This & That: Bradley Cooper & Ben Simmons at the Jersey Shore; Adam Sandler; Sarah Megan Thomas, Movies in Philly

September 8, 2020 by HughE Dillon Leave a comment

It was a lovely, strange summer, which actually might be endless for sometime for some of us. Our weekend in Lancaster was fantastic and I’ll write more about it on later this week.

Bradley Cooper was spotted several times this past summer at the Jersey Shore in Ocean City, and again in Longport and Margate this past weekend. Friday night he was at Catch in Longport, and Saturday at Steve & Cookies in Margate. Friends tell me his mother has a summer place in Brigantine and he is often spotted there as well. For most of the summer Cooper was renting a home in Fairfield Connecticut where he and his pal, another perpetual bachelor Leonardo Dicaprio were spotted sailing one afternoon. TODAY Cooper was spotted handing off his daughter to his baby mama and ex girlfriend Irina Shayk. Ben Simmons was spotted at the Longport beach, without on again, off again girlfriend Kendall Jenner. Seems she’s moved on SOURCE.

Congratulations to food journalist Alexandra Jones on the publication of her first book ” Stuff Every Cheese Lover Should Know.”

Congrats *Ary Modesto* and **Robert Santorsa** on their engagement. Robert popped the question on September 1 while dining at their favorite restaurant Tequila’s in Rittenhouse Square. The duo has been dating for several years, and I was blessed to watch their love grow over the years. In 2017, they were chosen as one of the Best Dressed at The Academy Ball not only because of their fantastic threads but for the love in their eyes for each other. So happy for them. Super nice couple.

Congrats **Alexandria Hoff** and her husband **Nathan Calvert** who are expecting their first child in December.

Congrats to **Vinnie G Radio** who starts working as the host of the red eye shift at Midnight on PopRadio77. Travel back in time, relive memories. Tune to PopRadio 77 for the most “pop”ular music from decades past. Work hard, and be flexible and your dreams will come true. Happy for you buddy!!

**Heery-Loftus Casting** is looking for a few good people for the Adam Sandler/LeBron James Netflik’s flik filming in our area next week. Head on over to their FB page for specifics on what they’re looking for as well as the COVID19 precautions they’ve put in place to keep everyone safe.

Congratulations to Dr. Thanuja Hamilton, MD who was chosen by her peers as a top doc in South Jersey. I’m not surprised, Thanuja is not only a top doc, but an awesome friend to many.

Award-winning actress, producer, and writer Sarah Megan Thomas is about to debut her new film October 3, “A Call To Spy.” It’ll be the third film shot partially in Philly by the Havertown native. Her other films were Backwards (I was an extra) and Equity (I spent a day on the set).
SYNOPSIS: In the beginning of WWII, with Britain becoming desperate, Churchill orders his new spy agency – “SOE” – to recruit and train women as spies. Their daunting mission: conduct sabotage and build a resistance. SOE’s “Spymistress,” Vera Atkins (Stana Katic) recruits two unusual candidates: Virginia Hall (Sarah Megan Thomas), an ambitious American with a wooden leg, and Noor Inayat Khan (played by Radhika Apte), a Muslim pacifist. Together, these women help to undermine the Nazi regime in France, leaving an unmistakable legac in their wake. Inspired by true stories, this original screenplay draws on SOE, OSS (pre-cursor to CIA), and CIA files, as well as interviews with living relatives.

**Sarah Megan Thomas** and **Alysia Reiner** took a break from filming their new movie “Equity,” which is about women on Wall Street, to stop by the Best of Philly party 2015.

Producing a WWII drama on a low-budget was daunting, and it took me four years, states Sarah Megan Thomas. We shot “London,” “Scotland,” and parts of “France” in the greater Philadelphia area — where I grew up and where I have shot all my films (fun trivia: for the “stately home” where these spies historically trained, we shot inside the home of the family that inspired “The Philadelphia Story” – Ardrossan). For the richness and texture of 1940’s France, we shot for a shorter time in Budapest. To read more about the upcoming film head to the IndieWire story.

Thanks for stopping by today, see you on Social. My best HughE

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This & That Sunday: 2020 Doesn’t Seem So Bad After All

August 16, 2020 by HughE Dillon Leave a comment

Hope your weekend is going well. We had a delicious dinner at our friends Jaimi and Ron Blackburn last night. They are gracious hosts, and we always laugh and laugh. Mike is always so excited to be reunited with Chloe too, and when we leave to always chitchat about when it’s right to get a dog. I could use one every day during the pandemic. They’re so calming. I wonder if the PSCPA or PAWS have cute little Maltese dogs. I’ll look into it. Let’s chitchat about why 2020 isn’t so bad for everyone in today’s This & That….

Congratulations Lauren and John Oakes on the birth of their baby boy Asher. There’s still time to get a present on the baby registry as there are only 4 times left. I love these balloon bouquets from Slay Displays.

On The Move: Algorithm Restaurants announced:
We are very, very pleased to announce our opening Chef De Cuisine, Chef Matt Delatour! Matt Delatour, who was born in Seoul, South Korea, then adopted and raised in New Jersey, started his cooking career at the age of 16. Since then, he has worked at a multitude of restaurants around Philadelphia, most notably as the Head Chef at Southgate, a Korean American gastropub. Most recently, Matt was the Executive Sous Chef at Rouge in Rittenhouse Square, and prior to that the Executive Sous Chef at The Common in University City. Algorithm is excited to launch their rolling kitchens custom food truck featuring plant based dishes tentatively scheduled for Monday, August 31st, 2020 in University City. You can attend one of their friends & family tastings being held in Norristown and Philly 8/29 or 8/30. INFO HERE>

Cheers: Congratulations to Bartender Barry ie Philly’s Barry Johnson for winning the Judge’s Choice vote for the East Region in the Power of the Palate Cocktail Competition presented by Black Restaurant Week. Barry will advance to represent Philadelphia in the Elite 8 with the Herb N’ Flow challenge. He advances in the Black Restaurant Week’s National Bracket Competition where on 9/14 he will compete against the winner from NYC, before advancing to the next level. I have that much confidence in his skills.

Check out this Q&A with Barry Johnson on Snack PR’s Blog

Congrats to my **Anzio Williams, Sr.,** vice president of news for NBC10 and Telemundo62, who was promoted by NBCUniversal and will now be senior vice president of diversity, equality and inclusion for NBCU-owned television stations VP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for NBCUniversal Stations. Anzio just graduated from Temple grad school as well. I’ll miss seeing and chatting with **Anzio**. He’s an inspiration, and is one of the good guys. So happy for him.

Congrats **Allison Papson** and Brian Thornburg on their wedding last week. Allison used to an Assignment Editor at Fox29, and now is Senior Assignment Editor at Fox 5 DC. Several of her friends from her years in Philly served as bridesmaids in her wedding including Jennifer Sherlock, Julie Lesicki and *Kristen Johanson*. **Erin Como**, who worked at NBC10 Philly around the same time, and now is the morning anchor for Good Day Fox 5 DC on the weekends was also in attendance. Allison and Brian had their wedding shower in Philly in January, which I attended.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CD7T8LnjcgGgML8Qiz3T9EHtbTjJNzVLLKj6K40/

Back in January we all attended Hair of the Dog 2020. 2020 doesn’t seem so bad after all. Chit Chat with you on Tuesday….

Philadelphia

Little Pete’s Last Day, NBC News’ Kristin Welker Weds, Christie to Be A Mom, PLUS More Tidbits

March 5, 2017 by HughE Dillon 1 Comment

Welcome to PhillyChitChat’s weekly Philly Gossip Column. Sunday’s and Thursday’s we’re going to get you in the know.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr chilly this weekend, but you know that. Today I hope to see some of you at The Brewer’s Plate at the Kimmel Center and/or Variety Club’s Let Them Eat Cake at the Loews. Yes I know you’re saying but isn’t Let Them Eat Cake a City of Hope event. Well Harry Giordano, jumped from COH to Variety, and took the event he created with him. Kind of surprising that could be done as I know another recent personality tried to do that and it didn’t fly.

Welker

Paul Steinke, ‎Executive Director – ‎Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, posted on his FB page that the last day for Little Pete’s on 17th Street is Monday May 29 – Memorial Day. What a way to start off the summer, boo hoo. Plans call for the beloved diner to be replaced by a Hyatt Centric hotel.

I spoke with Little Pete that evening at his second location, which is at 2401 Fairmount (ie 2401 Pennsylvania Ave – The Philadelphian, where I live). He tells me it’s true, he’s planning a big block party to thank customers for their support over the years. I asked him about new locations, and he said he’s given up on Center City and it’s high priced rent. You’ll recall I mentioned a bit back that he looked at the Cosi at 15th and Locust, and the rent was over $20ks a month. Pete tells me they’re going to take time off, he and his brother, John Koutroubas, who runs 17th Street are looking forward to running the Fairmount Little Pete’s, and taking long vacations. When they’re ready they’re looking in Northern Liberties, or the Fishtown area Pete told me with excitement. That area is really hot and happening.

Welker

Speaking of Fairmount, my former neighbor Kristen Welker, NBC White House Correspondent was in town over the weekend to marry her long time love John Hughes. Welker is the daughter of Harvey and Julie Welker, who still reside in Fairmount. The wedding took place at the Hyatt at the Bellevue. The ceremony was in the Rose Ballroom; afterwards guests headed downstairs to the Grand Ballroom.

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Spotted in the crowd was Kelly O’Donnell, political reporter for NBC News – who spoke at the ceremony; Chuck Todd, who headed back to Washington DC to host this morning’s “Meet The Press”, Andrea Mitchell, and her husband Alan Greenspan, David Cohen, Senior Executive Vice President of Comcast, as well as NBC10 Philadelphia alumni Justin Pizzi now with Saxbys, and Aditi Roy, now with CNBC.
Presiding over the wedding was Rev Kevin Johnson, Dare to Imagine Church.
The couples first song was by Etta James “At Last” Welker

Congrats to Chad Boonswang and Jess Stockham on their nuptials which took place last night at the Union League. Many of their friends from far and wide
were in attendance including the original Rittenhouse Entourage celebrity reporter Arthur Kade, Tony Piazza (pic above), and Ron Hansen.

Welker
Congratulations to Christie and Brandon Mandia who are expecting heir first bouncing baby; little Mandia will be
making his debut Labor Day Weekend.
BTW Christie’s client, the delicious James restaurant, is starting a musically inclined Happy Hour in the month of March, so stayed tune for that
delivery as well.

Welker

Congrats to Hadas Kuznits and Dan Reinherz on baby number 3; 4 more months to go.

Welker

Congrats to Brian Stevenson, Business Representative for IBEW Local 98 and the lovely Kiley Jo Schroeder on their engagement which happened in Switzerland while they attended the ISZL Gala 2017

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Sponsor today Donors Are Heroes Party 4/7/17
Organ Donation Awareness Fundraiser

Welker

While I was in Anguilla my friend Ian Hincken popped the question to his longtime love Sarah Wright.
Nothing like a winter engagement wearing shorts, memorable, oh and that location too – Independence Hall as the backdrop.

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Jennifer Lee has accepted John Lee‘s proposal and is ecstatic she doesn’t have to go through the hassle of changing her name on ANYTHING.

Welker

That Untouchable movie is chugging along nicely. While I was away Nicole Kidman filmed her scenes in Bucks County, as I mentioned the week before;
Here she’s posing with a few officers from the Solebury Police Department.

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The Untouchable’s filmed in Mayfair to the delight of the neighbors.

Welker

Untouchable also filmed in the Badlands. Here’s tailor Daniel Morroni, Sr on the set with Kevin Hart’s stand in as well as Bryan Cranstons. I’m seeing a striking resemblance with Hart’s double, not so much with Cranston’s. Must be the height.

Welker

Dax Shepard handed out free cheesesteaks to some lucky fans! After tweeting out the location, the 42-year-old Parenthood actor participated in the event to celebrate the release of his latest film CHIPS on Friday (March 3) at Jim’s Steaks South St. in Philadelphia, Pa. He was joined by his co-star Michael Pena as they munched on chips, took selfies with fans, and maybe ate a few too many cheesesteaks! (Check out more of my pixs at Just Jared)

Welker

Speaking of Michael Peña
his next movie is The LEGO NINJAGO Movie which is produced by Affleck/Middleton Productions.
Shown here is John Powers Middleton, who also produced Manchester By The Sea starring his producing partner Casey Affleck, who won an Oscar.
What’s this have to do with Philly, John grew up in the Philly burbs, and his parents are the majority owners of the Philadelphia Phillies.

(PCC PhillyGossip Published every Sunday and Thursday at 10AM)