Tag
Relax it’s only Sunday, but if you’re looking for something to do I have a suggestion the annual La Festa Street Festival on East Passyunk from 11am to 7pm. I’ll be shooting the event between 1PM and 330PM, you can find me at the spaghetti eating contest at 3PM. Bon Appétit!!
ChitChat: The Pod Hotel to Open in Center City
About a year or so ago a slither of a building was torn down on 19th Street (31 South 19th Street, ) with lots of speculation on what would be going in this spot, which is south of Market Street. Today a friend tipped me off that a cool hotel that I’ve stayed at in NYC would be built there – Pod, not to be confused with the sushi restaurant of the same name. With a little internet sleuthing I discovered a few articles on the new, exciting modern sleek new hotel – the POD Hotel where I’ve stayed in NYC and they are so cool.
They’re great for budget, no frills stays in the City, (Currently in NYC and DC)
with micro, but very functional and fun rooms.
(Can you imagine if you’re not specific with a cab driver “Take me to Pod” and they take you to the incorrect one; it reminds me of when there were two Bookbinders in the City)
Check out (Philadelphia Speaks)
AND for a great behind the scenes, in-depth article where the story was “rumored” read Sandy Smith’s
The story broke on Commercial Observer
Last year Pod Chinatown in DC, and the DC Business Journal covered it in detail.
Hope you had an amazing holiday weekend. Let’s catch up with this weeks ChitChat.
Monday kicks off WMMR’s #CampOutForHunger at XFINITY Live. Listen or stop by the event. Donation Details: http://wmmr.com/event/preston-steves-camp-out-for-hunger/ … Guests, After Dark Events & Parking http://wmmr.com/2016/11/16/camp-out-after-dark/
Years ago I met Erin Como via Preston & Steve’s Marisa Magnatta. Erin who used to do traffic on NBC10 is now doing traffic and general reporting for Fox5DC, was in town this weekend for her alma mater Bensalem High School reunion at Parx Casino’s Chickie & Pete’s 
Sarah and Joe Maiellano announced in the most adorable way that they’re expecting a baby. Joe is Fox Chase Cancer’s Director of Development and Sarah is the PR for the Philly Pops
Philly Pops Christmas starts next week.INFO
Another great holiday tradition in our house is heading to Atlantic City to see the Holiday Musical Light Show at Tropicana AC, and it actually snows indoors. Mike and I also checked out the Holiday Jubilee, which was a great show hosted by two singers, and 9 talented dancers. Plus 2 illusionists which will have you scratching your head. It was entertaining and fun for the whole family.
Another great tradition is heading over to the Shops at Liberty Place with my gifts to get them wrapped at a nominal fee which supports Variety. It’s a win, win and I don’t get a paper cut.
Go Eagles!! Carson Wentz hosted Thanksgiving for some of his Eagles teammates including:
Nate Gerry, Caleb Sturgis, Zach Ertz, Trey Burton and Jordan Matthews
Congrats Mr & Mrs Connor Barwin, More NFL Draft Sightings and Caitlyn Jenner Sightings all Over Town
Philly Gossip Sunday Edition
Welcome to Sunday, you made it through the NFL Draft in Philly, and it was spectacular. The weather was perfect, Philadelphia shined and a record 250,000 people came out to enjoy the
three day sports extravaganza. 
What did Connor Barwin do during the NFL Draft, he got married to his long time girlfriend Laura Buscher in Upstate New York. Guests included Jason Kelce, Beka and Jesse Rendell.
Come out and support Connor’s MTWB Foundation Sept 21
Caitlyn Jenner was in town to promote her book “The Secret of my Life” at the Phila Library on Friday night. She stopped into Macy’s to visit The Mac Team there, where Kristen Bierr, of McGillin’s was shopping on her lunch break. Caitlyn was spotted checking into the Rittenhouse Hotel on Rittenhouse Square. After her appearance she had a late dinner at Stephen Starr’s Parc, where friends told me she is much prettier in person.
Dion Dawkins, Temple University football star had his draft party at Gran Caffe L’Aquila at 1716 Chestnut St, He skipped the official draft festivities and decided to throw a party with friends and family and celebrate together when he got drafted. He wound up going 63 overall in the second round getting the phone call from the Buffalo Bills.
Newly picked Jacksonville Jaguars Leonard Fournette stopped by The Sporting Club Thursday to shoot a few media spots. He’s the spokesperson for MET-Rx which hosted the event.
Congrats to Marcus Allen who took part in Night at the Fights! last night at Liacouras Center to raise funds for The Urban League of Philadelphia. He raised the most money for the organization. Here he is at WMMR for an interview where he ran into Carl “Apollo Creed” Weathers, who in town to announce the start of the NFL Draft in Philly.
Congrats to Josh and Toni Moshen, of Sweet T’s Bakery, Alex Holley’s favorite spot, on the birth of their baby girl.
Enter the Center School Run to Read 5K/1 Mile Fun Walk and run yourself right to a Bahamas dream vacation!
We’re pleased to announce that all runners and walkers over 18 years of age will be entered into a raffle to win the holiday of a lifetime at Atlantis, Paradise Island in the Bahamas, consisting of 4 days/3 nights at the Royal Towers in Atlantis. Atlantis offers a variety of gourmet restaurants by celebrated chefs, a relaxing spa, sports center, several pools throughout the property, beautiful beaches, water slides and other activities, the largest aquarium in the Caribbean, and a casino. Also includes airport land transfers in the Bahamas upon arrival and departure. *Airfare not included.
Drawing to be held on Saturday, May 6, 2017 at 11 am!
,
Mike Jerrick Returns To Fox, Hang with Kevin Hart, Jimmy John’s Closed, Saxbys
PhillyChitChat Philly Gossip is late today, in fact it’s practically tomorrow. The Social Season is in full swing, and I have been shooting back to back events as well as partnering with TGIFriday’s and Capital One both of which had events Friday and Saturday. Some good news to start off your week…
Mike Jerrick returns to Fox 29’s Good Day Monday April 3. You’ll recall Mike took a few months off to recharge, and checked into a wellness center in NC. Well he’s recharged and rearing to go. He looks great doesn’t he? On Friday he will be hosting the annual Donor’s Are Hero’s “The Party”, as he’s done for the past decade. Nick over at Philly.com has an update from this morning HERE
Also back tomorrow is Quincy Harris and The Q Show on Fox 29 at noon. Condolences to Q who lost his mother last week after a valiant fight against cancer.
Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston wrap up the Untouchable movie this week. Although they’ve spent the last month filming at Aston Pa’s movie studio Sun City, there is one last outside scene to film as well, so hopefully I’ll be able to get a few photos for you. Don’t fret though if you haven’t had your chance to see Philly born Kevin Hart in person, he has been out and about quite a lot this past month between his surprise stand up comedy routines at Helium, and Punchline; he’s also been seen eating at Ocean Prime and Del Frisco’s. It was just announced that July 6th, his birthday, will be deemed Kevin Hart Day in Philadelphia. BUT Wait there’s one more chance to see Kevin Hart, up close and personal, and that’s on May 23, 2017 for the 32nd annual Arts + Business Council Awards Celebration where the winner of the Anne d’Harnoncourt Award for Artistic Excellence 2017 is Kevin Hart
Speaking of winners congratulations to legendary Inquirer food writer Michael Klein, who “got woke” and turned around his unhealthy habits and started on a new path which included eating less and setting out on a modest but consistent exercise regime. He just ran his first race on Saturday The Hot Chocolate 15k/5k Philadelphia. When I just checked the website it said every runner got a goodie bag, I thought it’d be something else but it was the running jacket Mike is wearing. (Mike Klein has in the past been my mentor, and is no doubt cringing from at least two of the run on sentences I probably have in this paragraph.)
Speaking of food, I was shocked when I walked by Jimmy John’s at 44 S 17th St, and saw it was CLOSED. The owner happened to be inside and told me he and the landlord were unable to agree on another lease. So bummed. There’s still a Jimmy John’s at 221 S 11th St, but he told me that was owned by someone else.
I see there’s an orange notices on the former nail salon, 42 S. 17th St. It says a take out restaurant is coming there, and next to that a new coffee shop is to opened called Swedish Espresso Bar – Konditori, 40 S. 17th St (Klein) How the times have changed for this building of tiny shops of service to now shops of eateries, next to the former Jimmy John’s at 46 S. 17th is the relatively new MeltKraft and around the corner, in the same building is now Chestnut Street Philly Bagel.
Saxbys has a new logo
and will be adding it to all their storefronts
Hate Has No Home Here is causing quite a stir in the SNJ burbs
as is this “Thin Blue Line” going down Merchant Street in Audubon. Seems it’s not up to state code. I kinda like it.
It looks like Smart Street Healthy Kitchen & Juice Bar is on the verge of opening at 38 S. 19th St., and they’re hiring. See you Thursday for more PhillyChitChat Gossip
Taylor Kinney with South Philly Girlfriend Alanna DiGiovanni Photo Emerges, Loving,
Happy Thursday Afternoon, and welcome to another edition of Philly Gossip. Since I posted the Page Six article yesterday on all my social media about Lady Gaga’s ex-fiancé Taylor Kinney and his “new” girlfriend, South Philly’s Alanna DiGiovanni, I’ve been bombarded with photos and stories from people who know her. A lot of people tell me she’s a home town girl, close to her family, super nice and everyone said she’s a good friend. First I said she was a radiologist, wrong, that’s a doctor my readers tell me. She actually works in radiology. OK
(Don’t try and look for her on Social Media, she’s completely deleted her online life, even her 2nd name which was still active over the weekend as i found her friends tagging her in photos.)
They also tell me Taylor and her are just friends. They met last July 2015, when Taylor and Lady Gaga were in AC for a Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett concert. Taylor and Alanna began
following each other on instagram and kept in touch that way. At some point they began seeing each other in person. Last weekend Taylor, and a friend, and Alanna and her friend went to Austin, Texas, together to attend the Formula One race and Taylor Swift concert where the above photograph was taken. That’s Taylor and Alanna on the left. She kinda looks like Lady Gaga. BTW I bought Joanne, and I LOVE IT. It’s a different genre of singing, but it’s deep and compassionate. The Daily Mail reports that Lady Gaga and Taylor are working to get back together, and I hope that is true. None of the other photos indicate that the Taylor/Alanna friendship is anymore than that, even though it is a bit odd that he’s hanging out with a gal he met at a club last summer, shortly after he broke off his engagement to a gal he was in love with for 5 years.
My friend at the Union League tells me they caught the guy who broke the Union League steps at the junk yard. The 6 foot piece of brass would only have
brought in $40 because it was hollow, plus there was concrete inside which was there to make it more durable in case people sat on it. Can you imagine
how heavy it was to carry. Sadly the steps will cost $100ks to fix, and it’ll take time, at least until spring of 2017. BUT there will be celebrations and dedications when it
comes time to unveil the brand new railing and brand new pictures .
Congrats to Philly’s Kristen Welker, she’s from my neighborhood Fairmount.
In 1967, Richard (Joel Edgerton) and Mildred (Ruth Negga) Loving took their case to the Supreme Court after violating a Virginia law that prohibits interracial marriage. The movie on their battle opens next Friday, November 4.
Speaking of Fairmount, what are you and the kids doing this weekend?
Join us at Eastern State Penitentiary for the 2nd Annual Fairmount Fall Festival – Oct. 29, 12:30-3:30… kids activities, arts and crafts, trick or treating, history scavenger hunt, picture and more!
Also here’s a few last minute ideas for Halloween Costumes. So honored R Eric Thomas created one about me.
http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/last-minute-halloween-costumes.html
HughE Dillon, LLC
Hired Publicity Photographer for media placements. See About for Info to Book Us.
Teal Butterfly is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to raise awareness about the early signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer by educating the public through community events and social media campaigns
Freeman Interiors is an award winning full-service interior design firm
