Philly Chit Chat

UPDATE: HERE ARE THE PHOTOS FROM THE HENRI DAVID BALL 2008:

I can see by the search words that a lot of you are trying to get information for the upcoming 40th Anniversary Henri David Ball in Philadelphia.
I took a walk down to Henri’s Jewelery Store aptly named Halloween over at 1329 Pine Street. I had never been there, and was really blown away by the collection of bling on the walls, in cases, hanging from trees, the ceiling just about anywhere.

At 3PM on a Wednesday business was booming, otherwise I would have asked to take a photo of the store, so instead I just asked his partner his partner Paul Struck.The largest Halloween party in the city of Philadelphia! Join in the Halloween costume party. Costume contest begins at the stroke of midnight.

This year it is again being held at the Sheraton Center City Hotel at 16th and Race Streets in Philadelphia, Pa
HALLOWEEN 2008 – FOUR DECADES OF DIVINE DECADENCE celebrated on FRIDAY OCTOBER 31, 2008 in the Grand Ballroom

Doors open at 9PM
Arrive before 10pm if you plan on buying tickets at the door as the lines get long (recommended). Advanced tickets are for sale from
Halloween Jewelry Store, 1329 Pine St. 215-732-7711. Gov Rendell stops by every year.
This will be Mike and mine’s 12th Henri David Ball

(I missed 3 years, as I was in San Fran for 2 Halloweens and 1 year in NYC when I was on biz trips)
Promptly at Midnight, They Pompously Promenade for Prizes
Most Originals Couple Best Period Costume
Most Hysterical Most Beautiful Female Impersonator
Most Decadent Most Believable Female Impersonator
Most Horrifying Best Celebrity Lookalike
And the Big Prize – MOST AMAZINGLY SPECTACULAR

DON’T COME AS YOU ARE, BUT AS YOU WANT TO BE!!

$25 for those in Costumes $60 for Voyeurs

October 31: Dignitaries, celebrities and all-around party people will flock to Philadelphia to attend the 40th annual Henri David Ball at the Sheraton Philadelphia Center City Hotel. For this decadent costumed spectacle, the host—the colorful owner of jewelry shop Halloween—promises to “pull out all the stops.” Starting October 1, advanced tickets are available at Halloween. Tickets also available at the door. Halloween, 1329 Pine Street, (215) 732-7711; Sheraton Philadelphia City Center Hotel, 17th & Race Streets, (215) 448-2000

Other events going on this month can be found here: Halloween Events in Philadelphia

Maybe you can party hop as all the clubs and bars will be having a good times as well as this new event: Elvira Presents: A Haunted Halloween Bash at the Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue

On Friday night, Philadelphia’s Please Touch Museum (PTM) debuted its new home in Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park with a grand opening gala. The Please Touch Museum is the children’s museum of Philadelphia. Please Touch is designed for families with young children and since 1976, has dedicated itself to enriching the lives of children by creating learning opportunities through play.
This fun, “purple-tie” event kicked off the museum’s two-week series of pre-opening events, giving guests the very first look at the new space. Pictured here are Lori and Jim Sims of Havertown, Pa enjoying a go around on the The Woodside Park Dentzel Carousel, which was built in 1924 by the Dentzel Carousel Company of Philadelphia. The original carousel contained 52 hand carved, multi-colored animals (40 horses, four rabbits, four cats, two pigs, two goats) and two chariots. It originally operated at Woodside Park—a favorite Philadelphia amusement park located less than 10 blocks from Memorial Hall—until 1955. Patti Hommes, Al berry and Melissa Wojcik enjoy the nights festivities
At Please Touch Museum, we encourage children to play and grow through the myriad of experiences we offer. We know that play provides the foundation for basic life skills such as building relationships, cooperation, negotiation and compromise as well as providing opportunities for children to find out who they are and what they enjoy doing. Play offers an emotional outlet, develops the imagination and creativity, and cultivates problem-solving skills. With young children playing daily at Please Touch Museum, we see that it is a process-driven way of creating, exploring and investigating the surrounding environment with adults, other children or by themselves.
Play is a fun and imaginative way to become familiar with the world we live in.
The Alice in Wonderland MazeAl Spivey, Jr. and Traci Jackson enjoy a spot of tea in Alice in Wonderland’s garden

Chamara Cotton, Pinky, Alice Gonglewski, Patricia Cross and Kendra Williams love their jobs at the Please Touch because “everyone is so happy and has fun when they visit”
Michael & Allegra Cosgrove, Ed & Georgine (sometimes I have no idea what people write down as their last names) Gayle & George Gowen, Patrick & Kristen Traynor, Molly & Arnie Schneider.
I love love love a catering company that puts out a table where you can drop your plate and napkin, and marks the table so you know it’s ok to do so.
Interesting piece of art made up of tin toys and doll parts. Update: A reader informs me: 1983 was also the birth year of Artie the Elephant, created from toys and found objects by Philadelphia artist Leo Sewell. (Thanks Harriet)
Peggy and Bruce Earle with Ann and Everett Keech (The centerpieces were donated to the Parkside neighborhood children, sometimes they were elaborate trucks and dolls.)Reggie Corbin and Vanessa Stroud. Reggie used to be the engineer at the Memorial Hall, where the PTM is now located. He says it’s gone through a few incarnations since the Centennial back in 1876, including being a Civil War Museum. The one thing that he is really excited about is that the PTM had enough funding to fix the leaky Rotunda ceiling which routinely let water in when it rained. He also told me the museum doesn’t have any ghosts, I asked.

I ran into my old friend Tom who does the magic shows at the Please Touch Museum. Tom used to work at a camera shop years ago, and often gave me valuable lessons that I carry with me today. It was great running into him.
Here’s a fun group: Dean Phelus Director of Meetings & Professional Education American Association of Museums , Nancy Kolb, President and Chief Executive Officer of PTM, Dennis Wint, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Franklin Institute since 1995, and Jack Ferguson Executive Vice President for the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau.
I wish I were 10 again because the wonderment and joy I got just observing all the wonderful exhibits and learning experiences would be ten fold if I let myself really be a kid again and experience the touch, participation, smell and fun that awaits the children of the world at the Please Touch Museum. Don’t let the opportunity pass your kids, take them here, again and again. It’s also a great place to have your child’s birthday party as well as renting out the place for a wedding, charity event or just because. Here’s the website with all the info you need: Please Touch Museum

A few weeks back Philly Chit Chat was driven, thanks Christa, out to the Mainline to the Wurzak residence for a celebratory lunch in honor ofTory Burch as this months cover girl on Philadelphia Style Magazine.Not only was the house straight out of the magnificent of the movie “The Philadelphia Story”,

but Mrs. Joann Wurzak was the perfect hostess (middle), with her are friends Sheri Shaffer and Laurie Ingerman Cashman & Associates were the behind the scenes cordinators, on the left Jacklyn Fisher, Christa Guidi and Carrie Nork Minelli, in purple next to Carrie is Haley Binn wife Jason Binn the owner of Niche Media the parent company of PS Mag. They are gathered to greetTory Burch as she arrives in the foyer
PSM editor Sarah Schaffer, with Samantha Marcus Yanks and Audrey Morrison
Tory poses in the living room of the Wurzak estate for a photo session with a local photographer (I took this shot hand held without a flash, 40 feet in distance, see 2nd photo past sign where she is sitting on couch. It came out surprisingly well)
Reggie Rubin, Karen, Isen Andrea, Freudlich and Dominque Reiff
Tory laughs with another guest as they admire the cover shotWendy Rosen, Philadelphia Soul co-owner and all around nice person, BJ Spencer and Marjorie Silverman
This is where the ladies who lunch would have their lunch, but I had to dash back to the day job so I missed out on what would have been a lovely afternoon on the Mainline.
but I did get this great little shot on the “red carpet” in the foyer. Of course my achilles heel kicked in as I chopped off all their toes as the staircase was behind me and well there’s only so much I can back up being me. L-R – Hostess Joann Wurzak, PSM owner Haley Binn, Publisher John Colabelli and Editor Sarah Schaffer

Bruce Springsteen came to MY HOMETOWN Philadelphia to rally the citizens to register to vote before the cut off on Monday 10/6/08 (I actually witnessed folks registering, it’s more shocking to me than any damage W regime has done to our country in the past 8 yrs that folks in their 30s and 40s never vote, it’s our priviledge as we are Born in the USA)
“We tried this four years ago,” said Springsteen, who held concerts for then-Democratic nominee John Kerry and headlined yesterday’s get-out-the-vote rally for Obama in Center City. “This time, we’re winning.” We’re Waiting on a Sunny Day!!
A few speakers kicked off the rally
In the front of the line, but sadly behind the press section, huge Bruce Obama fans Lynn and Chuck Timberman with friends Dave and Judy Price. (Right click and save this photo for your use) Give Peace A Chance!
Bruce arrives and hugs an Obama volunteer. I bet she doesn’t wash that shirt for a long time.
It’ll be a Lonesome Day if Barrack doesn’t win the election
MC, radio host Angelo Cataldi
This Friday Obama will be all over Philadelphia making at least 4 appearances inlcuding:

Friday, October 10, 2008
4:45 p.m.
(Please arrive promptly)
Sheraton Philadelphia Hotel
(formerly the Wyndham Plaza)
17th & Race Street

Nanci Ashback, Austin Hodges, Linda, Liz and Ronald Wagner help Philly’s economy by visiting the Art Museum, eating lunch at TGI Fridays and they were going to catch the concert in the late after noon. PCC says: Obama for Change, change let’s not “Stay the Course” as Buch famously says. How’s the course going for you so far?
Volunteers Erin Farrell and Mary Beth Galex – Thanks for your service in working towards a Change for the future. The next president will probably nominate a Supreme Court Justice, do we really want have a really conservative Supreme Court for the next 20 years?
Lori Reinhart, Ted Mieczkowski, Cassin and Manly Parks also volunteer. Thanks to the volunteers, with appreciation were right up front near the stage. Better Days are ahead.
Springsteen cited the Iraq war, the recent economic turmoil and Hurricane Katrina as examples of the Bush administration’s failures. He bookended the set with his rock classic “Promised Land” and Woody Guthrie’s folk anthem, “This Land is My Land.”
The crowds are let into the staging area
Alexandraia Khahil, Stephen Gordon and Tracy Sands
The Obama camp says its registration efforts have helped give Democrats a 1.2 million-voter advantage over Republicans in Pennsylvania, up from a 580,000-voter lead in 2004. The most recent Quinnipiac University poll, conducted late last month, showed Obama with a 54 percent to 39 percent lead over Republican John McCain among likely state voters.
Friends who don’t discuss politics, much. Republicans Greg Savoy and Irene Kelemen with Democrats Lisa Fanelli and Wayne Malosky. Lisa says she had accessorized to make up for her GOP friends. I asked Greg if it bothers him that Bruce espouses his political views, he says, it’s widely accepted that celebrities endorse what we wear, buy, eat and those are paid endorsements; he’s glad that Bruce has an opinion, gives his time to endorse it. (For the record, celebrities who endorse that other ticket, a few surprises and more than one crazy person: Chuck Norris, Mel Gibson, James Wood, Mary Lou Retton, Clint Eastwood, Dennis Hopper, The Rock, Angie Harmon, Bruce Willis, Ted Nugent, Susan Lucci, and Elisabeth Hasselbeck.)
Sarah Palin sneaks into the Bruce Springsteen concert to show her support
Opening acts

Wanda Sykes Tears Into Sarah Palin. Funny! “I think that there should be a list. And people who don’t vote, we should make a big list, and anything that bad happens, they should get it first. Years from now when we’re driving around in our electric cars, we should still make them pay $12 for gas.”

Now this is really the women about town Donna Coghlan with Charlie Pasquala
Photographers get a birds eye view of the parkway. I couldn’t do this for two reasons, high anxiety and I would have missed the first 2 Bruce songs and probably would have jumped off if I had to miss the entrance pictures.

One of my favorite Phila Inquirer photographers, April Saul took this photo from the above position
Bruce greets Sen Bob Casey as Gov Rendell looks onTim Clinton and Even Clinton, Tracy Gordon, Alexandria Kahlel – who has been a volunteer since the NH primary, Terri & Dana Walton are big Obama and Bruce fans, Lisa & Eir Pfieifer and Anna Pohlscheidt who would vote for Obama if she wasn’t from Germany. Obama is the best choice for the world.
Shocking that anyone would vote for the other ticket because Obama didn’t pick Hillary as his running mate. As a Hillary supporter myself, I just have to say especially to my gay friends, get with reality, this isn’t big brother and you’re out for revenge to whip Obama for being bad and not going with what should have been the obvious choice, no this is about your future, our future, your civil rights future, it’s about the US Supreme Court choice, about extending the war, about citizen’s left behind, health care, and especially Vote for Obama if you make less than $250k. A McCain vote is a sign of insanity, “Insanity is doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different result,”

Help Obama return us to the “Glory Days”, can all these celebrities be wrong. We watch their shows, we buy their products, we buy the magazines to read about them, we let George W Bush drive this country to it’s knees. It’s gonna cost you$6ks to bail out your fellow man from the George Bush financial meltdown. Of course Iraq has a $60 million surplus, how much of that is our money? Iraq has the new schools, thank you US citizen’s, and how much has Vietnam help you out since we tried to liberate them?
One of my favorite photos, but I must confess I held back some of my best shots as they have been sent to my photo agency in NYC/Europe

Last week I attended the much anticipated Butch Cordova’s clever take on the subject of calendars – Straight/Butch calendar debut signing and party to celebrate the publication of the calendar that was 2 year’s in the makin’. In Bed with Butch, Butch Cordova the WYBE/DUTV host had a brainstorm a few years back. The 2009 wall calendar, called Straight and Butch, featuring provocative photos of Butch posing with twelve different naked straight men that promises to push the artistic envelope. His subjects included friends, men who worked at stores he frequented and and men who answered his ad on Craigslist.

The 2009 wall calendar, called Straight and Butch, featuring provocative photos of Butch posing with twelve different naked straight men that promises to push the artistic envelope. “The goal was to make a bold and powerful statement,” says Cordora in his latest press release. “A social experiment if you will, about where we are in the world today in regards to tolerance, acceptance, sensitivity, sexuality, masculinity and the human condition.”

He gather a few talented photographers, Christopher Gabello (here with his wife Kristin [the cover shot above was taken by him), Tony Ward, Aaron Cobbett and Mike Ruiz.
Christopher took this photo with his subjects in the Wissahickon Creek. Gabello tells me that he shot it 200 feet away with a long lense on a ladder as to capture the entire environment.
Another Gabello shot taken on the same day, is based on the iconic shot on John Lennon’s “Double Fantasy” album cover. Shot in the bedroom of someone’s house, Gabello photographed this from above his subjects as they lay in bed. Although based on the Annie Lebowitz’s piece, it contains suttle differences that make this shot stand out and really makes it a fine art piece which should be framed and sold separately. But you can own it if you pick up this calendar at Giovanni’s Room in Philadelphia, or
Another Beatles inspired shot was this take off on Abbey Road, and although it’s been done before, the photographer Michael Itkoff takes it and delivers something a bit different, ok their nake that’s different, but also he shoots the whole scene, not just the subjects. And that cross walk, completely added with Photoshot ’cause this is Elkin’s Park and their are no streets like this. All the guys in this shot also have their own solo shots in the calendar. Michael Itkoff grew up in the suburban sprawl outside of Philadelphia, PA.; besides being his own accomplished photographer he is also the magnificient Annie Lebowitz’s assistant.

Black Gay Republican who I hope is voting for Obama, Donald Carter & local Philebrity Survivor contestant Gervase Peterson who is in the calendar about 4 times
Key Greene, Adrian Abonce, Javier Suarez, Michelle Bottalico, Zach Brady, Rocky Ciarrocchi Alba, Nino
Christine Settino, Jennifer Shreiner, Butch Cordova, Sherri Eyer, Heather Krehling, Susan Curtis and Dave Newby
Tony Borzotta, Chelsea Winters, Jamie Krass, and Melissa Grojean,
“The initial plan was to have Tony Ward” (you know Madonna’s Tony Ward, did I mention I photographed her this week) “do all 12 photos. When I met with him, he was intrigued by the whole thing. He had never heard of anything like this and felt it was a strong conceptual, bold idea. And while he’s incredibly straight, photographs the naked female body and has no desire what-so-ever to shoot male nudes, at the end of the day, all photographers want is a powerful, never been done before, in your face project to work on.”

However, as the project moved along, he felt multiple photographers would add to the juxtaposition and diversity of the photos, ending up with six photographers total. Butch and Billy Barton at Tattoo’s Mom’s
Tony Borzotta, Natalie Danner, Gervaise Peterson & Butch Cordova

Where do I buy the Straight/Butch Calendar might wonder; well you can start at Giovanni’s Bookstore, or any of the TLA Video stores and shortly it will be available on Amazon.com; You can find Butch on his TV program In Bed with Butch on WYBE/DUTV and his radio show. Also upcoming is a documentary on the whole shoot “Straight & Butch” which should be ready for screening next year.

After being such good sports in changing the date for the Midtown Village Festival to accomodate a charity event, now the festival is up against another important event; the Bruce Springsteen Obama Rally on the Parkway Saturday 10/4/08, but that’s not going to put a damper on the festivities, they know that after a day long voter registration & accostic set by Bruce, you’ll be thirsty, you’ll want to party, usher in the fall by heading over to Center City’s newest hotspot – Midtown Village to celebrate the fall festival for shopping, good food and then stop on by Octoberfest at McGillins or stop by there first and then head over to the shops and other activities planned that day. (I know after the Bruce event I’m heading over there, I will be pumped and want to continue the party and McGillin’s is a must stop)
There’s a reason Gourmet magazine — named McGillin’s one of the 14 coolest bars in the U.S. because it is…The last time we visited McGillins Old Ale House was for St. Patrick’s Day and really is there any other place you’d want to be for Octoberfest either.

On Saturday join Chris Mullins, his dad and the entire McGillin’s staff in helping you kick off Octoberfest. As usual McGillin’s is going on all with a tented area along Drury Lane, Karaoke, food and beer, lot’s and lot’s of delicious beer for you to get into the spirit. Celebrate King Ludwig’s wedding. Octoberfest beers & food. Through Midtown Village Festival – Beer Garden, music & karaoke.
Did you know that besides being one of the City’s oldest bars, McGillin’s displays many of the signs that used to adorn some of Philadelphia’s iconic businesses.
While I was there for lunch yesterday another Philadelphia establishment was preparing to change their name and they dropped off the old sign to be displayed at the bar. Commerce Bank is just about to undergo a name change after being bought by Canada’s TD Bank.
So really after the Springsteen Obama Voter Registration Rally stop by the Midtown Festival, I mean you have to go in that direction for public transportation, so why not just stop on by. Midtown is 13th Street between Chestnut and Walnut streets; Sansom Street between Juniper and 12th Streets; and Drury Lane which will all be closed to traffic so that visitors can stroll the street and enjoy the food, fun and music. http://www.midtownvillage.org/ Festival runs from 12 Noon til 8PM, but the bars and restaurants will be open til 2AM, so get your party on.

City of Hope Roasted our good friend, and Philadelphia Humanitarian Thom Cardwell the other night. Many of Thom’s friends and family came out to celebrate the special night and give Thom a few zingers down memor

Here Thom is surrounded by Assouline Caviar Liz Martin, a childhood friend and his sister Janice
What we all wanted to see, Thom on his thronebeing thanked for all his generous contributions to society
To see a great video of the night’s event go to StreetTalkin Philly’s own TMZ get’s the David “Scoops” Dyer gets the dirt from Thom Cardwell. (Clink on link for interview)
A nice crowd turned out to fete Thom
Dan Conitaro, Courtland Beakley, Brian Goldthorpe, Jonny Caputo and Bruce Yelk
Susan Helfich, Jimmy Rout, Thom and Mark

Mark, Patti and Perry
Some of the fine folks from City of Hope that do the great work to fight Cancer. On the right is Harry Giordano from the Philadelphia chapter. www.cityofhope.orgDan McCafferty (DA candidate 2009), Thom and Dawn Tancredi, Esq.

Mary Patel enthusiastically hugs her Thom
Thom and Scott Barnes
The Barnharts – Paul, Mary Kay and Paul Sr with Pat Brothers
The roasters and roastee

Thanks to the sponsors including and vitamin water
Thom shows off his big rock to Philadelphia Tribune’s Bobbie Booker

The roaster and roastee Michael, Mary, Johnny, Mickey, Brittany Lynn, Thom, Jimmy, Susan and Michael
Patti Klein, Thom Cardwell and Sarah Doheny
Photos from the Metro’s “On the Scene” column (click to make larger)

I took this photo Monday at David Letterman’s Stage Door (Click on photo to make bigger)

http://tinyurl.com/4rh5pb

TODAY at 11AM the gates come down and the doors open as the Center City District (CCD) is celebrates the completion of improvements to Three Parkway Plaza and the opening of Café Cret (pronounced “Cray”), operated by Capriccio. Check out their site: http://www.cafecret.com/

operated by Capriccio.Invited speakers include:

• Michael DiBerardinis, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources
• Mark Focht, Executive Director, Fairmount Park Commission
• Rose Hagan, Head of School, Friends Select

• David Wagaman, Owner, Capriccio at Café Cret
• Paul R. Levy, President & CEO, Center City District

The dedication of Three Parkway Plaza and opening of Capriccio at Café Cret, marks the completion of another major initiative by the CCD, in partnership with the Fairmount Park Commission, to enhance and animate public open space along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
The café, which features indoor and outdoor seating, will be open seven days a week, year-round, generating revenue to support maintenance of the plaza and the Parkway. The café, named after one of the original designers of the Parkway, Paul Cret, will also serve as an information center for programs and events on The Parkway.

Photo and television opportunities: There will be a ribbon-cutting, with food sampling from Capprico and its vendors, along with entertainment from Parkway and nearby institutions, including Friends Select, Russell Byers Charter School, the Free Library of Philadelphia and others.
The menu is prominently displayed with the prices
Fresh Brewed coffee $1.55 1.75 1.85 to Peppermint White Mocha $4.15 4.70 5.00 and everything in between
Breakfast Burrito $3.95 with egg, cheese & bacon or sausage on a bagel for a bargain $2.99; Ice cream (I guess prices have gone up since I last had ice cream)
Cone or Dish $3.75 4.00 4.45 Milkshake $4.95 Jimmies & extra’s $.50
Sandwiches & Salads all very reasonable with grilled salmon on a bed of lettuce the most expensive at $7.95 and the rest falling below that price.
I am looking forward to this little nugget opening on the Parkway, not only because it’s on my route walking home, but it’s also a wonderful addition for tourist and compliments the area that was fashioned after the Champs Elysie, where many people sip a latte at their favorite cafe while writing in their travel journals, reading the paper or just people watching.