On Easter Eve party (4/23) like the devil at the P Diddy Official After Dirty Diddy Concert Party
Chelsea Hotel in Atlantic City on the Fifth Floor.
2011 Party in the Garden
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
6:00 – 9:00 pm
at 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 Dorenbos
sitting 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 Jacobs
Caroline 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.
Two new brunches started within a week of each other, and although they are both marketed as “DJ Brunch/New Menu’s” Each is very different.
I headed over to Tweed yesterday for launch the Tweed’s Bagatelle inspired brunch with an ear splitting DJ, dancing and delicious brunch food like 
pancakes, waffles with fruit, omlette’s and eggs Benedict. Oh and bottles, bottles and bloody Mary’s.
Heather Baumgardner, GN Kang and Michelle Miller enjoy some of the tasty treats from the menu including Eggs Benedict, Belgium Waffles and bagels & lox.
DJ Lili Lamar and DJ Guiliano Presta spun during the afternoon brunch.
Tweed can be reserved for larger parties like the one that Zach Seidman (r) did in honor of Ryan Dorsey’s (l) birthday celebration Saturday afternoon. (Later this week you’ll see what his party was like for him at his club Recess.)
I hear U of Penn students already have a larger reservation for next Saturday. No doubt that will be a blast.
Did I mention 
dancing was going on.
Originally owner Edward Bianchini was only planning to do the brunch on Saturday’s, but after Saturday’s success he told me he’d be doing the same thing on Sundays. Saturday & Sunday’s party 12 -4 PM.
Then I headed over to Sampan (124 South 13th Street, 215-732-3501) for Aly Green’s birthday party at the new Dim Sum Sampan brunch. Above Red Richards spins at Sampan, but you can take out the ear plugs now. It’s still loud, but you can hear your brunch companions chatter much better.
Here the focus is on the menu, which is Asian inspired Dim Sum and they even have two tricked out carts that they bring to your table. Sampan will serve satays, crispy rolls and noodles as well as more traditional American brunch fare, including: Spanish Octopus Satay with lemon, arugula, and soy-balsamic vinaigrette; crispy Crab Rangoon with cream cheese, scallion and wonton; Steak and Eggs, a filet, sunny-side up and fries; “Eggs Benedict” with Berkshire pork belly, spinach, and sriracha hollandaise; and Beef Chow Fun with short ribs, green chives and chili. Plates will range in price from $12 to $21.
Steve Ward stops by to wish Aly Green a happy happy birthday. In the other room I saw a family of 4 with a baby carriage, and 4 tables of 5 people each. So there was a nice crowd enjoying lunch around 3PM on this rainy day. Last week I heard the place was packed as well as the Graffiti Bar. Although there was no dancing going on, and that is what Michael Schulson told me he wanted, there was toe tapping and a vibe.
Dana Spain, and Andi Pesacov with Aly. Chef Michael Schulson is proud of his newly assembled management team which includes Chef de Cuisine Khamla Vongsakoun who worked as Sous Chef at Philadelphia’s Buddakan and under Chef Michael Mina at SeaBlue in Atlantic City. Together, the chefs created the new Dim Sum Brunch which includes: Corned Beef Char Sui Bun with sauerkraut and smoked mustard; General Tso Soup Dumplings with soy, ginger and scallions; Pork Bao Bun with spicy shallots, mint and sweet chili; Shrimp and Scallop Shu Mai with cilantro, citrus and soy; Chicken Feet with black bean, soy and ginger; and Steamed Ribs with chili, black beans, and five spice. All dim sum are just $6. I had the steamed ribs and Corned Beef Char Sui Bun. Both were delicious. Dim Sum Brunch is Saturday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. until close
I’m gonna go completely dumb on the girls on the end, but here’s Aly, Kaci Metz and Lindsay Kravitz. Tony Rufo, who was also in attendance tells me that he and Lindsay are almost done all their planning for the wedding next May, so no need for a wedding consultant. The reason for the wait, they are building their dream house in Center City and want that to be finished before they take the plunge. I don’t expect an invite as the wedding is going to be a small intimate one with about 200. Now they are just looking for a Wedding Invitation Calligrapher.
Hopefully though I can catch some pixs socially for PhillyChitChat.com at the cocktail party.
Conclusion: Both fun, and delicious food, but both different in atmosphere which is good. One week you might feel like a traditional brunch with dancing at Tweed, the next week maybe chillin at Sampan with Dim Sum and a few new twists on the traditional fare. Either place is a win win.
Yesterday afternoon I was invited to sit in at the open rehearsal with Questlove and Keren Ann as they prepare for their PIFA concert . 
The Root’s drummer and American journalist ?Questlove will join forces with French chanteuse Keren Ann for a one-time only performance on April 17th at the Kimmel Center.
The theme for PIFA’s celebration is “Paris: 1910-1920″, a time and place when creative emergencies virally influenced the state and production of creative arts today. In this video Questlove explains how he took a classic song and interpreted it with the current music today. He mentions important it was for him to attend the Philadelphia School of Performing Arts in preparation of his career.
Above at the Larry Gold Studios in Center City are bassist and producer Anthony Tidd, producer James Poyser and ?Questlove. Also in the room were Larry Gold, Daniel Felsenfeld, David Murray, and Richard Nicols. Plus a myriad of reporters and bloggers. I always love watching Bobbie Booker from the Philadelphia Tribune, Sarah Glover from the Phila Daily News, Marnie Hall of Philly.com, Jeff Fusco, Getty Images and Laiya Stclair from Buttercup Records, work. I’m really in awe of their talent. Sarah’s multitasking now with both a camera and video, Jeff works with two camera’s and Bobbie and Laiya had great questions for the team.
At the end of the session I ran, literally as it was rush hour and I didn’t see a cab or bus getting me there any quicker at rush hour, to the reception held at The Star Group and hosted by the Pennsylvania Ballet for choreographer Benjamin Millepied, who is here working on a world premiere production with the Pennsylvania Ballet for the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts.
He was as beautiful and charming and the women at the party were swarming him like bees to honey. It’s a good thing his squeeze, the very pregnant Natalie Portman, didn’t accompanying him or she would have been toppled over. I did however hear that she was going to be at the ballet so when I was offered a ticket I quickly ran over to the theater for a glimpse like a giddy school boy. It turned out that she would be attended at intermission so that she wouldn’t cause a stir as she walked in. She would be seated at the back.
Well I only wanted to stay til intermission as I had Ryan Dorsey’s birthday party to shoot at midnite & needed a disco nap beforehand. Could I possibly sit in her seats til them? Sure enough that’s what I did. When I left at intermission I saw a commotion and only a few moments after the commotion walked by me did I realize it was Natalie Portman, Benjamin and a few other people I recognized from the cocktail party. That would be my only glimpse for her time here although someone sent me a tip the night before when she was at the rehearsal, but I chose to go to the gym instead. Friday she returned home to NYC and Benjamin left for Russia to work on his next project, this morning. Above L-R: Artistic Director Roy Kaiser (celebrating his 30th year with Pennsylvania Ballet and his 15th as Artistic Director), famed choreographer Benjamin Millepied, Anne Ewers President & CEO of Kimmel Center, Inc, and Michael Scolamiero Executive Director of Pennsylvania Ballet since June 1997. (This is what you would call the money shot.) You can still catch The Pennsylvania Ballet as it honors its Balanchine in Building on Balanchine tonight and Saturday. Info Here.
Also check out:
Gospel Concert – Friday, April 15 @ 6:00. We’re having a free gospel performance in the Kimmel Center Plaza featuring over 200 singers from Enon Baptist Church, a very well known entity in Philadelphia. The singers will be positioned on the tiers of the Kimmel Center.
Remember Paris – Saturday, April 16 @ 3:00pm. This performance is a real collaboration. It features live organ music as the backdrop for two silent actors who re-create pivotal moments in European history in front of a film screen. Very cool! Unfortunately, the program has been marketed as an Organ performance and has not gathered much interest outside of the classical music world.
Thanks to my advertisers this Month: PIFA, The Corner, CTO Band, Arrow Swim Club, Pa Horticultural Society, Del Frisco’s, Kokopelli, The Sporting Club, Karen Gross, Anne Nikolaus Stella Dot Jewelery
Last week you’ll recall that I photographed Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling with Angel Porrino, from E!’s “Holly’s World” at Invincible Pictures in Northern Liberties as they shot a commercial for Flixfling. A few days later he turned up in Atlantic City with another stunning blond, Emily Conner.
Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling tells me that he and Emily went to see Don Rickles at The Borgata Music Box on last Friday night and The O’Jays at The Hilton on Saturday night.
“Don knows me and heard I was in the crowd. He said, ‘Not working on a Friday, Jackie? Tell your agent there’s this great new invention…the phone.’ “
After Don’s show we went back to his dressing room for a quick hello to Don & his wife Barbara, and also met the legendary Tony O, Don’s closest guy.
In 2001 I gave Les Paul a joke that he used every night from then until he passed on in June 2009. It’s perfect for Don, so I gave it to him.
“I tried that Viagra. I made me feel like a condemned building with a new flagpole.”
Emily and Jackie with the O’Jays