Philly Chit Chat

I was surfing the web and found a most unique location to have dinner. The food doesn’t even have to be that good for the guests to talk about the experience for years to come.
It’s called Dinner in the Sky
Dinner in the Sky Las Vegas offers you the unique and unforgettable dining experience of a lifetime! Suspended over 160-180 feet in the air! Our guests sit comfortably at our 22 person Sky Table and enjoy spectacular views of the Las Vegas skyline while dining on fine food prepared by our professional team of Sky Chefs.They offer Wedding’s in The Sky too. I can think of a few problems, namely if someone has to go to the bathroom they have to lower the whole contraption and wait for you to finish. This could solve a lot of the issues of dining in Love Park.

Tuesday, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Skyhook Foundation, in conjunction with his alma mater UCLA and the National Council for the Social Studies, selected Bodine High School as the only school in the tri-state region to partake in a special program which focuses on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s “On the Shoulders of Giants” – a film-based educational program designed to increase knowledge and awareness among US high school students of the impact of the Harlem Renaissance and its leading figures in sports, music, literature and history. The World Affairs Council of Philadelphia is the co-founder and co-sponsor of Bodine High School in cooperation with the School District of Philadelphia where students focus on a curriculum of global studies and foreign languages. Bodine is a Blue Ribbon School and home

Bodine Principal Dr. Ann B. Gardiner looks on as, er should I say up as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar addresses the students assembled. Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s height is 7 ft 1.625 in
Producer and Director Deborah Morales, of On the Shoulders of Giants answers questions from the students. She urged the kids to get into digital animation as it’s a high paying field. She knows she said, she had to pay the bills.After the film Kareem did a Q&A with the kids. I can assure you I would not be able to go head to head with these braniacs at Bodine. They were all asking intelligent questions regarding the film, how it was made, Civil Rights questions as well as the elephant in the room what it was like to be a professional basketball player? Bill Russell was always one of his role models, and one of the toughest players Kareem ever had to go up against was Overbrook’s Wilt Chamberlain. One kid did asked if he was born tall. He said he was average size but weighed 22lbs, which was pretty heavy for a baby but he grew into it tall, he said.

During the Q&A Kareem discusses how segregation affected him when he went to college.
After the film I caught up with Abdul-Jabbar in one of the classrooms. I asked him about the film and he said “The film has all the things I love, it has basketball, jazz music and the history of African-American people.” He likes the end product and believes it will be educational for everyone. Beginning today you can watch it on Demand on Comcast and Cox cables systems.
Check out the Jamie Foxx narrated trailer here:

Tony Goldman, one of the prime movers of New York’s Soho and Miami’s South Beach revivals had a vision for 13th Street about a decade ago. At that time Goldman Properties bought 24 buildings in a swath dubbed Blocks Below Broad, or B3 which sits between Juniper and 12th streets, Chestnut to Walnut streets. Although Goldman was the savior of a street that for many years was a dead end red light district, that name just never caught on even as his neighborhood began to transform into the pedestrian friendly spot he desired . Fast forward to July 2006 another visionary arrived on the scene in the name of James McManaman. James had an idea to create a business association within the same defined area of B3 but re-brand the businesses as “Midtown Village”. At first the idea was met with mixed reactions, but in the ensuring years the name has been embraced and even celebrated as a cohesive town square idea, as 13th Street acts as sort of the Main Street for Midtown Village, but all the blocks around the street are having their own miniature gentrification even the smaller streets like Sansom have successful establishments radiating from 13th Street.

Steve Duross, Duross & Langel, the newly elected President of the Midtown Village Merchant’s Association for 2011 and outgoing president James McManaman at The Loews Hotel at 12th and Market week for the merchant organization’s annual meeting.

Specialty Solutions Mark Beyerle, Councilman Frank DiCicco, First District, City of Philadelphia (who was instrumental in those early years with funding), Jason Evenchick, (Time & Vintage) give James McManaman a token of their appreciation for his years of service. It is a crystal stand with a crystal ball on top. Mark says it’s for James’ vision of what he saw could be in the future. If you have a business in the Midtown area and want to belong to the merchants organization or if you are a member already send them info on what’s going on in your business so they can share the news with your neighbors. contact

• SpecialtyUSA – Management Association Phone: 215-625-7983 admin@midtownvillage.org

The Wilma Theater held its first-ever Theater Lovers Fête on Friday February 11, 2011 from 7pm to 11pm at The Ormandy Ballroom of the Doubletree Hotel on the Avenue of the Arts.

This year, the theater is pleased to honor Governor Edward G. Rendell with the Wilma Star Award. During his time as Mayor of Philadelphia, Rendell was instrumental in establishing the Avenue of the Arts with the opening of The Wilma Theater 15 years ago. Above James Haskins, Wilma’s Exec Director and Managing Director and Blanka Zizka, Artistic Director above with former Gov Ed Rendell. Gov Rendell thank his wife Midge who was as he said very instrumental in orchestrating creation of the Avenue of the Arts, and still serves on the Board today.

The Theater Lovers Fête, with it’s sultry and sophisticated Parisian flair, paid homage to the world-renowned Moulin Rouge. The evening began with a cocktail reception at 7pm, followed by a unique cabaret performance by

The Bearded Ladies, and dancing to the soulful sounds of LeRoy Hawks and the Hypnotics.
Kelly and Richard Wolfington with Tobey Dicker
A.D. Amorosi on the scene
James Specht, Crystal Whybark, Katherine Wennell, and Alyssa Cole
Carol Stouffer and Ed Hoy check out the program and read about the upcoming plays at the Wilma. Opening March 2 is “in the next room or The Vibrator Play”. Yes expect several orgasms on stage.
Matt O’Mally, Brian Seaman, Susan Sullivan and Jeff Kummer. Jeff and his partner Mike Reid, created the decor for tonights event with their new company Gray Space Decor.
“We are very pleased to honor Governor Rendell with the Wilma Star Award,” remarks Lewis Johnston, Chair of The Wilma Theater’s Board of Directors. “This award celebrates his success during his tenure in public service and applauds him for his unwavering commitment to the arts in Philadelphia.”
Candy Girls worked the floor selling raffle tickets. Proceeds went to the education programs at the Wilma.
The Wilma Theater exists to present theater as an art form, engaging artists and audiences in an adventure of aesthetic philosophical reflection of the complexities of contemporary life. We accomplish our mission by producing thoughtful, well-crafted, productions of intelligent, daring plays that represent a range of voices, viewpoints, and production styles.
Guests experienced a night of revelry accompanied by a grand silent auction, casino game tables, a sumptuous dessert buffet, and an aphrodisiac-inspired carte du jour. After a bad luck streak, I found my buddy Justin Pizzi winning at the poker table in the parlor.

LeRoy Hawks and the Hypnotics.
UPDATE: I SCREWED UP I forgot to post a photo of the two people who are responsible for my being at this event. Amanda Spencer and Johnny Van Heest tell me they read PhillyChitChat everyday and love it. Sometimes when you have an important thing you have to remember and you keep telling yourself not to forget, sometimes, in my brain, it’s the one thing I forget. As I was driving along 676 this afternoon thinking about things I needed to remember, it popped in my head that I forgot you two. Sorry ! Thanks so much for reading me and supporting me.

Italian Barista Champion Giorgio Milos has spent the better part of 20 years perfecting his craft and being the American Ambassador for illy.

Coffee culture—the café, the cup, the espresso itself—not only provides a milieu for creativity, but making and drinking espresso are creative acts in and of themselves. Using a coffee machine, smelling and grinding the beans, pouring the espresso into the right cup—for Illy, “It’s a whole ritual.” Drinking espresso integrates the cultivation of pleasure, the cultivation of creativity, and the cultivation of contemplation into one small cup says Andrea Illy.
Illy has helped Le Méridien bring this café culture into its hotels through Le Méridien Coffee Bars and Le Méridien’s “Creative Hour” coffee tastings. Robert Illy
Georgio says no other beverage has the beneficial effects of espresso on the mind and body. It stimulates creativity and enhances the moment. Partly due to the small amount of caffeine, but mostly due to the aroma and body. What’s that just a little caffeine. It’s true, Georgio told us that espresso has less caffeine than a cup of coffee. Espresso is created through transfusion under pressure. The coffee has less time to infuse itself in the water. A pot of coffee allows the caffeine to leech out into the water which results in more caffeine escaping from the coffee bean. The gathering foodies let out a small gasp, all these years we thought that was the part we like about espresso or even cappuccino. It turns out I just like the richer taste better. Check out The Feasts Collin Flatt’s video of from the same event “The Golden Rules of Espresso”

I walked by the new section of the Pennsylvania Convention Centerand was excited by what must be part of their 1% for Public Art Commission by lighting the building.

Center City Proprietors Association and the law offices of Zarwin, Baum, DeVito, Kaplan, Schaer & Toddy, P.C. co-hosted an evening with Bill Rasmussen the founder of ESPN and author of “Sports Junkies Rejoice” The Birth of ESPN”, Mitchell Kaplan, Esq., Zarwin, Baum, and Linda Karp, President of Center City Proprietors Association, greet the guests
With a special appearance by Eagles Radio Broadcast team of Merrill Reese and former Eagles player Mike Quick who spoke with the guests about everything Philadelphia sports.

Mike Quick discusses the brain trauma injuries in football and their toll on the players. Merrill Reese’s opinion on Juan Castillo
It would have been a great ladies night as the room was chock full of men in suits. Say goodbye to business casual at this soiree. Pedro Gomes, John Oakes and Steve Schaeffer, VP Wealth Management at Morgan Stanley
Gary DeVito, Bill Rasmussen, Mitchell Kaplan and Mike Quick
Steve Ritner, Shanta McGough and Sharif Street
Tiffany Dawson and Amber Hankins. Mother daughter fashionistas are styling it with mom in Prada and daughter in Michael Kors. Tonights delicious food was by B*Smith Catering.
The Sylistics: Aida, Stacey Kracher and Anne Nikolaus

Scott Dane, Sen Bill Slough and Bill MacCauleyCouncilwomen Blondell Reynolds-Brown and Rosalyn Mattingly, Senior Trial Attorney at Allstate Insurance Company
Roy Yaffee, Linda Karp, President of Center City Proprietors Association and Nana Goldberg, of I Goldberg & Navy.
Anne Nikolaus and DJ
Darwin Beauvas, Klehr Harrison, Zarwin attorney’s Charity Heidenthal and Paul A Downing,
Stacey Kracher, Marketing Director and her two assistants Catie Duffield and Monique Andes all of Zarwin Baum.

The Chelsea Pool, The Borgata Pool, now you can add The Arrow Swim Club Pool to the list of hot, happening, cool off scenes to be seen at day or night.
Unlike the Atlantic City Pools, Arrow Swim Club is an exclusive membership only pool and will cost you $1,000 to join; Not too pricey if you compare it to a weekend stay in AC at either the Borgata or Chelsea.
Last week I met with Nicole Cashman, of Cashman & Associates, who with developer Bart Blatstein of Tower Investments is partnering on the project, at Stephen Starr’s latest gem Dandelion, and she told me about the new project. She filled me in on a few tidbits here. The first thing I wanted to know about was the hours: Sunday thru Thursday will see earlier closing hours, but Friday and Saturday nights the pool will be opened til Midnight. It’s not a nightclub, Nicole told me, it’s a place to swim and socialize, but there will be music.
Everyday in fact their will be music, including DJ sets. No doubt we will see international DJ sensation Nigel Richards, who has been dating Nicole Cashman for nearly a year. PS Earlier last week I mentioned that Matthew Izzo’s store in The White Building at 105 South 12th Street, will be selling Nigel’s clothing brand 611 Lifestyle inside his store. Look for the store opening this week. A lot more will be revealed at the kick-off celebration party March 3 where potential members can find out more about the club, see the layout, more information on the cabana’s and sign up for a summer they won’t forget where there will be
monthly member only parties, movie nights, movie screenings, yoga on the side deck, cocktail parties, private cabanas equipped with cable, PlayStation and Blu-ray players; there’s a snack bar and an the on-site restaurant. A fire-pit lounge; and all those fun things you remember as a kid when you belonged to a swim club, but now it’s adult time as the minimum age for this club is 21. There’s no kiddie pool. Opening date is May 1. Pool has already been dug, it’s 4 1/2 feet deep, no diving please.
(Top pix Brownstoner who also has a story of the property last August)