Katy Perry Rehearses, Miller Lite Free Rides, DGX Philly to sell Beer

September 14, 2017 by HughE Dillon

Hope you’re doing well. It’s another edition of Philly Chit Chatter… Free Rides to the Eagles Home Opener

Miller Lite Free Rides is back in Philadelphia for the fifth season to help Eagles fans travel to and from the home opener safely. The Original Light Beer along with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) and Mueller Inc. are teaming up to provide fans with a safe and free way to enjoy the game responsibly. Miller Lite Free Rides will available on the Broad Street Subway Line on Sunday, September 24 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fans traveling to the Eagles home opener against the Giants can access Free Rides on Sunday, September 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. To accommodate fans headed to the game, SEPTA will supplement regularly scheduled local train service with 10 extra “Sports Express” trips. More information about SEPTA Sports Express Service is available online at www.septa.org/events/sports.html.

Katy
Katy Perry toured the Lancaster area on Sunday stopping at a few places including The Amish Farm and House and dined at Olive Garden (remember that time Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez had dinner at the Olive Garden on Chestnut St.) She was in the area for rehearsals at Rock Lititz ahead of her upcoming “Witness” tour. The same day Lady Gaga who performed at the Wells Fargo Center this weekend, gave a shout out to Lancaster, her old stomping ground she told the crowd.
A reference to her ex-boyfriend Taylor Kinney ‘s boyhood town. Kinney has been quietly dating a 27-year-old girl from South Philadelphia, Alanna DiGiovanni, who still works at Jefferson Hospital a friend recently told me.
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Itchiro Suzuki of the Miami Marlins came in to Davio’s Philadelphia for dinner last night. He had San Danielle Prosciutto, Lobster Bisque, Caesar salad And Lobster Risotto Thank you for the consideration!

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Fights DGX Philly 1001 North 2nd Street opened last month. Last week I stopped by to check the subsidiary of Dollar Store General to see what they had to offer. It was nice, clean, bright with similar buys as Walgreen’s, but soon they’ll be selling Wine & Beer. Rumor has it they’re having their “grand opening” this weekend. Stop by and check it out yourself

Fights

and pick up some of these delicious Zebra cakes.
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NBC10 has added a couple of Philadelphia natives to its news and First Alert Weather teams.

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I’m happy to announce I’ve joined the CBS 3 Philly family and will be chatting all things Philly celebrity doings, Philly pop culture, events and most importantly fun people. Listen to me every Friday on @981wogl (I started last month) and watch for me on Ch 3 in the near future. CBS3Philly will also be carrying my event photos, which many of you who follow me on Social Media knew I was looking for another outlet for a long time. Now with Philly Mag, Philly Style, Metro Philly, Philly Biz Journal and Liberty City Press (Al Dia, The Sun, China Star & PGN) the Philly Chit Chat brand is complete. Thank YOU Very much for your support of me. Thanks to Fox 29 for giving me a home for the past 6 years.

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I noticed Burlington Coat Factory has moved down the street to 9th and Market, next to Century 21. Opening date is September 22. Mina Say What will be on hand to great you.

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Mina Say What will also be hosting the Philly Puerto Rican Parade for the 3rd year next Sunday the 24th on the parkway! Check out the video above from last year, and head on down next week to say hi to her.

Fights

Philadelphia’s most star-studded event returns for Round 3 on Saturday, October 28, 2017, and will be held for the first time ever at Philadelphia’s iconic Navy Yard. This year’s Mistress of Ceremonies will be the legendary “EGOT” (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony) winner Whoopi Goldberg. The evening will feature Grammy, Oscar and Golden Globe winner, headliner John Legend and a performance from America’s Got Talent star and cancer survivor, Caly Bevier. The night doesn’t end there. The Philly Fights Cancer After-Party will be headlined by the iconic,
8-time Grammy and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award-winning group, Earth, Wind & Fire.

Philly Fights Cancer: Round 3 invitations will be delivered soon and sponsorships are limited. Get involved now, see here for information about becoming a sponsor or contact soberroa@upenn.edu

Philadelphia

Scoop on Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom Dine, Nicki Minaj, Will Smith, Stevie Wonder, Debra Messing in Philly

November 6, 2016 by HughE Dillon

Philly Gossip on PhillyChitChat Every Sunday and Thursday – Scoop on Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom Dine, Nicki Minaj, Will Smith, Stevie Wonder, Debra Messing in Philly

Good Sunday morning. So sad it’s almost over but let’s celebrate and get out today and enjoy this last weekend of super beautiful fall blooms.

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I’m headed to Lancaster and areas north and west to see what I can capture today. This is General Meade, he’s located behind the Please Touch Museum. So many Clinton celebrity events I had to miss this election cycle as I was booked to shoot client parties or working the following day getting these photos into the media, and sending the unused ones back to clients. Let’s see what I did get, and what I pulled off of social media. It’s another edition of Philly Gossip PCC. (Sundays and Thursdays right here.)

Katy

Friday night Stevie Wonder performed for a Hillary Clinton GOTV at Coda Philly, hey all my friends are in this photo. As I predicted he sang everyone’s favorite song “Isn’t She Lovely”, I guess that wasn’t a surprise. Me I went to the circus, see photos Monday in the Metro.
When I passed by at 6PM, the line was nearly a block long. I spoke to those in the front and they had gotten there at 130PM for their hopefully front row position.
Katy
I got back from the UniverSoul Circus in Fairmount Park (it was great) in time for the GOTV Gayborhood Bar Crawl with politicians and celebs on Friday night.
Mover, shaker, millennial standout and Liberty City Democrat Board Member Malcolm Kenyatta, Gene Barbera (FOR ie Friend of Rendell) and Debra Messing

Debra Messing on Friday night. Originally it was reported that Cyndi Lauper was to join
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Former Gov. Ed Rendell, Katie McGinty’s brother John McGinty (Katie was in Pittsburgh), Rep Brian Sims, and Debra Messing on a GOTV Gayborhood Bar Crawl Friday night, but my sources tell me that Cyndi never confirmed. In honor of Cyndi, Debra Messing belted out “True Colors” at Tavern on Camac, Philly’s oldest singing piano bar. She was joined in by the hundreds of Hillary fans who jammed the downstairs bar. I originally couldn’t get in the front door, so I ran downstairs through the restaurant and up the back-staircase to get this shot.

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The shirt Messing was wearing was cray cray, but people on my social media loved it. I didn’t know how I would watermark my shot, as I thought it might go viral, so I wrote Hughe between the phones. It worked cause people searched on my name all weekend. If you google HughE my stuff comes up first.

Katy

As I said earlier so many Clinton celebrity events I had to miss this election cycle as I was booked to shoot client parties. My mortgage appreciates it, plus honestly life goes on and charities
need love too. Last night so many amazing charity galas were held. I covered The Harvest Ball, whose decor was spectacular as you’ll see this week in my photos. Then I headed to the Devereux Hope Gala at Vie, OMG the turnout this year was huge. It was Havana nights and everything was so Cuban cute, including the cigar maker. Across town it was the Union League’s Fall Ball, which press is never allowed to photograph so don’t expect to see those photos. A few blocks away was the CCTC Roundup, which is always a fun time, especially as folks frolic in the hay. Anywho…. after the Katy Perry concert at the Mann with Hillary Clinton, Shonda Rhimes (r) Debra Messing, Cory Booker, Madeline Albright, Katy McGinty, Dwight Evans, Bob Brady and did I mention Shonda Rhimes, Katy and friends headed for dinner.

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With Philly’s own M Night Shyamalan seen here getting into his car with his wife Bhavna Vaswani . This is the end of the night as they left through the front doors of the newly adorned 4 Bells by Inquirer’s Craig LaBan – Vedge, (1221 Locust Street) whereas

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Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom left through the backdoor. This was a tough shot as there were 6 fans waiting when I arrived about midnight
to wait for their departure, and they were pressed up against the window, but LOVE THAT KATY PERRY AMERICAN FLAG purse
I’m always impressed how the fans find out
these things, seems someone saw them go in and put it on Social Media.

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It was sad as well to hear them plead with Katy for a moment of her time. It’s always hard because as a fan you think you’re idol is going to stop for a moment or at least wave, but for the celebrity they’re off the clock after a certain hour. Plus if there’s more than 4 fans, it’s really hard to do so. One of the fans ran a Katy Perry blog site. So she really was in the know.

Katy

I ran into future President Cory Booker. I love him, so charismatic. I wonder if he’ll get married before his run in 2024. When I used to cover celebrities in NYC, he was dating Gayle King, Oprah’s BFF

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Still together after all these years, Nikki Minaj and Meek Mill sitting courtside at the Sixers last night. How about the kid behind them with the “side eye” or the gal trying to snap a photo, so fun. Who’s that guy next to Meek, he looks familiar?

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Will Smith was at his home in Philly this past week, The Ritz, where he ran into Tony Piazza

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Finally congrats to Katie Cavuto (Food Network star, Phillies nutritionist and runs HealthyEats.com) and Ashli Mizell, award winning interior designer on their wedding this past weekend. So adorable. Go out and enjoy today, Go Eagles and Vote for Hillary please, so we don’t have to have our marriages invalidated. I don’t care if Trump held up a Rainbow Flag, he wants the my marriage to be decided by the states, not Federally. I want to keep my marriage safe.

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On A Sad Note, Marilyn Russell departs Ben FM

The Fox29 ladies, from left: Jenny Joyce, Alex Holley with Marilyn Russell, BenFM who was laid off from Ben FM last week. She sent all her friends and partners in business this note Sunday. Here they are at Marilyn Russell’s branded “Women of the Week” luncheon.

If you haven’t heard I was also affected by the recent radio sale of Ben FM. After 12-years of hard work, absolute dedication and helping to build a respected brand here in Philadelphia, I was unceremoniously told my services would no longer be needed…without getting into too much detail (it’s grueling) I’ll simply ask you you please continue to be my friend, support my projects as I’ve done with you and/or for you for so many years. For me business is personal. I’m blessed to have great client relations and many clients are asking me to continue as their brand ambassador which makes me feel that it wasn’t all for naught. There are many broadcast platforms and I’m taking time to find the right one by which to continue connecting with the great community of people within my home town of Philadelphia. I’m down but not out. Please don’t forget about me

~ Marilyn

Marilyn Russell Fired from Ben FM

Where is Marilyn Russell

Marilyn Russell laid off from Ben FM after 12 years

What Happened to Marilyn Russell of Ben FM

Philadelphia

I was there when Katy Perry Climb The Rocky Steps, plus pixs from her concert & her look a like Fans & Her Dad

August 6, 2014 by HughE Dillon

Katy Perry performed two sold out shows at the Wells Fargo Center This Week.(Katy Perry Runs Up The Rocky Steps photos are at the bottom of the page.)

Thanks to Bentley Holdings for inviting me to hang with them Monday night in their box and catch the concert. Gregory Heinz, Daria Cuda, Morgan DeNicola, Cosmo DeNicola (co-owner of the Soul Football Team), Natalie Scarantino, Maura McGlone and Lauren Richardson

Before the show I captured a few of the Katy Perry fans. They were very excited to see her.

I ran into Katy Perry’s dad Keith Hudson who was more than happy to pose with fans.

A nice crowd was on hand for the concert.

There were lots of fun songs and costume changes

an ode to Grace Jones

At one point during the concert Katie stopped to take a selfie with a fan.

I happen to know that guy, his name is Temple University student Ian Raymond. He’s a uber fan of everyone current and always seems gets to meet his favorites. This has to be one of those most memorable times.

Katy Perry enjoys a Ralph & Rickey pizza with a fan.

Another fan interaction came when Katy Perry pulled up a local high school girl Madison for the Birthday Song. Madison’s bday is August 20.

One of my favorite moments of the concert came when Katy Perry flew around the arena, she came very close to all sections and the song Happy Bithday ended like this..

Spectacular!!

Monday night Katy told the fans she’d be going to a few museums during her stay

Tuesday she was more specific, saying on stage that she’d be going to the Philadelphia Art Museum to run up the Rocky Steps at midnight. She showed up (with a police escort) and so did about 200 fans.

as the night wore on more and more people showed up

Katy did her best to pose and chat with as many fans as possible during this crazy melee.The police did an amazing job with the crowd control. No matter how much the fans chanted run the steps, it wasn’t going to happen, there were way too many people.

Before I got there I heard Katy Perry had already run up the Rocky Steps and on her way down encountered the fans.

but at some point it became overwhelming and the police started to lead her back to her car

I call this photo, Katy Perry realizes she’s being led to the wrong car, eventually they got it right and got her to her black Sterling Limousine rented SUV (it says that on the back of the car)