Philly Chit Chat

Sorry readers and the many people I photographed over the past 2 weeks, I haven’t done a lot of posts lately as I was distracted by a personal issue. It’s not a health thing, just a growth thing. I’ll catch up this week. Thanks

Its a little cloudy today, which was not the case last Tuesday when I attended another great ribbon cutting of a Philadelphia Park & Rec playground which had be rebuilt by proceeds from the sugar tax. Several Parks & Rec have gotten the Rebuild PHL make over but this is the Francis J. Myers Recreation Center at 5801 Kingsessing Ave.

Press Release: Mayor Kenney joined the Philadelphia Union Foundation, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer, City officials and community members to celebrate the opening of the renovated athletic courts and one brand new soccer mini-pitch at Francis J. Myers Recreation Center in Southwest Philadelphia.

A part of the City of Philadelphia’s Rebuild Initiative, an historic investment in public spaces, this first phase of the F.J. Myers Recreation Center project represents a transformational partnership between the City, the Philadelphia Union Foundation and Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer to expand the impact of Rebuild investments. Together, the Union Foundation and Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer committed more than one million dollars to build 15 mini soccer pitches and two full-size signature fields across Philadelphia, further nurturing Philadelphia’s great appreciation for soccer.

“When we first announced the Rebuild Initiative, we knew it would invigorate the Philadelphia community to join us in supporting vital public spaces,” said Mayor Kenney. “The new soccer mini-pitch and renovated athletic courts are a shining example of what shared investment accomplishes.

The event also marks the first stage of a much-needed investment in Francis J. Myers Rec Center, a six-acre-plus park at 58th Street and Kingsessing Avenue that has long served as a cornerstone for Southwest Philly. About $350,000 was invested into the first phase of the project, and in the fall, Rebuild will begin the community-engagement stage of a full renovation of the center and surrounding property. (Inquirer)

Rebuild Philadelphia

“We are so pleased with the incredible new amenities now available to the community here at F.J. Myers,” said Kathryn Ott Lovell, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Commissioner. “New outdoor courts and fields are in demand in South West Philly and across the City. Partnerships like this allow our Parks & Rec system to better support local youth athletics programs and meet the growing demand for more places to play, learn, and grow right here in the City.”

REBUILD is a historic investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in neighborhood parks, recreation centers and libraries across Philadelphia. Proposed in Mayor Jim Kenney’s first budget as a part of his vision for a more equitable Philadelphia, Rebuild’s promise to acknowledge history, engage the community and invest intentionally seeks to uplift pivotal community spaces, empower neighborhoods, and promote economic opportunity through diversity and inclusion.

Raymond Smeriglio, Director of Communications | City of Philadelphia, Office of Rebuild hands off the ribbon cutting scissors to a co worker who will secure them for the next fabulous Rebuild ribbon cutting for Parks & Rec!! Thanks Philly for your support. I’ll continue to buy my 20oz diet Coke for $2.25, I know I should just by the 64oz bottle for only $2.99 but it doesn’t fit in my car cup holder or maybe drink more water as my dietician tells me.

Hello Friday. WOW the summer is unofficially half over since it’s the end of July. I’ve spent a great amount of time down the shore in June and July. Thanks to my family, and friend AJ for giving me a place to rest my head and really enjoy the sun, sand and water this Cancer/Leo craves. (BTW Please Remember to Subscribe to PhillyChitChat again, box is on the top left, as the old feedburner subscription is going to end soon. When you enter your email address if it’s a duplicative, they will tell you. Meaning you dont use the Feedburner one.)

I had a great birthday week, spent with friends and family, dined at favorite spots D’Angelo’s on 20th Street where owner Sal D’Angelo broke out his guitar and sang Happy Birthday. Then the following day Thanuja hosted had a birthday lunch with her parents, AJ and I at Aldo Lamberti in Cherry Hill,

before we all met up the next day at AJ’s house in Ventnor for a fun weekend which included dancing all night long at Memories of Margate with Joe Tordella, Miguel Martinez-Valle and Raymond Smeriglio.

Monday night we celebrated Geno Vento’s 50th Birthday at Joe Italiano’s Maplewood Hammonton. I had never heard of it, but everyone I mentioned it to raved about it, and it was delicious. I had seafood, which was delicious, but I wish I had the Chicken Parm which Mike had. What was I thinking at the best Italian place in South Jersey?

Tuesday I headed back down the shore to spend time with my mom and family. We went to the Harriet Tubman Museum, which is owned by the same owners of the Chalfonte Hotel where my family stayed, and my nephew works.

I had no idea that Cape May was part of the Underground Railway. Last summer I learned about Lancaster Pa being part of the Underground Railway as well. I am glad these stories are coming to light, as I was never taught this in school.

Last night I went to to Urban Village Brewing Company at the Piazza. It seems the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Association (PHRA) has joined forces with Philadelphia-based Urban Village Brewing Company to create a limited-edition PA Preferred® CHOMPING AT THE BIT IPA.

As part of the partnership, every six-pack of CHOMPING AT THE BIT IPA sold will support efforts to ethically ensure the proper care, rehoming, and training of retired horses at Turning for Home, a non-profit adoption program .

Then I headed to the 2300 Arena for the Tony Luke, Jr. album release party for his debut album “Strong In Broken Places” dedicated to his son. I will be doing a separate post on this event next week. Really proud of my long time friend who hasn’t had it easy. This album is dedicated to his son, Tony III who died of a heroin overdose 4 years ago. It was a chock full of fun this week.

I didn’t make it to my friend Vasiliki Tsiouris’ Big Beautiful Greek Wedding in Greece to her beau Vasilios Balis, but she was kind enough to send this joyous photo to me, and I was so happy so many of my friends made it to the wedding. Congratulations to a beautiful couple, love to you both forevermore…. have a great weekend friends.

Last month Bucks County native Nick Liberato, star of Paramount Network’s Bar Rescue and, most recently, Netflix’s Restaurants on the Edge opened a restaurant with 618 Hospitality Group business partners, Michael Dalewitz (The Mindful Mentor), and Steve Lau (owner of Stockton Market where the deli is located) just across from New Hope, Pa, in the equally adorable Stockton, NJ.

I photographed the opening where friends, family and business associates in the community including nearby Greater Lambertville Chamber of Commerce, were on hand to celebrate the big day. Nick Liberato in his signature bowler hat, and Mike Dalewitz in blue cap cut the ribbon to The Borscht Belt at the Stockton Market June 18.

“Nick has the ability to not only raise the standard and get the quality high on the classics, but to create a whole new element into this genre of food,” Dalewitz said. “It hasn’t been done before, and it’s exciting what you can do when it’s really a top-tier chef coming in and focusing on this the same way you would focus on lamb chops.”

What’s on your agenda tomorrow? How about a book signing with Award-Winning Novelist, Elyssa Friendland, showcases her new novel about the Catskills resorts at The Borscht Belt Delicatessen? Head to the Bucks County Herald for more in depth article on the new deli. Ticket Info Here If you can’t make that, definitely add the https://theborschtbelt.com/ to your summer day trip…. ChitChat with you tomorrow.