PhillyChitChat The Buzz –

Happy Tuesday. It may be raining, but it’s finally warm. Have a great day. If you’re on Twitter follow me @iphillychitchat I often put items there I don’t repeat here.

Ryan Dorsey’s Swanky Bubbles 10 South Front Street is the next bar/restaurant undergoing a change with the help of Spike TV’s forthcoming Bar Rescue. The work started yesterday and the reveal is Saturday at 8PM

Chatting about Ryan Dorsey, congrats to Zach Seidman who is now working with Dorsey on the new and very successful DJ and dance weekend brunch at Tweed. I ran into owner Eddie who believes the curse of 12th Street may just be reversed.

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I received an email from my bud Erin Elmore yesterday. She says she’s going to be on QVC hawking luggage. I was up at 3AM and captured her first appearance. I’m gonna see if the Noon broadcast is new, or do they just keep playing the same clip over and over. I’ve always been curious.

I am writing to let you know that I have been selected as the product spokesperson for Heys Luggage on QVC! Heys is the worldwide leader in hard side, fashion luggage. I have a luggage set below and I am not going to lie, I am obsessed. I will be selling this exact luggage set, in several adorable prints, on Tuesday, May 17th on QVC. Catch me at 3:00 a.m., 7:55 a.m., 8:45 a.m., 12:00 noon, 2:40 p.m., 5:43 p.m. and 8:43 p.m.
This luggage is today’s special value on QVC. Therefore, if you buy it, you get a KILLER price. If you are interested in purchasing, just click this link and buy a set (please)! http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/app.detail/params.item.tsv!.tpl.tsv.CM_SCID.TSV?&cookie=set

According to the trade group the American Gaming Association, Philadelphia is no the No. 9 casino city in the country. “The nation’s top 3 metro casino markets remained unchanged: the Las Vegas Strip raked in $5.8 billion, up 4.1 percent; Atlantic City, $3.6 billion, down 9.4 percent; and Chicago, $2.1 billion, down 1.7 percent.” (source)

CNBC has a slide show of a few athletes awesome cribs including the home of former Philadelphia Phillie’s player Jamie Moyer’s house in Seattle. Tonight The Moyer Foundation is holding an event at Citizen Bank Park -PM – 9PM

The 12th Anniversary Party for Philly Style Magazine was held last night at SugarHouse Casino with Actress Kat Dennings who also graces the April/May cover of the magazine.

Kat originally from Bryn Mawr, Pa. seemed reluctant to smile on the red carpet, which was odd since her current movie Thor is in first place at the box office.

Not reluctant to smile was Miss Pennsylvania 2011 Courtney Thomas and Andrea Helfich, former Miss Philadelphia 2010, now Fox29’s Intern Girl

Tom Mele, with sister NBC10’s Jillian Mele and Erin Como, WMMR’s Marisa Magnatta and NBC10’s Justin Pizzi.

Jimmy Kazanjian and Lisa Gaudio are just about to celebrate one year of wedded bliss. It was a year ago I attended their Radnor Hunt Club wedding. It was a stormy, romantic night where the reception was held by candlelight, but not by choice. Which reminds me this Saturday is not only Judgment Day according to all the press I’m reading, but the Radnor Hunt Club Races too. So much fun; Grab a picnic, buy a ticket and come on down. Beka Rendell and Lauren O’Dorisio are looking very fashionable with their bags. I have a feeling they didn’t get them on Canal Street in NYC.

Tom Ashley, Invincible Pictures, celeb photographer Scott Weiner, Donna Coghlan, Charles Pasquale, Michael Steinberg, Jill Montgomery, Peter Della Porte, and Linda Berger

Megan Heaton, Josh Ross and Heather Yerrid

Stephanie Goldberg and Stacey Margo.

She does look like Angelina Jolie. She had robins egg colored nail polish on and a bag to match.

The Terry Hines Associates crew: Michael Foell, Jr Publicist, Kate Miller, Publicist, and Jesse Cute, Director, Publicity & Promotions.



Tom Coyne, Andi Pesacov, Dana Spain and Eric Cahill

Andres Gutierrez, Caitlin Joyce and Daniel Gonzalez Saturday at the Radnor Hunt will be a year since Dani and Caitlin met. I was there.

Aaron Pierce, Aly Green and Craig Schroeder

The Sporting Club Gals: Kelly Burke, Amy Stratton and Kayla Gillin

Kat and Philadelphia Style Editor Kristin Detterline-Munro

Jim and Sandi Gatch, Julie Welker, James Ebo and Beverly D. Chandrai. Julie and I were chatting about how well her daughter Kristin Welker was doing on the national NBC news.

The party was in full swing in the Refinery. The food was delicious, but then the waitress told me that the crab sliders and shrimp were not usually on the menu. I hope they’ll ad them soon they were delicious. The view from the restaurant was beautiful.

Rita Horkunaite, Arthur Kade and Alexandra Slatina.

Happy Birthday AK. I noticed lately there seems to be a change in the Kade out guy. It’s been awhile since Kade broke out the Kade scale. Lately he’s been featuring some interesting interviews with actual “celebrities” like 19 yr old singing sensation Kelli Tomashoff, Run-DMC’s Darryl McDaniels, and Simon Huck from The Spin Crowd. No doubt Kade could use some good spin now that he’s seem to change his wicked ways. I do know that last year Kade fell in love and the little lady tapped into something that had long been cold with a slow beat. No longer together because of his past behavior I think the Kade might just be having second thoughts about his future. It could happen, Perez Hilton stopped his bullying ways.

Kharisma McIlwaine and bro Alloyius McIlwaine, Culture Clothing

Brett Rosenbloom and Erica Busch. Erica was off to the tables cause mama needed a new pair of shoes.

Kat was nervous that someone would catch her with a full on smile so she banned photographers from the “party area”, but I had to sneak the following two shots with my phone. Courtney and Angela. You know Angela is one of my favorite dancers from Delilah’s.

Courtney Grant, who’s looking forward to starting at Serafina next week. Jason Cichonski currently at Mica, but hurry only 3 more weeks left til he expires and moves right into high gear getting his own place opened in Center City, and Jessica Concannon visiting from Montreal where she moved earlier this year with her beau. She’ll be in town til next Monday so try and catch her for a visit.

Kat returns to the red carpet with Phila Style Magazine Publisher, John Colabelli, to sign the poster of her magazine cover.

She finally smiles after writing “I Love Philly”

Thursday Night was Zee Bar’s Fifth Anniversary Party. 5TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 5 DJ’S* 5 CITIES* 1 NIGHT!! Zee Bar is a little bit of Las Vegas here in Philly. It’s mysterious, exciting, exclusive and cagey. More times than not people would rather you not take their photos cause there’s a good chance they’re not where they should be, but where they want to be, where the fun is. What goes on here definitely stays here.
Fashion was in full swing, it’s a night out and as my friends tell me this is the place you want to be to meet your next breakfast buddy so you want to look the part. Is it bad if a club has that reputation, I don’t think so. People are here to have a good time and live out their fantasies. That’s what Delilah’s is about, and being it’s close proximity the Zee Bar is unapologetic about the lascivious behavior. It’s also a great place to go for a celebration as almost anything goes, and the Zee Bar has the most bottle service spots in any club I have ever seen. See the “cabana” rooms with the beads, and in the foreground there are lounge areas for bottle service, and it’s all packed to the gils.
Brian Exlay gets the party started 2 fisting Grey Goose

Jenn Shamey-Exlay, Owner of both Delilah’s & Zee Bar with Buffy Morgan, Director of Marketing
Barri, Aly Green and Leah on the red carpet. Silencia was the PR on this project.
Dave, Dana Spain and Tom
Natalie and Megan Heaton
Carmena Ayo-Davies, 3BG Marketing Solutions, Kijafa Frink, PNKElephant, which in today’s earlier post I mentioned is opening a store at 5th & South Streets,

Mike Welsh, GM Franklin and Mortgage company and Chris

The girls at the front door.
Sean Edwards, Rittenhouse Communications and Zee Bar doorman, but he’s much more than that Brian Taylor. Brian has just returned to Philly to finish his studies at University of Penn and is again the gate keeper of Zee Bar. After working in Las Vegas at some of the swankiest playgrounds, his game is sharper and he really scrutinizes who and what kind of dress enters the Zee Bar doors. I saw him turn away a few neatly dressed, but wearing crappy sneakers peeps at the door (mostly he turned them towards Delilah’s cause there main dress code, is undress). So be warned.

“An evolutionary advance in Philadelphia nightlife, Zee Bar takes the membership-only concept into a stratosphere of unprecedented luxury. Zee Bar’s breathtaking design gives it both spaciousness and intimacy, for everything from unleashed dancing to undisturbed chilling. Members enjoy extended hours, VIP spaces, bottle service and far more.” (source) Throughout the night the ladies from Delilah’s make their way into Zee bar and a little zeal is heard throughout the club as their fans greet them.
The 2nd floor reminds me of the Brady Bunch living room, with a bar. To my left is a larger room with couches, but a few of the patrons thought they were at Delilah’s and I couldn’t get a decent photo without disturbing them. Basically, Zee Bar is every guys dream house, and every girls candy land.
Andi Pesacov and Tom
I left about 3AM and the place was just getting it’s mojo, and it was a Thursday night. Check out NBC Non-Stop Philadelphia Thursday Night ch 248 at 9:30PM to catch the rest of the story on my segment Philly Scene. Follow me on twitter @iphillychitchat thanks

You may have heard about the deregulation electric and how you can now choose the company to provide it. Let me introduce you to Spark Energy, an independent multi-state certified retail energy and natural gas supplier, today announced that it has entered the Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G) territory in New Jersey.

The move will empower homes and businesses in Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, and Union counties to choose an energy company that offers lower rates than those offered by the current provider and lock those low rates in for 12 months. To celebrate, Spark Energy is offering 500 people a free afternoon at Sahara Sam’s, New Jersey’s premier indoor water park! Free ticket coupons are ONLY available at the Spark Energy NJ page (Must go to Facebook.com/SparkEnergyNJ to download tickets.) First come, first served. Admission is for 2 per coupon, and you must have coupon for all members of your party. The coupons are good from 2 pm to 8 pm on Friday, May 20th. Must go to Facebook.com/SparkEnergyNJ to download tickets. First come, first served, limited supply available! This is a fantastic day for the entire family, your church group, a school class, or a group of friends! Here is some info on Sahara Sam’s: Sahara Sam’s is New Jersey’s LARGEST Indoor Water Park – they take fun to the next level! They feature the following: ·  58,000 Sq. Ft of Splashtastic Fun ·  SAMAZON Adventure The WORLD’S tallest Ropes Course (an outdoor attraction) ·  A 3,000 Sq. Ft Modern Arcade with great prizes – no admission required! ·  The region’s only Flow Rider indoor surfing simulator

If I were nursing a broken heart this would be my song of choice to drink by, heavily. Sorta like Tom & Lynette Scavo. That was heartbreaking.

At 18th and Arch streets sits the lot for The American Commerce Center an ambition project that I hope will someday be built. In the meantime across the street at 19th and Arch, a zoning sign just went up touting a more doable plan to build a 14 story condo with 236 residences, 131 parking spaces and 79 bike spaces. The first floor will contain a restaurant and retail area, with 2 loading zones.
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The original Wonder Women Lynda Carter will be signing her new CD “Crazy Little Things” Tuesday at Barnes & Noble at 7PM in Rittenhouse Square. I’ll be attending the Rittenhouse Row Pre-Festival Party at the Ritz Carlton. You can still buy tickets here.

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Last week I mentioned I would be attending the Desean Jackson Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer at the Waterworks. The set up wasn’t as easy as it was last year where the press could go in and cover the cocktail party so I don’t have a lot of folks as I my time constraint didn’t allow me to wait for the awards ceremony 2 hours later when the media was allowed in. Last week I mentioned that a good friend of mine was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer, which was devastating. I am now working with PanCan in Philadelphia especially promoting their event June 25, at the Hilton Phila City Ave.

One of the honorees of the night was my friend WDAS DJ extraordinaire Patty Jackson. A women I truly admire, respect and is a beam of light where every she goes. It’s obvious why she was honored. With her is Don Wiggins, Dir./Local Sales for Urban AC WDAS

Michael Vick and Kijafa Frink. I think this was the first time I photographed Vick since the time I photographed them at a pre arranged photo after they had dinner at Union Trust restaurant the day after he arrived in Philadelphia to play for the Eagles in 2009? Kijafa is wearing jewelery from her PNKElephant.com line of jewelry. Finally you will be able to see this jewelery in person when Kijafa’s store opens up at 504 South Street.

Another honoree for the evening was Renee Chenault–Fattah, Chaka Fattah and Renee’s assistant who’s name escaped me. The step and repeat was set up for the inhouse video company and it was nearly impossible to get a straight on photo with all the wires and equipment. So I settled for folks not on the purple carpet.
Brian Lipstein, Henry A Davidson, Tailor, with Emily Phung of Volat. She tells me that Wednesday she will be part of the crew celebrating with the CAST & CREW of GAME OVER
at our All-Ages at their TRAILER LAUNCH / COSTUME PARTY at Chubby Balboas Sports Bar and Grill. Game Over was filmed this past spring at Sun City Studios out in West Chester.
6ABC’s Shirleen Allicot and Nikki Hawkins, 6ABC’s FYI Producer looking beautiful as usual. Shirleen is celebrating her year anniversary on air here in Philly this month.

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Philadelphia Theatre Company will conclude its 35th Anniversary season celebration with a Gala honoring long-time board member Kenneth S. Kaiserman of Kaiserman Company, Inc. and PTC Producing Artistic Director Sara Garonzik on Monday, June 6 at 6PM in the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt at the Bellevue. The evening will feature appearances by multiple Tony and Emmy award winner Tyne Daly, star of the upcoming revival of Terrence McNally’s Master Class on Broadway, Broadway and film star Kathleen Turner who starred in PTC’s world premiere of Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass of Molly Ivins; Tony Award winner and frequent PTC performer John Glover; and Quentin Darrington, star of the recent revival of Ragtime. The evening will be hosted by former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell.highlight of the Gala will be the announcement of the establishment of the Terrence McNally New Play Award presented by Philadelphia Theatre Company annually starting in 2012 in honor of great American playwright, Terrence McNally. Above McNally blesses the PTC’s new stage at the Suzanne Roberts Theater in 2008. For information and tickets, call 215-985-1400, ext. 110.

Quiznos Subs across the street from City Hall has closed as well as the little Italian Lunch Spot 2 stores down. What gives?
The Rittenhouse Square Ball is June 16, 2011. This year the Ball committee wants to offer you the use of the tent for your event if it can be held on the following two days. It’s a bargain. Nothing makes an event more memorable or special as a night under the stars in this truly stunning white party tent! And on June 17 or 18, it can be yours to hold an event of your own. Perfect for weddings and special occasions. Please call 267-586-5675 or email kate@friendsofrittenhouse.org. for more information.

Questlove is the new cupcake, he’s everywhere:

Tonight: Questlove “Live in Philadelphia” @ The Blockley, Weds, 5/11, 9PM. $15. RSVP to @215Chris for Discount Tickets/Guest-list

Sunday: Laiya St. Clair “Inside The Studio” with Ahmir Questlove Thomspson 7PM at Warmdaddy’s

6/14/11 – The Vetri Foundation for Children and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation announces ?UESTLOVE of The Roots as the official DJ of the Sixth Annual Great Chefs Event AFTER PARTY! To attend both the Great Chefs Event and the After Party, which is for the chefs, sponsors & VIP ticket holders For all ticket purchases check out www.vetrifoundation.org.

After the Marian Anderson Award on Tuesday night where Mia Farrow received this years honors, a few of the participants, Mia Farrow, Carly Simon, and Esperanza Spalding hung out at the Liberté bar in the Sofitel Hotel.

Q&A/Lunch With Flyers Legend Bernie Parent At Morton’s Steakhouse Philadelphia! Morton’s has been hosting a series of “Lunch With The Legends”, and Tuesday May 10 brought out a nice crowd, some wearing vintage Bernie Parent game shirts with his number “1”, which was retired October 11, 1979.
Monday night Steven Spielberg, Founder of the USC Shoah Foundation Institute, presented Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and CEO of Comcast Corporation, with the USC Shoah Foundation Institute’s highest honor—the Ambassador for Humanity Award. Roberts was recognized for his visionary leadership and philanthropic works in education and technology at the Institute’s annual gala, held May 9, at the Philadelphia Loews Hotel . Jon Bon Jovi, a longtime supporter of the Institute and of Comcast and Roberts’ philanthropic work, was special musical guest for the evening. Serving as gala Co-Chairs are Stephen A. Cozen, Founder and Chairman of Cozen O’Connor, and longstanding member of the Institute’s Board of Councilors, along with his wife, Sandy. Sharon Moore of Moore Events decorated the room.
Jon Bon Jovi and Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie
Bon Jovi performed a few songs solo
Steven Spielberg, Brian Roberts and Jon Bon Jovi at the event. (Filmmagic took these shots as the media was limited to this event per Spielberg. But Team Derek tells me that he was gracious at the Jewish National Museum and signed autographs and posed for photos for fans and press there.)

Saturday I was walking by much anticipated new restaurant Fare in Fairmont, which co-owner David Orphanides told me about last year when I met him at the Red Cross Ball.David is looking forward to the day the long planned restaurant is finally opened, pencil the date in your calendar as May 26, 2011, “along with my two business partners, Savvas Navrosidis and Andy Siegel. Also have a terrific chef, Tim Bellew, and GM, Robert Amar, without any of which the execution of the concept would not have been possible.”
According to their blog the restaurant is going to be very simply, simple. “We decided to keep things simple. Tim was right all along. He usually is. Healthy. It is all about eating healthy and balanced. And David is right. It is about using organic, local, sustainable and crafted. And, yes, we agree that this will be a restaurant with a good bar.”
The dining room is beautiful and simple in design
To read more about Fare check out their website HERE

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I stopped by my favorite pizza place in the world, including Ray’s in NYC, which used to be my favorite b4 Luigi’s, anyway the powers in charge tell me that they will be opening a Luigi’s in Margate at 9414 Ventnor Ave in the coming weeks as well as taking over Bocca 236 in Old City and will be opening an Italian restaurant called Lulu. Look for them to do a little remodeling first. In just a few short years they’ve opened restaurants in Marlton, Philly and Burlington, soon Margate and Old City will be on the menu.

BRADLEY COOPER was in town Sunday (MOTHER’S DAY) through Tuesday visiting his family and promoting his new movie Hangover 2. I love love love that a celeb of his stature comes back to Philly to promote his movie for our local stations and god knows he hit them all Monday. I decided to sleep in since I had just photographed him 2 months ago for Limitless, which I loved.
Monday he ate at R2L and chatted with Chef Daniel Stern. Thought you might like this sexy tussled look. Wait is he slouching, OMG he is not perfect, it’s just like what Us Magazine says, he’s just like us, well me. Mom always said HughE stop slouching.
The next day, Tuesday I got a tip that Bradley Cooper was eating lunch at Stephen Starr’s Parc, outside, with his mother, but he was actually eating with
mom, friends and his driver. This was about 1PM. That is a long table he is at, if you know Parc’s that is about 3 tables as they are such cute intimate settings. He definitely called ahead for a prime lunchtime spot, these spaces just don’t open up on a beautiful day.
Yoga moves. Bradley pays the check and gives the waiter a big ass smile and probably a big ass tip cause he had to pull out his calculator to figure it all out. He’s just like me, I can’t add for nada.
What up with this jacket Bradley? BTW I love shooting paparazzi style. Normally I would have gotten a little closer, but in all honesty he was with his mom and I just didn’t want to disturb their lunch so I shot with my tele-lens. I got a few good shots later as you will see that I sent up to my agency, and I will send the story to my contacts at the glossy gossip mags, but there was no reason for me to shoot in a way that he could see me and I would ruin their time together.
I couldn’t figure out where they were going? Were they waiting for someone to drive up with the car?
Nope he was going to walk in the park. Maybe for old time sakes. This was about 1:10PM.
Opps he saw me, I guess I’m kinda hard to miss. I watched where he was going, was he walking to the Rittenhouse Hotel? Again I didn’t do anything crazy, the park was PACKED and I really didn’t want to disturb the beauty of the day.
As you can see, he walked passed the packed benches with a lot of lunch goers and nobody noticed him, especially with that ugly WINTER JACKET ON! I guess 75F is cold to this transplanted California boy.
That guy in the red had a perfect shot had he just noticed the A List star wandering by. His mom and sister have now dropped back. There’s a good chance he told them thatThe driver looks over and gives me a smile. Probably thinking “I might be on TMZ tomorrow”, cause he sees me juggle my little video camera too. (I’m saving that for my NBC Philly Non-Stop TV show cause he did something & I’m holding that little nugget back.)
So no one was near him now, there’s a good chance he saw me and wanted a solo shot cause he’s a pro at getting press (it could all be in my head too.) By this time I could tell that he was going to walk right by where I was standing, and most photographers would have run out in front and shot. Again I just really didn’t want to disturb the park or him. I got a couple shots that I felt were unique and told the story, and heck I really just was enjoying the fact that he was walking through the park undisturbed. (The artistic side of me loves this shot as it’s solo, besides him is the statue “Tribute of Love”, and there are two lovers on a park bench. He’s solo these days. Anyone wanna date him?)
As you can see by this picture he really did set it up so I could get solo shots. Now the Boyfriend is walking behind him to his left and everyone is spread out. I’ve discussed this before when I shot Sammi Jo, Jamie Foxx, Dev Patel and Kendra in other shots where their entourage steps to the side so that I could get a solo shot, but again I really just didn’t know what would happened if I started shooting him and people would notice it was him. Would the girls start running after him like the Beibs? Although for him to walk towards me like that it might have been a missed opportunity. What do you think?
He seems to be wondering what kind of paparazzi was I? “Smuck, I need some press man cause my film’s gonna drop and well you know how sequels go, they are usually just cash cows cause folks didn’t want to see the first movie end; we just hope the first weekend cleans up or we’re gonna be the next SATC Part 2.”Wait is it me or is Bradley wearing the same shirt as yesterday? Such a guy, I think he is wearing the same blue shirt as the one in the R2L photo from the day before? Well, maybe he knows he looks hot in blue and has a dozen of those shirts? (I have a dz black shirts.)
Now the slow speed chase takes itself near 19th & Walnut. Let’s go over this, they entered in the middle of the block on 18th Street, hung a left towards the center, made a right through the center, made a right towards 19th Street and walked along Walnut Street towards 18th Street
and stopped near the SUV across the street from Barnes & Noble. Hmm
This shot was kinda heart breaking as he says goodbye to his mom. He’s now in Toronto promoting the film which drops May 26. PS Ohhhh sorry to my lunch date for being 30 minutes late. PSS Those celebs like Parc, R2L & Del Friscos.