I took this photo Monday at David Letterman’s Stage Door (Click on photo to make bigger)

http://tinyurl.com/4rh5pb

TODAY at 11AM the gates come down and the doors open as the Center City District (CCD) is celebrates the completion of improvements to Three Parkway Plaza and the opening of Café Cret (pronounced “Cray”), operated by Capriccio. Check out their site: http://www.cafecret.com/

operated by Capriccio.Invited speakers include:

• Michael DiBerardinis, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources
• Mark Focht, Executive Director, Fairmount Park Commission
• Rose Hagan, Head of School, Friends Select

• David Wagaman, Owner, Capriccio at Café Cret
• Paul R. Levy, President & CEO, Center City District

The dedication of Three Parkway Plaza and opening of Capriccio at Café Cret, marks the completion of another major initiative by the CCD, in partnership with the Fairmount Park Commission, to enhance and animate public open space along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
The café, which features indoor and outdoor seating, will be open seven days a week, year-round, generating revenue to support maintenance of the plaza and the Parkway. The café, named after one of the original designers of the Parkway, Paul Cret, will also serve as an information center for programs and events on The Parkway.

Photo and television opportunities: There will be a ribbon-cutting, with food sampling from Capprico and its vendors, along with entertainment from Parkway and nearby institutions, including Friends Select, Russell Byers Charter School, the Free Library of Philadelphia and others.
The menu is prominently displayed with the prices
Fresh Brewed coffee $1.55 1.75 1.85 to Peppermint White Mocha $4.15 4.70 5.00 and everything in between
Breakfast Burrito $3.95 with egg, cheese & bacon or sausage on a bagel for a bargain $2.99; Ice cream (I guess prices have gone up since I last had ice cream)
Cone or Dish $3.75 4.00 4.45 Milkshake $4.95 Jimmies & extra’s $.50
Sandwiches & Salads all very reasonable with grilled salmon on a bed of lettuce the most expensive at $7.95 and the rest falling below that price.
I am looking forward to this little nugget opening on the Parkway, not only because it’s on my route walking home, but it’s also a wonderful addition for tourist and compliments the area that was fashioned after the Champs Elysie, where many people sip a latte at their favorite cafe while writing in their travel journals, reading the paper or just people watching.

This past Tuesday night brought out the who’s who of Philadelphia’s stylish social set to the Joan Shepp Boutique on Walnut Street for one of her famously packed fashion shows.

The invitation read:

Joan Shepp

&

Calderwood 2



present

Le Style



an evening of fashion & design

to benefit The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research

In June PCC attended the opening party for Calderwood 2 Design 1960 – 1980 Mod Pop Op Fab and Glam with our hosts Gary & Janet Calderwood. Joan Shepp was at that party and was inspired by the design and simplicity of the furniture, and thought how great it would be to intertwine a few pieces throughout her store among the clothes for this special night. In October the Calderwoods will be opening a showroom at 631 North Broad Street (across from Osteria) for your convenience in buying furniture. I always enjoy talking with Gary and Janet as they are innovative, creative people who have a distinct style that reflects an intelligent vibe. Gary states that he chooses furniture not on the basis of whether it will sell, but on it’s style and uniqueness, there will be a buyers at some point, but in the meantime he gets to enjoy it too.



In the VIP section sat Donna Coghlan, Philadelphia Style Magazine publisher John Colabelli and Dawn Govberg, who scolded me for calling her Donna Govberg in an earlier post, sorry:(



Modeling in tonight’s show is Sharon Pinkenson, who tells me it was her grandfather that introduced her to fashion as he was a tailor who created the wooster tie. Her father was also in the business and when Sharon was growing up her father taught her to sew. With her is Cindi Raimondo (Ruka 114 S 19th St.)

What a nice surprise for me to run into my old friend Lucy Clemmens of the Phila Opera Company, with her are friends PR Camilia Aberra (l), and Astrid Pudang (r)

and new old friends Elaine Grabab and realtor Jill Rizen, who we first met at PSM Molito White Party back in August.

Carol Littman, Nancy Forman (performance Kitchens in Manayunk) and Melinda Meaney, a private chef who just returned to the city after living in the Carribean. Where she worked for several years a private chef for hire. She caters to the exclusive clientele for intimate dinner parties, she is pleasant and professional and I think an asset to your meal. If you are looking for a personal chef reach out at melindameaney@hotmail .com (no spaces)What would a stylish, fancy event be without Jimmy Contreras of Kimberly Boutique , YUbr PR maven Sarah Doheny and Red Tettemer’s Matthew Vlahos. If I am going to hang out with this gang, I need to step up my wardrobe ’cause they are always looking so fine.

Also on the 200 “seat” must have invitations, Suzanne Cheng and Ting WangMarlene who never takes a bad picture, with a friend.

It was a hot ticket so a lot of people were left with “standing room only”. After an open-bar reception, including hors-d’oeuvres, many in the attractive crowd chose to line up behind the chairs and a few found the less crowded loft area where I stood for a bird’s eye view of the catwalk.

Vintage (the folks behind her are outside looking through the window)

Broadcast Pioneers member Marciarose Shestack is a trailblazing broadcast journalist. Hailed by McCall’s Magazine as the outstanding woman broadcaster in the United States, in 1971. She became the first woman in the country to anchor a prime time daily news in a major market (frequently topping Walter Cronkite in the ratings).

The front row with Wendy Rosen with the purple scarfDior did all the make-up for the show

Fashionable Philadelphia Film Office Director Sharon Pinkenson on the catwalk

At the completion pf the show the Joan Shepp crew gathered on the catwalk to celebrate a job well done.



desert was served compliments of MorimotoA few people behind the scenes with Noel Zayas, Dior’s account cordinator Susan Sorrell, John Jones, hairstylist Cariton Humphrey



Philadelphia Network of Designers founders Thomas Tillman, Juanita Beasley

and Tyren Keith Patrick

Socialite, the charitable Karen Kahn and Jim Fulton. and Salon L’Etoile crew’Mel Silverman, Michael O’Connor & Jerry Yelber who was responsible for all the great hair stlyes tonight

So long until next time

One of my photos was in Was in the Inquirer’s Elizabeth Wellington’s fashion blog

http://tinyurl.com/534wtw

Earlier this week I wrote about the FBH Philadelphia Fashion Week [end], which had it’s 2nd year of shows, then we learned that in the Spring there will be another Philadelphia Fashion Week by an entirely different organization with a similar name, and Tuesday night I attended a fabulous fashion show at Joan Shepp’s store which I will write about tomorrow. Philadelphia is truly becoming a fashion force and I think it would be great if we could all coordinate the schedules and have these shows around the same time. If NYC can do it, and they are so large, friendly small town Philly can organize something special and create a Fashion Week showcasing local talent and international talent. Now on to Phashion Phest…High-end fashion may not immediately come to mind when you think of Philadelphia. But the city began to become a real couture magnet 15 years ago thanks to the Phashion Phest which put Philadelphia on the fashion map with it’s unique take on the fashion show.
But Monday night was reserved for the 15th annual Phashion Phest

Delaware Valley’s premier fashion event, showcasing the work of local designers, hair and makeup specialists, and accessory experts

Taking a page from the MET Gala in early May, Phasion Fest pays homage with the Super Hero theme for the night.
Salon L’Etoile crew’ Michael O’Connor, Mel Silverman & Jerry Yelber – Created this industrial setting for their models to create an edgy, but colorful environment for them to show off their hair styling. Although Mel’s been in this business for 51 years, it hasn’t stifled him, in fact L’Etoile is not just into spit curls, but knows what makes today’s women style current and fashionable.

According to the 9/13/07 Jewish Exponent ” At Salon L’étoile, located in Jenkintown and Manayunk, owner Mel Silverman talked about the upside of hairstyle change. “It’s been my experience that when a woman gets a new hairstyle — either a new cut, a different length or a new color — she feels hip and younger-looking, and upbeat about the changes. That’s what many of our women clients have told us, have told me. “This is especially true because of a new treatment for curly hair, for example, that totally straightens the hair and gives someone a completely new look.”
Chris Hein, Lesley Grigg and Ellen Wasser (HR in MMA Modeling Agency Staff)
Valerie Busillo and Nikki Foschini. Nikki has just returned to this area after living in Florida for a few years. Although she is not looking forward to winter, she is looking forward to seeing her family and friends at every moment possible. She and Valerie attended St. Maria “I have been friends with Valerie for 13 years and counting 😉 “

My good friends – Jonathan Vendrick, VIP Guest Services Loews Hotel, Sarah Cooper Bobersky, Diane Johnson Tierney Communications, Matt Vlahos PR Red Tettemer and Jimmy Contreras Kimberly Boutique (Even if there’s no debate, you know where to go on Friday. We’re still serving Pigs in Blanket with a tad of lipstick!!)Esthetician / Makeup Artist’s Ali Teppel, Stacy McGinnis, Kimberly Goff and husband Nick Goff “Be good to yourself on the inside, and the outside will practically take care of itself.” Phoenix Salon and Spa

Studio Artur – Lauren Garrrett, Susi Claro, Madeline Carter and Stacy Carpenter

Chae Le, Jimmy & Thuy Le – Rapunzel’s Salon Homage to the classic style of the 1940’s
The girls of the Art Institute, all studying fashion marketing. Fashion meet your future
The kids at the Art Institute’s Environmental Design studies designed the stage

They are Sasha Carlson, Luke Schmura, Jose, Santiago, Christina Nokhoudian, Nacole McCitchen, Jessica Klein, R. Vincent Jones, Chris Basalatan, and Stephanie Minor,
Style PR Diva maven Sarah Doheny who really does bring style to Philadelphia and the Mainline
Ekanatha Lyapustina, Philly PR guru Anthony DiMeo III and Melissa Semeno

Genevieve Manzoni wearing a strapless dress her model brother created. A little fur on the shaven men
Lisa Sharkey, Aileen Gallagher, Josephine Cianfrani and Julie DiCecco from Salon DeSanne

My favorite part of the night, it’s like we need a little Christmas now!I didn’t get a gift bag as I was running to another event and didn’t want to crush anything, but I did get this shot and ask what was inside: Shampoo, coupons to a few salons and the newest issue of Philadelphia Magazine.