Philly Chit Chat

hank You to over 45 Stores who particpated in the WINDOW AND LOBBY DECORATING WINNERS (as for you you other stores who didn’t, especially almost every store on Walnut Street except Joan Shepp & Lago’s, could you step it up next year. I don’t care if you’re a chain especially you Athropologie who started here in Philly. BTW this is only my opinion.)

Flower Show winner and Judges (I was a judge too but couldn’t make this morning press conference, but I had the winners beforehand. Thank you.)

ONTO THE WOW FACTOR, if you have time go see these magnificent windows.

1. BEST OVERALL WINDOW DECORATING DISPLAY – PHILADELPHIA BREWING COMPANY AND GREENSGROW FARMS

2. BEST TRAVELED -AVIS BUDGET GROUP

3. MOST SOPHISTICATED – JOAN SHEPP

4. MOST WHIMSICAL – JUST DOGS!

5. MOST ECO FRIENDLY – THE SHOPS AT LIBERTY PLACE

6. BEST USE OF MERCHANDISE – HOBNOB DESIGNS

7. MOST ELEGANT – BOYD’S

8. BEST THEME – REPUTATIONS HAIR SALON

9. MOST FASHION FORWARD – SAVA

10. BEST EIFFEL TOWER – 1601 MARKET STREET

11. BEST DRESSED LOBBY – 1515 MARKET STREET

12. BEST OVERALL LOBBY – 2000 MARKET STREET

Best Newcomer Window. What would really be great is if all these windows remained through the end of April as The Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA) will be in full swing in just a month. Featuring music, dance, fashion, fine arts, theatre, poetry, cuisine and more—all generously flavored with the essence of Paris, circa 1910-1920—festival highlights include over 30 specially commissioned works as well as the participation of 128 regional arts and cultural partner organizations collaborating on an expansive and diverse array of programs, performances, events and exhibits occurring throughout Philadelphia in spring 2011. You must check out the array schedule of events occurring during the period, get a pen you’ll want to attend a lot of them.

INDEPENDENT SEAPORT MUSEUM

HONORABLE MENTIONS/ IF I ONLY HAD A POSTER

CASA PAPEL

FREEMAN’SFREE LIBRARY

PUB AND KITCHEN
This is my favorite and I think they should auction it off to the highest bidder for Charity:
Avis Car – Check out all the entrants on the Flower Shows Facebook Page HERE

Today’s entry covers Jersey Shore peeps coming into town for a meet and greet. If you’re a gossip girl you don’t want to miss Taylor Momsen and Philadelphia Magazine launches a new magazine geared towards GLBT, but info everyone can use too. Have a great weekend. HughE

Jersey Shore in Philly on Wednesday Night (P.S. Don’t be mad I didn’t tell you. P.S.S. Some of my friends were irritated at me for not telling them, but I’m not a fan of fans in my pictures.):Not since Barbra Striesand sat her golden tush at Table 94 in November has R2L had such a top secret gig as Wednesday night when oddly Comcast invited their client advertisers to a Jersey Shore beach party at their 37th floor perch high above the City at the Liberty Residences (Thank you to a PCC reader for the tip.) Oddly because Comcast/NBC doesn’t own the Jersey Shore franchise, but Comcast certainly broadcasts the show, why was it a client advertisement gig. We are nearing the Spring season when NYC hosts the Upfronts which is when advertisers flock there to be wined, dined and entertained by the talent that comes on our little boxes in our living rooms. Is there a new show in the works, a special, very interesting. Anyway…

Fresh off his celebrity cook off at the Reading Terminal Valentine’s Day Gala last Saturday, R2L’s chef Daniel Stern prepared a clambake for the guests at the meet and greet with Jersey Shore guido Vinny Guadagnino and guidette’s Sammi Sweetheart Giancola and Deena Nicole Cortese.
Pictured above in Sammi Sweetheart sans Ronnie. Are they together still, mum was the word. Is the show real or is this what we call laughing all the way to the bank.
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The 2011 South Jersey Restaurant Week presented by SJ Hot Chefs begins March 20th
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Speaking of hot, hot mess model, “Gossip Girl” actress and Teen Queen of Bad Behavior, Taylor Momsen, and her band Pretty Mess play The World Café Live Tonight at 8PM. I have a paid gig so I’m gonna have to miss it, other wise I would have been right up front to capture the hot mess as I did at Fashion Night Out in NYC 2009

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The City got a little Gayer last night when Philadelphia Magazine’s new bi-yearly gay magazine G Philly launched.

The event was held at the Loew’s Hotel, definitely one of the most Gay Friendly hotels in the City. Host of many gay events including the QFest Closing Night Party last July, GPPN & IBA events, as well a choice hotel for Lady Gaga when she comes to town (That’s a tip to you Monsters)
You can check out G Philly online too as it’s Philadelphia magazine’s newest blog about the region’s LGBT community. Visit G-Philly.com for timely posts about style, politics, celebrity, sports and anything related to the gay community in Philly. Also look for daily events and weekend updates about where to go if you’re LGBT in the region. Meg Rider, Community Programs Coordinator at Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, Steve McCann, founder and editor of PhillyGayCalendar, one of the most helpful tools for the GLBT community. He was really a trailblazer when it came to organizing and compiling online info, and events for the gay community, and Editor of G-Philly.com online: Natalie Hope McDonald, she does a bang up job with getting the news to us on a daily basis. I’m impressed everyday with the work she does.
Erica Wurster and Stephan Bray of TD Bank (Note the green top and he has green in his tie. I wonder if that is a company policy, “You must wear green even when it’s not St. Patrick’s Day.”) Congrats to Erica as she’s about to be a mommy.
Another Erica as in Atwood, the Mayor’s Office, David Torres, Gloria Casarez, Director, Office of LGBT Affairs and Thom Cardwell. Thom is gearing up for another successful year in movie magic with CineFest beginning in April. Hope you will all come out and support it. Thom is hands down the most stylish man in Philadelphia. I should have taken the fashion shot as he has matching green shoes that go with that scarf.
Lauren Dancer, Tieryney, Patrick Hardy, Tierney, Cathy Engel, PECO and Josh Torrisi, Tierney. Congratulations to Cathy who is getting married next week. The first and last time I photographed her she was on her first date with the guy she’s going to marry (10th pix, but I don’t know which guy.) So sweet.
Philly Mag Crew: Jenn Shockley, Danielle DiGiovanni, Alana Tosti and Rob Shockley. It’s apparent that Philly Mag, like Bassett Ice Cream & GPTMC doesn’t have a no married to spouse who works for the same company, which is very nice. Another relationship among these folks is Jenn’s old boss at Conde Nast was Alana’s old boss at Conde Nast, but they never worked together.
Kevin Gatto and Cristian David The Debonair Duo. Christian is excited to officially announce his affiliation with Prudential Fox & Roach – Society Hill Marian Conicella Publisher/Vice President of Philadelphia magazine with Bruce Yelk, GPTMC and NightLifeGay.com. He’s sponsoring Dragapalooza: Broadway Divas next Saturday night.
at Voyeur Nightclub, Philly’s most notable drag queens will put on a show, Dragapalooza: Broadway Divas is a fabulous celebration of “The Great White Way’s” music, choreography, and drama! Doors open at 8 PM, and the show will begin promptly at 9 PM. Voyeur – 1221 St. James Street – Philadelphia The girls with Jeff GuaracinoVP of Communications with GPTMC; Jeff loves G Philly and looks forward to a mass distribution in NYC and many of the Cities the tourism organization pitches to bring visitors to Philadelphia.
Andy Petruzelli, Danny Matos and Felipe Fuentes enjoy the premier issue of G Philly
Picture Perfect: Janine White, Executive Editor of Philadelphia Magazine, Jeff Fusco and Zoey Sless-Kitain, Photography Director at Philadelphia Magazine. Jeff tool most of the photos that are in the new G Philly Magazine. Great guy, fantastic photographer, great mentor. Glad to know him.
Tracy McSherry, Colin McSherry and Emily Goulet P.S. People in Philly Mag accounting, I promise to pay my subscription bill, I just got 2nd notice, it’s not that I don’t have the money I just can’t find my check book. I usually do online banking. I wish I had just given you a ten spot tonight. Can I pay by cash?
Jimmy Contreras, Derrick Monte Carlo, Matthew Vlahos. Philly Street Style tells me he will be making another appearance on The Ten Show in a few weeks to showcase Spring Fashions.
Mike LaMonaca, Steve Cisowski and Frank Calabrese
Jim, Theresa Vickery and Derrick Monte Carlo. Theresa works at Liquid, which is above Franklin Mtg & Company. On Michael Klein’s blog today he reported that there’s an orange LCB sign in the window of Liquid. I did hear the rumor that Franklin Mtg & Company is going to turn it into some kind of conceptualized eatery. Seriously my source said conceptualized. I guess Liquid is moving, no word on where yet. I guess shops on 18th Street should heed this as a warning shot that your rents are going up now that 18th Street is the place to be.
Paul Amentt, Thom Cardwell and Chad Merriweather/ That Thom Cardwell gets around.
Matthew Ray, James Dugan, Founder of QueerTimes weekly online news letter, Renee Gilinger and Mike Marsico. Renee tells me that on 3/22/11 Queers on the Avenue celebrates their 2 year anniversary with our co-hosts the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus at the place where it all started – Paradiso Restaurant 1627 East Passyunk Avenue. Count me in!!
Blair Weikert and Rob Saxon just returned from Hawaii which they said was a dream vacation, even though the trip there is 13 hrs, ugh!
Toni Lavalier, Philly Mag, Harry Giordano, City of Hope and Barry Planner. Harry tells me the City of Hope Charity Let Them Eat Cake is coming up 4/11 at the Loews.
It must be so difficult to be so shy. Actually Tracy Seng, Marketing Director of Philadelphia Magazine has much to celebrate as the event was a smashing success. Plus the Loews Hotel’s Beverage & Facilities Manager, David Hall did an outstanding job on the layout of the room, the food stations and the decorations.
The room was so beautifully done I just had to ask who did it. Lighting was done by Eventions and the flowers by Design Flowers. Pick up G Philly at any of the sponsors including The Loews Hotel, Sampan, Starr Restaurants, Sugarhouse, The Palomar Hotel, and others.
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And let me thank my sponsors for the week. The CTO Band, The Corner restaurant, PIFA, Kokopelli, Del Frisco’s, The Sporting Club and Karen Gross – Cabaret Singer If you want to advertise on PhillyChitChat email me at buzz @ phillychitchat.com You get more than just a static ad with us, you get Social Media too. I work it girl!!

SPRING INTO ACTION
Helping children no matter what their needs

Cherry Hill, NJ February 2, 2011 Looking outside, it’s hard to imagine the end
of winter. However in a few short months it will be over. Cradles to Crayons, an
organization that collects and distributes everything a child needs, is gearing up for its big
spring drive. To help it get ready , Susan M. Hughes, MD FACS will host an event at
the Mansion, 3000 Main Street in Voorhees, NJ on Saturday March 19, 2011 from
10-2 PM.

This event is a fun way to restock the charity’s shelves with toys, backpacks, school
supplies, sneakers, shorts, bathing suits and other pieces of clothing such as new
socks and underwear for the kids. Attendees are being asked to bring new or gently
used items and for their efforts will win chances at fabulous prizes. In these tough times,
people can still give back without feeling the pinch in their pocketbooks. Not only is the
public donating in this way, so too are businesses and corporations. Employees are being
encouraged to recycle their possessions and to volunteer. In contributing their time and
energy, many feel they are making a tangible contribution, instead of just writing a check.

Cradles to Crayons is a three year old organization growing rapidly. It began in 2002
in Boston and opened its doors in Philadelphia in 2007. Already, more than 100
corporations in are area are actively involved and 800 volunteers a month assist at the
not-for-profits headquarters in Conshohocken, putting together the care packages. The
goal is to expand in the near future into New Jersey. According to experts last year 14%
of the children in this country lived in poverty. Currently Cradles to Crayons tries to
bridge the gap by providing for children from 500 plus organizations.

On March 19th, twenty-six vendors such as local boutiques, spas and salons will be
offering goods and services to entice people to come out and help Cradles to Crayons.
Dr. Hughes will be donating a years worth of Botox to be auctioned off and there will be all kinds of incentives for bringing new or gently used clothes. This event is
just one of many such drives but constitutes the bulk of how the charity raises money,
awareness and collects personal items for the children, from newborns to age 12.

Dr. Susan Hughes, MD, FACS, is board certified in both Facial Cosmetic Surgery
and Ophthalmology, and is a Fellow of both the American Society of Oculoplastic
and Reconstructive Surgery and the American College of Surgeons. Additionally, Dr.
Hughes is Harvard trained, and among the most educated and experienced facial cosmetic
surgeons in New Jersey. She has consistently been selected by her peers as a “Top Doc”
in eyelid plastic surgery and facial cosmetic surgery in Philadelphia and New Jersey.
For more information or to book an appointment call: 856 751 4554 or visit
www.drnewyou.com

(This is a Sponsored Ad for an event)

Today’s entry is going to be short and sweet. I am just burned out. I photographed or attended about 4 events today, which isn’t always a surprise, but for some reason I am just exhausted (ie catch the Arrow Swim Club party on tonight’s The Scene NBC Philadelphia Ch 248 and tomorrow here on PCC.)

Now granted I am writing this at 3:15AM and most of you are asleep, and it doesn’t normally bother me to write my entry at this time, well now that I am no longer a paralegal, anyway this run on sentence is going to drive so many people crazy, well just some people, please don’t call me Charlie Sheen.

I am being picked up at 7:30AM and taken to NBC10 studios to do my segment this week, plus chat with the nice folks over there about a future project and then I need to be back in town for an event tomorrow night.

ANYway I am sounding like Charlie Sheen. This is a good example of a story that got away. Sometimes I have so much content I over look events and material that should be timely. This event happened the night of the Academy Ball. In between the concert and gala I ran over to the Kimmel Center to shoot Jerry Blavet’s VIP party. Most of the photos have been distributed to monthly mags.
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On Saturday evening (January 29, 2011) after a near sold out show featuring musical soul singers like Darlene Love, Freda Payne, Kenny Vance and the Planotones, Tony Williams with the Platters, and The Duprees, Philadelphia’s favorite disc jockey, Jerry Blavat, known by many as “The Geator with the Heater,” enjoyed a post-show reception catered especially by Wolfgang Puck Catering, at the Kimmel Center’s Lounge by Wolfgang Puck.Jerry Blavat, Darlene Love, Wolfgang Puck Catering Chef Will Brown, Freda Payne

Kurt “Frenchy” Yahjian from the Planotones & Gale
Joe Frazier. Groupon is having a $4 Marabella Meatball sandwich sale. Remember the other day I said I didn’t mind paying $8 for one they are that good, well go get a $4 one you will love it!! Marabella Meatball Company

The King of DJ Gerry Blavet held court at the VIP Party, here WMMR’s Philly Legend of R&R DJ Pierre Robert pays his respects.
Chuck Damico, WMMR’s Casey Boy, Ron Zausidsky, and WMMR’s Preston & Steve in the Morning’s Marisa Magnatta; Bradley Cooper will be on with Preston & Steve Monday!!
Cheryl and Lou Tumolo, Frank Riff, Donna Defino and Micahel Defino

You can always follow along with me on twitter for up to the minute thoughts that pop out of my brain and into Twitter Universe. Thank you so very much for reading PhillyChitChat and supporting me. It really means the world to me. Now go to see the Flower Show next week, get ready for PIFA on 4/7/11, Support the Red Ball, Vin Diesel will not be at the Ball, but that would have just been an added bonus it’s good charity after all, it’s at the Please Touch Museum, enuf said. Congrats to the two people who won both the Flower Show Tickets and someone else won the Nicole Miller tickets.
HughE

Happy 3rd Anniversary G Lounge Saturday night I stopped by G Lounge. I hadn’t been there in a while and wanted to check out the place as it had recently been “freshened” after opening 3 years ago. And with another club opening within blocks sometime this month, you gotta keep up with the Jones’ as they say. When you first walk into the club you will pass the “water wall” on the right. It’s gonna tell you exactly where you are now.
The club went all out with cocktails and entertainment.
The place was packed with regulars, old friends and newbies
GM Waylon Nelson broke out the bubbly. Here with Erin Como.
Andrea Helfrich was on hand sash less but with friend Lee Ann Burke
The VIP Bottle Service area was jumping
The ground breaking LCD lights were given an update
Security guards were looking serious
Happy Wedding on 4/9/11
Our front door girls
The bubble boy gets ready for his show. Don’t try this with you condoms at home.

Confetti
Random shots of people as I forgot to hit save on my android phone with the names
Thanks for being a reader of PhillyChitChat.com send me your name and I will add it here.
Hung out with friends Ron Zausidsky and Preston & Steve’s Marisa Magnatta , Danny Schuyler and Fox29’s Erin Como

The Vault also underwent a touch up too, the larger red drapery is gone, and the whole room has been opened up. Now if you are having a private party drapes can adjust to the size of the compartment that you want. Happy Anniversary G lounge!!

Buy A Fish:
http://www.sailorjerry.com/about_us/the_store/

Fresh from her Best New Artist Esperanza Spalding backed by The Roots, will be making a return to the Roots Picnic on June 4, 2011
The Roots, Nas (backed by The Roots), Wiz Khalifa, Esperanza Spalding (backed by The Roots), Ariel Pink, Man Man, The Dismemberment Plan, Mac Miller, Yelawolf, Little Dragon, J. Period, Nicos Gun & Donn T. (Source)

I stopped by The Corner last night for a bite to eat with my friend Megan Smith. Megan is working hard on The Dancing with the Philadelphia Stars event which is coming up on 4/10/11. Congrats to Megan who was on the cover of Phila Biz Journal last week in an article on small businesses run by women.

I chatted with John “Chainsaw” Taus. He tells me that he is taking over the kitchen and prepping some of his signature dishes ready for the new menu which is going to reflect the kinda food he made that made us all first fall in love with him from his Snackbar days. Don’t take my word for it ask Craig LaBan, the Inquirer Restaurant Critic who always gave him high marks. I had my fav Calamari and also a new dish Mussels. The photo didn’t come out that great so I can’t show you it, but they are from Blue Bay; they come in a red sauce and were really good and succulent. Only $12 bucks for 20 of them. Bargain.
A few weeks back I stopped by Egan Day (260 S. 16th Street), which is owned by Kate Egan and Cort Day, to check out the first in a series of fund-raising program to raise necessary dollars for an arts-focused summer workshop in partnership with Arise Academy, a Philadelphia-based, public charter high school that specifically targets students in foster placements and offers them much needed support and resources to keep them in school and engaged. Above Kate Egan, multimedia artist Leah Singer, Cort Day and Mary from Arise Academy. Singer’s work will be on display at the retailer through March 12, 2011 says Meredith Lindemon of Meredith Communication
Zelinda Barnes, Where Magazine, is having a baby. Where Magazine and friends held a baby shower in her honor at Square 1682 recently. Congrats to the Barnes’!!
Speaking of the Barnes, it’s coming along. They had a Christmas Tree and flag posted on the highest beam, as is tradition when they top off a building, but it’s gone now either because of the wind, or maybe they are planning to do a ceremony.
Philadelphia’s Gay Business and Career Development Network (GPPN) and the Independent Business Association (IBA) held a joint networking event at Kokopelli. Above founder of GPPN Thom Cardwell and Michael Williams, Sr Construction Manager at Hill International, network. Thom tells me that The Philadelphia Cinema Alliance is proud to announce the return of Philadelphia CineFest. From April 7th thru the 14th, across 5 venues, and featuring over 60 feature films (including numerous U.S. and World premieres). This year they will be holding two large scale outdoor events. The CITY WILL BE BUZZING as the film festival falls right at the beginning of PAFIA which begins 4/7 and continues til 5/1
A gift shop in the Bourse bought this replica on Ebay.
Another gift shop at the Bourse sells smaller Liberty Bells and the Statue of Liberty? #Fail What are the chances NYC sells Liberty Bells?
Splenda must be hurting Sweet & Low as it’s been eons since I have seen them advertise. I’ll switch to Sweet & Low if they want to advertise with me!
Is doing renovations per

I haven’t been to Recess to dance lately. I feel like I neglect them. Sorry. I do love this club at 2nd & Walnut. Plus there’s parking right above the club. Great dancing, but get there early, it gets packed and it’s a pretty intimate place.
I was there during the day a few weeks ago when I did my test tape for the reality show that I’m not supposed to talk about that will be filmed in Philly. The email said it was “socialite” based, but I ask you do these glasses, keys and CVS Value Card look like they belong to a socialite, just sayin’
Window Shopping: This week I will be one of the judges for the Philadelphia Flower Show decorative windows. This is not one of them. This is at Diesel, and for

Great seeing many friends and readers Saturday Night at the Reading Terminal Market’s Valentine Party. I took over 300 photos at the event, I only used a small percentage of photos in today’s entry as the photos will be distributed to the media for the local press and monthly magazines so that is why you might not see your photo here as the mags often want exclusive shots, but that doesn’t preclude the photos below either.

I will be featuring the story & some pixs on my NBC Non-Stop Channel segment Ch 248 or Ch 10.2 Thursday night at 9:30PM, so tune in.

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Have you ever wanted to be a kid trapped in your favorite toy store after closing, well that’s what it was like for most of the folks who attended everyone’s favorite farmer’s market Saturday night. You want Metropolitan bread, Old City Coffee, something from Flying Monkey, dinner at Dinic’s, salad from Tootsie’s dinner to mojito’s at the 12th Street Catina, well it’s all there for you and you can have as much as you want it can only be describe as a foodgasm at the black tie optional event at the “Valentine to the Market party.” The ticket was $125 for general admission and the proceeds are going to benefit the Reading Terminal Market Preservation Fund and will be used to preserve and enhance the historic Reading Terminal Market for future generations.

Paul Steinke, with Sophia Demas and Frank Mallas Owner at Friday Architects/Planners Inc. It’s Frank’s firm Friday Architect that will be doing the RTM renovations beginning shortly. (which I wrote about last week) Which include streamlining the “D Street” corridor, including a larger demonstration kitchen as well as multi-purpose rooms. Did you know each aisle in RTM has a letter designation.

The night kicked off with a wild cook off with local personalities paired with celebrity chefs including (Chef Joseph Poon and 6ABC’s Alicia Vitarelli. Also on hand 6ABC’s Sarah Bloomquist, CBS 3’s Jim Donovan and Dave Huddleston; NBC 10’s Lu Ann Cahn; Mix 106.1’s Donna Storm; the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Rick Nichols, Where Magazine’s Laura Burkhardt, and cookbook author and former news anchor Janet Zappala)

Michael Schulson, Joseph Poon, Delilah Winder, and Daniel Stern in an aphrodisiac mystery-ingredient cook-off. (The mystery was solved as the cooks were given red hot candies, heart shaped marshmallows and coco-puffs that had to be incorporated into their dish.)



Which two chefs break out into a food fight?

Delilah’s dish pictured above looked beautiful and was tasty Donna Storm told me. Delilah successfully used all three secret ingredients & it tasted delicious to boot.



The Winner (s) are….

Juliet Sardoy, Laurel Fairworth, Delilah Winder, Sarah Bloomquist and Jacqueline Marcia, Brazil Productions. We met these girls back in August at Joselio Hanson’s bday party at Tequila’s if you recall.

After the VIP party cook off it was out to the main floor to enjoy the festivities of The Heat of the night, above Kristen Holahan, Catherine Holahan and Crissy MacDonald decide where they should go next.

Where Magazine Publisher Laura Burkhardt and my Mike Toub.

Dan Marino and Tiffany Brower. I said to Dan, that name sounds familiar. He said “it’s a football players”; If I’m recalling it I imagine he gets it all the time cause I am not football fan outside of the Eagles.

Robert and Cheryl Swinton; also seen in the market Sharon Pinkenson and Joe Weiss, Paul Levy and Carrie Rickey, Lee van de Velde, Albert and Joanne DiSanto. Mayor Nutter was unable to attend as it was his daughter’s birthday.

Maria D’Ambrosio and Edward Glover with Jimmy and Terry Iovine in the background. Their faces were done by Peanut Butter’s Bacon (Becca Craig) and Ohh La La (Jennifer Vessells)

Tootsie Iovine (sister of the Iovine Brothers) and Kristen Holahan (her parents own Pennsylvania General Store where you could have any cookie or chocolate delight in the glass case). Tootsie owns the salad bar, which was fully stock for your choosing.

Behind the cash register is a photo of Tootsie and her 11 siblings, as well as a photo of their parents wedding – Molly Malloy and Mr Iovine who’s first name I didn’t capture, silly me.

You will recall that Molly Malloy is the name of new Gastro Pub the Iovine Brothers are opening in the market replacing the long standing Beer Garden. Jimmy Iovine tells me the space will be bigger and Chef Bobby Fisher will be created a farm fresh menu with produce from the Iovine Market.

As well as provide soup, salads and plenty of dishes to satisfy a carnivore.

There was also dancing at the market.

Michael Boghosian, Lorraine Gimblett, Jonathan Hudson and Joanne Jordan. Thanks for reading PhillyChitChat.com everyday. If you are out and you tell me you read PhillyChitChat.com I will make sure your pix appears on the site if you want. Sometimes folks are shy.

PhillyChitChat’s contest winner for the ticket to the Gala: Gena and Anthony Hennessy

Mark Beyerle of Specialty Productions executed the concepts and ideas from the committee members that work on the “Valentine to the Market” gala. Here he is with committee member former DA Lynn Abraham. It was an honor for me to meet her for the first time. We were 1 degree separated as she was my biggest client buying my Philadelphia photo note cards, which sold at the General Store on 20th Street in the early ’00’s (I told her I would be producing those cards again.)

Joan Rivera and his niece. Joan works for Specialty Productions and a lot of the decorating touches came from ideas he had

like the draping of the cabaret room where Karen Gross and Pat Robinson entertained the guests.

Keri White and Claire Batten from PhillyFoodLovers.com

Brian and Diane Rodgers with JoAnn and Brian Bongart. Later JoAnn, from Holiday Inn Express, and I would recall the 1950’s in dance as we boogied to “Runaround Sue” and “Buttercup.” I think I spun her entirely too much to the point of exhaustion.

Dave Onesti, George Flowers and Kathy Lens enjoy their Bassetts ice cream.



David H on Yelp describes the Reading Terminal “Like the Liberty Bell, cheesesteaks, and that pesky city wage tax, the Reading Terminal Market is one of those things that makes Philadelphia uniquely Philadelphia.

Yes, it’s a historical site, but more importantly, it’s full of vendors selling delicious food. There’s something for everyone: Amish sellers are there part of the week, and you can pick up groceries or get your grub on if you’re in the mood for a cheesesteak, Thai, Indian, ice cream, oysters – you name it.”

Susan and Jerry Rosenfeld enjoyed the evening with Susan’s sister and committee member, Phyllis Halpern.

Sandra Toney, Charita Powell, with Betty Thomspson and Bobby Iovine who both work at Tootsie’s Salad Bar.Rachel Shaw and Peter Hara. Black tie optional doesn’t always mean black tie, it also means sharp dressing and these too look fantastic in threads.

Ross and Dara Donolaw

Bassetts is for lovers: On the left Roger Bassett met his future wife Mary when she applied for a job at the famed ice cream place over 20 years ago, and more recently Roger and Mia Caulfield met his wife as they worked side by side at Bassetts.

(Disclosure I was hired to photograph this event and I had a great time.)