Really, I was in the room with him for 4 hours non-stop, and he didn’t stop. I arrived about 3:30PM for my “volunteer” job. I was supposed to help the tour office and PR person set up. I did about 30 minutes of work, but then the lure of the event enticed me to drop everything and catch the action. The folks just kept coming and coming, even a few “Philly Celebrities”
A Brighter Tomorrow
at 3:30PM I entered City Hall and the line began to wrap around the building
I got upstairs just as the Mayor began shaking hands, and in this case, signing autographs.
He needed assistence and a hard surface for the next piece of paper
Always on the ball, Nutters Admins think out of the box and grabs a clip board for the next autograph
Many of the visitors gave Nutter their best wishes, but some handed him business cards, resume’s, lists of ideas and Prayer Cards, like the hell women
She’s probably given you one too
It really was a moving experience to see Nutter connect with so many people, like this women who brought a message for the mayor to not forget the handicapped
to save the Boy Scouts home on the Parkway
after 2 hrs my friend Steven (Styling Steven from New Years Eve) was next in line to greet the mayor
People took photos, the Nutter people gave out posters
Of course while I was taking the above shot, the all important “Money Shot” occurred and I wasn’t prepared. The Joe Fraizer photo op.
Cropping is a wonderful thing
For this shot I stood behind the “City’s Photographers”. Their job is to chronicle the Mayor’s administration. They take the photos for guests and then send copies to them. They also send shots to the Mayor and he chooses what he might want to keep, and what should be archieved for the history books.
Kids were so excited to meet the mayor, this girl literally ran into Nutter’s arms
Eventually I made my way outside to see what it was like. I love the look on Marie Mills-Torre’s face as she spots the Mayor just 100 feet away, after waiting 2 hrs to see him.
is that Bjork?
God Bless You Mayor Nutter
I left at 8:30PM and the line was still wrapping around
City Hall. It was really an amazing night, and as I said earlier this week
a bright future
A Brighter Tomorrow
at 3:30PM I entered City Hall and the line began to wrap around the buildingI got upstairs just as the Mayor began shaking hands, and in this case, signing autographs.
He needed assistence and a hard surface for the next piece of paper
Always on the ball, Nutters Admins think out of the box and grabs a clip board for the next autographMany of the visitors gave Nutter their best wishes, but some handed him business cards, resume’s, lists of ideas and Prayer Cards, like the hell womenShe’s probably given you one tooIt really was a moving experience to see Nutter connect with so many people, like this women who brought a message for the mayor to not forget the handicapped
to save the Boy Scouts home on the Parkway
after 2 hrs my friend Steven (Styling Steven from New Years Eve) was next in line to greet the mayor People took photos, the Nutter people gave out posters
Of course while I was taking the above shot, the all important “Money Shot” occurred and I wasn’t prepared. The Joe Fraizer photo op.
Cropping is a wonderful thing
For this shot I stood behind the “City’s Photographers”. Their job is to chronicle the Mayor’s administration. They take the photos for guests and then send copies to them. They also send shots to the Mayor and he chooses what he might want to keep, and what should be archieved for the history books. Kids were so excited to meet the mayor, this girl literally ran into Nutter’s arms
Eventually I made my way outside to see what it was like. I love the look on Marie Mills-Torre’s face as she spots the Mayor just 100 feet away, after waiting 2 hrs to see him.
The crowd winds down the stairs outside Conversation Hall and out onto Dilworth Plaza
Musicians were in each portal to entertain the crowds
there was a large tent in the courtyard where Tastykakes, pretzels and hot chocolate could be had
there are those signs that I put up, giving the directions to the line and rules against taking photos or getting the mayors autograph
It was back inside to check out the action. Here in the Mayor’s reception room I found the City Hall Tour Guides giving the visitors tidbits on the room
and a few more Philly Celebrities. Here’s the folks from one of my favorite sites, Philly Skyline http://phillyskyline.com/ – Brad & Steve with Ben Franklin and William Penn.
then it was back into the room for the wrap-up
is that Bjork?
God Bless You Mayor Nutter
I left at 8:30PM and the line was still wrapping around
City Hall. It was really an amazing night, and as I said earlier this week
a bright future
The NY Times deemed Nutter “the Seabiscuit of this year’s urban politics.”
Steve and Matt never met each other before our party, but they have similar taste in style, don’t you think? 
Marty was nice enough to stop by on his way to a blow out at the St James; I hope to see him more often because he’s into photography and has the same camera as I do, plus he’s read his owners’ manual and knows how to use it. And he likes to shoot wildlife at Tinicum Park; I have always wanted to go there to shoot but can never convince anyone to go with me. Marty call me!!
Matt, Mike, Vince and Jim (Yes its true we hang our bikes up like Seinfeld)
4, 3, 2,
ONE
The last photo of the night was taken about 3AM (Mike, Mark, Bob and Jeff)
12 hours later we would be hitting the Mummers Parade…and feeling groovy (Note to self: New Year’s Resolution #1 – Sign up for Google Ads or hey does anyone want to advertise here: Today I got 1020 hits with 427 regulars returning. Not too shabby and THANKS!!)
I took a lot of photos of random people to really capture the essence of the Mummer fans
One of the first things I do when I arrive on Broad Street is make my way down to the fire station on Broad that is a little past South Street. My Aunt Pat comes over from Jersey and hangs with the family there. I didn’t see her this year, but I had my traditional once a year hotdog, ok I lied I eat hotdogs more than once a year, but only once a year from this place.
Friendly fans, not sure if they are sauced, but I think she likes hot dogs like me
this is what her sign says
Chick Filet was represented
Paris wannabe
Got Cents?
ok he was probably in the comics division
The Academy and the crowds during the day
The Mummer’s got a late start at 12PM as it rained earlier in the morning and delayed the party
Thanks Southwest Airlines for sponsoring the parade
Die hard fans could be found closer to City Hall
I was really excited to see the winning string band – The Fralingers, perform. They were 2nd to the group
Bob finally thinks he has the Mummer’s Strut down, but maybe next year he’ll get it, you need both hands in the air, and you need to arch your back and bend your knees
Plus I was able to sneak into the bleachers at City Hall
What did Tony the Tiger have to do with the last string band which was about golfing?
Still to come this week random shots of the mummer day, our New Year’s Eve Party and my New Year’s resolutions and goals for the New Year. 
who began taking me to events to photograph. I re-discovered Philadelphia and the people that make it interesting. I started Philly Chit Chat, a blog about Philly people, events and things (with a celebrity thrown in here or there; in 2008 more celebs will make there way in, I am seriously ending Confessions as an everyday blog, as I want to focus on Philly Chit Chat, although I will still be going to NYC to shoot events, just posting them in Philly, because heck I’m from Philly and that’s Philly enough for the blog – LOL)
and in the Phila Inquirer (First time: Barry Manilow and back-up singers Sept 07)
4) I shot both Philly Film Festivals and met some of the Philly Photographers
6) I changed Photo Agencies and began getting published nationally and internationally with WENN (September)
And in the glossy US Magazine in November (This shot taken in Philly)
Monica Malpass, Mary Patel, Thom Cardwell and Friend
The New Generation Media Giants – Matt Ray, HX magazine; James Duggan, QUEERtimes, and Steve McCann of PhillyGayCalendar
Blog Convention – Joey Sweeney seminar
I met two of my favorite Philadelphians – Sharon Pinkenson and DJ/QZine Robert Drake 
Katie & Simon for their couch in NYC, my friends in NYC, Margarita, Carmen, Luisa, Kenny, Doug, Vincent, Demis and Cara, and my Philly friends Phyllis, Thom, James, Mary Patel, MK, DG, Philebrity, Gilbert, Paul, John, Amtrak, Greyhound and to my readers; Thank you, thank you thank you and Happy New Year!!
“What are you doing, why are you handcuffing me, are you arresting me, why are you arresting me?”, “I just made a wrong turn, just help me push my car around”
NOTE TO READER: At this point Houdini has escapes from her handcuffs, this happened twice to the crowds delights and cheers. She was so clueless she didn’t realize how serious it was that she kept slipping out of the handcuffs.
This time the officer really made them tight. They dumped her stuff out from her purse, and asked her why she had a knife. She I don’t drive in the City, but I know there are a lot of murders going on and I needed to protect myself. “OH why are these so tight, they hurt”, the cop tells her “look if you can get out of these I will give you $100 bucks, and you’ll need that money”; She just kept repeating “Are you arresting me, why are you arresting me?”
Then the officer takes her over to the car and says, look drinking and driving is dangerous. You could have killed someone when you drove through the park. Look at what you did, here is your car more than a block away from where you drove in, and you have been drinking. 
I asked the tow truck driver if he was impounding the car. “No we only impound the car if it was a “Live Stop” and her license, insurance or registration was invalid. Her’s were fine.” What will happen is he will find drop the car off on the first available spot on the street, and when she’s release she can make the arrangements to remove it. If she gets too many tickets, we will boot it and then impound it.
