Philly Chit Chat

TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN Domestic Total as of Jul. 7, 2009: $305,522,774 in less than a 14 days since it’s release. The reviews are in and they are mixed, but one thing is for sure there are die hard Transformer fans.

Remember last year when they transformed (no pun intended) City Hall into a Parisian cafe for the movie? I was able to sneak in and take a few shots of the set up. They even had a guard to keep watch over the “valuable” scenery.

The next day for filming the cafe looked perfect. It was here that Spring City actor Ted Borodaeff plays a mime in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. The bit was shot last year in City Hall’s courtyard, which was done up to look like a sidewalk cafe in France for the action flick. As Kevin Dunn and Julie White, playing the parents of star Shia LaBeouf, dine at a table, a pancaked-pussed Borodaeff pops up to perform. White tells Dunn that mimes freak her out. (To say what happens next would be a spoiler.) (INQlings: http://tinyurl.com/lzkbde)
Dreamworks thought well enough of Philadelphia to donate the tables, chairs and umbrellas for our own little outdoor cafe. It was a big hit with the lunchtime crowd. As a big time EBayer, I suggested to someone that we sell off the chairs and put some money into the coffer’s, buy reasonable cafe table’s that weren’t souvenirs and save the rest for a rainy day or something. That person was shocked that I would sell off such treasures and stated there were camera’s to protect against theft.
Well, yesterday when I walked by I noticed something had change, there were less of them and of course I wasn’t surprised a bit. I asked the security guard what had happened to the cafe tables. He told me that out of the original 15 tables and 45 chairs given to the City. 6 tables and a dozen chairs have been stolen and almost every umbrella.
Most of the thefts occurred at night, he said, when the gates to the courtyard are still open, but the courtyard it self is darker. Even locking the tables and chairs together was not a deterrent, and he showed me how to get around it. The umbrellas, surprisingly he said were taken during the day. They were just slid out and carted off. (Perhaps to some dorm down the street?)
So Mr Mayor, let’s just cash out with what we have, buy a few more tables & umbrellas and call it a day.

Today homeless advocate Jon Bon Jovi, Cardinal Justin Rigali, Sr. Mary Scullion and Brian Hudson, joined two of Philly’s leading homeless organizations, Project Home and Bethesda Project, to announce a unique joint venture to develop a Leed-Certified, affordable housing facility in Center City. The building behind them will be torn down, and the new building will rise in it’s place.
Jon Bon Jovi is helping to build affordable housing in Philadelphia, New Orleans and his home state of New Jersey through his Philadelphia Soul Foundation.
“And every step I take, I know that I’m not alone
You take the home from the boy, but not the boy from his home
These are my streets, the only life I’ve ever known
Who says you can’t go home”
Rock star Jon Bon Jovi is introduced by the 2009 recipient of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People, Sr. Mary Scullion.
Bethesda Project with Project H.O.M.E. will break ground in July on an eight story, 79 unit $25 million building at 13th and Market Streets for formerly homeless men and women. The building will feature a multi-purpose room, a laundry room, an exercise room, kitchen’s, offices, storage, lobby. It will also hold the St. John Parish offices. Environmental components include a green roof, highly insulated walls, a rainwater collection system, high-efficiency mechanical systems and lighting.
Bethesda Project is one of the oldest and largest homeless services organizations in Philadelphia. Established 30 years ago, its services have grown with the homeless population. The organization provides shelters, transitional and permanent housing. Its mission is “To find and care for the abandoned poor and be family with those who have none.”
The groups Project HOME and Bethesda Project are working in partnership for the first time on the project. It’s going to be called it’s going to be called St. John the Evangelist House, in honor of the founder of Connelly Containers, John and Josephine Connelly, who made their fortune in manufacturing right here in Philadelphia. In 1955 John and Josephine Connelly chose to share their good fortune by establishing the Connelly Foundation with the simple but clear purpose of providing charitable grants to organizations seeking to enhance the quality of life in the Delaware Valley. Over the years the Foundation has been very generous to Project Home, and that is an understatement Sr Mary Scullion says.
(note to my readers, these are not the best photos as I save them to send out to the wireservices especially since I didn’t have the tools to water mark them. Sorry the last photo is so dark)

Last week Carol Tamburino and friends threw a wonderful, beautiful Bridal Shower for Sabrina’s upcoming nuptials to Steve Thorne. To help get Sabrina to the 57th floor of Liberty One, her BFF Jolie Fisher flew in from LA to say she had an interview with a TV station and did Sabrina want to go with her.Carol Tamburino put a lot of love into the day

Hmmm delicious. I did have a piece of this. It was a lemon cake
One of the many displays that were set up throughout the room
The room was impeccably decorated in a bridal theme
Sabrina Strickland and Pauline Cavalli
Rose Palumbo and friends were on hand to share in Sabrina’s day.
Although BFF Nicole Cashman was away conducting business in a foreign country, I’m sworn to secrecy, her mother was on hand
A very nice turnout, delicious food, amazing views, good friends completed the day
The Tamburino’s with Sharon Pinkenson and
Councilwomen Blondell Reynolds Brown, Carol and Meryl Levitz
Zarina Kozak and Kathy CiancaglioniJulie Thorn and her friend drove in from Connecticut for the big surprise

Avrah Cohen
Bling, bling
The many faces of Jolie Fisher
Lisa Gaudio in the background, with another stylish women
Steve Thorne sandwhiched between two sizzling blonds one being Sharon Coia
I stayed away from this table, but it looks delicious. My goal is to loose 40lbs by the time the wedding rolls around so I can finally enjoy some of this.Carol Tamburino, Jolie Fisher and friends. Jolie winding down in another look.
A little something for the bridal night

Today is Philly Chit Chat’s 2nd Anniversary, and lots of things I want to say come to mind,
but the message I really want to get is thanks. Thanks for your readership and support. In the beginning I set out to do something that I didn’t think was being met here in Philadelphia and that was to feature an expanded “Social Diary” or coverage (my blog was inspired by the NY Social Diary.com, but covers all society not just high), a photo album of sorts of the people, places, things and especially the Charity Events that I didn’t think were getting written about enough.
Things that people might be interested in talking about, odd sights, people, art, culture etc.

Over the years I worked hard to break stories that I thought were interesting, stories overlooked, events that needed to be seen, stories that needed to be told and other crazy exhausting things that I’ve always been curious about. (I’ve always been curious.)
This is the Ben Franklin “House”. They have a great free movie that fills you in on his life. He was an amazing man who contributed a lot to our country. It’s a must see for all Philadelphian’s and tourist.
Mom on the right, and her BFF, Cheryl, from high school on the left. I gave them a tour of the historic
sights on July 4th.
After mom was tuckered out, I took my niece Kelsey and nephew Dillon out to the party on the parkway. We ran into Mike who went food shopping for our party.
I can’t believe in the two years since I started PCC that my photos appear regularly in Philly Mag, Philly Style and the Inquirer. (and that I had an “On the Scene” column in the Metro for 7 months before it was killed, I wish I could get that back. People are excited to be on PCC, but even more excited to be in the newspaper, and it’s even a better promotional tool for charities)
Like the Sprite/NBA best dunker event on Saturday on the Parkway. The winner got $10,000
I was excited the first year when I received 500 hits a month on my blog, but thanks to Philebrity, Foobooz, The City Paper and others (who I am forgetting to write about at 2:30AM) who picked up an entry here or there that they too thought interesting I got much more exposure. (But those are the three that consistently pick up my entries, and I really appreciate it as well as admire their sites.)
Special Thanks to Cashman & Associates for inviting me out to covering their events from almost the very beginning. Thanks to Philly Style Magazine for giving me carte blache to cover even the tiniest of their events. Thanks to Thom Cardwell for inviting me to cover my first event in Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Film Festival (PhilaCinefest now), thanks to Dan Gross for publishing my first photo in a newspaper in March 2007, and for Michael Klein for publishing my photos since Sept 2007 (Every Sunday page b2), thanks to Phyllis Halpern, Greta Greenberger, GPFO, Matthew Vlahos, Laura Burkhart, Mary Patel, Christopher Gabello, Nathan Learner, Gus Calabrese & Brett Silver, all who were really helpful in that first year when I was finding my way (and I know I am missing a lot of others and I appreciate you all too), thanks to all of the PR Firms that have sent me press releases, info and invited me out to cover things. (I know I have been slacking lately updating the calendar, but after adding NBC10/Fusion to my plate it was the tipping point to my free time)
Thanks to my partner Mike who supports this crazy hobby I have. After working all day long as a paralegal, then going to an event for a couple hours, then writing about the event for another couple hours, and only getting about 3 -4 hrs sleep, I don’t have much time to do much else. Mike picks up a lot of the slack so I can live this crazy life.
Thanks to the law firm, Kohn, Swift & Graf where I work; thankfully they know I don’t want to quit to pursue this hobby and allow me to do it by not sending me away anymore on business trips. They support me in everything I do, and are excited too. I think my one boss gets the paper every Sunday just so we can talk about the picture that was published, as I am not allowed to ever say what is going to be in the paper beforehand. That is why some of my events are published a week later than they occurred. Can’t scoop myself. Support the Philadelphia Inquirer. No matter how much news I get online, it can never comprehensive print news.
Thanks to you, my readers for putting up with my rambling. Thanks for reading me, supporting me, for your emails, for your comments, for allowing me to have a voice in Philly. I hope over the past two years I shared something with you that your found interesting, or hopefully inspired you, especially if it caused you to support one of the many charities I have covered.

You like me, you really like me. I was excited when my readership was 500 a month, then it was 500 a day and now it’s 2,000 a day which is just mind blowing. (Thanks to Google for ranking me so high)
If you have been reading PCC for the past 5 weeks, you know that I am participating in the NBC 10/Fusion Cross Training “Be a 10 in 10 Weeks” challenge. It’s been 5 weeks, and well I lost about 10 pounds, learned a lot about the correct way to work out, still learning about how to eat better. But for the next 6 weeks I will be concentrating on this program, and going to events a lot less so I can do workouts twice a day. I will still be writing PCC every day as I have plenty to say, and a dozen events in the can, I just won’t be covering events more than twice a week until the program is over and I won’t be writing after midnight any more. I really need to see if sleep is the answer to the weight thing. So for the next couple weeks it will be short, sweet and to the point, lots of photos not much filler, I think.

It’s time for the 5th Annual Chefs Dinner for PAWS , the singular event of the year that brings chefs and patrons together for an interactive evening of food, fun and fundraising. On Monday, June 29th, over 35 of the nation’s best chefs will create an extraordinary gastronomic experience at The Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing. The dress was gala chic, but not black tie. The list was the who’s who, of the Philadelphia area, as well as pet lovers everywhere.

Hostess Dana Spain with friends Fox 29′ s Kerri–Lee Halkett and Dawn Stensland. This is Dana’s baby and the love shines through with many wonderful chefs on hand to make delicious dinner’s for guests who have purchased tickets or tables for this worthy cause.

Including Robert Ambrosi (partner in the development company, ARCWheeler, the company that built 10 Rittenhouse) and Andi Pesacov, a realtor that makes it happen. Check out a photo I took of Andi in the current Philly Style Magazine with Bradley Cooper on the cover. (BTW I hear Bradley has moved on from Jen Aniston and is already in the arms of Renee Zellweger)

The Philadelphia Tribune’s Mariska Bogle and Ron Day

Mission Grill’s girl Jamie Reibenbach and “Girls Night Out” Hacina Saadi. What: Chefs creating 4-course food and wine pairings tableside for 12 guests in decorated pods

When: Monday, June 29, 2009, 6 PM

Where: Hyatt Regency Penn’s Landing

Why: All proceeds benefit PAWS lifesaving initiatives, including adoption and foster care programs, spay and neuter surgeries, low-cost vaccinations, and more.

Anthony Chila, Dana Spain, Table 31’s Chef Chris Scarduzio and Steve Rockman

About PAWS:

PAWS, Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to saving Philadelphia�s homeless, abandoned, and unwanted animals. PAWS is Philadelphia�s largest rescue and is working to make it a place in which every healthy and treatable pet is guaranteed a home. From 2005 through 2008, PAWS raised the �save rate� at the city shelter � which took in approximately 30,000 animals each year � from 11% to 60%. PAWS rescues animals that are in the greatest danger of being euthanized at the city�s animal control shelter and places them either up for adoption or into temporary foster homes.

Smith’s Restaurant – www.smithsnyc.com I ate at the Smith’s table and dinner was incredible. It was fun watching them prepare the food at the table. The memu was perfect of me since I am on a diet, seafood, scallops and salmon. PAWs Board Member Holly Maher with husband The Mighty Dan Gross and Tara Derby

Table 31’s Lauren D’Orsio and John Colabelli, Publisher of Philadelphia Style Magazine



Sean & Sharyn McTaggart

Jeanine Hervath and Matthew Alemi. The 5 of us all sat at the Smith’s table. Matthew and Sean, who sat right next to each other, discovered they have the same exact birthday all the way down to the year.

Kate Egan, Egan Day jewelery and PR giant Kelly Boyd, KB Consultants

The Raw table settings

Renee and Don Freeman, Freeman Interiors Renee is a big fan of PhillyChitChat and I appreciate it, even though I couldn’t get the lighting correct.THANK YOU TO THE: 2009 Participating Chefs / Restaurants

Philadelphia and Atlantic City

*Matthew Levin � Masano

*Michael Salomonov / Zahav, Marigold Kitchen, Xochitl

*Chris Scarduzio / Table 31

*Jose Garces & Tim Spinner / Amada, Tinto, Chifa, Distrito, Mercat de la Planxa (Chicago)

*Douglas Rodriguez / Alma de Cuba

*Luke Palladino / Specchio, Ombra, Risi Bisi, Bragozzo (Biloxi, MI and Pompano, FL)

*Georges Perrier / Le Bec Fin

*Matt Zagorski / Rouge

*Quincy Jones / Union Trust

*Guillermo Pernot / Cuba Libre

>*Terence Feury / Fork

*Sam Yoon / 1225 Raw

*Artt Ward / Roy�s

>*Robert Fratticioli / Keating�s

*Robert D�Abreau / Sabrina�s Caf�

*Terrance Clark / Lucky Strike�s

*Molly Hayes / Triumph Brewing

*Shawn Sollenberger / Capital Grille

*Hiroyuki Tanaka / Zama

ont>*Martin Hamann & Michael McFadden / The Union League of Philadelphia

*Luciana Spurio / Le Virtu

*Edward W. Hancock / Valley Green Inn

*Rosario Romano / Panorama

*Gordon Walker / Field House

*Stephen Regosch / Public House

*Nicholas Cassidy / Saut�

*Hugo Martinez / Mission Grill

Roberta Adamo / Penne The Union League place setting is my favorite.

Paul and Chenita Brooks. Met at the Philadelphia Zoo over 20 yrs ago, and now live among the wildlife in the Poconos celebrating 19 yrs of marriage this year. They have 4 pets and are big animal lovers, coming into town to support this wonderful organization. They were a delight to talk to, and stylish to boot.

Erin Elmore thanks Chef Georges Perrier for dinner. (I didn’t hear about the fight that the Chef had with Lipson. Plus if you read my blog you know I would never report on something like that, I have the anti-Perez blog.)Vera from Union Trust chatting with the guests

Thank you to the Food and Liquor Sponsors:

*Nestle Waters (Panna and San Pellegrino)

*Brave Spirits Liquor

*Korbel Champagne

*DiBruno Brothers

*Saxbys Coffee

>*Pinot

>*Fruit Flowers

*Penncora Productions

*Dol Cice� Gelato Co.

Chef Scarduzio, Carol Tamburino, Michael D Smith, Sabrina Tamburino and this time next week Jill Braunstein will be married. ; I’m so excited I get to go to a traditional pre-wedding ceremony this Thursday with Jill, her future husband Tal Jacobson and friends. Photos for Philly Chit Chat on Friday.

Wendy Trow-Fox, Joan Spain, Tamar and Stephen Olitsky enjoy the fine deserts that were presented in the foyer between the two banquet rooms.

Scott Webster and Jessica Hawkes, Philadelphia Magazine, make the scene. Jessica is going to London this week, but will be in town by next Thursday cause we’re going on a double date.

So long single life…Tal’s brother Uri is in the foreground.

My food of choice tonight

Support for PAWS funds lifesaving initiatives including adoption and foster care programs, spay/neuter surgeries, low-cost vaccinations, and other efforts, all of which help reduce and will ultimately eliminate the unnecessary killing of Philadelphia’s animals. Donations to PAWS are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

YOU might have heard that some things have changed this year with regards to Philadelphia’s America’s Birthday celebration. Some things won’t be affected by the economy this year. The Parkway will still be having it’s “Fiesta on the Parkway” including the NBA/Sprite best dunkers contest in Philadelphia! We are setting up an outdoor basketball court on Ben Franklin Parkway between 21st and 22nd this Saturday (July 4th), and will begin the competition at 4pm. Registrants need to sign up at 1PM.

There will still be spectacular Philadelphia fireworks set off on the Art Museum steps and from behind the museum
A great VIP section for watching Sheryl Crow and The Roots at the country’s largest free outdoor concert on July 4th. (I think you have to put all those words in there for it to count)But, the parade has been moved to the morning and historic side of the City, so there won’t be a large painted heart in the middle of the road in front of the Art Museum. Also the stage has been moved. (Look at all this room in front of the stage)
Melanie Johnson, executive director of Welcome America, says the July 4th concert will still take place in front of the art museum, however…
“We moved the stage. It used to be on the steps of the art museum, and now it’s in Eakins Oval (the grassy area in front of the museum). And the reason for that is we thought the sight lines would be much better. It also saves us some money.” She’s right, it saved them $300,000 which is significant, but the sight lines are flawed. It’s not on the grass section of Eakin’s Oval, it’s on the parking lot among a bunch of trees.I’m gonna reserve my opinion until tomorrow, but the sight lines seem to suck here, except if your a VIP, as the media stage is set up about 100 years back. This stage holds the sound board, ABC6 folks and the camera crew. So get here early and put your lawn chair on the grass to the right or left on the blacktop.
The 2009 Stage area, and last years placement. It won’t be as much of a spectacle to us at the Philadelphian who enjoy watching the hoards of people below us. I’m sure Melanie’s hands were tied as my opinion is the sight lines are bad. Last year, there used to be the entire 4 lane street and huge grassy area in front of the Washington statue for people to sit. Now the sight line is much more narrower, and across the street is the triangular garden which is smack in the middle of the sight line. Plus the stage is lower, and not on the raised steps.
This is the view from the bottom of the Art Museum steps last night. There used to be all the unobstructed space on either side of this statue to see the stage, now you will have to look through and around a cluster of trees.
At least these newly planted trees near the Art Musuem will hopefully remain untouched.

I remember when the Max Brenner – Chocolate By the Bald Man opened in NYC a few years back, it was highly anticipated and the lines were out the door for weeks on end. No doubt that will be happening here beginning today when the doors open for the public at 3:30PM. Sure Philly has some excellent restaurants but we don’t have one that is an all around family fun experience like well Max Brenner – Chocolate By the Bald Man. CHOCOLATE is on the MENU, and not just the kids menu. So just in time for July 4th, there’s something else to celebrate in Philadelphia 1500 Walnut St.; 215-344-8150, (but don’t call for reservations, it’s first come, first served) BTW Philadelphia is only thee 2nd city in the USA to get this Restaurant – THANK YOU MAX!!! (the others are in Austrailia, Singapore, Phillipines and Israel)
So if you love CHOCOLATE, and who doesn’t
then this is the place for you, but don’t fret you outliers there’s non-chocolate food on the menu too and it’s pretty darn delicious too. You know how I love a good burger. Thankfully these babies are 4oz so I didn’t rack up too many calories. Delicious, but only one as I am in the middle of my NBC10/Fusion Cross Training gym “Be a 10 in 10 Weeks” biggest loser weight loss challenge.
And let me introduce you to your servers. These folks know the menu, and are really pleasant. The peeps behind the scenes preparing your food.
Chuck and Carol Fee, Tim Kerner, Adam Schneider, Joe and Barbara Beller. Attorney Joe Beller, and asst’ Carol worked on the contracts for the space where Max Brenner is located.
The Park Hyatt’s Jason Cabrera is enjoying the Max Brenner signature Classic Truffle Chocolate Martini, Eddie Dseguera is munching on the chocolate pizza and The Park Hyatt GM Jeff Miller is enjoying a Mojito. Did I mention Max Brenner has a liquor license too.
Photographer Christopher Gabello who earlier in the day completed a photo shoot at the restaurant. They open up, he shoots them. Doesn’t get any better than hiring him to do those professional shoots. Kate Ryan who is doing PR on her own these days, chats with James Jackson
Max Brenner’s has a store where you can purchase chocolate to eat, or perhaps do a facial. The Epicurious states that “[T]he first time I tried the Vanilla Bourbon Brazilian Brown Sugar Cane and Cocoa Nib Body Scrub ($23) from confectioner Max Brenner’s new spa collection, I have to admit, I was tempted to taste it. It smells that good. The heavenly aroma reminds me of being in a chocolate shop, or better yet, a chocolate factory. It has a raw earthy cocoa smell that must come from the nibs, but there’s also a mild sweetness, which likely comes from the brown sugar cane and vanilla bourbon. Add some cocoa butter and you have one serious scrub: It leaves your skin soft and smooth with a hint of that irresistible smell.”
Beth Davis, Andrea Palmer, Danni Patterson, Catherine Renehan, Sarah Bast, Lisa, Dan and little Gabe Shats. Did I mention it’s a fun family place with a kids menu, and coloring book. Darn I forgot mine there, I have to go back and get it, it’s that adorable.
Snackbar’s Jonathan Makar inspects the digs.
Lisa Schanberger and James Jackson III, the managing partner of Roy’s the Hawaiian Fusion restaurant down the street.

At your service managers…JR Gomez, Bryon Phillips, Kathy Majewski, Meg Scott and Allan Beardslee Jr.

Blackened Sesame Salmon with wasabi. Yum. I did try this one.
According to the Fiesty Foodie who had brunch in the NYC Max Brenner: “We both opted to get the “lazy breakfast” for $11.95 and holy cow, the amount of food they bring you is obscene. The menu’s description reads: “two eggs any style with your choice of the following two: bacon, mushrooms, ham, chives, tomatoes, onions, cheddar cheese; served with home fries, and a basket of country toast with pure melted chocolate spread, peanut butter, apple & brandy jam and butter.” …”It was awesome. Decadent. Delicious. Yum. Heaven…then we went home and took a nap.”
Foobooz guru Arthur Ectchis and the Philadelphia Visitor Center’s concierge guru Albert Lee
Chocolate gifts galore
For a $1.50 you can get a specialty chocolate square. I thought that was steep, but when it was explained that the chocolate is so rich you will only want to eat one piece, like Violet Beauregarde in Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory I just didn’t believe one piece would satisfy me, but low and behold it did. And unlike Violet I didn’t have to be rolled out of the place.
Sweet ending, cappuccino with 2 thin slices of chocolate was a good ending to a sweet night.
Hours will start at 9 a.m. for breakfast and will segue into brunch/lunch. There are full dinner and late-night menus til 12AM weeknights, and 1AM weekends. (See menus here.) PHILADELPHIA – 1500 Walnut Street – NOW OPEN!

T: 1- 215-344-8150 Hours of Operation:
Mon – Thurs – 09:00am – Midnight
Fri – Sat – 09:00am – 01:00am
Sun – 09:00am – 11pm
On the good ship lollipop.
Its a sweet trip to a candy shop
Where bon-bons play
On the sunny beach of Peppermint Bay.
(Now if we could only get a Bubba Gump on the waterfront my life would be complete)

The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co., known for being the center for the largest alcohol ring in the country during the prohibition era, is re-opening as a historic and refreshing addition to the nightlife scene in Philadelphia. The Franklin is located 112 S 18th St, but unless you know the address you might not be able to find the place as it’s entrance is very subtle. On the opening night there was no mistaking where the front door was as you had to be on one of the lists that these young ladies held.
Sandra Grekulavic, Greta Baith, Jillian Hundzynski, Jen Sherlock

The Franklin is all about the table service, not to be confused with bottle service as you are not going to find that here. There is no minimum as long as you have one drink. The bar is very tiny and located in the back of the room, guests are encouraged to take a seat and enjoy table service by a smartly dressed server. There is no VIP section, as all their guests are VIPs as far as they’re concerned.

(Philly Thrillist)

It’s a great place to play table gamesor hang with your favorite girl, Chad Boonswag and Lisa CorrealeEvery drink is made to order by dapper bartenders (tie, vest/suspenders), who start by hand-carving chips from three types of “gourmet” ice (Kold-Draft, nugget, culinary grade); the 20 menu concoctions are broken into six categories: American History, Water of Life, Summer Sippin, Revivers & Tonics, Island Coolers, and Martini Through Time — all more sophisticated than the stuff that caused you to tank American History. Many mixers are made in-house (from lemon juice to grenadine), and all booze is top shelf, from the Buffalo Trace in the Brown Derby, to the Inland Julep’s Siembra Azul Reposado, to the Hayman’s Old Tom gin in the Billy Penn Club, to the Blood and Sand’s Famous Grouse (“Who bled in my sand?”). (Thrillist)
Don Bell and Kristie Gonzales

City Paper Meal Ticket editor Drew Lazor with Michelle Flisek

Phoodie states: … there is that cocktail list. It’s six pages long. It’s epic. And there’s not a single simple-syrup cosmo-tini soul destroyer in the bunch. In fact, The Franklin doesn’t even serve vodka. Not a drop in the whole place. How’s that for Douche Prevention? You are in the provinces of Whiskey and Gin here (along with plenty of other non-vodka spirits), and their rule is firm yet enlightened. We tried the Billy Penn Club (an almost margarita-tasting gin/egg white concoction), the Brown Derby (a bourbon/grapefruit/honey headbanger) and our favorite, the Simó Cup (a gin/Pimm’s/lemon/cucumber salvation). Which is a great start. There’s only five pages of drinks left to try.Veronica Scarpellino and Thrillist Josh Valocchi
Casey, Nellie, Greg Burhart, The New England Patriots Alex Smith, Julie Abrahmson and The St. Louis Cardinals Anthony Becht,

Jayne Hamel, Vicky Martelli, Aly McNichols, Dana Chaby, Jackie Nauen and Rob Beck

NBC10’s “Be A 10 in 10 Weeks” Megan Smith with Louise CastellanoSam Gross, guest, Anne Nikolaus, Chris Prabhu (Thank you for reading PCC), Stacey Kracher, Yuval Yona
Hadas Kuznits interviews head bartender Alex Day.
http://www.kyw1060.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=3832893

Although The Franklin doesn’t serve food, they have contracted with Di Bruno Bros for private event catering.
Stylish Bela Shehu and Anthony DiMeo III
VH1’s Tough Love Steve Ward and Angeline Panepresso
Foobooz Editor Arthur Etchells with a friend
Greta Baith and Sandra Grelculaic
Michael Welsh, here with Chris Doggett. Chris is the President/Ceo of the Frankin as well as the managing partner and says The Franklin is going to be a comfortable place with lots of banquette seating and a smattering of small tables. There’s a bar in the back where some people may prefer standing, but he stresses it’s all about comfort, enjoying each other and the drinks. “We’re going to have an expansive drink menu consisting of ‘special’ drinks with top shelf liquor. People are going to come here because we’re going to be serving delicious drinks that can’t be found anywhere else.” The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. is the kind of place you want to go to to sit and enjoy a drink with that special someone, or a few friends. It’s not a S&M bar (Stand & Model), instead it’s a relaxed atmosphere where you can let your hair down and just enjoy yourself.

If you’re in town for the big Philadelphia Fourth of July 2009 celebration, there’s parades, fireworks, museums, the Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross’ house, the Big Bus tour, so much to do, but did you know there’s a great visitor center at City Hall.

That’s right that big historic building at Broad & Market which is near many of your hotels, not only holds some of our most important offices, but also houses a visitor center with lots of information about the City plus a tour office (Rm 121) where you can pick up timed tour tickets to the observation tower. Call ahead for an appt the day of tour: 215-564-4705 (small fee)
Also an interior architectural tour leaves everyday at 12:30 from the tour office, Rm 121
The City Hall Tour Director is Greta Greenberger, center. Volunteers Ruth and Matilda. Ruth has been a volunteer for about 15 years. Tell them Hughe sent you.
Judy runs the gift shop.
Do you want to own a miniature statue like the one that broke “William Penn’s” Curse on the City. Greta had a larger statue and it was welded to the highest beam at the Comcast Center. The following year the Curse was broken and the Phillies won the World Series. They’re only $10