Philly Chit Chat

While you were at the Roots Picnic or the Italian Street Festival around the corner, I was scarfing down some of the 17 variety of burgers being offered at the Burger Brawl which was a competition featuring burgers prepared by chefs from some of the area’s top restaurants and burger joints, including Chef Marcie Turney of Barbuzzo, Bindi and Lolita; Chef Matt Levin of Adsum restaurant; Top Chef contestant Chef Jennifer Carroll of 10Arts; Fairmount legend London Grill Chef Michael McNally; Midatlantic and R2L; Table 31; (my new advertiser note the live link) Butcher & Singer; Pub & Kitchen; Good Dog; North Third; Alfa; Ladder 15; PYT; Paesano’s; Rouge and their sister restaurant, 500˚ served burgers too, but did not participate in the competition (very ABC6 of them). (I really didn’t eat all 17 burgers, but the judges sure did.)
The event was the brain child of Maggie and Rob Wasserman, owners of Rouge and 500˚, to raise money for their son’s school Meredith Elementary School computer lab.
I remember when Rob first began to talk about the event back in the winter. A bunch of us were at 10 Arts one late evening and Rob was telling us about the fund-raising idea he had for his sons schoold. I was there that Marcie Turney, Matt Levin and Jen Carroll all got on board. I spent the next 5 months salivating in anticipation of the day since I am one the biggest burger lover in Philly.
Adsum’s Matt Levin signing the Burger Brawl poster as Rob Wasserman looks on.

The judges are seated for what would turn into a nearly 5 hour, burger busting competition tasting 17 different burgers made with the sweat and tears from various cooks. Above L-R WMMR’s Matt Cord, Sen Larry Farnese, Fox29’s Mike Jerrick, Food Networks Marc Summers and entrepreneur Audrey Claire TaichmanThe tears may have been coming from the massive amount of smoke created by the charcoal grills the burgers were cooked on? David Ansil from Ladder 15 gets his grill on.
Rob Wasserman (seated nearby was his wife Maggie who is 9 months pregnant and whose unborn child will be attending Meridith in 5 years, I bet.) Meridith Principal Cindy Farlino and Mayor Nutter, who was nice enough to stop by, greet the guests and the children were thrilled.
Who wouldn’t want to go to John’s Water Ice and pick up a delicious lemon or cherry flavor treat from Anthony Cardullo?
Multi-Flow’s Gerry Bram, Owne Rothstein and Jason Ziller. They have every flavor of pop you love including cream soda, root beer and orange.
Guarding the gate and handing out the colored tongue depressors that folks would drop into the buckets above, that were placed on each chef’s table, are Kristina Skladaitis, Anna Maria Cavaliri and Michelle Durante

Butcher & Singer’s Alexis Audino and John Gonzalez. John tells me that B&S uses a special blend to create their delicious burger.
Yum burger – Sighted during the day Dana Spain, Justin Wineburgh, Dave Maser, Lt Ray Evers, Brett Rosenbloom, Sharon Pinkenson and Joe Weiss, Jose Rios, Michelle Durante, Cory Baller, Tom Stepek, Gianna Cuccurollo, Boe Hunt, Tim O’Brien, Jonathan Adams, Dan Carr, Palmer Marinelli, Joshua Vasquez, Evan Oxenfeldt, Lindsay Kaskowitz and Esther Oh.

What’s this? The Philadelphia fireman tell the security that a neighbor smelled smoke but didn’t know where it was coming from. Thought maybe a building was on fire so the firetruck was roaming the streets following the smoke and here it is. Are you sure there’s no fire the guy said to the security? The Prodigal Security guy explained about the charity burger brawl going on…
and soon enough the Ladder 5 guys were enjoying some Ladder 15 burgers.
Marc Summers and Audrey Taichman

Mayor Nutter congratulates, er I mean greets the crew from London including chef Michael McNally as bar manager Cristina Tessaro looks on. Cristina tells me this years Bastille Day will be July 16, so mark it down.
On left, Anne Nikolaus is wearing some of the Stella Dot jewelery she sells.

It’s Beer Week and I haven’t had a second to write about it. Check out their schedule here, and check out 6ABC’s FYI this weekend for a clip on Beer Week as well as places inspired by Beer Week like Raw and The Corner. The Corner’s patio is now open for the summer. Check it out. They have a great late night menu as well, serving from Thursdays to Saturdays til 1am. How cool that the Burger Brawl had a DJ spinning all day long, and when an event is nearly 6 hours you get to hear all the tunes you love.
The Mayor meets the students. Later that evening I ran into the Mayor at the Schuylkill River Park Be Green and Eat party at 25th & Spruce. We both get around.

Philadelphia Inquirer’s Elizabeth Wellington and Tara Miller. Later that evening the girls headed over to The Roots Picnic at Festival Pier. I admire them for their stamina. I ran into my “former boss” Inqlings Michael Klein, I miss that column and having my photos published every Sunday too, anyway Mike has a few new projects coming up this year, one is a new website on Philly.com on July 7. The Ultimate Food site I hear. Just anticipating it makes my mouth water.
Speaking of mouth watering Mr. SweetTooth himself Scott Lean was hanging out with former Miss Pennsylvania, Samantha Carrie Johnson. Scott owns the most delicious candy store Sweettooth (630 S. Fourth St.). I think he should expand into Center City. It’s not like Nuts to You, it’s like Dylan’s in NYC. You could have birthday parties there. Hey shops at Liberty Place I know you read me, do you have a great space, that would be the perfect spot.
Old friends’ R2l & MidAtlantic’s Sue Mahoney and PHS Director of Development, Laura Burkhardt bond over burgers Saturday.
Rob Wasserman, Chefs Jen Carroll, Marcie Turney and Matt Levin share a Four Loko. Matt tells me he still has over a dozen cases of the stuff left so there’s a good chance another signature dinner could happen.

Caleb Clark and Cindy Clark enjoy their day out together.

“Art of The Steal” film makers Sheena Joyce and Dan Argott with Demian Fenton and Missy Meyers. Sheena tells me that Damian edited the new film “Last Days Here”, which was sold at SWSW Film Festival this year. Congrats!!
Here’s CEO Greg Osberg of Philadelphia Media Holdings, which includes Philly.com, Philly Daily News and the Philadelphia Inquirer hands out the Philly.com burger contest awards voted on by the readers. First, 2nd and third places: MidAtlantic, Good Dog, and 10 Arts. Accepting for 10 Arts is Ryan Reigel, Food & Beverage Service Manager.
Richard and Ariel Bronstein. Richard and I grew up in Cherry Hill around the same time and reminisced about our childhood days there.
During a seventh inning stretch one of the meat purveyors gave out tshirts to the judges. Here’s Mike Jerrick and Matt Cord with Matt’s girlfriend Debby Rody
Mike Jerrick reaches for the very last burger of the day (probably for the month). By this time he and Marc Summers are a bit punch drunk after sitting at the judging table for 5 hours. Did you know Mayor Nutter is a vegetarian. Who knew?
Finally the judging is over. Rob thanks everyone for a job well done. Which reminds me earlier in the day the Health Inspectors were checking each station. They wanted all the burgers well done. One chef said if that were the case he would rather balance hot coals on his eyes. Well a compromise was worked out and we all enjoyed delicious burgers.
Stephanie Kuo with Rogue GM Liji Balodis. Liji was a huge help in coordinating the entire days event. Thanks!! Then the winners were announced.
10 Arts Bistro and chef Jennifer Carroll won the judge’s vote for best burger. Her burger, which I have had at the restaurant had cheddar, pickles, lettuce, thin-sliced tomato, red onion, ketchup and Dijon mustard. Jen tweeted that the burger will be served every night til midnight in the 10 Arts Lounge (Which is good since I sometimes wind down my night at 10 Arts)
sweettooth215 Mr. Sweettooth tweeted Saturday night…

Philadelphia Eagles QB Michael Vick and UNEQUAL Technologies
To Make Announcement Targeted to Youth Athletes

UNEQUAL Technologies’ CEO Rob Vito, together with Philadelphia Eagles QB
Michael Vick, will make a joint announcement targeted to young athletes. This news is
the reason that Michael Vick signed on to endorse UNEQUAL Technologies and has a
significant impact on sports safety.

Wednesday, June 8th at 3:00 p.m. ET

The Sporting Club at the Bellevue, 220-224 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102

UNEQUAL Technologies changes consumers’ ability to “get active” by reducing the
chronic impact shock (“CIS”) that causes aches and pains with each step taken,
regardless of a person’s physical activity. Orthopedic surgeons and Podiatrists warn that
CIS, a force equal to up to 5X your weight that radiates up through your body with every
step, can cause aches, pains and premature aging of muscles, joints, and bones. The
patented, shock-blocking power of UNEQUAL® blocks up to 80% of CIS, enabling users
to go stronger, stay on your their feet longer, and feel better. With 57 US and
International patents and patents pending, UNEQUAL Technologies is the premier
provider of shock-blocking footwear with a focus on footcare. For more information,
visit http://www.unequal.com.

Rittenhouse Square about an hour ago. I could probably just go into Rittenhouse Square at any hour on any day and come out with a million or a half dozen stories via pictures and a few words. It’s Greenwich Village in the sixties.
Rittenhouse Square is always a beehive of activity. It’s my favorite place to go people watch. I love to read the benches, see my friends, reflect on the years I used to play kick ball in the park, or race motorized cars through the center with friends, it’s usually the first place I see lighting bugs, Christmas Lights, and it’s always a great place to photograph beautiful people and magical moments.
I loved how this women was put together, accessorized and especially was fascinated by
Holy Moly those nails? How long does it take to grow nails like this and what a great paint job.
You can never have enough doggie tattoos or glasses. I wonder if that dog was a pet that passed?
Actually that dog tattoo looks a lot like this dog?

blowing bubbles and singing and signing too.
Waves. I love his Sailfish shirt. He was explaining to her the layers of paint that go into each stroke that make up the motion of the wave.
I love her relaxation
She’s feeding him while he strums his guitar.
I love that her glasses match her shoes and match her shirt.
Returning to work after a quick lunch. Very stylish.
Another Dunkin Donuts on it’s way right across from SerafinaWhich is now slated to open 6/21 with a grand party on the Solstice

The young lady is doing jumping jacks while her mother works. **Since I received a comment about shooting candidly and someone who is going to tell their friend they are on here.

Wednesday afternoon I headed back over to the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair to check out Ladies Day and the festivities that went along with the traditional day. It was hot, hot weather, hot fashion and hot hats.

As I explained in an earlier post this week The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair is a continues to reflect the local traditions and lifestyles of the Philadelphia Main Line area and is one of the largest and most prestigious outdoor equestrian events in the country. Proceeds of the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair benefit Bryn Mawr Hospital and runs through Sunday, June 4, 2011.
Ladies Day at Devon and the Devon Hat Contest were sponsored by Cartier. This year’s categories were “Mad Hatter,” for those who like to get a little wild and wacky in their choice of head wear. The “Magnificent Milliners,” reserved for those in the trade, and “Most Lilly”, for those who look fabulous in their Lillian Pulitzer outfit. (Which is like the uniform of the stylish Mainline moms.)Brenda Waits Bolling, a milliner with a store inside NYC’s famed Plaza Hotel, Judge for the Hat Contest, Emmy Award Winning, TV personality Carson Kressley, Your OWN Show and long-time competitor who is competing Thursday at the show and Robin Humble. Othere judges included jeweler and birthday boy my friend John Wind, Maximal Art; Lillian Vasquez, The Nate Berkus Show; Carmelita Martell, Carmelita Couture; Ginder Frisia Darcy, and Lisa DiCaprio and Darci Henry of Malvern’s Kiss and Makeup boutique.
Caroline O’Halloran, Judge and Amy Holzapfel. Amy took first place in one of the categories. Hmm what would you guess, I forgot to ask? Fabulous feathers and so delicate.

1st Place Mad Hatter is Tiffany Arey
Megan Stein, Gregory Andrew Powell (Creates custom design hats. Last year won in the millinery category), Rachel Kotkoskie, and Beth Beverly, The Diamond Tooth Taxidermy created the fabulous hats on her head as well as Megan and Rachel’s.

Darci Henry of Malvern’s Kiss and Makeup boutique.
Sara Moore thinks what would be delicious and not messy for lunch.
Shelley Evans, Elissa Leighton, Kitten Klaus and Christie Hunt,
Little Black Dress
Sara Moore and Mad Hatter 3rd place Jillian Titus.
No doubt entered into the Lilly Pulitzer portion of the contest
I love that there’s a cafe on the premises. At 2pm their was a lovely Lilly Pulitzer fashion show during lunch.
2nd Place Mad Hatter
Thanks to Jen McGowan Chair, Ladies Day Hat Contest at Devon, on right, for inviting me to Ladies Day at the Devon Horse Show. (Is that Sarah Doheny, The Mainline PR on the left? I turned around and she was gone.)

I love this Alex’s Lemonade hat. The Great Chefs Event is next Tuesday. Get your tickets Here
So no horsing around you still have 5 more days to make it to the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair. Around Mainline.com has a nice write up of the weeks events.

Last month, as you know, I covered the Krispy Kreme Doughnuts opening in Center City. I told my friend Julie Dorenbos about it cause I know she’s a big fan. At the last minute she couldn’t stop by the opening event, but that night when she was honored along with bud Susie Celek by the Kisses for Kyle organization at Bar 879, I brought a dozen hot Krispy Kremes for them to enjoy along with ABC6’s Jamie Apody who was also in attendance. Jon Dorenbos tweeted this picture, and Krispy Kreme retweeted it and asked if the the duo would like to take a tour of the KK factory in the North East.

Although you might think the guys were taking it easy during the Lockout, they did put in a morning of self organized workouts. After a grueling morning of lifting, and then an hour of practicing in the sweltering heat Tuesday morning, Jon Dorenbos, Brent Celek and Todd Herremans headed over to the Mayfair KK shop, with Julie Dorenbos and Susie Celek. (Actually Jon & Julie picked me up and I went with them. I found a card that must have fallen out of his bag of tricks, in the backseat, just sayin’ cause ya know he’s a magician.) Everyone started off with the end product so they could see what they should look and taste like.

This is the all important conveyor belt with the Krispy Kreme’s rolling out of the hot fryer, cooling off and then being saturated with a coating, that some say is a mixture of sugar and undoubtedly more sugar.
Brent has the “Krispy Kreme picker upper”, and was as you will see in the video, given instructions on the art of the pick up off the conveyor belt.
Patience.

At another station the crew made Krispy Kreme, raspberry filled, Oreo cookie topping doughnuts. YUM, well I hear they were yum cause you know I’m on a diet. Brent & Susie Celek, with Jon Dorenbos.
Julie shows her creation to Jon
Todd Heremans is heading towards
Oh wait we forgot to put the drizzle on. Like these people needed any more sugar added to their doughnuts. The laughter got louder and the energy sparked as the sugar rush continued. My bet is about an hour later they all crashed for afternoon naps. At last count Todd and Brent were tied with about 5 doughnuts down.
Krispy Kreme is offering customers a free Krispy Kreme doughnut June 3 on “National Doughnut Day.” Also if you buy a dozen you will help the Salvation Army, but you need a coupon. Thanks Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, owner Brian Zaslow and PR guy and (not pictured) Braden Young, Sales and Marketing Manger,
Check out Jamie Apody’s story on ABC6 sometime this week, perhaps tonight.

The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair officially opened on Thursday. One of the nation’s premiere horse shows, Devon runs until June 5. Horses, riders, trainers and breeders come from all across the U.S. and Canada to compete. Eleven days of competitions will include jumping, carriages, dog show, fashion show, and more. A full schedule is available at the Horse Show’s official website. There are amusements, vendors of all sorts, food and drink, many interesting people, and, of course, horses in a variety. The stands were packed with folks in boxes that have been handed down through family lines for a hundred years. Mike and I were invited to sit in “The Hat Lady” Michelle Leonard’s box. Thanks.
Debbie Martin, HAD and Sandy Shinners. Debbie and Sandy are co-chairs of the Devon Horse Show this year.
But you don’t have to dress fancy to attend. The general public is invited to fill the bleachers, and enjoy the fair. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased here

There’s a Country Fair that features boutique shopping for all ages and tastes, as well as a great variety of foods and midway games and rides.a lot of people were walking around with stuffed snakes
fun for the kidsThere’s a wine and cheese garden for the folks
On Saturday there was a doggie show. Here the competition stares each other down.
The first category was dogs that looked like their owner
This girl was 2nd. The Uncle Sam dog came in first, and the curly dog with the two girls came in 3rd.
Then there was the “fashionable dogs”. On the far right Cynthia Sansone and her two terriers, classy as they may be the lady on the left placed in the competition as most fashionable doggies.
Elizabeth Bareis’ Jack Russell Terrier won in the best dressed category of the doggie contestadorable
#Winning
This dog was just walking around the grounds and looked like me.

One of the highlights of Memorial Day weekend is the Devon Pleasure Carriage Drive from St. David’s Church through the tree-lined neighborhoods along the 4-½ mile route to the Dixon Oval. The images of majestic animals pulling magnificently maintained coaches draw crowds of spectators and tailgaters alike, both at St. David’s and along the Pleasure Carriage Drive route to the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair. (source)

The judging begins at St. David’s and along the Pleasure Carriage Drive route. The judges look to make the carriage has the proper appointments,if the right horses are hooked up to the right vehicle, and if people are dressed reasonably,
but not necessarily in period outfits (although most seemed to be.) Saturday it was 95F out, I felt sorry for the folks dressed to the nines on these carriages, but it’s a tradition that goes back 47 years that has to be maintained.

The winner: Tucker Johnson, Homestead, Fl. This was Johnson’s first return to Devon in 30 years. Above Society Photographer Susan Scovill poses with an award winning team as husband Dr Curtis Scovill gets a shot. She was a sponsor of this portion of the contest.
There are several carriage divisions. There are formal carriages, sporting carriages, and country carriages and they all have their own sets of appointments. There are two judges, one for the horses and one for the ponies and each of those is broken into Single, Pair and Four-In-Hand.

The boutiques offer the latest in fashion, sporting clothes, silver and gold jewelry and beautiful hats as well as classical pieces ranging from paintings, prints and sculptures to hand-painted furniture with horses and dogs, leather goods, antiques and more. The Art Gallery features paintings and prints by many local talented artists, and the Souvenir Shop offers Devon Horse Show apparel, collectibles and the cookbook, Appetizers at Devon.
Later in the day jockeys from around the world competing in the Horse Jumping competition.
more fashion as the fair
more horse jumping.
The horsey crowd, which I am not part of, but do appreciate the history and tradition.
Face painting.
Beautiful and clean.

Last week I covered the Spark Energy day at Safari Sam’s Indoor Water Park in West Berlin NJ. Fun, fun, fun and wet. Above A’lieya Willaims and Diamandi Devereaux. Spark Energy offers power and CHOICE to the nationally-recognized alternative electricity provider to PSE&G and PECO Experts: PECO Customers Should Switch to Alternative Electric Suppliers to save money for the same energy.
One of my favorite water park attractions was this boogie board one. Some people even stood up on their boards and surfed. Very cool. LIKE Spark Energy New Jersey

I ran into a few folks that took advantage of the Spark Energy Free Swim Coupons like The Portelli family.
Brian Killian and Monica McGovern
In honor of Memorial Day, Spark Energy is launching Power for Heroes, a new electricity plan that gives you the opportunity to lock in a special low rate while making a difference in the lives of wounded U.S. military veterans. To offer the Power for Heroes plan, Spark Energy has partnered with Helping a Hero, a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that supports military personnel severely injured in the war on terror. When you sign up for the Power for Heroes plan, Spark Energy will donate a portion of your electric bill to Helping a Hero. Plus, you’ll get to enjoy a special low rate while helping fund critical services for wounded veterans. (Above: Matthew Ray, and Cass Orly, Spark Energy.)