Philly Chit Chat

Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment launched live table games at Parx Casino yesterday in Bensalem, and Sex and the City’s “Mr. Big” Chris Noth threw out the ceremonial first dice and cut the ribbon. I have a few behind the scenes shot, as well as shots I captured at the House Photographer.

Assistant GM Anthony Faranca and Chris Noth
It was the longest Red Ribbon, and hard to get into the frame


His publicist pointed out a guy on my right with a big picture of him to sign, I was surprised but he went right over and signed for the guy, who to me was an obvious autograzzi, but she must have recognized him.signs for him

He signed for fans (non-autograzzi) in the lobby right after the ribbon cutting. An autograzzi is a professional “fan” that earns money by selling the celebrity’s signature to someone who wouldn’t normally have access to them.
Thousands of gaming fans, as well as Mr. Big fans, were on hand. Noth was terrific signing for them and posing for pictures, and at points it was pandemonium. One lady had to be pried from a death grip around Noth’s waist, but he took it all in stride laughing and joking with her as he made his way to the craps table. (Can you spot him in this picture?)

Opens the tables


Chris Noth with Bob Green, Greewood Entertainment, owner of Parx Casino

After leaving the Craps table hastily, it wasn’t to exit the club as many news outlet’s reported, but to go to the men’s room. He was mobbed leaving it on his way to the VIP party at 360Parx, the lounge/dance club inside the casino.360Parx VIP Room. Chris waving to folks on the casino floor

Mary Stillings and Kim Wagner
Mary Stillings and Kim Wagner
Mary Stillings posing for Kim Wagner
Ought Oh, damn the camera didn’t work
Thank God I got the shot and Mr Big could return to his table.

Judy Wilkin’s Gilda Club Fundraiser read about it here:

http://www.phillychitchat.com/2010/09/first-annual-judy-wilkins-benefit-for.html

If PhillyChitChat has helped you or your business in any way,

and you can afford $10 or more please send a donation in my sisters name (Judy Wilkins) to Gilda’s Club of South Jersey (Info at the bottom of the page):
Margaret, Judy and Janine (1980)
YOUR gifts go to work immediately to support the Gilda’s Club program where individuals who are touched by cancer in any way, their families and friends (men, women, children & teens) Crista and Judy last year. Judy enjoyed crocheting at Gilda’s Club, and with her friend Beverly. They would then donate the items to the local hospitals.

find emotional and social support in a clubhouse setting. Gilda’s Club South Jersey welcomes more than 1250 members and annually offers more than 1200 activities – each one free of charge!My mom and my sisters Tracy, Janine, Mom, Crista, Judy and Margaret – 2005
Your readers’ generosity will help us ensure that no one will ever have to face cancer alone.Judy and Walt Wilkins 2005GILDA’S CLUB DONATION INFO
Barbara Ferrera Development ManagerGilda’s Club South Jersey 700 New Road Linwood, NJ 08221609.926.2699
You can donate online here: Mentioning Judy Wilkin’s (Darn I just checked and the link is not working today. Please bookmark and I will find out what’s wrong. Thanks)
http://www.gildasclubsouthjersey.org/

Thank you to all who have donated already, and for those in the future. This was spurred on because one of my readers was hugely generous to donate $1,000 in thanks to something I covered, it was unexpected, but when I arranged for the transfer of the money, I took a tour of Gilda’s club and they explained where the money would go. They also will add something in Judy’s memory to a mural they have at the center and I want to do a garden for Judy, (this is a very small section of mural) Judy was an avid gardener and one of the last things we did together was go to the 2008 Philadelphia Flower Show. She was determined to go even though she was so sick that day. Thanks again, Hughe – PhillyChitChat.com

Last night I attended Delilah’s Gentleman’s Club and Steakhouse’s 8th Annual, “Diamond G-String Award”. The Diamond G-String Award, the only competition of its kind, open to dance teams, feature entertainers and individuals throughout the country who work the stage and stripper pole and are brave enough to battle it out for the $10,000 winner-take-all prize

Deciding the outcome was a panel of Philebrity/Celebrity judges including: Playmate Megan Heaton; Infamous Blogger/Model, Arthur Kade; Greater Philadelphia Tourism & Marketing Corporation’s, Sabrina Tambrino-Thorne; President and Founder of Matrix Fights, Jimmy Binns Jr.; Red Bull’s, Heather Boling; Nightlife Guru, Brian Taylor and Jessica Scott of Jessica Scott, LLC.

Host for the evening was Robert Schimmel, recently named one of Comedy Central’s, “100 Greatest Standups of All Time.
WOW on the entertainment. These women really put a lot of time into their routines.
Sabrina Tamburino-Thorne taking her judging skills very seriously and you had to have a critical eye, all the acts were seriously choreographed

And the women were in tremendous physical shape. Just an amazing show.

The club was PACKED!! The men/women ratio was 70% men, but the women I saw really enjoyed the talent on stage, and everyone cheered when a performance was well done.
Lauren Beloff, Donna Massanova, Carol Tamburino and Tanya Tecce enjoy the show from the VIP section over looking the crowd and stage. (Upside down on the stripper pole, I don’t think a lot of people can do this. Sometimes the girls were perpendicular to the pole too. Just amazing.) The entire club is very classy, everyone is very respectful, the girls ensure that everyone has a good time, and it’s a huge party atmosphere with lots of laughing and fun. (If only they had a non-smoking section)
Sword Swallowing

Champagne poured on the body
or poured by someone else, it was all here. I probably would have passed on this photo as what goes on in Delilah’s for the most part, should stay at Delilah’s, but I noticed this guys friends were taking cell phone pictures so look for the identity of this fella on Facebook I’m sure.

Tumoor Haye and Norman Reola from Del Frisco’s SteakhouseLyric tells me she’s getting used to her new eyelashes, which extend a good inch from her eye I noticed.
What a Feeling

Angela and her team (Maniac video) celebrate their victory after a 3 way tie and dance off. Angela win’s $10,000 plus travels a trip to Las Vegas. Thanks to Delilah’s for allowing me to cover this event, they don’t usually let photographers shoot the show and I am very grateful that allowed me to do it. (Check out Friday’s PhillyMag.com HughE Dillon Gossip/Social Scene post for more story and pictures, the ones that are safe for work)

This would have been great during beer week. The following 2 pix items can be bought at the City Hall gift shop room 121
Ben Franklin not so quoted sayings
the recession prevents them from getting a new sign I guess
Outside the Harley Davidson store near Atlantic City
Turtle Crossing
sure enough

Headless turtle for sale $.99
Lobster dinner in a can at the Lobster House Cape May
hmm hand dryer is a bit too close for comfort
Teusher Chocolate The Shoppes at the Bellevue has these cute little figurines where you can add a truffle and give it as a gift.
Scarlett Alley in olde city. They carry my favorite John Wind jewelery and a lot
more. Reminds me my charms are in for my sister’s bracelet.
Are you waiting for a cab?
Foster’s sad. What happened to the hugely successful store. I guess the move to Market Street did them in. I hear the Passyunk boutique JimmyStyle is also kerplunked, but don’t fret another store has signed a lease for the same space. Don’t be surprised if there’s another move in store for him.
The Franklin Institute. I just started a workout routine, but I’m so busy I never get to it. What’s a boy to do. I wish Philly wasn’t as busy as it is.

I shot something so much fun last night. I just finished at 9AM this morning sending them to my agency in NYC and ran out of time. So it’s another edition of pixs Hughe took from his phone. Some have appeared on Twitter, some haven’t. Tomorrow we return to fun events that I’ve covered, and don’t forget my 3x’s a week column online at PhillyMag.com
WTF is going on with this fire hydrant in Bensalem? I had to stop and take a picture. It’s like some latex fetish going on. Although I will say there was an active sprinkler nearby, maybe the owners didn’t want the paint to wash off.
These guys are not together, and they didn’t coordinate their outfits to be twins. They just showed up at the same party. So funny. I meant to say I have seen this happen to women, but never guys.

Interesting at 500 Degrees, what do you think I’m talking about?Delicious Halibut at Fish the other night.
Y-3 Kicks. I went to a photo shoot where they were used. It will be in my Philly Mag column tomorrow.
Quinn and Maria Papadakis received fun take home gifts from the Philly Style Mag party the other night
Thursday’s in July are the Salvation Army’s Christmas in July Campaign. So drop them a few bucks to help the needy.
Stone Harbor spells it out
I ran into my friend Sue Fee, her daughter Patricia and mom at Springer’s in Stone Harbor. Sue and I went to college together about 15 years ago.
Why is the 2nd language on the Le Merdian Hotel signs Spanish and not French like the hotel’s affiliation?
Just wondering?

In Atlantic City near the Phillip’s Seafood takeout Window
Old City Ghost Tours


You can buy this Umbrella at the Greater Phila Film Office website

Peace Out. I took this while waiting for a red light in Audubon. OK actually I had to circle the block 3 times just to get in the right car order to take this picture, but I did it for you.