Philly Chit Chat

Donors Are Heroes hosted its 9th annual “The Party” last week at the Four Season’s Hotel. The money raised from ticket sales will go directly to help maintain our public awareness programs, school summits and teaching initiatives. All of which are geared to educate and dispel the myths surrounding becoming an organ donor and the need for life-saving, life-enhancing transplants. The party attracted approximately 500 guests – an increase compared to last year’s affair. This year’s Hero of the year recipients were Nicole Cashman, Cashman & Assocs. and Brian Kappra, Evantine Design. This year’s co-hosts were Lauren Huezo & Eric Allen, who did a fantastic job.
Tina Lamsback and her dad Robert Lamsback

Where have you been all winter: Erin Elmore and Janice Lim. Looking fabulous as usual.
Fox29’s Mike Jerrick, Joan Peliggi, Renee Freeman and 6ABC’s
Michele and Mike Haberman, Jared Solomon, Aryanna Abousuri, Nadine and Keith Mecca. Jared and I used to work at Kohn, Swift & Graf together.
WMMR’s Marisa Magnatta, Amy Gorman, DiBrunos Bros, Jim Magnatta, Erin Como, Marie Williamson, and Eric Allen Co-Chair of tonights event and Assistant Director of Catering at Four Seasons Hotels
Christian Kassis and Biana DeMarco. Biana has a new blog called Philly Fashionistas where she covers everything of interest for the fashionable women and man in your life.
Joe, Abe and Nicole from the Four Seasons catering preparing delicious duck for the guests.

Scott Lean, SweetTooth (Easter’s this week, I know you didn’t get your candy yet. 630 South 4th Street) and Holly Bigelow. Among those attending included: Mark Morgan, Jenna Braunstein, Brett Ciarelli, Mort Weinstock, Phyllis Weinstock, Christie Bonetti, Gus Caruso, Steve and Tamar Olitsky, and Noel Perate
Don and Renee Freeman with the event designer with a flair Brian Kappra, Evantine.
Newly crowned Miss Philadelphia Maria Sciorillo and Mike Vrancik
Mike Chobert and Barbara Katz-Chobert, R. Chobert Decorating Company
Nicole Cashman, Lauren O’Dorisio, Renee Freeman, John Colabelli and the nested Sabrina Tamburino Thorne. Steve Thorne told me earlier in the evening that he and Sabrina discovered they love staying in with friends, watching movies and just being low key this winter. Nicole tells me that Arrow Swim Club is coming along swimmingly, but there are still memberships to be had. It’s going to be 80F on Thursday, and May is just around the corner. There’s nothing like a little night swim to cool down after work.
Aly Green, Jeff Kellmer and Melanie Finley. Melanie is a 3 year Ovarian Cancer survivor and has her own foundation MFOCF Charity Event The Blue Hydrangea Tea Party When: Saturday May 7th 12:30pm Cost: $55 per person Where: The Union League of Philadelphia 140S Broad Street, Philadelphia – The Blue Hydrangea Tea Party is a national campaign to encourage greater awareness of ovarian cancer. Each year on the Saturday before Mother’s Day, women across the country gather in small groups to have tea and learn about the disease. Tickets
Stefanie and Jay Kitchner
Colin Smyth and Krista Guidi
Dr. Gregory Nelson and Michelle Arthur

Eric Cahill and Dana Spain. Dana hosts one of my favorite annual parties too, another shindig where the men and women wear their finest threads and throw caution to the wind of have a ruckus time. The 7th Annual Chefs’ Dinner for PAWS held again this year at the Union League on June 27, 2011
Until next year….
remember to fill out your Driver License Donor Card. During this most holy week and every week, remember all those wonderful people who have gone before us who were generous enough to donate their organs to make a difference in someone else’s life. In the Gift of Life Institute 401 N. 3rd Street Philadelphia, PA 19123 215-599-2025 you will see several quilts where each panel represents a donor’s life which was created by the recipient of their organ. A touching tribute.

On Easter Eve party (4/23) like the devil at the P Diddy Official After Dirty Diddy Concert PartyChelsea Hotel in Atlantic City on the Fifth Floor.

2011 Party in the Garden

Wednesday, May 4, 2011
6:00 – 9:00 pmat the Azalea Garden in Fairmount Park
between the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Boathouse Row
Cocktails and Hors d’oeuvres / Garden Party Attire

Visit www.pennhort.net/partyinthegarden to purchase tickets online or call 215-988-8805

We hope you are able to join us as we celebrate inside the Azalea Garden, one of Philadelphia’s signature landscapes. Proceeds benefit PHS’s work in enhancing public landscapes throughout Philadelphia.

The Party in the Garden will feature live music, fun family programs and even a few surprises! Please click here for more information on the 2011 Party in the Garden.

Last Thursday night rivaled any Saturday night out at a club as friends and family members of Ryan Dorsey gathered at the nightclub he co-owns, Recess, to celebrate his 31st Birthday. Ballers, ballets and the almost botox crowd came out to celebrate, partying into the wee hours of Friday morning. No doubt a lot of visine dropped hours later. That’s right if you own a nightclub you get to throw your own party, although it helps to have a PR Michelle Miller, The Nouveau Image in helping to coordinate the details.
Ryan and his Mom celebrate with a little bubbly.

Last year you’ll recall that Michelle had fire breathers and jugglers to help celebrate the big 30. This year she tapped a few jigglers as in Burlesque dancers, all the way from NYC, The Wasabassco Burlesque troup with Doc Wasabassco your host.
Each of the dancers were very entertaining and full of surprises, like this one with the boa constrictor that made me happy to have a long lens on my camera.
The audience was delighted, and fun is the usual case with the intimate Recess.
Walking on, walking on broken glass..
Ian Swain sporting the Flyers beard to the Stanley Cup?, with friends Adrian Hardy, Amber Civitella, guest, Mia and Manny Romano. Looking forward to Manny’s Soundcloud for 2011.
Vatche Manoukian and Shang Skipper holding fort at their favorite table. Check out this month’s Dining Magazine for a classy article on Shang & Sullivans.
Look who’s back in town, Just Scoops, he had been in Kansas City 96.5 The Buzz for the past couple years. He’s returned to Philly to spend time with his family. Good to see Scoops, he’s one talented guy and is OMG crazy. He’s gonna be working on something called Smoosh and tell. Amanda Murphy, Justin Fine and Dustin Kaplan. Ladies (men & LB) Justin is now off the market per his FB page. But if you want to yap him up he can be found at his new watering hole TA Flannery’s at 20th near Market.Nelly and Paulo Silva, From Glen Mills had a great time out with friends and were glad to help Ryan celebrate his birthday.
Sexy bitches from Maggiano’s stop on by: Remy Gardner and Ashlee Kurrell
Julie Dorenbos and GN Kang. Saturday night they headed to see Charlie Sheen’s Torpedo Tour. GN said she like it, but she’s a Sheen fan.
Recess Co-Owner T.J. Gersh, and Larry Cohen
Jon Dorenbos and Red Bull drinking friend. Jon, Julie and a few of their friends headed for Pat’s Steak’s about 2AM. I usually suggest Geno’s but decided I would give Pat’s a try since I can’t stand Geno’s “Speak English When Ordering Sign.” Guess what I will hold my nose and say a prayer next time I eat an Geno’s cause Pat’s is a cesspool, between the workers, the gross outside area and the throwing up guy I doubt I go back there again. And like Craig LeBan I gave the place more than one try in my life.
Happiness in the corner
As much as this was Ryan Dorsey’s birthday party, it was also Drew “The Mayor’s” Carballo’s home coming. Drew tapped by Del Frisco’s GM Rich Furino to be one of his new managers at the restaurant. Good choice, Drew is a top notch guy who goes the extra mile to make sure you’re satisfied with your service. That’s what Rich saw when Drew took care of him and his guests over at Whisper nightclub this past year. Drew just returned from 6 weeks of training in Texas and Las Vegas. He tells me he’s glad to be home and excited to start full time at Del Frisco’s this week.Jamasia Tucker, Alexis Torres and Jamie Quinn
Whisper in the house I spy Zach Seidman and Samantha Jo
Everyone get your hands up
Happy Birthday Ryan Dorsey!! Lindsay Furman plants one on Ryan.Can’t wait til you turn 32

Look who was in the audience on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. None other than my buddies Philadelphia Eagles player Jon Dorenbos, wife & Kendra co-star, Julie Dorenbossitting next to Kendra Wilkenson husband and former Philadelphia Eagles player Hank Baskett. The trio was cheering on Kendra’s Yankee Doodle Dandy, (which no offense I did not think was that dandy.) Julie tells me they’ll be in the audience tonight too. Hopefully it won’t be Kendra’s swan song as Wendy Williams predicted on her show last week.
OMG the moon last night. Incredible!!

I saw these pumps on someone’s FB page. Wow how many of my girlfriends would like a pair of these?

These would be perfect for Earth Day on Thursday, April 22. Marking its 41st anniversary on Friday, April 22, 2011 Earth Day will be celebrated by millions around the world.
The idea behind the day – honoring the planet and all living things that inhabit it – began during the early 1960’s hippie movement, as Earth Day bloomed into a grass roots cause that eventually culminated in the first official U.S. observance celebrated in 1970.
Today, many cities extend Earth Day celebrations for an entire week to increase awareness of recycling and better energy efficient communities that culminates with official Earth Day observances on April 22.
Greater Philadelphia Cares has extra volunteer projects available in celebration of Earth Day, April 22. Please take a look at the volunteer opportunities below. Contact me with any questions or to register your group. I can be reached at stacy@gpcares.org or by phone at 215-564-4544. Hope Matters, April 20 & 21, 9AM-3PM Encourage youth to go green by joining Hope Matters in their “Going Green Matters” project. We need 15 volunteers to help create a youth garden and put together a “Going Green” quilt on April 20 and 21.

PhillyChitChatter: Celebrity Sightings in and around Philadelphia:

Last week was busy, busy, busy with celebrities making appearances in the Philly area.
I stopped by Sigma Sound Studios earlier in the week to catch the action of the new Charles Dutton (“Roc,” “Get On the Bus”) movie he’s filming in our area. You’ll recall the last time he did a film in town it was called “The Gift” back in 2009. Then last fall I photographed him eating at Rouge on Rittenhouse Square. His new movie is called “Must Be the Music,” and also stars Rockefella Records Recording artist: Jadakiss, Tariq Trotter of Recording group, The ROOTS, Atlanta Housewives star, Lisa Wu, Recording Artist Trina and recording artist Recording Artist Pleasure P. Filming continues this week at Sigma sound and (Above: Roz Fulton, Casting Director, Charles Dixon, Madison Hunter and Shonse Hawkins. with the tiger eyes.)then will resume on the streets of Philly in the first week of May in the Italian Market, and at Broad and Spruce.
Rebecca Minkoff was at Saks Fifth Avenue in Bala Cynwyd on Thursday for a meet and greet. Her full Spring 2011 Collection exclusively at the store. With Gail Slogoff, Jen Abrams and Damian Oto of Saks; Rebecca has now created a men’s collection that is also sold at Sak’s: Designing Ben Minkoff, named in honor of her grandfather a WWII fighter pilot, was a natural next step for me. We had an abundance of requests to create a men’s line and felt it was the right time to introduce the collection to our customers.” I love the bags myself. In the above picture she’s preparing to sign a baseball that will be auctioned off at the Hamels Foundation Diamonds & Denim Event on August 11 at the Crystal Tea Room.
Charlie Sheen’s “My Violent Torpedo of Truth/Defeat Is Not an Option Tour,” made a stop at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City Saturday night. A handful of my friends wasted their money going, and for the most part hated the show. Except for my buddy G-N Kang who brought Jon and Julie Dorenbos with her for a backstage meet and greet. Sporting a Shane Victorino Phillies Jersey that Sheen traded for his “Duh, Winning” T-Shirt, Sheen started by telling the crowd of the victorious tour he has had had already, except for Detroit. During his show at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, Sheen called up on stage comedian/roast master Jeffrey Ross. And by all accounts, Ross was the funniest part of the show. Ross cracked, “I’m used to roasting classier people like Flava Flav and Courtney Love. After the show, Ross tweeted that he “considered roasting @charliesheen a public service.” It’s the most bizarre time when Charlie Sheen and his crazy can go on tour for the world to see. If only Anna Nicole Smith thought of this…Also down the shore Carson Kressley stopped by one of my favorite breakfast places Teplitzky’s at the Chelsea Hotel for breakfast on both Saturday and Sunday. Look for Carson to be in the Philadelphia area on May 7 for the sixth annual Black Tie and Boots Ball at Bryn Clovis, Brushwood Farm in Malvern. The Ball benefits the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair Foundation.
Friday Eagles tight end Brent Celek will be selecting the menu for his upcoming “Top of the Town Tasting” fundraiser event on June 13th. Brent will be joined by the Loews Executive Chef, Tom Kriebel and board members from the Take Flight Foundation – Brent’s nonprofit organization that provides opportunities, support and resources to seriously ill and physically challenged children in the Greater Philadelphia area. Brad Waxman, of Southern Wine & Spirits; Jay Devine, Devine & Powers, Tom McAloon, Walmart, Brent Celek, Bernie Shields, M&T Bank, Rick Staub, GM Loews Philadelphia Hotel
Jay Devine and Brent Celek. Brent was telling me GN & I that he wasn’t in love with the design of the sign on the outside of his new bar, 879. I said why don’t you create a sign using the colors & type set on the Eagles uniform’s that make up yours and fellow Eagles player & co-owner’s Todd Herremans numbers. Brent said sold, he loved that idea. So look for a sign change. Speaking of 879 – Damon Feldman sent out a press release tonight claiming that two of Jersey Shore’s Snookie’s exes, Dennis Figeroua and Jeff Miranda, will meet in a celebrity boxing match at some time in the future, but they’re not listed on the above flyer. What is listed is the current 879 sign because the press conference will be held at 879 this Wednesday. You’ll also meet TV Star from Bay Watch and upcoming Celebrity Rehab on VH-1 Jeremy Jackson will be Celebrity Referee and available for pix and auto graphs. All the action starts at 7:45PM.

On Wednesday, April 13 (BTW Happy Birthday Dad, miss you), Friends of Luxe Home Philadelphia and the Center City Opera Theater enjoyed cocktails and French cheeses while listening to a sneak preview for Danse Russe, an original opera commissioned for the 2011 Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts. The party was well attended by fans of Opera, people in the arts and longtime customers of the store, and featured delicious food, several pop-up aria performances, and a special PIFA preview of world premiere opera “Danse Russe”,

Katelyn Goodman and Sarah Connors
Rhoda and Joseph Ilustre, Buzz Lefelman, Jian Chen and Krista Hafler
Gloria Esposito, Laurel Fairworth, Bethann Platt, Jan Reisner
The world premiere of a new one-act, vaudeville-style opera, Danse Russe, with music by Pulitzer-prize winning composer Paul Moravec, based on an original libretto created by Wall Street Journal drama critic and biographer Terry Teachout. Danse Russe tells the story of the creation of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring through the eyes of its creators: Diaghilev, Nijinsky, Monteux and, of course, Stravinsky. Morelos Deblosi and Robert Deblosi with Baghan Zielinski and Maria Parisi Vicker
Center City Opera Theater strives to: (1) Present opera productions of the highest professional quality, specially conceived for an intimate setting, and featuring newly commissioned works, as well as more traditional operas; (2) Recruit new audiences for opera through the immediacy of these intimate performances, as well as through affordable ticket prices; (3) Provide opportunities for emerging opera professionals (singers, directors & designers) who are becoming known nationally for their excellence; (4) Fill a large and growing void in arts education in the region with comprehensive, onsite educational programs and a wide array of internships.Above: Matt Maness, Chris Lorge, Jason Switzer, Paul Coruju and Jeff JacobsCaroline from the Center City opera performs a solo that will be included at the performance at the Kimmel Center next week. I hear the Perelman Center seats will be arranged in a cabaret setting with tables which is great. I am a huge fan of cabaret and wish Philadelphia had a permanent performance space for cabaret.
Steven Metzo and Maureen Brown

Joy Kurtz, Education director CCOT, Eleanor Levie, Amy Chmielewski, Costume Designer CCOT

Robert Reynolds and Carrie Brescia
Todd Bergman, Christy McTyre, President of Langmore House Interior Design at Langmore design group,LLC. and Andrew Kurtz, General and Artistic Director is founder of the Center City Opera Theater.
Eileen Barbash and Mark Barbash tell me that they furnished most of their house with furniture from Luxe Home. They were falling in love with the couch they were currently sitting on too.
Cristina Motaneri and Brian Petit
Craig Arthur Von Schroeder, Brooke Dillon, Aaron Pierce and Sarah Connors. In a 2009 interview with Philadelphia Inquirers Elizabeth Wellington Craig believed that T-Shirts should not be seen underneath button down shirts, but Saturday I ran into him and he has relaxed on this issue. Aaron marches to the beat of his own style and believes to each his own. I personally have never seen Aaron without a stylish sport jacket, and when asked how many he owns indicated it was a collection that rivals Imelda Marco’s shoes.