Wawa Welcome America Events

Philadelphia the birthplace of the nation celebrates another year older with a huge party and is invited the world: June 25 – July 4, 2010

FOOD, FRIENDS, FIREWORKS, AND A PARADE, who could ask for anything else on July 4th.
Taste of Philadelphia June 26 + June 27
11:00 a.m.
Penn’s Landing, Columbus Boulevard at Chestnut Street
Taste of Philadelphia continues with a day long sampling of the best cuisines in the city. There’s music all day to groove to and help you keep your appetite up for more great food. Stay for our headliner evening concert and dazzling fireworks.

June 26 – MORRIS DAY AND THE TIME WILL ENTERTAIN YOU AT 8pm

Wed June 30 2010
Wawa Hoagie Day – The Mile Long Hoagie is back!!
7:00 p.m.
Philly @ the Movies: Rocky
9:00 p.m.
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Join Wawa for an epic Philadelphia double feature: the famed Hoagie Day celebration followed by a special screening of Rocky. Wawa will serve a culinary masterpiece fit for display in one of the museum’s galleries – a mile-long hoagie! Enjoy a party atmosphere and fun before settling down for Philly @ the Movies at the foot of the “Rocky steps” at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It’s a one-two combo that can’t be beat!

Enter the Rocky Contest

Thursday July 1, PHL airport will have an exhibit but u have to have an airline ticket to see it.

Avatar will be shown @ Penns Landing in the evening on July 1 (Will it be in 3d??)
July 4th 2010
Philadelphia Independence Day Parade
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Historic Philadelphia
Immediately following the Independence Day ceremony, Celebration of Freedom, the nation’s best July 4th parade steps off. Bring your flags, patriotic spirit and plenty of energy to this renowned parade and revel in the pageantry that has made this march through Historic Philadelphia a new local tradition. Miss America 2010 will be the celebrity guest.
Philly wants to break the record of 6000 “High Fives”
Party on the Parkway
12:00 noon – 8:00 p.m.
Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 20th Street to Eakins Oval
The whole family will enjoy this afternoon of fun, free entertainment and of course, lots of food! Stay for the Life, Liberty & You concert and jaw dropping fireworks later in the evening.THE GOO GOO DOLLS will entertain you at 9PMCHECK OUT THE FULL SCHEDULE HERE: http://www.welcomeamerica.com/

And I was there. It was a great night. Packed with lots of fun people that weren’t too out of control.
Tara Nurin states: You know your country’s cuisine has come a long way when a restaubar advertises its menu as “Great American Pub” style then fills it with hummus, chorizo and wok-fried pot stickers alongside of its Carolina fish & chips and St. Louis BBQ ribs. If one’s looking for that elusive all-American feel, though, this is it.
A sprawling space on the bottom floor of an office building, this highly polished wood-and-brass pub shuffles in its power broker financial attorneys for co-worker lunches and meet market happy hours, then gives way to post-post-frat house DJ parties and equally testosterone-scented and preppy football viewings.
Public Houses’ GM Dino Minelli and wife Carrie Nork Minelli
Guest, Reggie Berry, Jacky Wright, and the Mayor join the crowd for the anniversary party. Reggie was doing a little celebrating himself as it was his birthday.

I should have done some cropping in this picture to focus on the beauty that is Laura Powers, Christie Honigman, Michelle Rossi-Simoni and Elisha Rampolla. Laura works for KB Consultants and today’s a big day for them as their client Le Merdian opens their doors to the public. Read all about their drink menu in my column PhillyMag.com today.
Aly Green and crew including Jason Dills and Craig Robinson
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Nork, who just returned from their honeymoon with Diana & John Martinelli.

RJ Cacciutti, Maha Malecka, Joanna Jatkowska and John Johnson
Vatche Manoukian and Kristie Gonzales, flanked by Darlene Monzo, Jim Gabriele,
Jen Sherlock and Jill Murphy
Carson Andre, Samantha J, Zach Seidman, Kelli Disanto and Dustin Lotter. The three folks in the center all work at Dusk at Caesars in AC. Look for Brody Jenner to make a return appearance in the next few weeks. He makes the girls scream!!
Julie Bartolomeo, Katie Czaplicki, friend, Arthur Kade. Julie and Arthur met the day before when they were both extras in the film Dark Fields. In one scene Julie bumps into Bradley Cooper, she said it was well worth the bruising.

April 16th was a very busy night as both the William Penn Awards and the Donors are Heroes party was going on, luckily for me one was on the mezzanine floor the Donor’s party was on the XIX floor. Even luckier is I ran into my friend Justin Pizzi outside the Bellevue and he brought me right up to the VIP party where I met his mom and family. His mom’s a big fan getting to know me when Justin did the Be a 10 in 10 Weeks for NBC10 as I worked out last summer at Fusion Cross Training, which I just started doing again yesterday. So on with the show….

Charles Pizzi, president and chief executive officer of Tasty Baking Co., received the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce‘s highest honor, The William Penn Award, at its annual black-tie gala held April 16 at the Hyatt at the Bellevue.
Leci Valdes, Elise Frank, Sherrin Thomas, Lindsey Kaskowitz. Originally Pizzi just wanted to serve Tastykakes as the desert, yes it’s true. But Pastry Chef Elise Frank said that she would whip up something better. Using the ingredients to created some of the popular cakes, she created her own desserts and had Charles Pizzi taste them side by side with their inspirations, the Krimpet, the peanut butter one and the chocolate cupcake. He chose her desserts instead.
Max’s parents
NBC10’s Justin Pizzi, FoxSports.com’s Slice of Pizzi host Chris Pizzi and Wharton student Keith Pizzi. Those Pizzis are a successful bunch.
Rounding out the family was mom Elyse, brother Gabe and aunt Marie Bonner in the VIP room. (Missing was dad at the moment of my visit.) Also enjoying the festivities were past William Penn Award winners…
The lobby of the Grand Ballroom, below Mark Focht, Director of Fairmount Park, and Kate Wilhelm, Director of the Fairmount Park Conservatory
Pizzi’s passion for Philadelphia sports teams inspired the dinner’s theme, “Get in the Game,” which featured Eagles cheerleaders, Sixers mascot Hip-Hop, and table centerpieces of sports memorabilia donated by the Eagles, Phillies, Flyers, and Sixers.
The evening for nearly 720 guests was co-chaired by Ron Rubin, Judith M. von Seldeneck,
Autumn Adkins, President of Girard College and Gerry Lenfest – Mr. Lenfest and Miss Adkins have a mutual bond over the high school Mercersburg Academy, which is an independent, coeducational boarding school for grades 9-12 located in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, United States. The school’s mission is: “[to] prepare young men and women from diverse backgrounds for college and for life in a global community.
When Mr. Lenfest was a young boy, his mother had passed away and he was a troubled youth. He credits Mecersburg Academy with helping him find his way to the success he is today. Before coming to Girard College, Ms. Adkins was on the faculty at Mercersburg Academy. I sent this shot to them so they could send it to their mutual friend.

WHAT MOVIE IS FILMING IN PHILADELPHIA IN NOVEMBER (click below)?

http://www.phillychitchat.com/2010/11/safe-movie-production-details-for-broad.html

The May 2010 Movie with Bradley Coooper
Check my Philly Mag Posts for updates on Dark Fields with Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro:
http://blogs.phillymag.com/the_philly_post/2010/05/11/on-the-town-with-hughe-dillon-9/

Last week Dark Fields filmed at Union Trust Steakhouse at 7th and Chestnut Streets. Filming began about 11AM in the downstairs area of the restaurant. It was a lunch scene. In this scene he’s having an argument with his broker. He’s dressed in the blue suit with white shirt. Basically it seems like he’s only wearing two outfits, one is for the dark persona, the other is his blue suit good guy outfit.

Robert De Niro was rehearsing upstairs in one of the meeting rooms. At 2pm I got a tip that he was leaving in 30 minutes thru the back door. I passed there were just too many variables that made it an impossible shot.

Later in the evening, the filming took place upstairs in the new Mezz area. It was a party scene, the extras had to change into cocktail attire. One such lucky girl from Philly gets to bump into Bradley Cooper in the scene. He’s in his dark clothes and moody.
This week (I took these pixs Monday. Signs say they are there til late Wed night) the filming has moved to the Loews Hotel. But don’t expect to see De Niro wandering around as the Loews has a valet that is inside a garage. My source tells me that the filming is taking place on a high floor which is acting as De Niro’s office. Bradley Cooper is also in the scene…
the best place to get a sighting of BC is at his trailer which is parked on the west side of City Hall. This also might be tough as it’s heavily guarded by mean ass security guards that scream if you loiter to long, but I often remind them that it’s public property.
On the south side of City Hall is the studio’s offices, plus

the bathrooms. Lucy is the woman’s room, Desi the guys.The make-up and wardrobe trailers are on the west side.
This is another good spot to get a sighting of Bradley Cooper

as the trailer on the left is Bradley Cooper’s make-up room. See the pictures thru the window of him in his various emotional states for his character.
Good luck and happy celebrity stalking for lack of a better word. I would appreciate tips at buzz @ phillychitchat.com thanks Hughe

LGBT Philadelphians, tourists and allies swarmed the Northern Liberties locale, entering the Piazza and paying the first-time admissions fee to crowd the myriad of events at the stage, or walk around the festival and check out the vendors, which included but was not limited to the Human Rights Campaign, Linda Creed Breast Cancer and the Please Touch Museum, located in the family section of the festival. (Don’t assume everyone is GLBT in the following pixs)

I thought faux hawks were out, I was wrong

Peek-A-Boo Revue
colorful
another faux hawk

Malcolm Lazin founder of Equality Forum
Passional Fashion Show

Do those things come out, and why do people do that to their ears? What does a 50 year old look like with ears like that? Does it go well with a suit or doctor scrubs? Just curious.
These two guys participated in the commitment ceremony, I think they are in sync



Amy Winehouse sighting
This was my view for most of the day as I hung out with Jamyra, Melony, Mike, Mark & his friend. Great table at Swift Half. Great chopped salad.

Jonathan Vendrick at a house party.
Anthony Rapp singing “Seasons of Love”




Friends – Matt, Jason, Casey and Dan. Jason volunteered at the University of Penn medical testing tent all day. They did blood pressure checks, HIV Tests and Syphilis, which he says is on the rise.
North Bowl
I love the nerve of this chick walking her bike thru the congested sidewalk tables
Northern Liberties bench

First I have to apologize. I’ve gotten so far behind since starting my column with Philadelphia Magazine, and recently Mike built a new computer for me. My little closet office is in disarray and my notebooks are out of order and well I’m just overwhelmed. BUT I know the message for this event, it’s don’t take your organ’s to heaven with you. You can save a life, even as yours ends. I know that sounds morbid, but today is the 6th anniversary of the death of my father when he fell and hit his head, and one of his last requests was to donate all his organs as noted on his drivers license. Also he told my mom that it was his wish. I don’t know if the hospital officials looked at his wallet, but I do know that they asked my mom what his wishes were and she knew. So make your wishes known, and save a life.
Donors Are Heroes presented the Eighth Annual “THE Party” at the Park Hyatt at the Bellevue. The event raises funds for the Gift of Life Donor Program, the region’s organ and tissue transplant network.

Lauren O’Dorisio, Philadelphia Style Magazine Publisher John Colabelli, co-founder of The Party Renee Freeman, Miss Philadelphia Andrea Helfrich, so-founder of The Party, Don Freeman

Over 79,000 U.S. patients are currently waiting for an organ transplant; nearly 3,000 new patients are added to the waiting list each month.
Noel Perate with her mom and dad. Dad is an organ recipient.
Marilyn Sukonick-Zeff A professional Tarot Card Reader for 20yrs, I provide entertainment for both Corporate & Private events.
Daniel Reinherz, Hadas Kuznits and Brett Silver (Just missed you Friday night at Steppingstone)
Organ Donors Are Heroes, founded in 2001, is a committed group of volunteers supporting the Gift of Life Donor Program and its charitable supporting organization, Transplant Foundation.
Michael Short and Joseph Matthews, Joe has an awesome interior design company.
Gift of Life serves as the link between donors and patients awaiting life-saving transplants. To date, it has coordinated nearly 28,000 transplants. For more information, visit www.donors1.org.

The building that houses Budukhan wants to put a cell phone dish on it’s roof. Instead of saying 15 feet high the zoning board notice describes it as 182.8 inches. Dark Fields was filming at Butcher & Singer last week. I was tipped off that Robert DeNiro would arrive at wardrobe at 3PM, unpredictable he came early and left by 2.30PM. I don’t expect to see him too much on the street next week either. All his scenes are being shot in the hotel where he is staying. The shooting is centered around what is supposed to be his office, so they are just using a meeting room that has windows. The Tribeca Film Festival is over on Saturday, so I predict he will be in Philly on Sunday. Maybe he will go out to dinner. Tips appreciated at Buzz@phillychitchat.com thanks
There’s a crossing guard at City Hall now. I wish instead they would come to my car accident. For now on if you have a car accident police will only be dispatched if there are injuries. I guess that’s more good news for people who drive around without insurance or that are under the influence.
Jen Carroll the hottest chef in town. I have to tip my hat to the Where Magazine folks. I’ve been reading the mag for at least 10 years, and this past year is the best ever. For years they just used canned shots of Philly taken by one of the tourist offices, but now they have stepped up their game in the editorial department come up with some great concepts, and subjects. And it’s not too bad that they hired Christopher Gabello to take real photos of real Philadelphian’s and important tourism shots.
I hope we’re not returning to the Goode years, that weren’t so good when people parked their cars in the center of Broad Street and on City Hall’s curtain.
Hmm Chocolate Mousse at Del Frisco’s, it’s on their new Phillie’s Early Bird Special Menu
Bravo Philadelphia Art Museum for your beautiful parking garage. BUT YOU (The CITY) suck with your parking fees. $5 for Art Museum Members, $10 for people going to the art museum, $26 for all others. You use Fairmount Park land, you remove at least 80 parking spots that used to be on the backside of your lot, then you charge $26 to people that are going to enjoy the park. (BTW half these cars in this pix backed the hell up after they saw the fees, later in the day you were smart enough to place the sign at the top of the driveway) #FAIL
That being said, take public transportation to enjoy the park (PHLASH begins May 1), it is spectacular, beautiful and should be a must stop at least once a week.
I though Mayor Nutter changed his stance on skateboarders at Love Park. Still I would rather have this police officer come to my car accident especially if I have to deal with an irate other driver.
Birthday day at the firm this week. D&D is trying to get rid of their Halloween containers, I guess.
Costumes from Dark Fields. Bradley Cooper is being very uncooperative posing for photos for fans and paparazzi, but in NYC last Sunday he posed up a storm w/Renee as they went out to dinner. What is up with that? Many of us paps don’t even bother with him anymore, which means no press for Philly on a national level.
Zarwin Baum’s Stacey Kracher and I have the same items in our offices. Thanks to Zarwin Baum for hiring me to cover their anniversary party. About once a week someone hires me and I appreciate it, especially since I don’t have advertisements on my blog. (When you hire me, then you own the photos and can distribute them to mags etc. Soon though I’m going to set up a photo buying opportunity since so many people want me to send them photos. I really, really don’t have time.)
I guess people don’t read anymore “Keep off the Grass” sign at Rittenhouse Square.
Chris Jazz House has Crawfish. So does the Oyster House down the street, but that place is always packed so I don’t need to give them any props. Chris’ Jazz needs a PR person.
Monica Glass at 10 Arts makes a mean dessert.
earlier in the night I ate at 1682 at the Palomar. Korean Ribs and Cole Slaw. Delicious. I ate at their outdoor tables, there’s a slight slant on the sidewalk so hold onto your glass of wine. As the nite wore on and people got tipsy, I was serenaded by broken glass.
I’m not killing myself for Bradley Cooper shots anymore, but I do love shooting the film sets.
I’d rather shoot Swann Fountain
Variety of chicken wings at Urban Saloon
They do not know how to cook Edamame though
Phanatics Jamyra and Melony. I’m enjoying tracking down all the Phanatics in town
Cari Feiler Bener’s brother wrote a book. Go see him at Barnes & Noble Thursday 5/13
5/1/10 I am starting my diet again. I have definitely grieved over my sister with entirely too many desserts. Now I feel like I’m dying. I’m cutting back on covering so many events, and going to the gym/Fusion Cross Training/ riding my bike instead.

A few weeks back I attended the VH1 “Tough Love Couples” Screening at Del Frisco’s
Speaking of Del Frisco’s I was there Monday night and tried out their new price fixed (early bird btwn 4PM + 6PM) menu 3 courses for only $35. If you need to leave work early, trust me it’s worth it, in fact it’s a huge bargain, especially the chocolate mousse for dessert.
On a Sunday night, Del Frisco’s held a party/screening for Tough Love Couples in their Vault for friends, family and fans
Here’s host Steve Ward with his family, Dad, sister Monica Ward, Del Frisco’s GM Rich Furino (his day off) and mom, hostess of Tough Love Couples, JoAnn Ward.
2 weeks ago on my Philly Magazine column I mentioned that 3 of these couples tied the knot as a result of the TV Show, which by the way brought together 6 couples that were together for a period of time, but for some reason one of the duo was unable to commit to marriage. Thiswas boot camp for love and marriage. Here’s Steve Ward with some of the ladies.
Speaking of love, the latest couple to fall in like is Dana Spain and Michael Piszek

Steve Ward, JoAnne and fans
Aly Green, Jason Dills, Bacherlorette contestant Craig Robinson and ABC6’s FYI Philly Nikki Hawkins
Steve Ward addresses the crowd
hmm is that a happy couple dead ahead?
Mario, a former bar bouncer who proudly recounts his party-life past, says he loves Christina. But he takes way too long to answer when Ward asks if he will give up other women forever. What do you think, did they get married?
Check out my column in Philly Mag today: http://blogs.phillymag.com/the_philly_post/2010/04/29/on-the-town-with-hughe-dillon-6/