OK I really need to get out more, how many posts can I have about City Hall, it’s a worse obsession than when SJP asked me if I really needed to take that many photos of her. Well last night the grand ole’ dame was the center of attention again, no not the mayor, City Hall. 
Pictured below is another of my hero’s Rebecca W. Rimel; who has single handidly with the Pew Foundation supported the Arts and Culture, health, and the public in Philadelphia and literally around these United States. (Ok got it now, Rebecca Rimel, Sharon Pinkenson, Greta Greenberger and hmm I can’t remember the other person that I named recently as one of my Philadelphian “made a difference” hero) Rebecca even called the snow gods up to paint a pretty picture…
You may not know this women, but its Marciarose Shestack. She is responsible for leading the campaign to free William Penn from his imprisonment of scaffolding back in the nineties. She helped create the “Free William Penn” buttons that became so famous. She sold over 100,000 at a dollar a piece to raise the funds to release dismantle the scaffolding.
The people that helped with the lighting of the newly cleaned William Penn, Swedes, Indians and Eagles statue. hmm, Marsha Rose, hmm, Rebecca Rimmel, and hmm
One, two, three
It’s beautiful!!
and then flew right above the set as the filming commenced. 
No Robin Given’s sightings, but I did hear she was at Macy’s picking up some Bobbie Brown make-up. My friend said she’s really nice. She bought a make-up organizer too, to keep everything in its place.
Then John Street did it in November 2004, “This evening Mayor Street turned on new, permanent lights that illuminate all four exterior facades of City Hall, from the base of the building to the tip of the William Penn statue atop the historic building — almost 550 feet in the air.” 
circa 2003
2003 to 2007 – After only 31/2 years, the great Alexander Milne Calder sculptures – the eagles, the Native Americans, the Swedish settlers – ringing the hall’s tower 
have been cleaned, repaired and restored. 
And now that William Penn is once again cleaned and water proofed, the City can rejoice and celebrate!! And I ask…
How many times can we re-lite this building? … it looks like one more time: The City of Philadelphia will host a public ceremony on Tuesday, December 4 at 6 p.m. on the Municipal Services Building Plaza to rededicate and light the Alexander Milne Calder statues on the City Hall tower: William Penn and the eight sculptural groups of Native Americans, Swedish Settlers, and Eagles. Mayor Street will make a few remarks and then throw the switch.
I was a little taken back as I had read a sign at Macy’s that the tree lighting at City Hall would be on Wednesday 11/28/07, and then Macy’s was inviting folks over afterwards to enjoy hot cider and to watch the newly revamped light show narrarated by Julie Andrews (I had a sneak preview which I will write about tomorrow night) 
But then tonight after chatting with my City Hall “source”, she mentioned that sure enough at the last minute the date was changed to Thursday, with no explanation, and the time was 4PM Face Painting, 5PM Tree Lighting, not 7:30PM as the Metro reported. I then checked the Center City District site and it was updated to say: Thursday, November 29, 5pm City Hall, Dilworth Plaza , but the City Hall site still states the lighting was today. (hopefully someone will drop a dime and tell Macy’s of the changes.)
So if you want to see a magnificent tree lighting tonight, you’re plum out of luck if you thought it would be at Philadelphia City Hall, no now you’re gonna have to tune into NBC and the 10th annual “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” telecast Tree Lighting Ceremony. Hosted by Al Roker (“Today”), the star-studded 75th annual tree lighting extravaganza will feature Celine Dion, Josh Groban, Barry Manilow, Taylor Swift, Ashley Tisdale and Carrie Underwood performing current hits and holiday classics from Rockefeller Center in New York City.
Which is why I was so excited to attend the Philly Gay Tourism 5th Year Anniversary Party. Talk about a grass roots organization that has really made some progress in the City. The Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus (PGTC) — working with GPTMC, the Philadelphia Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, and regional CVB’s — has developed the Philadelphia Freedom hotel package for hotels who actively work to be gay-friendly properties. In addition to tourism, you can thank the caucus for the 36 new street signs that are permanently affixed with the rainbow flag to designate the “Gayborhood”. 
Tami Sortman and Irene, from Frank DiCiccio’s office, reading a proclamation
Some of my favorite people JD Coleates, owner of 
A small organization like the Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus can accomplish various goals like attracting gay tourists to Philly and selling the equivalent of 1,000 nights of hotel rooms to visitors of our City and 
the “STREET ADMINISTRATION’S STREETS DEPT” can’t even make sure that all the bulbs in the snowflakes are LIVE?
Does anyone have a countdown clock til the end of the Street Administration?
Further down the Parkway, I took one last look at Swann Fountain’s waning stream of water knowing that tomorrow it will be shut off for the season until 2008. I also enjoyed the summer flowers that refuse to let go of the bloom and instead took advantage of the long Indian Summer our region enjoyed this year. I believe Wednesdays high was 68F
Here’s Aunt Bernie checking those Turkey Cooking Instructions? She said it was the largest bird she ever cooked.
Elizabeth on the right, is Bernie’s oldest friend. They met during the Vietnam war even before she met Bob. Elizabeth lives in Spain now.
who is a huge Flyers fan, even though he was born and raised in Charlotte, I guess it’s nurture not nature in some cases. (not pictured my sister Janine and niece Nicole)
Mom and my niece Colleen
My sister Crista and her husband Michael and my look a like nephew, Michael or Wubby (poor kid, hopefully he will lose that nickname when he is 2)
Then on Sunday it was back home with a 10 hr drive, joining the masses on 95 and enjoying the full moon rise over Baltimore
From Dan Gross’ column today:
The Fling was a night of toe-tapping jazz, 
delectable culinary delights from Fairmount restaurants, 
and exciting live and silent auctions to benefit the Fairmount Community Development Corporation. 
Chet and Marjika
Drew Philipe
Mimi
Neil (missing from picture is Allyson)
Former Director of the FCDC, Lori Salganicoff who I volunteered for the first 2 years of the FCDC before I moved to SF then NYC. I remember the long discussions with the other volunteers on what date would be best. I thought November would be good, but wasn’t keen on the week of Thanksgiving, but it turned out to be a great choice.
Where the heck is the Belgium Waffle place?
Tim Clair, Executive Director of FCDC
Jeff and Mark
The Gorgeous runway show will featured fresh fashion, hair and makeup from the hottest local boutiques, designers, salons and makeup artists, including Eleganza presenting Versace and Roberto Cavalli, Dennis Basso, Nicole Miller, Joan Shepp, Matthew Izzo, Ettore, Pierre & Carlo, and many others. 
One of my favorite places to hang out was the hallway leading to the runway, it was here the models would wait for their cue to sashy down the runway
sometimes there were obstacles on the way to the runway as waiters used this hallway too
The runway, Jay Carrolls back, the man in the red would time the girls and then send them down the runway
Noel Zayas of NSquared Productions
the male lineup
struts their stuff
I guess the underwear showing is still in
Fierce
and The Philadelphia Film Society’s Tim Ferretti
