What Happens When Notable Philly Create Holiday Ornaments

Saturday night PGN publisher Mark Segal and partner Jason Villemez hosted their annual holiday party. For the first time in 14 years they had a Christmas Tree. They asked their guests to forgo host gifts and instead create an ornament for the tree.

 Judging the ornaments were real judges,  Judge Maria McLaughlin, PA. Supreme Court candidate Justice Kevin Dougherty, here with Jonathan Saidel and Mark Segal

and State Senator Sharif Street

The Philadelphia Gay Mens Choir was on hand to entertain

Mrs. Villemez , Mark Segal, Jarod Williams and David Wagaman

Congrats to David Wagaman who with his help brought together the talented students at the Phila. Performing Arts, a String Theory School who created banners depicting different Philly neighborhoods in the holiday spirit. Go check them out in front of his cafe on the Parkway, in front of Capriccio at Cret Park (16th and Vine) (source)

I missed that part about “create”, I bought an ornament. Major fail on my part, but it was the cutest Eastern State Penitentiary ornament.

The cutest outhouse with a Menorah on the door and rainbow toilet paper, over the crapper is a picture of infamous State rep. Darly Metcalf. Well done Rick Lombardo

Chris Bartlett, Executive Director William Way LGBT Community Center:

It’s titled “Sugar Tacks.” Get it says Bartlett? Created with one red delicious apple, Wawa sugar packets, a package of Rite Aid tacks, one screw, and a blue string. As you can tell, I was a crafty kind of child.

Not surprising Micah Mahjoubian, Policy Director for Senator Sharif Street created political ornaments

Judge Dan Anders hung Elton John, in an ode to the time Mark & others brought

David Wagaman’s ornament using a photo I posted on FB. It is the sincerest form of flattery. Who knew you could go to AC Moore
and get materials to use in your own ornament. That’s where I’ll go next year.

I love this one of Mark Segal’s autobiography by Michael Newmuis

Larry Felzer, Klayton Fennell

I’m going to guess this was Jim Werner from Visit Philly

Ernest Owens, editor of GPhilly with Amber Hikes, Amber Hikes, executive director of the Office of LGBT Affairs

Also spotted Councilman Mark Squilla, Nurit Shein, former CEO of the community-health Mazzoni Center, David and Rhonda Cohen, Frannie Price, Judith Kaplow Applebaum, Stephen Alan Glassman, Larry Felzer, Klayton Fennell, Kevin Lessard, Harvey and Julie Welker,

Jeff Guaracino, executive director Welcome America has a big ball

and a lot of them are on the City’s Christmas Tree.
Jeff and his team are responsible for this year’s magnificent Christmas Tree at City Hall,

Judge Dan Anders and attorney Ted Simon. Just in the news is a story Simon’s client Amanda Knox who has launched “The Scarlet Letter Reports” on the Vice Channel. The Philly Voice reports that Philly native Amber Rose will be among the first guests .

Award winning Philly Gay News photographer Scott A Drake and Micheal Ward

Former Gov Ed Rendell stopped by to sing Christmas carols.

Kicking off the night with what he told the crowd was not his former mother in law’s favorite:
Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer

Jason Villemez and friends

Legendary Suzi Nash, who has been doing people in Philly interviews in the PGN for years.

Michael Sheridan, ‎Professor – ‎Temple University School of Tourism & Hospitality Management (and serious marathon runner) and Jim Werner, (and serious marathon runner supporter & encouragement sign maker) Vice President, Hotel Relations and Tourism Development at Visit Philly, and former councilman Frank DiCicco

Malcolm Kenyatta, who last Thursday announced a run for office. The openly gay community leader and former Democratic National Convention delegate Malcolm Kenyatta announced his bid for state representative in the 181st District with political operative Micah Mahjoubian

Delicious buffet as usual by Christine Fisher.