Sofitel’s Drag Queen Tea Attic Fundraiser Plus A Month of Pride Events

June 13, 2019 by HughE Dillon Leave a comment

Sofitel Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square, part of AccorHotels, will celebrate June as Gay Pride Month with a series of new events and initiatives, including turning the hotel lobby into the Pride Month “LGBTQ Hall of Flags.” For the first time ever, Sofitel will fly a giant Philadelphia Pride Flag on the outside of the hotel. Inside, look for the flag to be joined by six individual LGBTQ flags flying high above the lobby to celebrate the diversity of the hotel’s community.

**Sofitel Philadelphia** kicks off Pride Month during Philadelphia’s Gay Pride Weekend. On Saturday, June 8th, and again on Saturday, June 15th, look for a new spin on a time-honored tradition.

Sofitel, famous for its classic afternoon tea service, will debut a new Drag Tea featuring Brittany Lynn’s Drag Mafia. Sip tea (or spill it) in the presence of fabulous Drag Queens as you enjoy delicious offerings from Sofitel’s award-winning culinary team. Drag Tea starts each week at 2:00pm and runs through 4:00pm inside Chez Colette Brasserie. Last weeks event was a sold out spectacular, hilarious time. You’ll want to go this weekend.

Tickets are $40 per person – and add $10 for bottomless Champagne, Mimosas or Bloody Marys. Five dollars from each purchase will be donated to the Attic Center for LGBTQ Youth. Tickets are available at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/drag-queen-afternoon-tea-tickets-62597245045

On Friday, June 21, 2019, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, head outside for Sofitel Philadelphia’s annual Fête de La Musique celebration featuring a mini-block party under the porte with music, entertainment, drag performances, complimentary lite bites and cocktail samples. The Fête de la Musique began in Paris in 1982, and was founded by the popular French cultural minister Jack Lang. The festival originated in a humble burst of musical idealism and a few power connections, and yet, in only two decades has become a wildly popular global event. (Info from press release)

Anthony Geistwite is Director of Sales & Marketing at Sofitel Philadelphia Hotel

Sofitel will conclude Pride Month in Philadelphia with the opening art reception for French Kiss by Janice Telstar on Thursday, June 27th, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. The Reading, PA artist will debut her photographs in the lobby for a summer exhibition. Guests will enjoy complimentary bites and cocktail samples from Sofitel’s new summer menu.

Attic Youth Donations: During the entire month of June, and through the rest of 2019, Sofitel Philadelphia will donate one dollar per each banquet menu item designated with the Attic’s logo on the menu. Sofitel Philadelphia will also donate one dollar from every Liberté cocktail sold in the Liberté Lounge to Attic during Pride Month. All funds will support programs for local LGBTQ youth. The Liberté Cocktail is available in Liberté Lounge and features pear infused Vodka, lemon, St. Germain and Sparkling Wine.

Philadelphia

Inside 1925 Cocktail Lounge – Dr. Keith Leaphart’s 40th Birthday Party Celebration

March 4, 2015 by HughE Dillon 1 Comment

Last Saturday night Dr. Keith Leaphart’s friends threw a party for the philanthropic business owner at the swanky new 1925 Cocktail Lounge.

Saturday night it was all about Dr. Keith Leaphart here with his lovely wife Lisa.

And so many friends.

Lisa and Aaron McKie

These ladies loved the back of their outfits as much as the front

They also served dinner from Davio’s

DJ Aktive

Philadelphia

Kacie McDonnell , Marisa Magnatta, Laura Burkhardt, Brian Sims and Maria Papadakis: Cheer for Prohibition

February 28, 2013 by HughE Dillon

In the “spirit” of the National Constitution Center’s world-premiere exhibition,
American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition, Philadelphia’s top
bartenders will compete to create the “Best ’20s-inspired cocktail” using Blue Coat Gin,
hand crafted by Philadelphia Distilling, as their primary ingredient.

Their creations were judged by popular Philadelphia personalities including
Laura Burkhardt, WHERE Magazine Publisher; Marisa Magnatta, Associate Producer of WMMR’s Preston and Steve Morning Show;
Brian Sims, Pennsylvania State Representative. Maria Papadakis, Emmy award-winning media personality
and host of “Out and About” on Philly.com; and FOX 29 traffic reporter
Kacie McDonnell serves as emcee.

Maria Farricielli, Fox 29’s Business Development Account Manager. and Margaret Cronan, Chief Communications Officer at National Constitution Center.
About American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition – Now
through April 28, 2013, the era of flappers and suffragists,
bootleggers and temperance lobbyists, and real-life legends like Al
Capone and Carry Nation vividly
come to life in the National Constitution Center’s world-premiere exhibition
American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition. (I saw it, it was fascinating.)

Mixologist Nate Churchill, XIX restaurant and bar, tells me he created his prohibition drink in about a minute.

He’s a big fan of Bluecoat and knew which ingredients would work well with the gin, lemon juice, fresh OJ, dashes bitters, and honey. He then poured it in a mason jar, as this was the prohibition era and that was what people might drink cocktails in back them.

Then there was Stephen Diaz’s “The Red Fizz Charleston”, made with 2oz Bluecoat, 1oz Germain, his own reciepe of fresh raspberry syrup topped off with a dry Brut champagnes and a twist of lemon and fresh raspberries on a skewer.

A recent addition to Palomar Hotel’s Square 1682, Chaucey Scates’ created the popular “Powder Room Punch” with gin, cointreau, jasmine tea, lemon grenadine, peychaunds bitters and angostura bitters.

Finally house bartender, Bess Gulliver created “The Jazz Baby”, gin, Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth with Pierre Reeand and Dry Orange Curacao, Averna Amaro garnished with a flamed orange peel.

South Philly Fashionista blogger Michelle Boyles, Julie Shannon, Editorial Events Coordinator for Metro US, Delsea football beat writer, foodie, fitness guru and Philly sports and Anna Aagenes, Greater Philadelphia Area – District Office Director, Office of Representative Brian Sims

Lisa Bass, Bourse Building (Who tells me she loves the Blue Coat as it’s not real ginny) and Lisa Breen

It was good to catch up with Karen Gross, a former Where Magazine editor that works at the Constitution Center, but is also pursuing a cabaret singing career divides her time between Philly and Manhattan in pursuit of that goal, with Laura Burkhart, Where Magazine publisher.

Rudy Fleisher, Here’s My Chance (PS I didn’t notice his flawless finger nails til late, I would have asked him if he were a typist?)

Michelle Boyles and Brett Copol both of Metro Philly Newspaper

Alison Young, Vice President of External Affairs at the National Constitution Center and Brian Sims, Pennsylvania State Representative.

Laurel Fairworth, President at Cachet Communications and Kathy Zapp, Of Montgomery Media

Kacie McDonnell, Fox 29 Traffic and Maria Papadakis, Philly.com plus has become a regular contributor to Fox 29 Good Day Philly. Prizes were awarded in two categories—Judge Favorite and Guest Favorite.

The Guest Favorite will win an annual membership to the National Constitution
Center. And the winner is The Ritz Carlton Fizz!!

Happy February Birthday to Matt Vlahos, Vlahos PR (2/28), Sarah Cooper Bobersky (2/8) and Big Rube Harley (2/23)

Adam Judeh, GM XIX restaurant, winning bartender Nate Churchill thanking the organizers, Maria Papadakis, Marisa Magnatt and Brian Sims. Adam Judeh tells me that Orange Blossom will now be served at the XIX bar. (The Judge’s Favorite will receive
an annual membership to the National Constitution Center; a one night’s stay at the Hotel Monaco; a
With Love gift bag, courtesy of VisitPhilly.com and the Greater
Philadelphia Marketing and Tourism Corporation; and a feature on the
National Constitution Center’s website.)

Sunset from the Stratus Lounge. Can’t wait until summer, this place is going to be kickin it

Then Laura and I headed to Red Owl Tavern for a bite to eat. OMG the Chicken Pot Pie keeps getting better and better. I highly recommend it, as I do the