osted by WMMR’s Jacky Bam Bam hosted Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue and his new book at a signing at Barnes & Noble last night. “This is Gonna Hurt”
About the book: Music, Photography and Life Through The Distorted Lens Of Nikki Sixx, a follow up to his New York Times bestseller, The Heroin Diaries. Just about 750 fans line up to see Nikki, short of the 2,000 he signed for earlier this week in DC.
Nikki was last in town about 4 years ago in 2007. It was then that I really learned about who he was as a celebrity, rocker, role model and how devoted fans his fans are, the Motley Crue as you will see. Sometimes a person might judge a rocker fan with tats, tattered clothing, cursing like a sailor, and long hair, but get beyond the fashion armor and you’ll discover we all need a little love, and desire to be accepted and connected as we are; Nikki fans make up several generations and I found moms, dads and kids in line waiting for hours for a chance to meet Sixx. Rock fans (especially Nikki Sixx) seem to be very genuine, p[passionate and friendly; I would never pass up an opportunity to cover his signings and get a chance to meet the Motley Crew that flocked out in devotion to see him. Many folks were dressed in their favorite concert t shirts and told me the stories of each event, a few were in suits, scrubs, but most were dressed in my choice of clothing all black. Although many came from the tri-state area, I did hear stories of a women who flew in from Iowa, and met more than that who drove down from Albany, up from DC and over from Ohio.
Sugar Free, Yvonne Cuslen aka Vonnie C, Melanie Cunningham with Officer Strange. Wendy Stumpf made espresso brownies and brought Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters Jamaican Me Crazy coffee…from Rochester NY for Nikki Sixx. OK I’m awake.
Debbie & Ally Rivera brought “XS” Energy Drinks for him,
Pretty in Pink – Stylin’ with that hat. Adorable
Hello. Many of these fans arrived early in the morning to pick up their wrist bands.
but there’s a whole crew inside the building in group “A” that arrived the night before. Their reward, they got to hang during the day inside the building.
These fans, and by that I mean a lot of them follow Nikki Stixx from city to city on his tour. Many folks said they follow the band too. They’re like the Grateful Dead fans of years gone by, although there seemed to be a lot less pot smoking in their crowd, and by that I mean none at all. – Lori Mudrick, on left, drove in from Alliance, Ohio as this was the closest if come to hear. She plans the works at 6Am back in Ohio, and she tells me she’s going to make it.
Rock
On


Shawn, Lari, Jessica and TJ traveled down from Pocono, Pa to meet Nikki. They brought son Andrew’s guitar to see if they could get it signed. Andrew couldn’t come cause he is in boot camp preparing to be deployed to Afghanistan. They were hoping that the good folks at B&N would not confiscate it and hold it like they said they would as Nikki was only signing his book. All the fans know that is not the case, Nikki signs whatever you put in front of him. I tried to locate his publicist, but it was too chaotic when Sixx came in. i do hope they were able to get it signed.

Fun scarf. So many generations love Motley Crue.

Crystal Snider and Dean Pierce. He’s a Nikki fan, but is also getting a graph for his sister who couldn’t make it.
Jimmi Shrode

Jenny Penny was bringing him a dozen black roses.


A few Cheerleaders
Can you guess which person is not a Nikki Sixx fan per se, but does love a good photo with a celebrity. He paid $100 bucks to switch places with someone in the front of the line just to get a pix with Nikki. It must have been somewhat odd for Sixx since the guy didn’t have any books to sign, and well the rules were you don’t get a picture with only a picture of, but I saw it and he quickly got the shot he wanted of him and a celeb.

First in line, this crew got to B&N the day before a little before the witching hour of Midnite. Anthony Prestianni, Millvile, Stacie Ortiz, Heather Camp, Morgan Heino, Philadelphia, Paula Lytle, Middletown, Samantha Hunt Grantville, Rosette Watts and Jessica Cole both of Elmira NY, Jodi White, from near a town near Buffalo, NY
Reunion: 4 years ago when Nikki Sixx was in town to promote the Heroin book I met this girl and told her story on my blog that proceeded this one, “Confessions of a Paparazzi”
She had 90 days sober and at the signing gave Nikki her 30 day sober coin. It was touching and I send her a dozen or so photos of the event. Here she was 4 years sober later with the photos that I had sent her and now she was going to get them signed. So sweet. We had a little public AA meeting right then and there chatting about the gifts of sobriety. I get to write mine each and every day right here on PhillyChitChat.com, thanks for your support. So wonderful to re-connect with her and meet her sister too. XOXO

Looking good

Unlike last time, Nikki Sixx wanted intimate times with his fans and asked the photogs to leave. I can relate, he’s a great guy and really has a special relationship with his fans and they probably tell him lots of personal things.
He shook all the photographers hands and thanked them for coming. I got to tell him I was going to celebrate my 20th year sober this year and he grin widely and congratulated moi!

The Philadelphia Soul held a practice session on Market Street in Center City Philly today. Mayor Michael Nutter and former Governor Ed Rendell attended.I thought becoming a full time blogger would have allowed me to go out and cover whatever whenever, but darn I have responsibilities and I couldn’t make it. But thanks to Daniel Morroni, CEO at Morroni custom clothing for the use of these photos.
The team will be shutting down the 16th and 17th block of Market Street in Center City on Thursday, May 5 from noon to 1 p.m. to hold the first ever professional sports team practice on the streets of Philadelphia. The ‘walkthrough’ practice was opened to the public and will be the last practice prior to the Soul’s home game against the Jacksonville Sharks on Friday, May 6 at the Wells Fargo Center, with kickoff at 7:05 p.m. (EST).
Head coach MIKE HOHENSEE and entire coaching staff; Mayor of Philadelphia MICHAEL NUTTER; Former Governor of Pennsylvania ED RENDELL; Co-Majority Owner RON JAWORSKI; Co-Majority Owner CRAIG A. SPENCER; Member of the Ownership Group, PETE CIARROCCHI; Member of the Ownership Group, COSMO DeNICOLA; 2011 Soulmates; VINNIE THE CRUMB; Mascot, SoulMan.

Two years ago The Soul won their ” 2008 Arena Bowl Championship” and had an awesome a parade on Market Street. I was there and here are those snaps.

Last Call Promotions invited me to the Miss USA Send Off and Fundraiser at R2l For Amber-Joi Watkins Miss Pennsylvania USA 2011Last week. I did ask Amber if The Donald asked her who she was voting for for president next year what would she say? “I haven’t made up my mind yet,” was her answer. Not sure if the Donald would accept that answer, he’s fairly black and gray in his life as I see it. OK well let’s hope that the pageant is based on what the USA Pageant seems to be and that is beauty. Amber-Joi is a shoe in for that. Above she’s with her brother Henry Watkins and BFF Kate Beaver.

Mom Kathleen Watkins tells me she is very proud and excited for Amber-Joi and will be making the trip out to Las Vegas to see her compete in June.
I spotted a few familar faces in the crowd including Shariff, Courtney Grant, Hacina Saadi and David Helfrick. Both Hacina and Courtney can be found at Serafina, as they will be hostessing. Serafina is scheduled to open May 27th just in time for Memorial Day Weekend.

Sean Weatherspoon, Alexis Sophia, Isaiah Mares and Bobby McRae
Miss Teen Pa, Madison Longstreth. Madison is from Spring Grove which is located in southwestern York County, about seven miles southwest of York, PA, Mike Bankus, who is standing next to lady killer Arthur Kade (Madison stay far away from this guy.), and Ed Dale. Vote for your favorite dress and swimsuit for the Miss Teen USA pageant July 16th!! http://www.missuniverse.com/missteenusa/polls/view/20

Justin Rentzel

Chad, Dan Forestor, Barret Vance and Phillip Baldenton
Maris Montague and Glenn A Longstreth
Dustin Kaplan and Maria Axarlli. The night benefited “Students Run Philly”
Also coming up MIDATLANTIC will be taping this year’s first keg of Stoudt’s Ex Gratia, serve a 3 course feast with proceeds from Ex Gratia benetitting Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. $30 dinner, Ex Gratia $10 5/12 6PM reservations 215-386-3711

Looks like a lot of people as the line snakes down the street and around the corner down Chestnut from the Krispy Kreme Philadelphia store And mind you that only the first 11 people received free donuts for a year.
Others received a cup of coffee that day and up to the 100th person received a TShirt, but they were cool Tshirts and these folks were excited to grab one.
The front of the line: for the majority of the night it was bone dry, but fifteen minutes before the doors were to open there was a downpour and most people were prepared, except for my camera which got soaked.Tyler Altenhufen brought a tent with him and his buddy from Temple, Jeremy Wright. That’s Mia with the umbrella she got there about 9PM. Jennifer Mislinski and Tabitha Fetch brought their pillows but there was no sleep to be had. Although I think they may have made friends with the guys in front of them when the boys weren’t sleeping.
These are the T-Shirt people. They arrived around 5AM
Finally at 6AM the Hot Doughnut light went on and Krispy Kreme PR David Neff, of Neff Associates opened the doors to the delight of all the people especially the ones in front who had gotten there like Ryan Hatt over 12 hours earlier. #2 – #10 were all in place by 11PM. Those folks get a dozen doughnuts every month for a year. Jeremy Wright and Tyler Altenhufen were 6 & 7 in line. These guys brought along a tent and had all the I forgot to ask them if they really drank all that OJ while waiting for 9 hours? The last thing I would want to do waiting in line
Lori Aghazarian and Cheri Tay are very happy with their TShirts. I love that the “O” is missing a bite out of it.
The Lee Family – People in orange shirts are managers.
Mike Barnes, Developmental director for Kisses for Kyle, Sharon Snyder, Sharon is the founder of a charity called “Kisses for Kyle”. The Kisses for Kyle Foundation offers a variety of services to families fighting childhood cancer in the Delaware Valley. Cousins and business partners, Keith Morgan and Brian Zaslow, who also own the Krispy Kreme doughnut store in Fox Chase and plans one in Collingswood, NJ, Braden Young, Sales and Marketing Manger, Jim Rudofker, GM of 16th Street Krispy Kreme.
Co-founder of Geekadelphia Eric Smith stops by to pick up a dozen for his soon to be happy Quirk Books coworkers.
Jazmine Gould and Ryan Hatt leave with their bounty.
When I left at 9:30AM the line had finally eased up to the point where the door could be shut, but at lunch time the doors were wide open again with folks in line. It might just be another place I tweet about where I tell my followers whether there’s a line or not. Currently I do it for the Rocky statue.

Call for the Cure, CBS Philly’s five-hour on-air fundraiser for the upcoming Susan G. Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure® (Mother’s Day, May 8th), raised $553,157 for breast cancer research, education and outreach today during its live broadcast from the CBS 3 and The CW Philly’s station’s Great Hall. All seven of Philadelphia’s CBS stations — CBS 3 (KYW-TV), The CW Philly 57 (WPSG-TV), KYW Newsradio 1060, 98.1 WOGL, 94 WYSP, SportsRadio 610 WIP and the new Talk Radio 1210AM WPHT, local presenting sponsors of the Race, participated in the fundraiser.

***************

I was supposed to go to this event on Monday night, but it completely slipped my mind. I went to the Sporting Club with my pal GN Kang instead, and when we went to the Denmark slightly over priced coffee sandwich shop xstreet we ran into Shane Victorino and Jesse Rendell on our way out. GN looks fabulous in her work out clothes, I on the otherhand could scare Transylvania. We chatted for a few minutes and well I know some of you would kill to be in my place at that moment I wished to be anywhere else. The Cashman girls were kind enough to send a few photos over from the event. Here’s the story:

Morton’s The Steakhouse Philadelphia and the Richie Ashburn-Harry Kalas Foundation hosted the 2011 Richie Ashburn-Harry Kalas Foundation Dinner. Current and former Philadelphia Phillies, Charlie Manuel, Ruben Amaro, Jr., the Phillies broadcast team, and other special guests will be in attendance for a fun-filled evening!

Roy Halladay, Scott Palmer, and Carlos Ruiz (Chooch)Darren Daulton, Juan Samuel, and Ruben Amaro Jr.

Photo Credit: Miles Kennedy

*********************

I hear Ken Paves of Jessica Simpson hairstylist fame was shopping at King of Prussia Mall Monday.

Mayor Nutter says City Hall and the Phila Film Society is having a screening of the movie Philadelphia in the Mayor’s Reception Room on May 16

Grammy-winning singing sensation and ’90s superstar Shania Twain will be making an appearance at Chester County Book Company – Paoli Pike. West Chester, PA. Saturday, May 7, signing copies of her new memoir, “From This Moment On.” Named after Twain’s chart-topping duet with country star Brian White. In her book she talks about her early years singing, her parents death in a car accident, her storybook marriage divorce and her new marriage to Swiss businessman Frederic Thiebaud, the ex-husband of Marie-Anne Thiebaud, with whom Twain’s ex, Mutt Lange, had an affair). The two scorned parties, Shania and Frederic, found comfort in one another during the scandal and have been inseparable ever since, finally marrying on New Year’s Day 2011. If that isn’t a country song in the making, well at least a book.

2011 Azalea Garden Party – Party in the Garden still on tonight. There’s a big tent in the Azaela Garden and it’s in bloom.

Hung out in Rittenhouse Square in between gigs. Reflecting on how blessed my life is…

A letter from a friend who’s family has suffered in the Alabama Tornado’s Kimberly Cook Fink on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 12:53pmDear friends… thank you all for the love and support over the last few days. Your prayers mean more than you know. My family suffered a devastating loss during the storms here in Alabama. My family lives together in the country outside of Tuscaloosa. Of the five homes (aunts, grandmother, cousin, and parents) we had a complete loss of 3 of the homes and damage to the others. Many of you have reached out asking what you can do. FEMA and Red Cross are working with our community to provide basic living needs. Beka [Rendell] will be organizing donations. We are grateful for anything that you would like to donate. The most helpful items are things to help in recovery. BP gas cards are particularly helpful as we need gas to run generators and chainsaws. Another helpful item are Lowes gift cards. We need items such as work gloves, chainsaws, tarps, etc. Beka will also be working to set up a fund for my aunt. The only thing that remains of her home are the bushes that were in front of her home. She is battling cancer now and her medications, which cost over 5,000 a month were in her home. Beka will be sharing more information on how to help her in the coming days on our blog at Styledcreative.com. Your love has just overwhelmed me. I am not able to personal respond now, but please now how much it means. Please send gift cards to 116 arch street, Philadelphia pa 19106! Here is what they need: Visa Gift Cards Lowes Gift Cards BP Gas Gift Cards Thank You Kimberly**********************

Last night the Art Sanctuary and the Office of Mayor Nutter hosted Sonia Sanchez “Live at City Hall!” *Mayor Nutter said he’d like to continue these special nights of performances.) Opening with the all-female drumming group, MOM (Music Over Matter), followed by performances by Jamal Dickerson and the Camden Creative Arts High School jazz ensemble, and youth from the Universal Institute Charter School reciting lines of Sanchez’s Poetry.

Mayor Nutter gifted the great poet laureate Sonia Sanchez with the Liberty Bell from the City, and also announced that the City of Philadelphia is launching the Poet Laureate program, with author and Art Sanctuary founder Lorene Cary and poet/professor Sonia Sanchez in a lead position. Also seen in the crowd, Erica Atwood, Mrs Kenny Gamble, Greta Greenberger, Megan Smith, Gary Steuer, director of Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Brett Corbin, and Dorothy Powell-Wright,

There are many reasons to honor Sonia Sanchez. Not only is she Philadelphia’s unofficial poet laureate and the author of 19 books of poetry and prose, as well as two audio recordings, she is also a respected professor and sought-after lecturer. Sanchez has taught as a professor at eight universities and has lectured at over 500 college campuses across the US, including Howard University. She advocated the introduction of Black Studies courses in California, and was the first to create and teach a course based on Black Women and literature in the United States. Sanchez was the first Presidential Fellow at Temple University where she began working in 1977, and where she held the Laura Carnell chair until her retirement in 1999. Sanchez received a 1993 Pew Fellowship in the Arts, and has read her poetry in Africa, the Caribbean, China, Australia, Europe, Nicaragua, Canada, and Cuba. Sanchez is an icon. It’s always an honor when I am in her presence.

Read about the first guy in line at the Krispy Kreme Doughnut Store opening today. http://www.phillychitchat.com/2011/05/meet-guy-whos-first-in-line-for-krispy.html

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts opens it’s doors to the public at 16th & Chestnut Streets in Center City Philadelphia in less than 8 hrsCenter City has been anticipating it’s own Krispy Kreme Doughnuts store since the franchise first flirted with the City about 5 years ago, and then faded away. These new stores are owned by Krispy Kreme corporation and are popping up all over the country. First in our area was the one in Fox Chase, and now we get our own right downtown across from Liberty Place
Earlier today I wrote about the VIP Party on Monday night here. Inside the store tonight you can see the many racks of trays ready for the hot fresh donuts that will be handed out beginning at 6AM when the Hot Doughnut light gets turned on.

• First person in line gets a dozen donuts every week for a whole year
• 2 – 10 peeps get a dozen doughnuts a month.
• Next 20 customers: 20 free medium cups of Krispy Kreme Coffee (1 per visit)
• First 100 customers: official Krispy Kreme T-shirt
• From 2-4:30pm on May 4, 2011 – customers will receive one free Original Glazed doughnut (offer good while supplies last)

There was already someone in line when I walked by at 9PM tonight…
Meet Ryan Hatt, first in line and looking forward to a dozen Krispy Kreme Doughnuts every week for a year. Ryan, 20, arrived at 4:30PM with a back pack of granola bars, water, his phone and an umbrella. He said he has a lot of patience and once waited for Justin Beiber tickets for 18 hrs. He works at the Philadelphia Zoo and he feeds birds. He’s a blogger and a baker. He writes about what he bakes at Ryans Baking Blog. He’s a big fan of doughnuts, but has never had a Krispy Kreme doughnut. (That’s not gonna be a problem anymore.) Currently his favorite doughnuts are from Doughnut Plant in NYC. He’s a vegetarian, but not a vegan which is good cause Krispy Kreme glazed doughnuts are vegetarian but not vegan. He lives in South Philly with a roommate and two cats. He’s a big Lindsay Lohan fan and has a tshirt that says Free Lindsay. He wants to live in Toronto someday, but believes it will be after his year of doughnuts. The folks at Krispy Kreme gave him the TShirt before they left for the night, Ryan says it’s too big but after a year of eating doughnuts everyday he might grow into it.
Someone tweeted 30 minutes ago that there are now 2 people in line. Ryan will be tweeting his adventures all night long at @ryansbakingblog He just tweeted [that]

As Krispy Kreme Doughnuts opens it’s doors to the public at 16th & Chestnut Streets in Center City Philadelphia.
Yesterday I stopped in for a quick bite VIP party
and took a few pictures
The menu is much more extensive than I thought
and the donuts not as high in calories.
In honor of their grand opening Krispy Kreme is giving away free donuts
The grand opening festivities will kick off at 6am (I’ll be there photographing the whole shebang) and door prizes include:
• 1st customer: one free dozen Original Glazed doughnuts every week for a year.
• Next 11 customers: one free dozen Original Glazed doughnuts every month for a year.
• Next 20 customers: 20 free medium cups of Krispy Kreme Coffee (1 per visit)
• First 100 customers: official Krispy Kreme T-shirt
• From 2-4:30pm on May 4, 2011 – customers will receive one free Original Glazed doughnut (offer good while supplies last) For more information, visit: www.krispykremephilly.com/grandopening/ or connect on Facebook.
Melts in your mouth, really next time you see me you’re going to tell me I was right.
Sharon and Bob Snyder with son Jake. Sharon is the founder of a charity called “Kisses for Kyle”. The Kisses for Kyle Foundation offers a variety of services to families fighting childhood cancer in the Delaware Valley. The foundation is working on creating a Lady Bug donut to sell to raise funds for the charity.
Krispy Kreme has more breakfast foods than just donuts. Although donuts really are an anytime kinda thing, especially when the hot light is on.
Charles Jones and Sharif
Even the mommy bloggers showed up Cecily with daughter Tori and mommy blogger Dresden

Tomorrow morning the Hot Donut sign goes on for the first time at 6AM. –

Happiness is a “Hot Fresh Now” Krispy Kreme Donut Sign

Last Thursday before running over to the Utley All Star event, I stopped by the Borowsky-Wagman home in Society Hill which is high above the Washington Square neighborhood in Philadelphia.

Mr Irvin Borowsky and his wife Laurie Wagman were gracious enough to open their Society Hill home featuring an exquisite collection of privately owned original paintings by Marc Chagall, the gathering was a fundraiser organized by The Gershman Y, Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Philadelphia Theatre Company. There was a champagne dinner with Philadelphia Museum of Art curator Michael R. Taylor and the dinner was followed by the premiere of Bella: The Color of Love – Opening Night at the Suzanne Roberts Theater.Suzanne Roberts was in attendance along with her husband Ralph J. Roberts who founded Comcast.
Hosts Laurie Wagman and Irvin Borowky with Sherry Rubin, Executive Director Gershman Y
Even the dessert looked artistic. At the Gershman Y catch Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner Thursday 5/5 7PM
Lisa Simon, Simon Pr, Laura and Jeremy Wintraub
Dr. Ed and Rebecca Schulman
David Feldman, Marilyn Frank, Mimi Katz and Gary Lozoff; Bella: The Color of Love, a new world premiere theatrical cabaret concert about Bella Chagall, Marc Chagall’s wife and muse, is a theatrical and musical journey into the mind of Bella and her years with Marc from Russia to the lights of Paris to America. And was part of the Philadelphia International Festival of Arts, which concluded on Sunday. I hope they bring this show back again, it sounds so wonderful.
Joseph Zuritsky, CEO Parkway and wife Renee. Zuritsky was just in the news last week about the astronomical 20% parking tax levied against the parking garages in the City. He told me he hopes that it will be reduced in the next 5 years.
Michael Coleman, Sherrie Savett, Steven Starr (but not that one he jokes) and Alan Lindy
Lisa Simon, Simon PR, Philadelphia Museum of Art curator Michael R. Taylor, Irvin Borowky and Laurie Wagman