Friday The Royal Wedding was done Parx Casino-style. Last Friday Prince William and Kate Middleton impersonators “married” at the posh casino in Bensalem, Pa.

The Trumpetters welcome Kate,
er Katherine
The couple join hands for a serious re-enactmentCongratulations!
Then went on to try their luck in the casino.
Parx Casino made the priest available to renew and bless anyone who wanted the service. In the morning, 8AM, 4 couples showed up. At the 7PM service nearly 30 couples showed up. WOW
Dianne and John Jablonski with the bride and groom
Isobel and John Bulmers, met through friends and on Friday celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary
Kathy and Bob Sahasay Lo with the entire wedding party
Here are the evening couples at Parx Casino preparing to renew their vows.Patty and Anthony
Art and Mary
5o years today!! Bill and Linda Harold and Dorothy Case.
Were neighbors and have been married for 60 years
Joseph and Trudy
All ages were represented at the wedding, and the couples took their moment very seriously. It was touching.
Then there was the surprise dance
then the flash dance, which was impressive since all these dancers were Parx employees. Check out the video here
The End

PhillyChitChatter: Great news about Osama Bin Laden. Check out Sunday’s blog entries by hitting the HOME button in the upper left corner.
When did the name of the restaurant at the Westin change to Winthorpe and Valentine? Do you know what movie that name is from? It was filmed in Philly.
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society is Having A Party in the Garden May 4, 2011 6 PM – 9PM
Thursday night Lisa Wu-Hartwell was spotted at Miss Tootsie’s. Lisa’s been in town filming a new Charles Dutton film at Sigma Sound.
Whisper found Corey Howard, and his brother Ryan Howard and fiance Krystle Campbell enjoying themselves in one of the VIP Sky Boxes. DJ Royale was spinning. Saturday night Wanda Sykes and burger king Bobby Flay both had dinner at Marc Vetri’s Osteria, but not together. Also Saturday night, Tommy Hilfiger was supposed to be on hand to receive the ninth recipient of the Philadelphia University Spirit of Design award. At the last minute he backed out, citing personal matters. Carson Kressley was on hand to give him the award, but in the end accepted it for him even mimicking Hilfingers voice while giving a mock thank you speech. Love that Carson.
Today Bill Cosby is on The Ten Show. Here’s the Green Room. The walls on the outside have been signed by guests that appeared on the show.
It’s over for PIFA, but the memories will last a lifetime. Oh and the cube stays. It will show the upcoming events happening at the Kimmel Center.

The Philadelphia International Festival of The Arts Inspired by the Kimmel Center, and made possible by a grant by Philadelphia Philanthropist Leonore Annenberg, whose vision for a city-wide celebration of the arts shaped it’s philosophy and programing. The PIFA street festival was a huge success as nearly a hundred thousand descended onto Broad Street for the day long Moment in Time that is now part of Philadelphia’s colorful, artisticI arrived around mid-day to see Broad Street in full of smiling happy folks wearing paper crowns as if they were the next commoner to inherit a kingdom.
It was amazing the little details that added to the day
Wells Fargo had a stage coach in front of their building where people could pose for photos.
People dressed in costume animals, clowns even a growing to the delight of children


Speaking of children – Jesse Frank and his wife Diana are expecting a child this summer. Congratulations!!
a garden in the middle of Broad Street
Families willing to wait 90 minutes from this point, the guy is telling them, to have their face painted
Arthur Kade, Kate Beaver and friend. Kate tells me she did the flash mob after reading it on PhillyChitChat. That’s awesome since I didn’t make it as I was still in bed after my 14hr photo shoot at Parx Casino Friday.

This girl is taking a picture of a rock and her friend is taking a picture of her taking a picture of a rock
Nicole and Charles Paloux with Mrs. Bilcher
WTF? That did actually scare me cause the animal was so out of context for me.
Can we keep this ?
Lots of fun fashion on the Avenue
pretty girls
pretty babies
Donald Carter
Kerry O’Connor, Director of Public Relations for Magee Rehabilitation wants everyone to come to Friday’s fundraiser. “Magee Rehabilitation Hospital’s Night of Champions” Friday, May 6, 2011 6:30 P.M.. Penn’s Landing Caterers/Sheet Metal Workers Union Hall
Lovely bow

I guess when they planned their wedding they didn’t realize that Broad Street would not be a good place to take wedding photos on April 30, 2011
Laura and friends
Carol Fritz sporting one of the SA VA banner coats. Only 60 were made from the Free Library Festival Banners. I wonder if we can make PIFA Banner coats and raise some money for the Orchestra?
Doc Parghi, Kate Slattery and RJ Cacciutti
My Fairmount neighbor Barbara Epstein who volunteered for the PIFA event and also for the education programs at the Kimmel.
There were lots of photo opportunities on the Avenue
Especially the Maze
The 7PM crowd to see the Effiel Tower Show. Good news, the Kimmel Center is keeping the Effiel Tower at least through the summer. I would beg them to keep it forever. I see a new gala called save the Effiel Tower Gala, fundraisers etc. This is a piece of history that needs to be saved. Remember all the buildings dismantled after the 1876 World Exposition in Fairmount Park, and how people regretted it many years later. This would put the Kimmel Center on the map for tourism, like the Rocky Steps, or The Liberty Bell. People would come to the arts hall to enjoy the light show as well as just to marvel at the masterpiece.The view from the Kimmel Center balcony, at the Founders Party. Love this overview of Broad Street and the Festival.
Councilman Bill Green and Marjorie Green
Dennis Reilly and ABC6’s Nydia Han
Mimi Dimeling, Alan and Louise Reed. Louise and Mimi were part of the PIFA Steering Committee.
And it begins the La Compagnie Trans Express Jester

“The fair is an amazing culmination of PIFA, inspired by the Kimmel Center and its celebration of Philadelphia’s arts and culture community,” said Anne Ewers, the center’s president and chief executive.
“This sunset performance of La Compagnie Transe Express promises to be one of the most spectacular outdoor performances Philadelphia has ever experienced,”

Ewers says. “We’re grateful to our community for embracing PIFA and honored that the Kimmel Center was able to lead this inaugural festival.”

Spectacular

Copyright ‘Ray Skwire’

Copyright ‘Ray Skwire’

I want to thank everyone involved with PIFA, especially the people I worked with on a regular bases Public Relations Firm Nina Zucker and her crew, Ed Salvato who managed the PIFA Bloggers, and all the Kimmel Center folks, especially Dafni D. Comerota, Kimmel Center Public Relations. As someone who loves the City, and writes about it on a daily basis, this event rocked and changed the way Philadelphia is going to be viewed by others especially in the arts and culture worlds. Let’s do it again in two years!!

This feature is brought to you with the support of PIFA (Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts). If you’re interested in the events, and want to help ensure that PIFA becomes an annual event please Like their Facebook Page and follow them on Twitter!

About two months ago and with much fan fare Arrow Swim Club held it’s sneak preview party (for the May 15 Grand Opening)at Tendenza, another new hot spot in the Northern Liberties/Piazza neighborhood. The Piazza as you know, is Bart Blatstein’s innovated new living district. He built houses around a central courtyard, a main street living concept with businesses and restaurants to sustain it’s tenants. A lot of naysayers did not embrace his vision, some of the locals looked down on it. But when it opened it was a success, people loved living in the modern apartments over looking a very active central courtyard, whose TV or festivals would drive others crazy. Now a pool joins the neighborhood. You would think it would have been welcomed with open arms, but the marketing was put together quickly this past winter and the message was misunderstood. The message most people heard was it was going to be a “velvet rope” atmosphere and you would have to pass a scrutinized membership form. That is not the case, the membership form was basically on par with any agreement you would sign for a car, a cell phone, an apartment and the Lombard Swim Club. I think what got lost in translation, as it was on me, did the membership form represent a sorta judging on whether we were good enough to be a member. I’ve talked to Nicole Cashman, and the membership form was really about safety, to assure that you could leave your stuff unattended to jump in the pool and not have to worry that someone walked off with it. It was a credit check, something everyone does when you apply for a service, even when you apply for a job they check your credit. The Lombard Swim Club and the Arrow Swim are on par with each other except for the location, parking and it’s for adults 21 and older. Both clubs have similar fees and membership forms. The pool is almost ready to open with it’s Free Yoga on the weekends, Movie Nights, Cocktail Parties, season running til mid October. On warm days you can swim a pool as the leaves are changing. A friend of mine told me that since she’s pregnant she can’t really lay out, although she’d like to swim, I told her about the overhang and that you can place your chair under there and then go for a dip. I hear that the upper deck with the lounge chairs have been extended to go halfway around the pool area. The Cabana’s can now be rented for half days too.

Who are the members, people who want great service, a clean pool, fun activities and to know that the spot they’re laying on wasn’t just pooper scooped an hour earlier. Thomas Finnegan and Lex Wainwright told me at the party they were joining.
Kathy Jacobsen and Stacey Applestein might be happy to hear that Arrow Swim Club relaxed their guest policy to 5 visits per one guest per season (the same as Lombard Swim Club) – Meaning if your spouse doesn’t join, he can come with you up to 5xs that season.
$20.00 per guest per visit (Mon-Thurs, all seasons)
$30.00 per guest per visit (Fri-Sun, May to June 1; September 6 to October 16)
$40.00 per guest per visit (Fri-Sun & holidays)

The above photo is from Streets Dept who snuck in and got a few photos. He’s not a big fan of the pool basically for the price, but everyone I’ve talked to thinks the price is fine. A trip to the beach for a weekend is $1,000. Broken down it’s about $5 a day to go to the pool. Have you seen the menu it’s not gouging as he feared: menu on Grub Street Philly
It’s a great place to bring clients too to discuss business as you eat by the cabana bar over looking the pool. And then there’s the Chenango restaurant and fire pit lounge. Their hours are later than the pools and anyone can enjoy those places.
And Top Cheftestant Jen Carroll’s joining with beau Mark. It’s gonna be a great summer. Malloy on Philadelphia Speaks.com says it best “I think its safe to say anyone who moved into NoLibs these last few years (including many/most renters) can afford a $1000 fee for a cool place to go (daily if they wish) … People spend more than that on cigarettes! I think Cashman knows the city well…Id bet on her vision.”

Philadelphia Phillies’ second baseman, Chase Utley and his wife, Jennifer Utley hosted the 4th Annual Utley All-Star Animals Casino Night to raise funds for the Pennsylvania SPCA’s efforts to fight animal cruelty at the Electric Factory on 7th Ave near Callowhill.
The red carpet for the Utley event started at 6:30PM, but I had another event I wanted to shoot first which I will write about next week.
To see this guy protesting that Chase wasn’t living up to the Utley Foundation Mission, which is “Our mission is to educate the community in the proper treatment of animals and raise funds for the fight against animal neglect, pain and suffering.” The guy went on to say that last year Chase served a vegetarian meal, this year it he was serving chicken. “Do you know how inhumane it is for chicken’s to die for dinner.” He told me. I was kinda shocked I would have thought Chase would serve steak. I was surprised that someone would protest an organization that was doing good by animals and making a difference in saving so many lives by promoting the adoption of dogs & cats from kennels instead of having them bred or buying at a pet store. As well as the awareness of dog fighting as being unacceptable. I can’t stand protesters that throw the baby out with the bath water. (UPDATE: I’ve heard from one of my vegan readers who is upset with my remarks: I’m sorry I just think it’s ridiculous to protest someone who is making a real difference in the world of protecting animals, even if it doesn’t go all the way to the point that agrees with vegan-ism. He has a right to protest, but I am happy that someone as recognizable as the Utley’s put themselves out there to support this important cause.) A whole lotta people supporting a good cause at the Electric Factory
CBS3’s Susan Barnett and Michael Barkann from Comcast Sports do the MC honors.
One of the Russian roulette tables near the red carpet. I later found out that my friend Jill Rizen was one of the big winners of the night. Congrats. Stephenie and Kyle Kendrick. It’s great to see them back in the City. Both are very excited for their first child to be born in September. So nice those two. (Later that evening I ran into them [& the Hamels] at Table 31 with my buddy G-N Kang.)I really didn’t have a very good spot on the red carpet, because I arrived late all the press was already in position, – Béke Beau did Jen’s make up. and then I was also trying to monitor who was walking behind me so that I could catch a photo of one of my peeps like…Jimmy Kazanjian and Lisa Gaudio Kazanjian who came close enough to the Red Carpet for me to get a shot of them. We weren’t allowed to wander through the crowd like we were two years ago. (I didn’t go last year)
Ryan Howard and fiance Krystle Campbell. They just got engaged and are glowing.Jesse Rendell and his dad, Gov Ed Rendell with Jen & Chase Utley. (Not in the photo is Beka Rendell.)
Jimmy and Johari Smith with The Utley’s
At the end of the “official” red carpet, er black carpet I was able to round up a few peeps standing nearby like Adam Spivak and Karen SajdaAnnette and Perry Swartz were excitied to mingle with the players

Michelle Helfrich and Kathy Kittle; I wonder if Michelle is related to Andrea Helfrich who was just Miss Philadelphia?
Jess and Jake
Allison and Aaron Greenfield. Looks like there was more than one lady in the house expecting a little one this year.Cole Hamels signs for a fan with GN Kang & Heidi Hamels looking on. (If Michael Klein was still doing his column, this is the shot that would have gone in it.)
And on my way out I caught Don and Renee Freeman, with Lauren O’Dorisio and Philadelphia Style Magazine Publisher John Colabelli strolling in. For more info on the Utley Foundation contact them here. (PS I’ll be away from my computer all day so I won’t be able to publish any comments. Happy Royal Wedding Day!)

Last week we were at the Hotel Palomar for their Green Happy Hour, this week they hosted the VIP Kick Off Party for Equality Forum. Started in 1993, Equality Forum is a seven day celebration of international gay culture, educational seminars, discussion, parties and fun.
What the Tech? Vince Lattanzio, of NBC Philadelphia, Erin Como, Jillian Mele, traffic and The Ten Show cohost, and Chris Blackman, Vice President of News, NBC 10. NBC10 has been a consist sponsor of Equality Forum for the past 19 years.
Rosemary Connors was also on hand. Here she chats with another fav at NBC10, Eight-time Emmy award-winning journalist Lu Ann Cahn. Lu Ann does investigative reporting as well as is a co-host of The Ten Show with Bill Henley. So these days you get three personalities, three views, three times more fun.
Art and Stevie Martin-Chester have gone to Equality Forum for the past 19 years.
Kim Zachery, Erin Como, Francesco Vuono and LuAnn Cahn. Francesco is an Assignment Editor at LNS – Local News Service, is a new organization where several of the broadcast stations share news stories, and camera people. For example a Fox 29 camera person filmed the event and the clip could be seen on CBS3, NBC10 and on Fox 29. (Update: they don’t share reporters.)
Malcolm Lazin’s Equality Forum presents its Distinguished Service Award to Governor Ed Rendell. Rendell was grateful for the years of support the GLBT community gave him over the years, and told various funny stories of his campaign bar hops on election eve. He also mention that every time he would run into Malcom he would hit him up for money for his campaigns. This time the shoe is on the other foot and Malcom is running a campaign to be the first gay man on City Council. Ed is going to donate money to his campaign. (Above Ed & Chelsea work the gay bars before the 2008 primaries)
Mike LaMonaca and Steve McCann, Philly Gay Calendar
Heather Coutts, Kelly Burkhardt, Gloria Casarez and Terrill Thompson
Mr. Philadelphia Dashiell Sears openly gay gymnast from Temple University and Donald Carter openly gay republican who once appeared on Bill Mahr.
Ted Martin, Executive director of Equality PA and Drew Fennell, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Delaware was happy to report that the Delaware civil unions law heads to governor for signature http://huff.to/gZxX5p
Mickey Rowley, James Conway, Thom Cardwell and Mel Heifetz.
Rick Naughton, Geoffrey Jackson, Sr. Brand Manager at Campbell Soup Co (Soup is good food, ya know) and Jason Lewis; can you tell which two guys have been dating for over a year. I think they are beginning to look a like, a little don’t you think? Check out the schedule for all the events going on related to the Equality Forum all the way up to the fabulous festival at the Piazza on Sunday, including the very gay brunch at PYT!