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.

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.

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.

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”

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. 

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.

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

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 

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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)

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)