Philly Chit Chat

Last week I attended The Art Gallery at City Hall to celebrate City Hall: The French Connection and the coinciding juried exhibition The City of Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (OACCE) presented two exhibitions in collaboration with the Kimmel Center for the upcoming citywide event , The Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA). City Hall: The French Connection, an exhibition of art and artifacts, is an introduction to City Hall’s French Second Empire architectural style. Something French, a juried group exhibition, features artwork with a French flavor. The French Connection exhibit runs from March 14 – May 20, 2011 in the Art Gallery at City Hall (Room 116), and Something French, located on the 1st and 2nd floor display cases NE corner, runs thru June 24th.Below Gary Steuer Chief Cultural Officer for the City of Philadelphia is greeting the packed house.
City Hall Tour Director (Rm 121 for tours), Greta Greenberger and Tu Huynh, City Hall Exhibitions Manager
City of Philadelphia, Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy. OMG so embarrassed I told you all months ago I would be volunteering and giving the City Hall tours and you know what I have not had a chance. Working on my blog & doing event photography has kept me so incredibly busy. It’s a blessing, but I was surprised that I wouldn’t be eating bon bons and watching Wendy Williams on the couch in between entries. Oh well hopefully I will get it under control.
The exhibitions in City Hall are a collaborative effort between the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy and the arts community. They are supported by an independent City Hall Exhibitions Advisory Committee made up of arts professionals and private citizens. In addition to the art gallery, other public spaces in City Hall feature artwork from Philadelphia’s schools, other city agencies, local non-profits, and community arts organizations on a rotating basis. For more information, visit: www.phila.gov/artincityhall or join us on www.Facebook.com/artincityhall and www.facebook.com/creativephl.
For weeks I have been excited to check out the Julia Child etching which is done in chocolate. So fun.Kari Kristine Scott is the artist and she’s done a little ode to St. Julia:
St. Julia, Show me the wisdom of good, well prepared fresh food eating in moderation. Help me slow my eating down so that I can taste and savor every bite. Allow me to eat rich, buttery and creamy foods as long as I eat them infrequently, slowly and in moderation. – Amen
Joan Smith and Leslie Kaufman served on the City Hall advisory for the art show.
Marilyn MacGregor and Janice Hayes check out some of the glass ware
This is my favorite piece. Participating artists included: Mary Brady Begnardi, Lisa C. Budd, Carl Frankel, Ellen Gavin, Janice Hayes-Cha, George R. Johnson, Jennifer Lipman-Bartel, Rob Lybeck, Anthony Masucci, Anne Saint Peter, Ron Tarver and Alexander Trejo.
Ellen Carlson and Patricia Gunter were excited to participate in many of the PIFA events.
Colleen Branch stands in front of her work. be sure to check out the show. Enter City Hall at the Northern corner and check in at the front desk where they will give you a visitors pass.
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!

Every year the incoming membership of the Junior League of Philadelphia hosts a gala fundraiser, this year the membership decided to do something different and host its first annual Green Carpet Event: an eco-friendly fashion show featuring the latest fashion trends at the Piazza in Northern Liberties. Proceeds support their signature focus Project GREEN: Using Nature to Nurture. The idea was superb and I know that a lot of work went into the project, but mother nature did not cooperated and it was freezing; There was an open bar and everyone seemed to want a hot toddy at the same time.
There were sponsor vendors surrounding the perimeter of the event including Duke & Winston’s Seun Olubodun
Mary Ortiz and Rosa Martinez. I had to break it to them that there was no tent and that should pick up a pair of pants at one of the clothiers at the Piazza.
these two peeps are fashionably warm for this freezing cold night: Kelsey Clark & Rebekha Kocak sporting a JLMurfee $118 Lilly Pulitzer
Kaitlin Stadelman and Tara Stitchberry try their luck at the raffle
Check out those shoes, that’s what drew me to Jessica Carroll with her blue suede shoes. With her is Nicole Wiley.
Lately I’ve been running into these two ladies, they’re big fans of Table 31’s Thursday night’s Ladies Night party, check it out tonight, it’s Rachel Branson, Esq. and Quinette Roberson.
Hot, but then again brrrr at the same time as the models wore designs from: Arcadia Boutique, Priscilla of Boston, Lilly Pulitzer, The Junior League Thrift Shop, Whitney Eve, Onassic Clothing LLC, Sagets Mens Formal Wear.
Sexy and walking at 30 MPH
Dressed for the evening: DJ and Anne Nikolaus
Definitely Lilly Pulitzer
Ought oh fruit of the loom peeking above the pant line. I guess this is the preppy rapper boxer look. Please make it stop, this underwear peeking out. Let’s make everyone think we’re going commando.
It wouldn’t be a Jr League event without a little pink, complimenting couple colors.
I love this dress with the silver belt

Dress for fashion in the freeze
One of the fun things was the models were members or member friends of the Jr League, so there was a lot of support from the audience.
I let out an audible gasp cause I was not a fan of this dress. Who would wear it? I said.
Haley Hill piped up that she loved it and would wear it in a second. So I am not the purveyor of taste, thank god.
Love this smartly dressed couple
Amber Goins on the catwalk
The Junior League of Philadelphia is one of the leading community service organizations in the Greater Philadelphia area, with a diverse membership contributing a range of personal and professional experiences. It offers tested and groundbreaking programs that focus on the intersection of wellness and the natural environment. Programs are developed to have maximum impact, using experts in the field and innovative partnerships.
It was good to see my buds Matt Carter and my smartest friend Andrew “Currently in Harvard getting my MBA” Rosenthal. Looking forward to his return to Philly when he’s finished.

Although the new Modern Greek restaurant-bar, Opa located at 1311 Sansom Street, seating about 70 people, has been opened for nearly two months, receiving rave reviews. But they held their Grand Opening on Monday night. It was hot, not only outside but the guests they gathered inside. The word “opa” is a traditional Greek exclamation of glee, used to express the carefree aura that embodies the Greek spirit. Owners, brother-sister team, George Tsiouris and Vasiliki Tsiouris with Garden Wellington-Logan and Noel Zayas
Breaking plates is also an act which implies abundance – “We have so many plates we can break them!” – similar to lighting a fire with a piece of paper money. Thom Cardwell breaks a plate for luck.
Vasiliki Tsiouris on left is joined by her parents Efthimios Tsiouris, Chrisoula Tsiouris, and Aunt Fani Zarvalas.

DJ Rahsaan – Afrotaino Productions
Allison McClellan, Erica Boland, Brett Coppol and Michelle Boyles, SouthPhillyPhasionista.com
Gloria Casarez and Louie Ortiz
George Tsiouris and Vasiliki Tsiouris with the Hamels Foundation G-N Kang
Opa’s appetizing menu includes traditional family recipes finessed and plated to contemporary standards. Among the mezedes include Gyros, served slider-style with grilled lamb, yogurt sauce, cucumber, onion and tomato; Octopus, cured, grilled and plated with a chickpea fondue and chili oil; and Zimi, a baked pita filled with feta cheese. Mezedes range in price from $3 to $14.
Matthew Vlahos, Lynsie Solomon, Jimmy Contreras and Evan Solomon
Karen Gross and Mike Donohue. Karen is at the Tin Angel on 4/22 to showcase her cabaret show. Also Eddie Bruce will be on the bill that evening.
Fashionista’s Ultimate Glam bloggers: Tiffany Dawson and Amber Hankins.
Francesca Rivetti, Zivile Pupinyte, Elena Brennan, Bus Stop, Ivy Glass and Patty Gilson
Executive Chef Andrew Brown has been cooking professionally for 20 years and his culinary philosophy is based on simple freshness. Celebrated designer Jun Aizaki (who did many of the Garces restaurants), transformed the formerly vacant space on Sansom Street with the Tsiouris’. ”We wanted to challenge how people generally associate Greek restaurants in terms of concept and design by creating a global platform for Greek cuisine that is both authentic and modern,” says Aizaki. The colors and decor reflect the Mediterranean sea.

PhillyChitChatter:

Philadelphia is buzzing this month, especially with the busy festival season under way ie The Philadelphia International Festival of Arts, The Philadelphia Library Festival and tomorrow as the Philadelphia Cinefest festival ends the Philadelphia Science Festival kicks off.
And at the end of the month, specifically Saturday April 30 get your party clothes & comfortable shoes out HughE as I will be running all over town to cover a few choice events. During the day there’s the PIFA Street Fair on Broad Street from Noon til 8:30PM, at the same time down in South Philly enjoy the Springtime weather and some delicious Philadelphia fare at Flavors of the Avenue. Celebrating some of South Philly’s best food and drink spots, the event showcases over 20 businesses all offering samples of their signature dishes and drinks under the cover of a big top tent. In the evening there’s First Lady of Philadelphia’s Lisa Nutter event. She’s the President and the Philadelphia Academies, Inc. PARTY LIKE A SUPERHERO – APRIL 30, 2011 at the Loews Hotel at 6PM. This year’s honoree’s Daniel K. Fitzpatrick and Citizens Bank, and our Honorary Chairs, Susan Taylor (former Editor of Essence Magazine), Wes Moore (author of New York Times bestseller – The Other Wes Moore) and Steve Powers, graphic artist, for one of the best fundraisers of the spring season. Finally Please Touch Museum’s annual Storybook Ball, which I have attended twice in past years, and I love. A night of fantasy with kids and parents all dressed up as their favorite character.

The Shane Victorino Foundation has teamed up with charitybuzz to auction off a Phillies fan experience you’ll never forget! The winning bidder and three guests will enjoy dinner with Shane Victorino, plus tickets to a Phillies game, complete with meet-and-greet before the game. Click on the link below for details and happy bidding!Sports Illustrated Cover Girl Irina Shayk at Borgata showing off her assets before hosting mur.mur on Saturday night with music by DJ Jesse Marco.
Also down the Shore, Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling tells me that he and Emily Conner went to see Don Rickles at The Borgata Music Box on Friday night and The O’Jays on Saturday night. “After Don’s show we went back to his dressing room and met the legendary Tony O, Don’s closest guy. 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.”

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. Now I feel like a condemned building with a new flagpole.”
Big Brother Casting Agent Holds Open Call at CBS 3 This Friday
Big Brother is searching for television’s next reality star, and the show is bringing its search to Philadelphia to look for ideal housemates for Season 13. Big Brother Senior Casting Producer Tedd Schermerhorn is coming to Philadelphia on Friday, April 15, from 12 noon to 2 p.m. to interview candidates. The casting call will be held at CBS 3 studios, 1555 Hamilton Street (entrance on 16th Street between Callowhill and Spring Garden Streets) in Philadelphia.
Participants will get two minutes to tell Big Brother why they think they would make the ultimate housemate. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, 21 years or older, have a completed official application (available on http://www.cbsphilly.com), two pictures of themselves (one face and one full body), a copy of their birth certificate or social security card and a copy of a state-issued license or ID. Big Brother is the hit CBS reality television show that follows a group of people living together in a large house who are continuously watched by television cameras 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Each series tapes for approximately three months and consists of 12-15 participants in the household. In the end, the housemates try to win a cash prize of $500,000 by avoiding periodic evictions from the house.

The sixth annual competition CITY OF HOPE’S LET THEM EAT CAKE is open to all professional cooks or culinary students who love to create wedding cakes. The event took place at the Loews Hotel in Center City.
I arrived during the judging period when local chefs, Philly Famous and pastry chefs taste the 35+ cakes and votes on tasty, display, creativity, peoples choice and student favorite.
Chef Brian Duffy formerly of Kildaire’s now of Seafood America judging the tasty treats.
The cake has to be big enough to feed 150 people. The chefs were also required to make an additional cake, to feed the guests. But before the doors opened they set out a few slices for the judges to try. Not in this picture is a bowl of forks for the judges to use, a clean fork at every station. Just a forkful was enough for the tasting.
The theme this year was: The 2011 theme is “Historical Romances — Love in Any Age.” This cake listed the great loves of history Romeo and Juliet, Anthony & Cleopatra and Adam and Steve, er I mean Eve.
Pretty I think we had this wall paper in our dining room growing up. You may have heard me say this before, but it’s because my mom was always redecorating our house.
10 Arts Pastry Chef Monica Glass tasting other peoples treats.


The Taj Mahal is widely considered as one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and stands as a symbol of eternal love
Benny
I was curious why are people so fascinated by cake that over 500 people would pack the Loews to get a slice
Marc and Benny from City Cakes in New York CitySome were brides, some were fans of desserts, others were wedding planners who would check out the designs, and also make sure they tasted delicious. Often a cake might look fantastic, but taste just terrible. Or as I found the opposite was true. There was one cake that was the evil apple that Adam gave Eve. I wasn’t impressed with the design but it was delicious. Then there was the Princess Grace cake, very plain looking, but oh so good.
A collaboration: Kathy Wolper, Kathy’s Just Desserts and Brittany Snyder, Splendora Cake & Tea Co.. Sue Serio was in love with this cake. Deep chocolate with chocolate chunks.
City of Hope’s Harry Giordano, Mark Kingsdorf, Queen of Hearts Wedding Consultant and co-founder of “Let Them Eat Cake” and Fox29’s Sue Serio
Brides Philadelphia Mary Ruegg, Regional Mgr and Heather Lee, Phila Editor (Not to be confused with Philadelphia Magazine Brides)
Jay, Sherry and Kim McCay http://www.BestDarnKettlecorn.com
Catherine Sliman and Valerie Johnson
Ben Franklin and JB Braun, Publisher of Mainline Today
A cake dedicated to soldiers at war
Best Theme #16 Piece a Cake ~ Colleen Lakey located in Macungie Pa


The Loews Cake
Judges in today’s competition Chef Kathy Gold, Dawn Elyse Warden, Sarah Doheny, YUBPR, Thom Cardwell, Aliza Green, Chef/Cookbook
Simona & Vernis are getting married and looking for the perfect cake
Ana and Luis Colome. Ana tells me she likes to go home and recreate the cakes for her family. Luis says someday Ana will be entering a cake into the competition.


Erin Como and Jillian Millee arrive as I make my departure over to the Opa Greek restaurant grand opening party.

Peoples Choice #33 Bredenbecks bakery ~ Danielle Martin

Best Theme #16 Piece a Cake ~ Colleen Lakey located in Macungie Pa
Best overall#22 Truly Custom Cakery Stacey Hill

Student Baker ~ #7 Kayla Slenbaker. The Restaurant School at Walnut College

Philly PAWS Donor Reception was held last Wednesday Friends and supporters of our furry friends gather to celebrate the First Anniversary of the PAWS Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic at their offices in Southwest Philadelphia.
Hostess Dana Spain certainly can smile with pride as her pet project has turned into more than just a hobby, but a life saver for many of our four legged friends, with her is another important friend Eric Cahill.
Claire Morrison says hi to a furry friend that you can adopt as PAWS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to saving Philadelphia’s homeless, abandoned, and unwanted animals. PAWS is the city’s largest rescue organization and only no-kill shelter, and is working to make Philadelphia a place where every healthy and treatable pet is guaranteed a home. Through its adoption locations, special events, and foster care network, PAWS finds loving homes for thousands of animals each year.
Adam Mons and Arielle Morris, of Clays for Strays.
Rachel and Erin
Little Red Dog Studio shots
Claire Morrison, guest, Dana Spain and Steve Morrison.
Flyers defenseman Braydon Coburn and wife Nadine
Philly Paws is looking forward to their new mobile adoption trailer which should be on the road soon. Many folks might not be able to make it to an animal shelter or maybe it makes them sad. How to avoid it, a mobile adoption trailer will allow PhillyPaws to bring the pets to you. You’ll be able to visit the shelter pets at various locations throughout Philadelphia while the animals rest comfortably in air-conditioned kennels with fresh water and full lighting. Come in, visit and adopt a pet.
Barbara Brown-Ruttenberg and John Ruttenberg
Donna Bright, Brittany Durphy, Kelly Cannallay, Sara Schoenleber, Alicia Pharo and Sue Durphy
Jim Cartin, Holly Mahr and Michele DiVeterano

Remember to come out to the event of the year, and I mean that as I cover a lot of event. Save The Date: Monday, June 27th for the big PAWS dinner.
It’s time for the 7th Annual Chefs’ Dinner for PAWS, the singular event of the year that brings chefs and patrons together for an interactive evening of food, fun and fundraising. On Monday, June 27th, more than 40 of the region’s best chefs will create an extraordinary gastronomic experience at The Union League of Philadelphia. What: Chefs creating 4-course food and wine pairings tableside for 12 guests in decorated pods.
**Click here for a current list of participating chefs/sponsors.**
When: Monday, June 27, 2011, 6 PM
Where: The Union League of Philadelphia
Why: All proceeds benefit PAWS’ lifesaving initiatives, including adoption and foster care programs, spay and neuter surgeries, low-cost vaccinations, and more.

2HR OPEN BAR – Must RSVP – RSVP@thenouveauimage.com

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