Philly Chit Chat

Alex’s Lemonade Stand at Madame Tussauds Hollywood that was taken this Saturday, June 12, 2010. Super model Cindy Crawford stopped by to sell lemonade along with her children, as well as Modern Family’s Nolan Gould. They were raising funds for the battle against childhood cancer.
Nolan Gould, Cindy Crawford, Presley Walker Gerber and Kaya Jordan Gerber in front of the Alex’s Lemonade Stand at Madame Tussauds Hollywood. Not sure if she visited herself inside.Courtesy of Madame Tussauds Hollywood.

• General Tickets $250
• VIP Tickets $400
  (Includes: Personal meet & greet with participating chefs, 5:00PM early admission, Admission to VIP/sponsor Lounge, open bar and on-site parking!)

Tickets can be purchased online via The Vetri Foundation’s website or by calling 215-732-3478!

Last weekend saw an annual reunion and dinner for Diner de l’Amitie; Annual Celebration of the French Culinary Arts held on Sunday, June 6th at Table 31 and prepared by Chef Perrier. About 55 French chefs and guests gathered to recognize member contributions to the French culinary arts as well as honor President Dupont who will be arriving from France as well as two other delegations from Canada and Mexico and the Ambassador of France, his excellency Pierre Vimont Master Chefs of France scheduled to attend are Georges Perrier of Le Bec-Fin and Olivier Desaintmartin of Caribou Cafe & Zinc from Philadelphia, Michel Richard of Citronelle in Washington, DC; Pierre Chambrin of the Saint Louis Club in Missouri and others. On their way to the TD Bike Race Mayor Nutter and Gov. Rendell stopped by to greet the visiting guests.
(Conrad Erb – Conrad Erb Photography)

Later in the evening a few of the chefs headed over to Parc with the lovely French Hacina Saadi (from Arras in the Pas de Calais region north of France) to enjoy the warm spring night of people watching and conversation. Perfect end of the day a French Bistro for cocktails. Thanks to Hacina for this picture, and I wish her well for the summer as she left to spend it in beautiful Aspen, Co.
(Thanks to Patti Klein, Restaurant Group who tried to hire me for this event, but I was busy. [Advertorial])

On June 3, over 200 people celebrated the launch of Samsung’s the celebrated LED C9000 series at World Wide Stereo in Montgomeryville.

World Wide Stereo is the only consumer electronics retailer in the Northeastern Pennsylvania region that will be offering its customers exclusive access to this award winning technology.

One lucky winner walked away with a brand new 3d TV (valued at $6,000!)

Complementary cocktails, light bites & sweet endings provided by ABSOLUT Vodka, Antione Armani Chocolates, and Jamie Hollander Catering.
Michele Seidman, Jamie Joffe, Noah Stein
Guys looking at some gadgets
Karen Cole, Winner of 3D TV who’s name escaped them (lucky guy), Bob Cole
(Thanks to Jamie Joffe, J2 Communications who tried to hire me for this event, even offering to send me a car, but I was busy. [Advertorial])

I just checked today’s paper and it wasn’t in it. I have no control on what gets published in his column, but I can’t let this one go without seeing the light of day. I will also put in the original entry from last Monday. Chris Mullin’s of McGillin’s Pub celebrating their 150th Anniversary. His parents, Chris & Mary Ellen Mullins, second generation owners of McGillin’s Olde Ale House, & their son, Chris, Jr., third generation to run the tavern. Their father/grandfather purchased it from Ma & Pa McGillin, who raised their 13 children upstairs.
The drivers name is Hans Jager. Let’s just guess the name of the dog is spot.

As I wrote on my PhillyMag column today, I went to the preview party for the Fine American & European Paintings & Sculpture preview party at Freeman’s Auction house at 1808 Chestnut Street. I used to go to Freeman’s often about 10 years ago, sometimes buying odds and ends from estates, keeping some items and reselling others on EBay. I always enjoy checking out the auction house because they always have some unique item that I would never have the chance to see anywhere else.
Many of the guests were friends, buyers and people from the Young Friends of the Philadelphia Art Museum.Where Magazine’s Brooke Fortier checks out a few paintings.
Viewing Information:
Exhibition Dates: Friday, June 11th: 10am-5pm
Saturday, June 12th: 12pm-5pm
Meg Johnson and Rita Rerne listen as Kate Waterhouse, Freeman’s Jewelery expert, explains the Bulvari necklace Rita is wearing. The collar is worth $25,000
Mary Walton and son James stop by to check out the art work and jewelery. On Monday June 14, Freeman’s is starting their beautiful Jewelery sale.
Jon and Karen Sirlin, Oliver Franklin, Honorary British Consultant, Leslie Kase, Just in Kase. Remember we just met Leslie at the McGillin’s Anniversay Party on Sunday.

Dottie Theune, Freemans and Louisa Hanshaw and Betty Hanshaw
Joseph Kotarski and Mettine Boss

Theo Reiyke, Aimee Pflieger, Thomas Clark and Andrew Zamack

Elaine DiFeliciantonio, John DiFeliciantonio, Michelle DiFeliciantonio, and Natalie DiFeliciantonio.

Antonitte Stone with Sally Bellet on the 2nd floor where the coach bags and other upscale bags are kept.

David Pinski is a regular at Freeman’s. Tells me that the prices are good, it’s a buyers market; with wife Elizabeth Brown. Below Barry Vargas, John Rodgers and Michael Murphy looking fly.
OMG Geekadelphia and friends: Coming in July to Freeman’s The Darth Vader Project
Dozens of artists recently imagined a different chapeau for Mr. Vader. Together those helmets make up The Vader Project. The “Star Wars”-inspired artworks are set to go to auction in Philadelphia in July, but not before they breathe menacingly in Los Angeles for a quickie, 10-day exhibit.
Check out my PhillyMag column today.

Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award WINNING BEST MUSICAL

JERSEY BOYS
DIRECTED BY DES McANUFF
PLAYING PHILADELPHIA’S FORREST THEATRE
SEPT. 30 – DEC. 12, 2010Dates have been announced for the Philadelphia engagement of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, playing the Forrest Theatre, as part of the new 2010-2011 Broadway Season. The musical will make its Philadelphia premiere on September 30, 2010 and play through Dec. 12, 2010.Directed by two-time Tony® Award-winner Des McAnuff, JERSEY BOYS is written by Academy Award-winner Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe and choreography by Sergio Trujillo.
Catch a sneak peek of Jersey Boys! Log on to JerseyBoysInfo.com/watch or text PHILLY to 38568.
The event where these pixs came from was the media/local business event. We were invited for a sneak preview of the music, story and a Q&A with the touring cast at the Forrest Theater.
Fun version of “Can’t Take My Eyes of You”

Michael Toub, Michael Braunstein (WOGL Marketing Director) columnist Padriac Maroney
Joseph Leo Bwarie, who plays Frankie Valli signs the commemorative book that was included in our gift bag.
At the “Jersey Boys” preview party: Joseph Leo Bwarie, who plays Frankie Valli in the show and Lisa Gaudio, daughter of original Four Seasons member Bob Gaudio. The show opens at the Forrest Theater Sept. 30.

A few weeks later I attended Lisa Gaudio’s wedding; the father/daughter dance with Bob Gaudio. Bob wrote many of the songs for the Four Seasons and was an original band member.
Frankie Valli was also at the wedding. It was a surreal experience.
As was Jarrod Spector who plays Frankie Valli; here he’s being introduced by the Geater, Jerry Blavet

Interesting Jarrod Spector on Rachel Ray with Teresa Giudice

I wish I had seen the over the top clip before I went to the book signing cause this is the worse acting I have ever seen. You can take the girl out of the trailer and placed in a hocked to the max McMansion, but well take a look:


I would have really quizzed her fans on why they love this low brow chick so much.
but these folks can relate to her for some reason. Please people enlighten me, what am I missing. Nearly 200 women and eight guys (mostly gay) waited in line in the somewhat stuffy Center City Borders as the air-con was on the blink. (as I wrote in Philly Mag column yesterday) Some arrived nearly three hours before the start of her signing. Teresa arrived 2 hrs after her schedule arrival time. She said her driver took the back roads: I guess that was simpler from Franklin Lakes than Rt287 then Rt 95 then Broad Street? (she arrived with her hairdress) a five-hour drive for mother-daughter duo Angela and Brittany Elliott from Bridgeport, WV.

Omg Omg Omg, I don’t care if you were late, you’re here now, OMG OMG?

Maybe Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice was busy screaming at one of her neighbors, as she was nearly two hours late for the signing of her new book Skinny Italian at Borders Center City. But that didn’t bother her fans; a devoted bunch, they didn’t even want to talk about their idol’s newly filed bankruptcy claim stating she is $9 million in debt
.

First in line, Noelle Ciara, mom Ann Marie and friend Bobby Howard. They came from Baltimore and arrived at 3 p.m. The trio gathers each week to watch the reality show. Noelle is a huge fan of the Hanson’s too and will me mmmbopping up here in a few weeks.

Fans from as far as Bridgeport, WV—a five-hour drive for mother-daughter duo Angela and Brittany Elliott. They also spent the day and night in Philly visiting the historic district, and was planning dinner at Parc, my suggestion.
Reports state: Real Housewives of New Jersey Star, Teresa Giudice along with Hubby Joe has filed for bankruptcy. The couple filed for bankruptcy last October. According to court documents, the couple owes more than 10 million to creditors and 2.6 million in mortgages, who knows how much more. Teresa claims she only spends 400 a month on clothes, yeah on clothes… how much more is spent on shoes, bags, hair, nails? The list can go on and on. Now, Teresa and Joe have 4 girls, I know that can be expensive, according to Teresa she and her husband ONLY make 79,000 a year between the both of them
I know she’d better hide this jewelery cause the costume stuff will be the first thing that gets snapped up by fans in the bankruptcy sale.
Danielle Damore and Kim McDermott
Brian Snodgrass loves his Teresa Guidice warts and all, and she loves her fans as she air kissed almost all of them. It was a lovefest. Tomorrow check out Alex McCord as she comes to Borders Center City to sign her book with Hubby Simon at 12:30PM.