An Evening in Franklin Square
Perfect weather for a party in the park.
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Last night, Historic Philadelphia hosted its fifth annual fund-raiser "An Evening in Franklin Square," with cocktails and dinner, and silent and live auctions.
Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival Preview Party
Philly VIPs get a sneak peek at the restaurants that will participate in the annual street festival on May 18th.
On Monday night, at the Rittenhouse Hotel, the Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival Preview Party previewed many of the eateries that will be participating in the popular annual street festival that closes Walnut Street from Broad Street to 19th Street. The preview party honored Meryl Levitz, president and CEO of GPTMC, for her promotion of all things great in Philly. Pictured with her: Corie Moskow, Gloss PR, and Evan O’Donnell, GM AKA Hotel.
Art Alliance Spring at the Mansion
Philly VIPs turn out to support the preservation of Rittenhouse Square’s Wetherill Mansion.
The Philadelphia Art Alliance debuted its reimagined annual gala, "Spring at the Mansion," formerly known as the Wetherill Ball, last Friday night, May 3, with music and merriment. Proceeds benefit the preservation and restoration of the historic Wetherill Mansion, the oldest cultural institution on the Square, and the home of the Philadelphia Art Alliance and Rittenhouse Tavern. Pictured: Nicole Cashman, event chair, Sabrina Tamburino Thorne, Carol Tamburino, Alisa Frederico and Ed Rendell.
Donors Are Heroes Party
Gift of Life Donor Program hosts its annual bash at the Four Seasons.
Donors are Heroes and Gift of Life Donor Program hosted the 11th Annual "The Party" at the Four Seasons on April 26th. It's a must on my list of parties to attend yearly. I call it "the party of friends," as the founders, Don and Renee Freeman, are always so welcoming to anyone they come in contact with, which is why they have a hard-working committee that volunteers year after year to work with them to get the word out about organ donation and dispel myths surrounding the life-saving opportunity. This is the thank-you party for the year-long awareness program. The 2013 event honorees this year were Tamar & Stephen Olitsky. The Olitsky foundation had been very generous over the years in supporting this great cause.
Ommegang Hop Chef Competition
Philly’s hottest chefs blend beer with food.
Last night at Union Transfer, the Ommegang Hop Chef Competition held its 2013 Philly event. Participating chefs included Eli Kulp, Fork; Nick Macri, Southwark (the Judges' Winner who will represent Philly in the national competition in Cooperstown, New York); Lucio Palazzo, La Calaca Feliz; Mike Deganis, Vetri; Yun Fuentes, JG Domestic (the People's Choice Winner); and Pat Szoke, The Industry. Also pictured: Marisa Magnatta, WMMR, announces the winners.
Please Touch Museum’s Storybook Ball
Fairytales aren’t just for kids at this annual bash.
For the annual Please Touch Museum's Storybook Ball on Saturday, families were encouraged to dress as their favorite storybook characters, and many of them did this year, which delighted the kids. It was an evening of enchantment with entertainment, family-friendly cuisine like hot dogs and juice boxes, and for dessert, there was ice cream and Rita's water ice. Kids enjoyed rides on the carousel and theatrical and musical performances, including live music by The Plants. Storybook Ball is presented by the Albert M. Greenfield Foundation and Hyperion Books. It's always a fun event to shoot with the kids and their parents playing dress up, and the place is filled with squeals of delight. Pictured: Neil H. Shah, of Hersha Hospitality Trust, and Juhi Shah, with kids Arhan and Simrin, prepare for a sunset horse and carriage ride through Fairmount Park with driver Kim.
Dancing With the Philadelphia Stars
From Fox 29’s Kacie McDonnell to Q102’s Chris "Maxwell" Jones, Philly celebs hit the dance floor for a good cause.
Last night at the 5th Annual Dancing With the Philadelphia Stars, nine Philadelphia notables put on their dance shoes for the annual competition that benefits the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Philadelphia/Delaware Valley Chapter. Artis and Barbara Ore, Stanley A. Simpkins, executive director of SCDAA/PDVC, and Marie Simpkins. Mr. Simpkins tells me this SCDAA/PDVC provides services and programs to children, adolescents and adults with sickle cell in Philadelphia and the surrounding five counties.
Dr. J Celebrates 1983 Sixers Championship Team
The Ervings and friends celebrated with a private party after the team was honored at Wells Fargo Center.
On Sunday night, after the 1983 Sixers were honored at the Wells Fargo in a celebration of their championship season, Julius "Dr. J" Erving was honored by his family at a private party held at the Stratus Lounge at Hotel Monaco Philadelphia. Family and friends flew in from around the country to celebrate this special night. Pictured: Moses Malone, Stedman Graham, Dr. J, Reggie Johnson, and Clemon Johnson. The Johnson brothers were excited to be back in Philly and feel the love of the great Philadelphia fans. The first thing they did when they got to town was to run to the Reading Terminal to eat a cheesesteak.
Art After Dark: All That Glitters Gala
A sparkling fundraiser for the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Saturday night was more than just alright as the city shined with at least five charitable galas, including Coaches vs. Cancer BasketBall Gala, the 5th Annual Little Smiles Monte Carlo Night, the 2013 PA Lung Cancer Partnership Crystal Ball and Cooper University Hospital's Cooper Foundation Red Hot Gala, but none was as sparkly as the Art After Dark: All That Glitters gala benefiting the Philadelphia Museum of Art's education and public programs. During the gala, "Fear No Ice" created an ice sculpture of Saint Gaudens' Diana in the Great Stair Hall.
Spruce Foundation’s Spruce Gala
Do-gooders raise nearly $60,000 for Philly kids at the World Cafe.
More than 540 people attended the 6th Annual Spruce Gala on Saturday night at the World Cafe, raising nearly $60,000. The Spruce Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides funding and consultation to charitable groups serving at-risk youth in Philadelphia. Here with event emcee Maria Papadakis and Spruce Foundation co-president Brittni Devereaux are some of those who received this year's Foundation grants, Alex Gilliam and Stephanie Michel, both of the North Fifth Street Revitalization Project, and Rudy Flesher, of Here's My Chance.
Girard College Good Friends Gala
Mayor Nutter, the Fattahs, Lew Katz and more turn out to support the school.
On Friday night, Girard College hosted its annual Good Friends Gala. This year's Corinthian Award, which recognizes exemplary good deeds, went to Mayor Michael Nutter, pictured here with Clarence D. Armbrister, president of Girard College, Dominic M. Cermele and wife Barbara Cermele, and, far right, former Girard President Joseph T. Devlin.
PIFA 2013 Gala
See which Philly VIPs checked out the arts festival’s time machine.
Todd Herremans’ Hoops for Help
The Eagle’s foundation hosts VIP-studded charity event.
Philadelphia Eagle Todd Herremans hosted the First Annual Todd Herremans Foundation Hoops for Help at the West Club of Lincoln Financial Field, benefiting six different charities: No Place to Hate, American Cancer Society, Cooper Hospital, Habitat for Humanity, Magee Rehab, and Autism Research. Herremans' told the crowd that he didn't want to pick one charity as so many need our help, and that every year he would do it this way. There were many notables in the crowd mixing among guests. I saw Heather Mitts Feeley, former Eagles Mike Mamula and A. J. Feeley, and Fred Lee Barnett. Jennaphr Frederick, Michael Vick, Minnesota Viking Albert Young, and Brian Westbrook sat together at dinner, and even new Eagles coach Chip Kelly stopped by to show his support. Pictured: Jeff Pirrami, Bernard Hopkins, Todd Herremans and Marisa Magnatta during the live auction. Hopkins won a football signed by Herremans signed, which Hopkins said he was going to auction off at his upcoming charity event. For more story and photos about the event, visit PhillyChitChat.
HughE Dillon: ACHIEVEability Food for Thought
With 34 of Philly’s top chefs at the event, I picked up some news for foodies.
Nearly 600 guests, 34 of Philadelphia's top chefs, and 6 ABC's Alicia Vitarelli were at ACHIEVEability's annual Food for Thought event Saturday night at the Navy Yard. ACHIEVEability aims to break the cycle of poverty by stabilizing families and focusing on higher education. Below: Vitarelli and Tim Thornton, of Vanguard, participate in the live auction.
Zarwin Baum March Madness Party
Philly VIPs catch NCAA tournament basketball action at the Crystal Tea Room while raising money for Philabundance.
With the start of March Madness, there were at least a half dozen big parties in Philadelphia, and one of the biggest was hosted by the Zarwin Baum law firm and HUB International Parties at the Crystal Tea Room. This year, more than 2,000 people attended the annual event, an eight-hour extravaganza, where guests dined on burgers, wings and chicken, enjoyed an open bar, had their favorite cigars rolled in the cigar room, and watched the NCAA games on projection screens. Pictured: Firm founder Norman Zarwin, Sheriff Jewell Williams, Councilwoman Cindy Bass, and Mitchell Kaplan, partner at Zarwin Baum.
UNCF Mayor’s Masked Ball
2013 marks the first year a United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Ball has been held in Philly.
On Friday night, Philadelphia hosted its inaugural United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Mayor's Masked Ball at the Marriott Downtown. The UNCF has hosted these balls throughout the country, but this was the first time they held one in Philly, and they put the whole thing together in less than two months. It was very impressive. Pictured: Mayor Michael Nutter and First Lady Lisa Nutter.
American Red Cross Red Ball 2013
Nearly 1,000 dined and danced at the Please Touch Museum.
On Saturday night, the American Red Cross held its annual gala, Red Ball, at the Please Touch Museum, and nearly 1,000 people dined on delicious food by Seasons 52, the Water Works, Ristorante Panaroma, and the JNA Institute of Culinary Arts, and danced to the tunes of CTO Artists. The evening’s hostess, Renée Cardwell Hughes, CEO of the Southeastern Pennsylvania chapter of the American Red Cross greets the guests, as chairman of the ball Leon LaRosa (left) and chairman of the board Tom Hays look on.
PMA Young Friends Winter Gala
A bash to support the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
The Young Friends of the Philadelphia Museum of Art hosted their annual Winter Gala at the museum on Saturday, with all proceeds going to the Young Friends' mission of support for art acquisitions, education, conservation, and special projects within the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Below: Rachel Swartz, Shawn Robertson, Megan Fredericks and William Bond Read IV were excited to check out the newly opened exhibition "Great and Mighty Things": Outsider Art from the Jill and Sheldon Bonovitz Collection; it runs until June 9th.
Wedding Wednesday 2013
On Wednesday, March 6, 2013, Philadelphia Wedding magazine and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society welcomed over 300 guests to the Pennsylvania Convention Center for the second annual Wedding Wednesday event at the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show. Brides-to-be indulged in hors d’ oeuvres, cake, cocktails and a selection of wines by Simply Naked—while experiencing the latest in bridal fashion, beauty and décor. There were photo ops galore and plenty of Pinterest worthy ideas. Each lucky lady left with a bridal goodie bag filled with helpful hints and must-haves for her big day. Photos by Nell Hoving
Philadelphia Flower Show 2013
Guests at the preview and young friends parties get the first peek at "Brilliant!"
"Brilliant!" is the appropriate name for this year’s edition of the world-renowned annual Philadelphia Flower Show from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. This year's displays take inspiration from the beauty and splendor of Great Britain’s magnificent gardens, as well as its wonderful history of pop culture and royalty. The annual black-tie preview party (this year, scheduled a night earlier to give the show two full weekends for the public to enjoy Brilliant!) was held Friday. Pictured: Peter Auerbach, Out Hotel, Kristin Auerbach, Drew Becher, PHS president, and Eric Lochner, president of global talent management at Kenexa.
G Philly's God Save the Queens
On Sunday, March 3, 2013, G Philly and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society hosted the third annual LGBT Night at the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show. This year’s event theme, “God Save The Queens†paid homage to the 2013 Flower Show’s “Brilliant!†interpretation of British gardening. Guests were treated to the royal antics of the queen of Philly’s drag scene, Martha Graham Cracker, and enjoyed signature cocktails from Pinnacle Vodka and Palm Bay. Synergetic Sounds kept things lively throughout the night and guests left with a bag of goodies all their own. G Philly gratefully acknowledges PECO for its generous contributions to this festive occasion. Photos by HughE Dillon
Reading Terminal’s Valentine to the Market Gala
A crowd of 600 tasted the Market’s fantastic food and danced the night away.
Reading Terminal Market's Valentine to the Market Gala was held Saturday night. The benefit brought out a crowd of almost 600. There were interactive love-themed activities, including a love potion station, a sketch artist, tarot card readings, and a make-your-own love pillow station. There were also live performances on two different stages, and the dance floor was packed till nearly midnight. Proceeds benefited the Reading Terminal Market Preservation Trust. Pictured: Paul Steinke, general manager of the Reading Terminal Market (left) and Paul Levy, CEO of Center City District.
