Philly Chit Chat

Team Derek waited til the wee hours of the morning and got this shot of a happy looking Lauryn Hill after her sold out standing room only show at TLA. After a hugely successful career with the Fugees then a short stint as a solo artist complete with diva behavior who rarely posed or signed for fans, the eccentric Lauryn retreated from the limelight and raised her family in NJ.
Recently she’s emerge a changed, much matured artist playing small venues to adoring fans and admirer’s. I always liked her, but at the height of her career she could be downright rude and unreliable. So glad to see her looking healthy and smiling. Team Derek caught up with her after her show as she left TLA around 4AM. They are a hardy bunch of fans. Said she was wonderful, signed and posed for pixs. As one would hope after waiting 3 hrs for an artist. I think she looks so beautiful too. Welcome Back!

Hey Dudes and Dudettes,
The 80’s are back! We are pleased to present the Atomic Tom’s official music video DON’T YOU WANT ME for the upcoming film TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT featuring Topher Grace, Anna Faris, Dan Fogler, Teresa Palmer and Demetri Martin opening March 4th, 2011 The music video features the cast of TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT recreating classic 80’s scenes and characters that made this decade totally awesome and unforgettable!!!

Watch the video and test your knowledge of this totally tubular decade by seeing if you can name all the references!! Check out these screen grabs below, can you name these films?

About TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT:
DIRECTED BY: Michael Dowse
SCREENPLAY BY: Jackie Filgo & Jeff Filgo
BASED ON A STORY BY: Topher Grace & Gordon Kaywin
CAST: Topher Grace, Anna Faris, Dan Fogler, Teresa Palmer, Chris Pratt, Michelle Trachtenberg, Lucy Punch, Michael Ian Black, Demetri Martin
PRODUCERS: Ryan Kavanaugh, Jim Whitaker, Sarah Bowen
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Dany Wolf, Topher Grace, Gordon Kaywin, Tucker Tooley
RATING: R
RUNTIME: 1 hour 54 minutes

TRAILER:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gYL9znVmGs

SYNOPSIS

As the summer of 1988 winds down, three friends on the verge of adulthood attend an out-of-control party in celebration of their last night of unbridled youth. Starring Topher Grace, Anna Faris, Dan Fogler and Teresa Palmer, Take Me Home Tonight is a raunchy, romantic and ultimately touching blast from the past set to an awesome soundtrack of timeless rock and hip-hop hits.

The stars of “Take Me Home” Topher Grace, Anna Faris will be at NBC10’s The Ten Show on Wednesday.

Ironically I just wrote about being in the studio audience at The Ten Show earlier today with a behind the scenes look:

Send them an email with all your information to sit in the audience next Wednesday to see Topher & Anna 10! show.

Make sure you include: your name, address, phone number and email. Also tell us what day you would like to come and the names of all those who will be attending with you.

Click here to email our audience coordinator or call 1-877-713-1010.

First up a little PhillyChitChat Chatter:Ceyonce’ Lash tweeted this shot of her and Singer/Actress Michelle Williams (Destiny Child) taken in the lobby of the Merriam Theater on Wednesday. She said it was worth being late for work when she got an autograph & a photo with Michelle.

I love that if you see a show at the Merriam that the actors meet the audience members in the lobby. In NYC, you have to wait outside in the cold by the stage door. See Michelle Williams, Brian White and Clifton Davis in What My Husband Doesn’t Know in your city at DavidETalbert.com until 2/13/

Last night Guppy’s Good Times in Conshohocken was ready for their close up as they are trying out for the Bar Makeover show. I asked someone if it was a restaurant too, and they said “well they serve food but I wouldn’t call it good food. It’s more of a fun bar that needs a touch up.” (Their website could use a freshen up too)

Now on to today’s entry. I know I am probably forgetting so many things to write, so follow me on Twitter @iphillychitchat as I drop a lot of news daily there.

And thanks to my sponsors CTO Band, Parx Casino, The Corner, Del Frisco’s, The Reading Terminal Valentine’s Party, and the Sporting Club.

I have a few more advertisers coming on board, and I’m not just saying this but if you want a spot think about it as they are being snapped up and I am very grateful. Write me and I will send you my stats and pricing package.

Oh and I am going to have a contest for a few tickets to events that are coming up in a few weeks.

Happy Valentine’s Day Weekend. HughE

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When I was working I never had the chance to do all the things I wanted to like go watch The Ten Show live at the NBC Philadelphia Studios. Now I can, and as many times as I want. If I wanted to I could be like the guy Lenny the Today Show super-fan. But for now we’ll just concentrate on my visit Monday when my friend Karen Gross made an appearance to show case her upcoming cabaret shows. That’s Karen above with her Cabaret PR powerhouse Mike Donohoe.
But for now we’ll just concentrate on my visit Monday when my friend Karen Gross made an appearance to show case her upcoming cabaret shows.

Here’s a whole bunch of behind the scenes of what the studio looks like before the audience comes in, and as Karen rehearses.
Hope my buddy Justin Pizzi is feeling well. We’re supposed to have lunch today.

Karen ran into our old friend PR guy Randy Alexander who reps among others Sellersville Theater. On 2/19/11 Karen Gross will be opening for the legendary comedian Robert Klein at the Sellersville Theater. Ok can we all say, WOW, because that is a wow.

Karen and Maria Papadakis visiting the 10 Show and Aleywa Taylor. an intern who goes to Temple and is studying Communications.
Aditi Roy stops by to visit Karen (OK I called her and told her that Karen and I were in the studio. She’s so sweet.)
Karen and Aditi. I also got to visit my friends in the Non-Stop Studio. It was fun since they are always editing my mug and know what I look like, but I had never met any of them. If you want to check out some of my segments that I do on The Scene with Justin Pizzi you can find them HERE. Plus occasionally I will have postings on NBCPhiladelphia.com of interesting stories I shoot.
Here is a photo from above of the audience members arriving for the show. The studio holds about 70 people. Most days everyone gets a nice gift bag of stuff to take home. I forgot to leave this way so I didn’t get to check out the goods.
Here’s Eight-time Emmy award-winning journalist Lu Ann Cahn

not a good Meteorologist Bill Henley shot, but it’s one where he’s saying HughE what are you doing here? This shot is looking towards the Green Room, which is actually green.
Here’s what the set looks like from a back row viewer perspective. The audience members seemed to really enjoy the behind the scenes of changing sets and found it fascinating, as I think you would too.
Above Lu Ann tries a chitlin cheese steak from Chef Carl Redding owner of Reddings Resturant in Atalntic City, NJ; LuAnn said she liked it. Did I mention Free Parking, there’s free parking out back and if you want to meet Bill & Lu Ann they are very hospitable.
After a successful show Karen poses with Bill Henley & LuAnn Cahn.

On Sunday Karen Gross presents “Broken Hearts Brunch” in cabaret in Center City at More Than Just Ice Cream

Sunday, February 13, 2011 from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM (ET)

then on Valentine’s Day she presents a sexy feast at More Than Just Ice Cream

Check out the Ten Show Monday and Friday at 11AM on NBC10. For tickets to sit in the audience: Send us an email with all your information and maybe you will be chatting with Bill & Lu Ann at the next edition of the 10! show. Make sure you include: your name, address, phone number and email. Also tell us what day you would like to come and the names of all those who will be attending with you. Hope to see you soon. Click here to email our audience coordinator or call 1-877-713-1010.

The 15th Annual Lincoln Day Luncheon and Parade featuring Chris Christie, Governor of the State of New JerseyThe gun fire you heard at noon was the 21-gun salute by Civil War re-enactors on Broad Street in front of the Union League in honor of Abraham Lincoln’s 202nd Birthday. Then the celebrants gathered inside the historic building for a cocktail reception, a reading of The Gettysburg Address by President Lincoln from the Broad Street portico followed by the Luncheon with Keynote Speaker and Recipient of the League’s Lincoln Award: Chris Christie, Governor of the State of New Jersey.Following the luncheon they paraded to Independence Hall with Civil War re-enactors, a fife and drum corps, and hundreds of League members and guests. Upon arriving at Independence Hall the celebration started to commemorate Lincoln’s visits to Philadelphia in 1861 and 1864 and ae speak they are returning to the League for more cocktails and celebration.

Lincoln’s birthday is actually on Saturday, but as you know when it’s your birthday it’s a week long celebration.

Marking the first stop on his highly-anticipated national book tour, former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was at the National Constitution Center last night Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. His new book Known and Unknown, chronicles his long career in public service, including his four terms in Congress and his service in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and George W. Bush.
When I arrived at the Constitution Center, the granny brigade was in full force with about 12 protesters near the corner of 5th & Arch. One lone granny challenged the civil service guards because she felt that their voice wasn’t being heard on the darken corner. Her one women stand lasted about 5 minutes before the Civil Service told her she was on private property and had to return to the sidewalk closest to the street. (oh it’s private property, I thought it was the National Constitution Center paid for with tax dollars, just saying?)Host Michael Bescloss listens last night as former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld (right) talks about his just-published book, “Known and Unknown,” at the National Constitution Center. It was a sold out crowd with about 500 people. Many who were fans and gave him a standing ovation when he arrived.

In this clip Rumsfeld defends George W Bush as an intelligent human being, “he went to Yale for Gods sake.” He doesn’t know where the idea of W being an idiot came from. Not mentioned in the entire night anything about Obama or the torture scandal at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib.

Oddly though he said it was easier to tell soldier’s families about the death of their children in this war as opposed to the Vietnam War because their children volunteered for the Iraq War. (now I thought I was hearing things until Mike, who was sitting in the audience, repeated the same phrase to me. That was just in poor taste. He said we have Nixon and Agnew to thank for ridding the country of the Draft, which can’t be true because I had to sign up for the draft when I turned 18 and that was in the 80’s)

A story that really set up how narrow minded Rumsfeld is would be his Elvis story. In the late sixties, he and his wife Joyce went to Las Vegas “where they have those buildings, casino’s or something”. They caught a show by Sammy Davis Jr., who the following night brought them to the Elvis Presley show.

Rumsfeld said it was Elvis’ fat years and he was wearing a blue sparkly suit. During the concert he would pull out these scarves wipe his brow and give them to audience members who were going crazy (now he was cringing when he was saying this, I guess he’s never had a lady throw her bra at him, well unless it was burning.) Joyce received one and it’s framed to this day. Now that would have been a good place to stop the story, but Rumsfeld went on to say they went backstage and he was not impressed, even disgusted by all the pretty girls running around, he thought Elvis was basically a degenerate and just wanted to get out of there, until he had a one on one with him and Elvis talked about the years he served in the military. That opened Rumsfelds eyes that Elvis was not some pervert, but was a patriot and served his country instead of hightailing it to Canada like the draft dodgers.

It took countless lives before he admitted that Iraq had nothing to do with September 11, and there were no WMD’s in Iraq. He wishes he had said there was suspected sites of WMD’s. (See the above statement where he thinks it’s easier to tell soldiers families from the Iraq war their child was killed; in a war that shouldn’t have happened.) Rumsfeld was the one of the first officials in George W Bush’s cabinet to mention attacking Iraq after the September 11 terrorist attacks. At 2:40 p.m. in the afternoon of September 11, Rumsfeld was issuing rapid orders to his aides to look for evidence of Iraqi involvement, according to notes taken by senior policy official Stephen Cambone. “Best info fast. Judge whether good enough hit S.H.” — meaning Saddam Hussein — “at same time. Not only UBL” (Osama bin Laden), Cambone’s notes quoted Rumsfeld as saying. “Need to move swiftly — Near term target needs — go massive — sweep it all up. Things related and not. (Wikepedia)
Team Derek was on the scene and armed with paraphernalia to get signed.

Not until Team Derek got to the table, about 100 people in, did Rumsfeld pose for a photo. Way to go guys.

He even signed a ball for them. Now normally a ball signed with just initials might not be worth much, but when you get a video of the ball being signed and you even have Rumsfeld say, “DR hows that?” well that’s added value. Check out Team Derek in an upcoming piece on Justin Pizzi’s The Scene, and look for a day in the life of Team Derek coming up in March. MTV where are you, these guys need a reality show?

Formerly housing the Blue Lotus rug company, the space on the first floor of the White Building, where condo’s start at $400k’s, was quickly snatch up by what I think is the first of it’s kind in Center City
A raw food restaurant: Catalyst? What’s that you say? Which fits right in at the White Building, which already houses a healthy fitness center Fusion Cross Training on the mezzanine level, The T Bar at the corner of 12th and Sansom, and they yummy clothes of Matthew Izzo and 611 Lifestyle Clothing.

The building is still “raw” space and needs to be built out. Lucky for me when I was walking by the other day I noticed the plans hanging on the wall and was able to get a few shots of the them.
Now that the fasting diet seems to be all the rage, can eating Raw Food be much further down the road in achieving balance and spirituality, which the proponents of Raw Food say are the rewards of a raw food lifestyle. Update: Foobooz educates me on what catalyst is and it’s the cleansing regime that I was talking about which several of my friends just did. Here’s their Facebook Page. Another Update: Update: Michael Klein reports that it’s called Jar Bar and stands for Juice and raw. (The project is called Catalyst as it’s based on the cleansing juice.)
Raw foodism (or rawism) is a lifestyle promoting the consumption of uncooked, unprocessed, and often organic foods as a large percentage of the diet. As you release body fat, toxins, and emotional toxins, remember that the journey, not the destination of raw food perfection, is the important element in detoxification on a raw food diet. Take it slowly and at your own pace, and seek the counsel of a wise friend, raw food coach or mentor, or websites like this one.
No “formal” kitchen is needed for a raw food dining experience as the food is raw, but their will be a production kitchen. Many of the foods are simple to prepare, such as fruits, salads, meat, and dairy. So look for the Raw Experience to make it’s debut sometime in the summer.

The Trailblazer Award acknowledges and celebrates a woman who has significantly impacted the Philadelphia community.

This extraordinary woman has not only paved her own way with hard work and dedication, but has also committed herself to blazing trails for future generations.
Philadelphia Magazine is proud to announce that their Seventh Annual Trailblazer Award, dedicated to Women in Business, is presented to Ahmeenah Young, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority (above with Marian Conicella, Publisher of Philadelphia Magazine and founder of the Trailblazer Award, on the left). This accomplished women has not only paved her own way through her effort and achievement, but has committed herself to paving the way for future generations of female business leaders.

Yesterday, Tuesday February 8, 2011, Philadelphia magazine, along with the region’s most influential women, gathered at Stephen Starr’s Butcher & Singer and hosted the luncheon, which was also sponsored by Tiffany & Co. to honor Ahmeenah Young.
Reporter Nydia Hann from 6ABC emceed the event, here with from left Linda Munich, VP and Director of Public Affairs 6ABC/WPVI, Pamela Browner White, Senior VP/Public Affairs and Government Relations for the Philadelphia Eagles, Ahmeenah Young, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority and Rosemary Turner. Vice President UPS Metro Philadelphia.
Carolyn Short, a partner in the Philadelphia office of Reed Smith LLP, and Kris Flynn, Senior Account Executive at Philadelphia magazine
David H. Lipson, Jr is President of Metro Corp, stops by to chat with the ladies from 6ABC
Carol Drumstas, Area Manager for PA / East at Brown Forman Beverages and Dana Spain, President of DLG Communications.
Kathleen Kelly, Finley catering, Alana Tosti, Sr. Brand Manager of Philadelphia Wedding magazine. (recently came on board at the magazine from Teen Vogue) and Adrienne Krysiuk Robertson’s Flowers is honored to be the sole floral provider for the second year in a row!
Tom McGrath Editor-in-Chief, Philadelphia magazine
listening to one of the many trailblazing women that
Young is on the boards of the Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Multi-Cultural Affairs Congress, African American Museum, The Center City District, Advisory Council of the National Multicultural Tourism Conference, American Red Cross Spectrum Committee and the National Association of Hispanic Meeting Planners.

She serves on the Host Committee of the US/African Business Summit and the Black Public Administrators and is on the Strategic Planning Committee, Professional Convention Management Association.
Ray Raby, Group Director Philadelphia Market, Tiffany & Co., honoring Ahmeenah Young and presenting her with a beautiful Tiffany Sterling Silver Ribbon.
Young’s vision is that every visitor to the city of Philadelphia- tourist, conventioneer or business traveler–will have a memorable experience and look forward to returning. Acknowledging that achievement of the vision will require a collaborative effort across many agencies, Young maintained that the City is ready and praised the dedication and expertise of Philadelphia’s own hospitality and tourism industry professionals, including the PCCA’s staff, the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCVB), the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association, the Multicultural Affairs Congress (MAC), and the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC).
Nikki Hawkins, Producer of FYI 6ABC (or as my boyfriend would say lucky as can be as she gets to work with Adam Joseph.), Charisse Lillie (past recipient of the Trailblazer Award)and Mary Dougherty, Nicole Miller boutiques in Manayunk and at the Bellevue. Mary tells me that Nicole Miller will be at “The Bellevue Gets Engaged” on March 5th again. Tickets can be found here: The Bellevue Gets Engaged A truly all-inclusive wedding event experience for the most fashionable brides-to-be at the 19th Floor of the Hyatt at The Bellevue. Sip signature cocktails courtesy of and Chambord Flavored Vodka, and Little Black Dress Wines and enjoy hors d’oeuvres by XIX Restaurant.

City Representative Melanie Johnson. Melanie is participating in 3rd Annual Dancing with the Philadelphia Stars, to benefit the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America’s Philadelphia/Delaware Valley chapter, April 10 at the Hyatt Regency Penn’s Landing. Tickets for the 5 to 10 p.m. event are $100 and available at www.dancingwiththephiladelphiastars.com, or by calling 215-471-8686 Isn’t that coat is adorable, I don’t know if you can see but it has that “rose” effect that has become popular with woman’s bags lately.
The lunch at Butcher & Singer was delicious as usual. It was the first time I had their Salmon and I think it’s the best in the City. Well then there were the cute rabbit shaped carrot cakes that were beyond delicious. Also spotted in the room enjoying the festivities, Jenn Shockley, Tracy Seng, Ilana Waber, Corie Moskow, President of Gloss Pr, and spotted in the room Gloria Caarez, Director of LGBT Affairs, Office of Mayor Michael Nutter, Randi Sirkin, Director of Creative Services of Starr Restaurants, Ashley Primis, Starr Restaurants, Jane Yepez, Vice President of Marketing and Public Affairs, Virtua Health, Judy Spires, The president of Acme Markets and former recipients of the Trailblazers Award, Judith M Von Seldeneck, Chairman/CEO, Diversified Search, Ray & Berndtson, Michelle Bunting, President & Co-Owner of Horizon Pediatric Systems, Inc, Melissa Weiler Gerber, and Denise Morrison.

A Philadelphia Team did make it to the Bowl on Sunday. The Philadelphia Passions were in the Lingerie Bowl VIII. Hardly anyone touched this story about the touch all girls touch football team. Now Lingerie Bowl VIII is in the books and the Los Angeles Temptation took down the Philadelphia Passion 26-25 in the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. According to Ron Kantowski of Las Vegas Review-Journal, the gorgeous women played their hearts out. “The blocking was crisp,” Kantowski wrote. “The tackling fierce. There was a flea-flicker and two double reverses.”

Congratulations girls for making it into the Lingerie Bowl joining the ranks of other Philly teams as almost there, but just not good enough, yet.

Thursday, but first let’s see what the Chatter is:

PhillyChitChatter:

After appearing on The 10 Show Friday morning, then doing a meet and greet at University of Penn, Russell Simmons rolled into 10 Arts near midnight on Friday night with a friend, and I believe his girlfriend. Why do I think it was his girlfriend, they spent a good part of the night playing tongue hockey. I decided not to take a picture and instead enjoyed my club sandwich before heading over to Whisper for a night of dancing. Spotted in the night club was Mary Carey, Jennifer Carroll (cause they were with me), also Sixers Andre Iguodala celebrating a win.

Philly Has A Heart

The Bellevue (200 South Broad Street) Has A Heart too this Thursday, February 10, from 12:00pm-2:00pm. They are teaming up with Go Red for Women and the American Heart Association to get the word out on women’s heart health in Philadelphia. The event will include heart-healthy options from the food court vendors for lunch, body fat and heart rate testing by The Sporting Club, and an after-event cooking demonstration on heart-healthy foods at Williams-Sonoma.
Mr Philadelphia Al Lee of the Philadelphia Visitor Center is having a contest in the name of Valentine’s Day in Philadelphia. It’s called Mr. Philadelphia’s 14 First Dates in February Contest: I’ve comprised 13 specially-themed dates to show you just how awesome Philadelphia really is. Each day in February, beginning on the 1st, I’ll launch a new themed date that should, fingers crossed, guarantee a second one. (hint, hint.) Check it out here:
http://www.independencevisitorcenter.com/blog-detail?id=70

Over at JimmyStyle yesterday it’s Day #8 of 14 Days of Love! Feature includes a giveaway, so be sure to enter. No one says flowers better than @btflblooms. http://ht.ly/3S7v5

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Last night I attended the soft opening of Opa which brings Modern Greece to Midtown Village Philadelphia 70 seat restaurant/bar is inspired by the culture of Greece, today.

GM Ken Valles, GM Raised in the Philadelphia area, Greek-American brother-sister team (on right), Vasiliki Tsiouris and George Tsiouris have deep family roots in the local restaurant scene. This dynamic pair is excited to bring their passion for Greek food and hospitality to their hometown via chef Andrew Brown (ex-White Dog Cafe, Django)
Opa’s interior designer was Jun Aizaki, the man responsible for the look and feel of Jose Garces’ restaurants as well as Zama. The overhang birch makes the bar area feel like a separate loft in the 70 seat restaurant.
The back of the restaurant can easily accommodate a small intimate party as sheers can be closed to give it a little privacy.
George tells me it’s just as easy to combine tables in the front room for a party of 16. The bar front is made of actual sea rock. The food is as plated just as beautiful as the restaurant decor, and delicious. I recommend the spinach croquettes, Gyro’s and Zucchini Chips. But look forward to going back to enjoy the Beet Salad and my favorite Octupus. George says the hamburger is great too. Hamburger, I love hamburgers.

The colorful details of the thoughtfully designed restaurant extends into the bathroom with this textured tile wall and Mediterranean blue wall coloring. Check out their menu on their website OPA

This Friday February 11 , the Opera Company of Philadelphia raises the curtain on a new production of Gounod’s Romeo & Juliet. Saturday evening, this past February 5, The Opera Company of Philadelphia (OCP) held the L’Amour & Couture Gala at Philadelphia’s Loew’s Hotel benefiting education programs at the OCP.
The Capulets and the Montagues are shown as major fashion houses in a 21st Century world of models, paparazzi, and haute couture. As part of this much-anticipated new production, the Opera Company has partnered with the premier design schools in the region, Moore College of Art and Design; Drexel University’s Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design and Philadelphia University to create cutting-edge costume design and creating an opportunity to spotlight the tremendous design talent being cultivated in Philadelphia. Saturday night at the Loews Hotel their was a Gala in celebration of the opening of Romeo & Juliet. After an introduction by the Chairman of The Philadelphia Opera Company’s Stephen A Madva,

Eliana Papadakis and Maria Papadakis,
L’Amour & Couture Co-Chairs, explained that the gala was created to recognize the Opera Company of Philadelphia’s long tradition of cultivating young artists, a tradition exemplified by OCP’s upcoming production of Romeo & Juliet in which the young lovers are played by a real-life husband and wife duo who first came to OCP’s attention while students at the Academy of Cal Arts.

Mrs Papadakis telling the story of how Maria was introduced to Opera by being in an Opera when she was young. Then the duo discuss Romeo and Juliet.
Husband and wife Soprano Ailyn Perez and her husband tenor Stephen Costello (center) also play the main characters. Mr. Costello a native of Philadelphia, has performed the role of Edgardo in Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor” at the Fort Worth Opera and the Metropolitan Opera. Ailyn has become internationally known since her critically acclaimed portrayal of Amelia in Simon Boccanegra alongside Placido Domingo at the Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin and Teatro alla Scala Milan. Both husband and wife are excited to be a part of Romeo and Juliet where they will be working together again.

These two are adorable. Check out this video of them performing a number from La Bohèm

The night’s entertainment included a operatic performance from The Opera Company of Philadelphia
Pianist Bonnie Wagner, Soprano Elizabeth Reiter, bass-baritone Daniel Mobbs, tenor Taylor Stayton, and mezzo-soprano Olivia Vote were magnificent.
There was a very successful silent auction as well as a live auction that brought in additional money to support OCP and it’s educational programs. Evantine Design an award-winning event production company created the beautiful center pieces on each table. I was hoping they were going to be the kind of centerpieces they give away to whoever’s birthday was closest to the day, I was willing to lie. Wouldn’t it have looked lovely on my terrace, and helped me through the rest of the winter? I think so. I am a big fan of Brian Kappra and Evantine Design.
As part of the new fashion-based production of Romeo & Juliet, The Opera Company partnered with three of the premier design schools in the region to create stylish costume design, Moore College of Art and Design, Drexel University’s Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design and Philadelphia University. Drexel’s University’s Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, Moore College of Art & Design, and Philadelphia University were given guidelines by Opera Company veteran costume director Richard St. Clair. The task for their student designers?

“To create stunning, color-rich, avant garde designs to be featured in a runway fashion show within the opera – with a cheeky wink to Renaissance fashion and tabloid magazines,” shares St. Clair. “The director love the idea of engaging, fresh, young talent, showcasing the creativity of many of our area’s up and coming designers.”
The audience loved all the designs, but were particularly perky in their applause with this design by Cassandra Kane, Drexel University. “This was inspired by the extravagant nature of stage costuming” Kane said, “through the manipulation of color, texture, movement and volume. I wanted to challenge of transforming knitwear in to an evening wear piece that is comfortable and practical for the challenges of stage application, while still beautiful and elegant.”

My table mate The Hamels Foundation Director of Operations, G-N Kang said she would wear both of these designs. I was partial to what must have been a rainbow flagged inspired dress on the left. Jennifer Lanyon, Philadelphia University says of the dress on the left, “I was inspired by Renaissance menswear, specifically a pair of pumpkin pants with a German slashing technique. My goal was to create a contemporary version of Shakespearean fashion while still being modern. I chose to use the traditional royal colors to bring out the colors and style in Shakespeare’s story.
the designers Casandra Kane (Drexel University), Heather Royal (Moore College of Art), Jacqueline Ryan (Drexel University), Kristin Eissler (Drexel University) and Prisca Millance (Drexel University)
Michelle J Arditi, Andrew and Heather Sherlock

Carol Lawrence, Kathleen Chimicles and Renee Amoore. Mrs. Chimicles is wearing a dress from one of the designers from Drexel.
Mike’s 2x: Mike Donohoe and Mike Toub
Mike Toub, Eric Hall and Lena Vanler, Nigel Richards and Nicole Cashman, guest, Mina Sabet and GN Kang
GN Kang (left) and NBC10 Show Producer Mina Sabet (right) joined Maria Papadakis (center). Both GN & Maria are wearing Nicole Miller for Mary Dougherty’s shop at the Bellevue.
Joan and Michael Fitzgerald
Sandra Newman, Eliana Papadakis and Renee Amoore
Those crazy lovebirds, newly engaged Hadas Kuznits and Dan Reinherz. Add Dancing with the Philadelphia Stars to Hadas’ as well as Maria Papadakas’ bio as each of the girls will be participating in the The 3rd Annual Dancing with the Philadelphia Stars, benefiting the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America – Philadelphia Delaware Valley Chapter will be on Sunday, April 10.

Alan Sandman, Georgette Ciukurescu and John Pcsolar
The models from John Roberts Powers, Antoinette J Guinyard, Julia Kazmierski, Jia Kim, Gaby Award, Lindsay Lynch, Genevieve Joseph, Lynette Henshaw, and Fadigne Diao
And when the dance floor opened to the sounds of Jump City Jazz Orchestra many of the guests including Marguerite and Gerry Lenfest, Mr and Mrs Steve Sheller, Charlotte and Bob Watts, Nicolas and Kathleen Chimicles, Craig Lewis and Dianne Seminson, Andrea Somkuti and her husband Dr. Stephen Somkuti danced.

A cute ditty from Hadas and Dan.