Philly Chit Chat

Mayoral Candidates Nutter and Taubenberger First Debate is deciding which Sandwich is best at the Bellevue
Here’s part of the press release:

VISUALS: Mayoral Candidates and judges wearing Chef’s Hats (didn’t see that)

Also under Visual: Phillies Ballgirls:

Yep that happened

The two mayoral candidates Michael Nutter and Al Taubenberger break bread and catch a laugh at the 2nd Annual Bellevue Sandwich Off They seem to take their jobs very seriously, taking a bite, thinking about the taste

and then writing down the their thoughts on the ballot
Thom Cardwell of Thom’s Table see http://www.buckmonkey.net/, and his table mate scrutinizing one of the sandwiches.
Both candidates were interupted by citizens to say hi, but Nutter was the hands down winner on shaking the voters hand (this guy is basically saying, Mr Nutter I will vote for you, basically saying to the other guys face, You’re not getting my vote, you damn republican)
Director of Public Relations for the Bellevue, Anna Iredale checking to make sure everyone is ok. S uspiciously, Nutter’s sandwich was missing. Did he eat it that quickly?
Then the waiter dropped another off for Nutter to try…

Oh no what’s he doing?
he’s passing his sandwich to his hungrey assistant Nutter has a designated eater
eventually everyone finished, and the the tally was counted

The winners were Bain’s in First Place, second place went to that little Italian place at the bottom of the escalator. Pictured above: Thom Cardwell, the two Lindsays, ballgirls from the Phillies, R&B singer Carol Riddick, Writer, Lorraine Ranalli, Republican Taubenberger, and my mayor Michael Nutter.

I admit it, I like Clay Aikin, I like Barry Manilow too, not so much for Liberace, but what do these three guys have in common. Well sure the obvious, but also the fact they have ethusiatics devoted fans, maybe, YES fanatic fans, the Fanilows, the ladies and the Claymates. Although I own all three CD’s of Clay’s, I had never been to a concert. Not for any particular reason, he just didn’t go to a venue that was close enough for me to sit through his concert, I have his CD’s and I had already met him in NYC, in fact we had lunch together, he sat behind me at a place near 65th and Columbus once. I left him alone, but was excited to see him.It was fun to see the Claymates celebrate their love for him

Last night as I listened to Clay sing, the song list he picked out was so very sad. I commented this to a Claymate as she said with a smile, all his songs are sad, why didn’t he sing more upbeat songs, has he been beaten down by the tabloids and his RCA label so much that it is coming through in his songs. Another noted thing was when he wasn’t singing he was talking, and talking was something he did a lot of, well that and singing TV theme songs and quizing his fans on TV theme songs (I guess Clay stays in a lot). But when he did sing, it was beautiful and moving, and when he dialoged he had few positive things to say about anyone that wasn’t his fan and then he didn’t really respect them that much either (although he praised the Philly Pops and its conductor many many times,) at one point he brought up the Kelly Ripa incident, in Kelly Ripa’s own hometown, did anyone boo him, no, what’s up with that? OK I didn’t boo either, but I was too busy feeling sorry for Clay for his persecution (but he failed to mention how his friend Rosie defended him, even though she accidently outed him too),

then he went on with the airline foot on armchair problem (that was a ridiculous situation) at some point he actually bit the hand that fed him by insulting the kind of music that had made his career what it is today, he stated that the orchestra accompanying him was expecting to play “Barry Manilow” junk all night long and now instead they get to play a medly of cool songs from the 80’s including Madonna’s “Like A Virgin” (I’m sure he’s more than like a virgin!), and Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” (and he said it in a way that made it seem spontaneous, but did mention that his internet fans might have known it wasn’t) (no comment)

then it was about a letter he read on stage where a fan, a girl, complained her idolized Clay Aken was eating too many Krispy Kremes (I heard a girl behind me say we should kill her, Clay did to, he said let’s not kill her, but I will hand out her email later – LOL), I guess Clay was going for the sympathy vote, but how hard would it have been to have read a positive letter, or even mentioned how nice it was that his fans were so devoted. What was really shocking was when a fan who was sitting about 7 rows from the front would every so often hold up a sign that said “I came All The Way From Iceland to see Clay”. Well she held it up too many times for him which caused him to say “I know you came all the way from Iceland to see me, thanks, now put down your sign!”
Clever spelling, I bet there’s plates like this in every state
A group of women told me at intermission that Clay always comes out after a concert near the stage door and shakes his fans hands. Oooh he is such a gentleman to do that, she cooed. “I said really, does he sign anything?”, “no just shakes their hands and moves along. Jerome walks in front of him and shines a light on the fans hands, Jerome is his bodyguard.” I knowing the answer, I said, “how odd, why does Jerome do that? I have seen many, many celebs shake their fans hands without checking them out with a light first.” “Well “the women said, as she smoothed out the crinkles on her Clay Aiken T-shirt, “some of the fans are a little, hmm you know,” “I said crazy!” “I like to think excited”, she said. Excited, I didn’t even want to go there!!After the show I went to the stage door where there was a huge crowd of middle aged women, er I mean fans. It was all a bit bizarre, but hey I was there too. While waiting for Clay to come out, I asked one of those women if she was a Claymate, she seemed offended and swore she wasn’t. I mentioned that I thought the concert was sad, and that Clay had become a sad figure of late, if only he could be true to himself and not fear the rejection of his fans because (Although I did ask someone else that question “If Clay finally came out would his fans still be loyal, and she said the fanilows still love Barry, but I said he’s not out yet either?) Didn’t the Claymates notice the attitude change between the the first CD cover and the 2nd? He was so cute, adorable and unknown, had fame burned him? Or was it that that internet incident rumor, that seems to be more true lately than ever, Clay never sued the guy for LIBEL or SLANDER. Finally, in February 207, when Clay was on Jimmy Kimmel, he seemed to be coming out of his funk, returning to the fantastic, positive, up beat guy I remembers in his first year, but with a sense of maturity playing on those internet rumors as he serenaded Jimmy with a song he prepared just for him based on those candy hearts they sell at Valentine, using words like “Sweetheart”, “Honey” and “Magic”, I got the inside joke, especially when he presented Jimmy with balloons in a heartshape. It was very funny. Ok so our discussion continued like this: I said Clay is so upset over not being played in the Top 40, it is disappointing, but his fans are right there, right now, we bought his CD’s do we have to make radio an enemy because they aren’t playing his songs, he didn’t even urge his fans to call the radio stations, he just complained about it.

Plus his 2nd CD was all covers! She said Rod Stewart and Barry Manilow had successful covers. “Yeah, and they are at the end of their careers!” I siad. She vehemently defended him saying, Clive Davis made him do that CD, ok whatever, another blame on someone else. At that point I had to tell her the truth, “You are a Claymate!!”, she fought me back on that, and said you are no fan! Just then the police showed up to break up the crowd. For a good ten minutes the police and security said “No one is coming out, please disperse” but the Claymates held firm still believing that Clay wouldn’t disappoint them and appear, I’m sure some of them were still there when his bus whizzed by on the way to Morton’s Steak House.
A couple last things. One of the more amusing things that happened in the audience was the action by security and ushers as they constantly had to warn people to stop taking photos, and were much more stern if you were taking video. I later asked one of them why they were so strict at this concert. They said that Clay’s management team was adamant that no one take photos, and especially not video. The women I spoke with said she had never seen such a strong worded letter warning them to stop the violators or Clay would never play there again. I thought how ironic, he complains about not being in the “Top 40”, but then doesn’t want to get his music out to the internet. I am still a Clay fan as I love his music, but I think I will stick with his CDs. An Agenda: Maybe if he was truthful to himself, and his fans, his music would reveal a happier soul and he would have such sissy fits with hosts, passengers on airlines, Top 40 radio or anyone else that doesn’t measure to his standards.
I did love that a women put her undies up on stage so Clay could find them after intermission. It would have been nice if Clay was flattered instead of critizing the women calling her gutless and a few other choice adjectives, practically accusing her of having cooties. No wonder she wanted to remain anonymous.

Says his butt is going to show up in a scandal someday.

I have Just Added this Video 7/19/07 – I believe this is the song that really moved me. Clay wrote it himself, and I think it’s very biographical. Maybe you all missed that, he’s a lover all alone.

No matter what happened on Saturday, let’s be honest, it was Starrbooty day and the only booty that was banging was RuPaul’s. But before we get to that Philly Chit Chat attended a special cocktail party generously hosted by Bryan Hoffman and Jim Lonsdale’s home. (Thanks to Whole Foods for the delicious spread) Here are our hosts, Jim, Bryan with Four Letter Word’s Jesse Archer.The cast of Starrbooty, minus RuPaul (if you are a certain fan of a certain genre of movie, then yes you may recognize some of these guys, maybe even more if they had a little less clothes on – oh come on, it is a GAY and lesbian film festival after all, mom!!)At first I thought it was Pamela Anderson, but it was Victoria Ventura and Maria Noman from the movie “Transia” and not in the movie, and has always been a guy, oh and not gay, just gay friendly Tommy.
That fun tourist magazine – Where’s publisher Laura Burkhardt and Charlie David of Kiss the Bride and Four Letter Word (some of you have read my post on Saturday, on http://www.confessionsofapaparazzi.com/ where I said Charlie David was dressed to the nines when he recieved his award that afternoon; well on that note I went home and changed into my favorite blue sport coat, although I think it was wool, and guess what he had changed, and everyone else was dressed fairly causually, in fact I missed the memo to wear a solid or white shirt. I was a bit overheated, so you will forgive me if I didnt get everyone’s name)
My favorites Mary Patel, Malcolm Lazin and Phylis Halpern BUCKmonkey co-founder, James Duggan and The Philadelphia Film Society’s Tim Ferretti
Phyllis with the ever ready, smiling Rosemary Connors, Director of the Film Festival

Thom Cardwell with the director and actor of the new gay sci-fi “Socket”. Lft Thom, Derek Long, Directors/Writers Jaymes Thomson, and Sean Abley. The nicest guys you ever wanna met. I am trying to interview them, and all they want to talk about is me, ok I don’t blame them – LOL I have a lot more to say about this party and the folks I met, very interesting to say the least, but I must focus, focus, focus on the task at hand RuPaul – Starrbooty herself, looking towards heaven hoping she has a hit on her hands!
RuPaul’s new movie, aptly titled Starrbooty: The premise of the movie is a supermodel going undercover as a hooker to rescue her niece from an evil body parts broker. (I don’t even want to tell you which body part it is, in fact unless you like High High High RAUNCHY Camp and are probably high yourself when you see the movie, it might be too much for you as it was for me, think early Divine.)

So enjoy the photograph as Michael Lucas strips for the audience. It took a bit more off, but this is a family site so I must refrain.

Thanks to the Jeff, the manager of XIX for again opening his home away from home to us for this occassion
The lighting and atmosphere was superbEye candy filled the rooms what would the blue bloods of the debutante balls that were once held her say about this wild and crazy bunch
guests enjoying themselves
It’s just about TWO AM and these hard working Festival employees are finally winding down their what like 18 hour day of Starbootylicious fun. Lft to right are Andrea Hengel, Patrick McHugh and Tim Feretti

Everything is about timing, and I had the wrong list with the wrong times for the the Saturday celebrity visit to the Youth Study Center to help get the word out for the anti-violence rally. I was hoping to get a photograph of Queen Latifah, but got there just in time to hear the Queen’s voice as she spoke to the kids behind bars. Unfortunately the only queen I kinda saw was indirectly, it was Queena Bass’ father handing out more wacky literature. This time she’s complaining that there was too much noise at her apartment building, The Drake, as they were renovating and she felt terrorized. Then she goes on to spew about Thomas Jefferson University and her view on why she was fired, even though I recall they outsourced the whole group (I remember hearing they offered her another job at a lab, but she told me or I read it on the flyer back then that she was allergic to blood,” things that make you go Hmmm!), then finally she accusses this year’s Mayoral Primary as a fraud and she should have been the winner. (wait a minute she can afford to live at The Drake?) As I saw her father at the rally, all I could think of is that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Then Comm. Sylvester Johnson arrive. He is as disgusting to me as John Street. Thankfully Queen’s father was able to harass him before he entered the gates to visit the few peeps he may have gotten off the street…A few hours later I went to the PECO building to catch the celebs arriving for a Press Luncheon. Again timing off, but I did catch model/actress/MAXIM pin-up girl Melyssa Ford strolling in, late.Then I caught Mo’niqe leaving. As I caught up to her I asked her for a shot, her body guards actually tried to prevent me, I was like this is Philly, I am the only one here, c’mon it’s Mo’nque I love her, but what the fuck (ok all that really just did a live stream through my head). Mo’nique being the sweet thang that she is, said “sure sweetheart”. I got off about 7 shots, and thanked her. (not picture, big scary bodyguard standing next to me)

Tisha Campbell on the right, who is on the left?Raheem Brock #79 Colts, who is on the right?

The gays weren’t lining up for Harry Potter on Friday, no they were in line to see the cool gay surfer pix “Shelter”. Hoda and Laura selling Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Film Festival TicketsFriday night before the screening of “Shelter”, Jonah Markowitz received the first ever Scion Award presented by Official sponsor Scion Automotive for his directorial debut Shelter. After graciously accepting the award in front of a sold out crowd, Markowitz invited all of the festival-goers at the theater to join him at Sotto Varalli for his very own post-screening celebration, “The Helter Shelter Soiree!” Here I risk my life for this shot of Thom Cardwell, PIGLFF Devlopment Director, Director and recipient, Jonah Markowitz and Sean Williamson of SCION. As we were walking to this spot to shoot this picture, a very surprised Markowitz told us that this was his first award ever and the PIGLFF will also have a special place in his heart, the first one is always the sweetest. “The Helter Shelter Soiree” hosted by BUCKmonkey and sponsered by Toyota SCION. Thanks to Joseph Varalli for his generous hospitality.
Thom Cardwell and and the cast/producers of “Nightwood” Ethan Weiner and Chris Maher; Wednesday at 9:30PM the Wilma

Robert Drake, Where’s Laura Burkhardt
Vince Austin-Cole ACSNJ/RAY OF HOPE, Jim Austin-Cole from NJ Real Estate Sales and a friend at the SOTTO Shelter party.
Debra Brady, Ellen COntrevo of Lion’s Heart Productions and Marla Gold

Man about town, Philly’s own walking cliche, a walking talking, black republican Donald Carter. Our celebrity of the day as he was once on Politically Incorrect with Bill Mahr

I lied, here’s my boyfriend with Rex Lee. I was fortunate to get a little interview out of him which I will write about shortly.Gift Bag contents

This year’s festival has been made possible by the generosity and support of the Members of the Philadelphia Film Society and our Presenting Sponsors: Avis, City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce, Pennsylvania Film Office, Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing, here! Networks and TLA Entertainment Group; Official Sponsors: Anheuser-Busch, Tylenol-PM, Sundance Channel, Eventions Productions, Scion, Triumph Brewing Company, Twenty21, Penn’s Landing Corporation, Parrot Bay, Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue, Cashman & Associates and University of the Arts; Partner Sponsors: Plumer & Associates, Inc., Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, Modern Eye, Fest In Philly, Crowne Plaza, Sofitel Hotel, B-Side, Mixto, Hoffman Design Group, Haru, Hangar 1, PA Festivals and Premier Tours; Patron Sponsors:Jennifer Angelo Design, Marathon Grill, Sisters, Campus Philly, PhillyCarShare, Lucky Strike Lanes, P.I.N.K., The Restaurant Collection, Caviar Assouline, Vitamin Water, Philadelphia Trolley Works, Neff Associates Inc., Philly Fringe Festival, Vesuvio, Drexel University Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, McCormick & Schmick’s, Allied Advertising, The National Condominium Residences, 12th Street Gym, Whole Foods, FuntasticFotos, Prince Music Theater, Bluecoat, American Apparel and Philly Aids Thrift; and Media Sponsors: Gaydar Magazine, Where Philadelphia, Metro, Philadelphia City Paper, Philly Gay Calendar, HX Philadelphia and Queer Times.

If you were at the event, your photos can be found here: http://buckmonkey.smugmug.com/

I didn’t think I needed to mention this before, but I am a blogger, it’s true I can admit it now. Actually I am an overachiever or over obsessive blogger logging in with about six as we speak, my number 1 site Confessions of a Paparazzi, How We Met, One More Shot, What I Ate on My Nutrisytem Diet Today (I thought the shame would keep me honest, damn it didn’t work, but I have a trainer now), How We Met Stories and finally my newest one – PHILLY CHIT CHAT. I really hope I can do for this what Confessions has done nationally. Philly Needs a Paparazzi to get the news in the one shot that tells a thousand words, although I do think after attending todays convention in Philly, Blogging is more than just photos it’s words. It’s about 2:30AM as I write this, as I covered the opening night of the Philadelphia GLBT Film Festival http://www.phillyfests.com/piglff/home.cfm, I did get in about 2AM, but seriously struggled with which event was I going to write about first, so I did the only thing that was write and did it chronologically. I will be stealing my work tonight from one of my favorite blogs Phillyist.com I read what he wrote and there was no way it was going to be any better. (This entry should be called Confessions of a Blogger because there is so much behind the scenes information, I do hope what I learned will entertained my readers.) All content below this line is stolen from http://phillyist.com// 9:35AM: Panel: “The State of Social Media and Thoughts on the Future,” moderated by Joey Sweeney (Philebrity), and featuring Caroline Marks (Ziddio.com), Vincent Veneziani (CrunchGear.com), AJ Daulerio (Philly Mag and Deadspin.com), Neal Stewart (Flying Dog Brewery and Open Source Beer Project), and Emily King (Intelligent Travel, a National Geographic blog). Takeaways and observations:

Apparently, all bloggers live in their parents’ basements and blog in their underwear.
Print media outlets have finally figured out that blogs matter (yeah, blogs!), and have begun to look to blogs to figure out where to take their publication content.
Bloggers like beer. So beers have started having blogs.
We can thank Gawker for legitimizing online publications (read: blogs). Thanks, Gawker!
Snark: an essential, if not necessary or constant, component of the blogosphere.
How refreshing: National Geographic’s blog is fact-checked. (But then doesn’t it remove the immediacy of blogging?)
Key to repeat readers on your blog: a good sense of humor. Check!
File under no shit, Sherlock: bloggers don’t usually have much of a budget.
Good question, posed by Sweeney: “What is up with the internet and cats?”
Ziddo, a subsidy of Comcast, invests in other sites. They should invest in us! We’ll make videos if they give us cash. Or feed us. Food is good.
Denver has the largest beer convention in North America. Who knew?
World of Warcraft > SecondLife because you can kill the people you’re “networking” with. Awesome.
Scary: a lot of medical students have started using SecondLife to practice techniques.
Someone asked: “Can you hear me now?” and the whole room erupted into laughter. We are such nerds.
Holy crap! Intelligent Travel has a one-week turnaround time on their posts. That doesn’t really sound like a blog to us. (The girl in the glasses happens to work for Phillyist.com)Then the various topical groups began. I decided to go to the business and blogging group as I just started a business blog called http://www.buckmonkey.net/ which does PR work and event planning. It was interesting, but really for corporation gigs. I then walked over to the How to seperate your social blogging from your work blogging or something of that nature11:25AM: Breakout session: “The NEW Work/Life Balance: Keeping Your Blogs and Social Media Life Separate, with Alicia Dorset (MS&L, Digital/GM Fastlane, http://www.handmadedetroit.com/ and FYI Blogs ). Phillyist’s Takeaways and observations:
It’s probably a good idea not to link to your MySpace and other social networking sites, not just when you’re applying for jobs, but also if you’ve got a widely-read blog. People will make fun of you. (Thank god I’ve got my social networking pages restricted.)
Hmmm… Maybe I shouldn’t be writing for Phillyist under my real name. Props to you, Pencopal!
People will Google you. They may even print up everything they find about you. Terrifying.
There may be ways to hide from Google. But what’s the point?
Note to self: If I’m going to do anything stupid on the web, I should be sure to do it under an alias.
MySpace is your “travelling resume.” That’s scary, considering that my MySpace page talks about movies and music – I hope I didn’t just get my job because I listen to Modest Mouse!
Apparently, “mommy bloggers” are celebrities. I don’t think I’d ever even heard that expression until twenty minutes ago.
People will spam your online wedding guestbook. Spammers are relentless.
Oooh… those mommy bloggers get lots of free stuff. Think it would work if I pretended to have a kid?
Consenus: bloggers like when people comment. So comment, people!
Somebody at BlogPhiladelphia just asked what a blog is. Three people did a Scooby Do-double take.
I think that this discussion has moved pretty far from its topic. But that’s okay. It looks like we’re having more fun than the group on the other side of the room.
Live blogging occured at the event
bloggers were never far from their computers

1PM: Lunch break. Back in an hour, folks. Thanks! (Hmm Hmm Good, I was going to say something about Ziddio’s choice of horror clips they were playing during lunch, like its not too appetizing to see a women stangled with a towel during lunch, but hey the food was excellent – Philly Cheesesteaks, Hoagies (Subs for the rest of youse), peanut chews, and caesar salad (?).
2:15PM: Breakout session: (This was fascinating) “Paid Blogging and Commenting,” with Chris O’Donnell (TechDirt). I will admit that I am attending this session purely in the hope that someday, I can get paid to sit on my ass all day and blog. Also, because a part of me, though I know better, hoped that the Chris O’Donnell hosting the panel would actually be this Chris O’Donnell. Takeaways and observations:
Two ways to think about paid blogging: ads (obviously!) or getting paid for what you’re writing about – what you know and love. This sounds good to me. Anyone want to give me a job?
“Ghostblogging” – per the bullet above, does anyone want to pay me to write their blog?
Hmmm… People could pay you to link to their products/businesses in your blog. Maybe I need to start name-dropping more. But it may be a little unethical.
We’re twenty minutes in, and it feels like this group has been highjacked.
How is it that I’ve never heard of spider food, but everyone else seems to know exactly what it is?
There’s a blogger code of ethics? Seriously?
Snack time, Pretzels, peanut chews (Pa made), M&M’s (Hershey Pa made), peanuts and sweedish meatballs.

Then the godfather of blogs, Joey Sweeney of Philebrity.com gets up and tells us that boilerplate bloggings is the worst thing a blogger can do to their site. It should all be orginal content. Bummer tonight, eh I promise to do better in the future. But a bit later someone mentioned that Philly needs a Perez Hilton site, something that highlights our local celebrities. I was like JOEY, JOEY, I just told you five minutes ago about my new philly celebrity site http://www.phillychitchat.com/ I am going to do my best to stay on top of things for you here in Philly.

I did see a celebrity here in Philly tonight and will write about them later today. Until then – Peace, Love and Hair jell because tomorrow night RuPaul blows into town.

(Former Philadelphia Eagles and now a) DALLAS Cowboy showboat Terrell Owens isn’t much of a team player off the field, either. While attending a wedding last weekend at Marquis Los Cabos in Cabo San Lucas, the swollen-headed wide receiver ignored the all-in-white dress code and was the only guest in black attire. “He managed to draw further attention to himself by arriving late to the ceremony,” said our source. Earlier in the day, when T.O. froze going into the hotel’s unheated pool and complained it was too cold, onlookers taunted him with stadium-style chants. Kinda reminds me of this popular Seinfeld episode: George: Well I just got back from swimming in the pool. And the water was cold… Jerry: Oh… You mean… shrinkage. George: Yes. Significant shrinkage!
T.O. with Payton Manning at the Espy Awards rehearsals airing on Saturday 7/14/07 (NY Post)
P.S. in my morning rounds I found this great site which has a few ESPY Awards Photos, is funny and informative. http://www.threebrothersandasister.blogspot.com/