The South Street 89th Annual Easter Promenade

April 19, 2022 by HughE Dillon Leave a comment

An Easter tradition returned to South Philadelphia for the first time since the start of the pandemic Sunday April 17, 2022, drawing hundreds of people excited to enjoy the festivities. The South Street Headhouse District (SSHD) returned with its 89th Annual Easter Promenade! Hundreds dressed up in their Sunday best, took photos with the Mr. and Mrs. Cottontail and grabbed delicious bites at some of South Street’s iconic restaurants.

The Easter Promenade, known for the extravagant Easter costumes, was led by Henri David, the fantastical Master of Ceremonies, also known for his exuberance and particular skill in throwing the most magnificent parties. The promenade hosted contests for people of all ages who wanted to dress up for the occasion. All contestants received an Easter bag with delicious goodies thanks to Frankford Candy. Nearly 200 infants, children, families and pets entered the contest for categories such as Best Dressed Family, Best Dressed Pet, Best Bonnet, and Best South Street Razzle Dazzle.

The Promenade ended at the new Headhouse Plaza (2nd and Lombard Streets) for the contest judging. The contestants of the Easter Promenade’s best dressed contest were judged by South Street business owners and friends such as Shannon Maldonado, Owner of Yowie on S. 4th Street, a SSHD business, Monica Monique, Owner of Oxymoron Fashion House on S. 4th Street, a SSHD business, Mark Squilla, Councilman of City Council’s First District, P.A. House Representative Mary Isaacson, and Jillian Pirtle, a Vocalist, Actress, and TV Personality.

Best Dressed Girl (Ages 6-10) – **Lake Bryant-Pressley**

Best Easter Bonnet – Terry Gsell and Luis Martinez

Winners received gift cards to Ham + Bone, Head House Books, Moon + Arrow, NEWSBOY Hats, Philly AIDS Thrift, Queen & Rook, Scoop DeVille, Spread Bagelry / Cozette Pizza, & YOWIE. Check out more photos Metro Philly, Phila Tribune and PCC IG Reels (it’s become a thing) Have a great day!!

Philly To Do

Commonweal Art Gallery Opens In Philly

October 11, 2021 by HughE Dillon Leave a comment

In the past few months people have been yearning to go out , and we here at Philly Chit Chat have been very busy photographing many of the hot and happening events. Thanks to team photographer Andre Flewellen for capturing the opening of Commonweal Art Gallery earlier this month. Let’s see who made left their leggings at home and came to check out this new art gallery.

The arts scene in Philadelphia continues to grow with the opening of Commonweal which happened October 1st, 2021. The gallery features emerging and mid-career Philadelphia artists and designers from across the city’s creative communities. The artists for Commonweal’s inaugural program were chosen because their work focuses on social and cultural themes important to our city and its residents while remaining engaged with evolving national and global conversations. The works of featured designers form a capsule collection of objects exclusive to the gallery. The designers have engaged their material expertise to create an array of unique functional objects whose quality and thoughtfulness are intended to enrich their user’s daily experience through their use.

Photo on Right: Caitlin Clark, Alec Conner, Owner of Commonweal Gallery and Priyanka Setty

Kate Marlys, Philly PR Girl and Andrianna Acosta check out the art at Commonweal Gallery located at 1607 Latimer Street, 19103 featuring feature G. Farrel Kellum and Warith Taha

Sitting Pretty: Gabrielle Ochoco, and Sabir Peele, Men Style Pro

Alec Conner, chats with creators Dan Tague, multi-media artist and Olivia Verdugo, Founder and Designer at C R U S H

October featured designer is C R U S H studio, an ongoing materials collaboration between Jenna Robb and Olivia Verdugo. They have created the Grounding Cushion, an object that is intended to reduce stress and refocus on the present moment through touch, for the gallery’s capsule design collection.

Making the scene is Ian Michael Crumm, and Toni Leslie, who had stepped away for a bit to explore lives other offerings, but the pandemic has brought them back to the Philly scene . I have a feeling we’ll see more of these two creatives in the near future. Plus Happy Birthday this week Ian!!

For more information, you can also follow Commonweal on their Instagram and Facebook pages. For press inquiries and/or media requests, please contact Katerina@PhillyPRGirl.com.

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Sora Pool Club Celebrates Summer

August 4, 2021 by HughE Dillon Leave a comment

Today is almost like a reset for summer, it’s a cloudy, dreary day in the middle of the summer, a perfect day to celebrate the summer pool party I photographed a few weeks ago at the Sora Pool Club at Presidential City . The Post Brothers Presidential City apartment complex has always been one of my favorites. It’s in the City, not in congested Center City, but on the edge of Fairmount Park and MLK drive and 76, for quick access downtown. PLUS it’s the complex is in a park like setting, probably good bird watching too, A sprawling property resort, with a magnificent gym, spa, three distinct pools: a 75-foot lap pool for swimming, a central lounge pool that features both partly immersed lounge chairs and a dry seating enclosure, and a kid-friendly wading pool. There are also dog exercise tracks, a Zen garden, cabanas, poolside chaise lounges with complimentary towel service, several lounge seating areas, two hot tubs and two outdoor kitchens, each with four grilling stations.

This year, is a special year we’re all experiencing together. I’ve covered the Sora Summer Pool Party before but this year was extra special, some of the people I met were experiencing their first time out, socializing in a year. Nearly every event I’ve been to I’ve noticed the joy!!

I’ve also noticed people wearing bright colors, which is a dream come true for me. If you’re a long time reader, you know I’ve been asking folks to bring the color, and after a year like 2020 people are ready to live in color!!

The Post Brothers were really visionaries in their developments, with creating a fun, resort, atmosphere targeting a younger audience with community rooms, game rooms, and everyone one of their properties has a magnificent pool, most with multiple pools like this one, the one at the Piazza, and their new spot The Popular, which is a salt water pool as well.

This years theme for the Sora Summer party was “Hang Ten”, as in chillax here at Sora pool, it’s a relaxing vibe, says Kate Marlys, Philly Pr Girl, and the Post Brothers PR told me as she gave me a tour around the property.

Presidential City is accepting new residents, here’s where to go to get some INFO It’s not supposed to rain today, and with temps in the 70s, it’s definitely a good day for a walk around the block. See you tomorrow here!! Thanks so much for subscribing to PhillyChitChat, I see since June 1st we’ve gotten another 1,000 subscribers. I really appreciate you!!

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Contour Body Studio

July 2, 2021 by HughE Dillon Leave a comment

Morria Winn and Stephanie Barnes co-owners of Contour Body Studio cut the ribbon at the re opening of their spa, a female-health-focused wellness space at 2930 Jasper Street at Jasper Studios in Kensington on June 15, 2021.

47-Dominque Fiorentino, Julie Yeroushalmie, Sophie Vardi

**Rafael Utera, Audrey Walden** & **Dr.Jon Regis**

Kate Marlys,Philly Pr Girl, Morria Winn ,Stephanie Barnes, and Katarina Zalalas

Kate Marlys,Philly Pr Girl, toasts Morria Winn and Stephanie Barnes,

Congratulations Morria Winn and Stephanie Barnes, Contour Body Studio, a winner of Best of Philly 2020 by Philly Mag, and a legion of fans who swear by their services, especially the V Steam I hear!! RIGHT NOW THERE IS A GROUPON SPECIAL FOR the V Steam Service. Get it by the end of the day July 3. Head to PhillyTribune for an in-depth interview with the entrepreneurs.

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The Irvine Summer Soiree

July 1, 2021 by HughE Dillon Leave a comment

Post Brothers recently turned the former Apple Storage warehouse on 52nd Street, a block and a half south of Baltimore Avenue, into a stylish apartment building with spacious apartments, a community room, and outdoor space called The Irvine Apartments.

Last week The Irvine Apartments hosted a celebration of summer party with cocktails, snacks, music, and succulents. The beautifully renovated building has 153 studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments, ranging in size from 430 to 1,340 square feet and is dog and cat friendly.

Dana Moore, Bailey Welsh, and Jada Weaver

The outdoor space features grilling stations, a large dining table, and raised berms that double as chaise lounges of sorts. There’s a small dog park and plenty of green space for residents to be able to grow flowers, herbs and vegetables in the outdoor terrace’s raised planting beds. The Irvine Apartments are waiting for your call. Thanks to Talya Hailey for shooting this for PhillyChitChat/HughE Dillon LLC

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Location 215 Spring Pop Up – Local Artist Profiled

May 11, 2021 by HughE Dillon Leave a comment

Now that’s a welcoming, rainbow steps to greet guests!!

Jen Blauvelt, Owner at Location215 Philly / Owner JB Creative Productions and **Kelly CG Edwards**, Arts + Crafts Holdings

Kicking off Philadelphia’s long awaited spring season, Location 215 (990 Spring Garden Street) hosted a “spring garden” artist market earlier this month. Featuring a line up of owner Jen Blauvelt’s favorite local creatives, the space will house a unique pop-up shopping experience in addition to a designer showcase.

The modern space located in the heart of the spring arts district offers open spaces and an indoor/outdoor concept. Guests can look forward to a wide variety of creative vendors including handmade jewelry, plants and planters, home goods, apparel and accessories, macrame and fiber art, ceramics, health, beauty, and custom artwork.

In addition to local vendors the event will also include an all day, outdoor skate exhibition featuring Skate the Foundry at the entrance of Location 215 and a capsule installation featuring designs from the Made Institute student and graduate Designer Development program.

**Elle Tobin** **Not Your Average Jawn** **Object Maker**

**Wind & Waves** soap shop. They smell so good. I bought a few surfboard soaps for my sisters shore house, don’t tell her.

About Location 215:

Location 215 is a modern, industrial venue with white walls and polished concrete floors covering the 7500 sq ft. space. Located in the Spring Arts District of Philadelphia, the studio is an easy access point to the entire city. Services include a photo studio, events space, and meeting venue for hire in the Spring Arts District. For more information visit https://www.location215philly.com/.

So great to see old friend Gary Krause and Jill Scarlett (c) of Scarlett Alley

It was wonderful to photograph this event again, last year they did have a similar, safe event, which was so nice to attend, so it was sentimental to photograph again, this year, as more and more of us have been vaccinated and it’s less stressful to get out and enjoy life. See you tomorrow on the pages of PhillyChitChat….