their name Shayna
What were you doing at 12:20AM cause the crowd was still going strong at the club. Surprisingly enough when you are outside on the street you can’t hear the music. I’m not sure if that holds true for the apartments on the top floor, but you’d never know there was a party going on down below.
Sunday’s I hear Tommy Up and crew has a party “Baruno and Brown present TROPHY WIVES – Arrow Swim Club’s ALL GIRLS pool party.” Starts at 2PM and 10% of the proceeds go to the GLBT community.
I ran into George Tsiouris (Opa Restaurant), cousin Demetri Pappas (who just bought Xochitl with his friend Peter Leontaras) and their friend who’s name I didn’t get. But just moved back from LA and is working at Serafina’s. He’s single girls and well go say hi to him.
As you know PhillyChitChat.com has just celebrated it’s 4th Anniversary. Opa wants to throw me a party to celebrate. It’s next Thursday 7/21. To make sure everyone is comfortable I’m keeping the number at 80. So send me an email at buzz @phillychitchat.com and you will be entered in a raffle. The details are still be worked out but I know there’s a hour open bar involved and food. Thanks
See you next week:
