The recently-opened Stir is a welcome addition to Philly’s gay nightlife. The formerly dark and dirty space is now fresh, swanky and cozy without feeling cramped. The relatively underground location of this place (down an alley, across from a dumpster, with no visible sign until you get right up on the door) conjures up some seedy images, but just beyond the wardrobe, you’re whisked into a magical fairyland (ahem) that is stylish without being all uppity. 1705 Chancellor St Philadelphia, PA (Next to the Warwick Hotel and down the ally from Rouge) 
Stacey and Holly took over the old Post location and pulled off a miraculous transformation.
Our hosts for the night Bruce Yelk http://nightlifegay.blogspot.com/ hosts the weekly premier summer gay professionals happy hour – every Thursday from 6-8pm at Stir. Join other gay professionals at Philadelphia’s hottest new gay bar Stir. (Bruce is a busy guy and is also hosting a Pride Party at Cebu on Sunday 4 – 8PM and next Friday is hosting the official after party of the True Colors tour at the Borgota), Stir proprieter, Stacey Vey and Matthew Izzo http://www.matthewizzo.com/catalog/ Who I had never met before, but told him I like his GLBT Philly tourist ads, but have never been in your store because he doesn’t have my size. Without missing a beat he said “We sell hats!”
There are two bars, front and back, with those frosted glass door bathrooms that freak me out in between. (These folks just discovered that although you can’t see through the bathroom doors of the one person room, you can see a persons silhouette. If you’re shy, the trick is to not turn the light on)
Have you ever met my friend Laura Burkhardt, here she is with Dennis Fee of Tavern on Camac. Laura is out supporting her clients and Dennis was nice enough to come out and support a fellow bar owner in the community. Dennis and his partner are also part of the GPTMC’s GLBT campaign http://www.gophila.com/C/Your_Philadelphia/14/Diverse_Philadelphia/287/Gay_friendly_Philadelphia/4.html
Bruce Yelk hosts these weekly GLBTQ cocktail parties every Thursday at STIR. This week the party goers were treated to a swimsuit fashion show by Matthew Izzo and his merrymen.
The crowd seems to be a constant ebb and flow of attractive guys and girls. 
So whether you’re Gay, Lesbian, Questioning, a girly girl, boyz type gal, dude who is into other dudes or a straight up straight chick or guy with an open mind, come here. 
These photos are mine, the some of the wording was lifted from more descriptive patrons than I at http://www.yelp.com/biz/stir-philadelphia as I am a bit fried this week if you know what I mean; sister stuff see 6/29 entry.
Isiah Whitlock, Jr was on hand to introduce a short film on the Mural Arts, that he narrated; and Jane Golden.
Something I need to constantly learn is to get people to write down their names on my pad. I may see them out a lot, or know their first names, but I have a lot of junk in that head of mine and when I finally sit down to write about the event well it could be a week or two since said event, 1AM and heck I am in a tad of a hurry so I sometimes just recall names. So here goes, I have no idea who that nice women is. I have met her twice, and well I can’t recall. Next to her is Chris Mullins who’s family owns McGillin’s Ale House, a true Philadelphia Institute, then there’s my other favorite girl Laura Burkhardt and Bill Gerhman. Bill has really done alot for the GLBT business community and for tourism to the City in general.
Here we find Michael Zuber and Linda Rice Dailey looking fine and feeling fine. Great smiles, that’s what I like to shoot.
The outpouring of love not only was in abundance with the attendance, but also came through with the amazing amount of items donated to the Silent Auction and later you will hear about the live auction.
Gladys Shubin, Harriet Soffa, Cantor Vogel, Rabbi Jay Stein and his wife Rissy
MAP Public Engagment reps Nancy Davis and Alex Morigi with MC KYW3’s Jim Donavan. Jim is also a volunteer tour guide on the popular Mural Arts Tours 
Emily and Judy with the Mural Arts Education Program
WXPN’s Roger LaMay does the live auction and does it well as a weeks stay in Tuscany goes for $5,500 and dinner with Mayor Nutter goes $500 better.
I had lunch with a friend the other day who criticized the mayor for going to too many social functions and not creating policy. Well I think the policy will come along, but the MAN’s got a lot to live up to and right now he is righting which was wrong with the last administration and that was to be the people’s mayor and get out and greet the people. Look at this impromptu line that formed at the Wall Ball to greet him.
Cole Hamels and his wife Heidi (I had no idea who she was/is until I spoke with Derek of Team Derek Phamous Philadelphia autograzzi** [ Hamels, 23, and Survivor contestant-turned-Drexel student Heidi Strobel, 28, got married New Year’s Eve 2007 in Springfield, Mo., near her hometown. Among guests were her Survivor cohort Jenna Morasca. Well, it was certainly nice of Heidi to invite Jenna to the wedding, considering, you know, they posed naked in Playboy together. ])
Chase signs a few balls for a fan. Jennifer is holding the Phillies branded Budweiser beer. What’s up with these aluminum bottles lately, I have seen coke come in them to. Are they easier to recycle?
Geoff Jenkins, Chase Utley, Greg Dobbs pose for the “Event Photographer”. The EP is usually hired by the PR Firm to capture photos of the event to send out to Philly Magazine, Mainline Times or any of the other media forms that someone might use to promote this great event.
I don’t know what is scarier, the Brett Myers scowl or
why the Franklin Institute thinks it’s a good time to change their name to “Franklin”, that’s right dropping the Institute.
When I think of Franklin
there’s no doubt that I think of this guy first
I might even think of Franklin Plaza, which is at the foot of the Ben Franklin Bridge
if someone told you to meet them at Franklin and you lived in North Philly, you might think The Ben Franklin High School
if you were in Center City maybe you’d think it was Franklin Town Park near CCP
or across the street at One Franklin Town
I hear the Franklin Institute did research and received positive remarks about the new name, Franklin. I don’t know who they asked, but I know many of the people I have asked were curious why they would change the name. I agree, I can’t imagine they were hurting for business after
hosting two record breaking exhibits in a row, which introduced the Franklin Institute to a national audience
the thought is just out of this world. The time to re brand yourself probably was before you held these exhibits that catapulted you into nationwide recognition, especially with the added promotion of the display on the grand staircase to the museum
Another curious thing, why would you change the name to “FRANKLIN” if you can’t get the website 
I guess the truth is I don’t like change, but in this world of texting, IMing and Twitter, well maybe Franklin is all anyone has time to say to get their message across.
I do love the question mark on the Cira Center!!
If you’re curious check out their curious web page which is curious itself: 
On May 17, Tibi designer Amy Smilovic made a special appearance at Kimberly Boutique in honor of the shop’s third anniversary party a fundraiser that was held for Children’s Crisis Treatment Center of Philadelphia.
(L-R) C. Robert Beishline, CCTC, Amy Smilovic and Jimmy Contreras 
Jonathan Seidel stopped by to help in the celebration
Brian and Stephy Freedman, Shaneika Dabney and Mac Francis were there
Sisters, er I mean daughter, mother Susan and Jillian Noyes, who picked up more than a few things as they are big Tibi and Kimberly Boutique fans.
Jimmy and Nina Tinari, who I think looks amazing in this yellow skirt. I hope she had a chance to wow a few people before I featured it here. I didn’t want to spoil the WOW factor for her.
On my facebook this morning I found this message from
A long time advocate for pet adoption, Bernadette, and fellow actress Mary Tyler Moore started the organization Broadway Barks! The book, authored by Peters, with illustrations by Liz Murphy, is published by Blue Apple Books and is the star’s first foray into the publishing world.
There’s was a NYC love story. She told the Philadelphia City Paper in 2000 that she met her future husband in front of her Manhattan apartment building one night, as she was waiting for a date that was late. “Michael was on his way to a charity event and was in a tuxedo,” she remembered. “So he walked up to me, a stranger, and said: ‘Are you ready to go?’ How’s that for a sense of confidence and a sense of humor?”
Georgia Engel, Ted Baxter’s wife on the MTM show. Did you see the reunion on the Oprah show a few weeks back, it was great.
This guy shows Bernadette a tattoo he had done after she signed his arm a few years back
