PHILLY CHIT CHAT MISSION STATEMENT

I just wanted everyone to know how I conduct business:

My core business is being hired to shoot and document social and mostly charity events in Philadelphia on PhillyChitChat.com  People hire me because of my skill of shooting the right people at these parties and writing a compelling story. The client gets to keep the photos I take, and I give them the license outright to distribute as they please**, that's why you might see them in the various outlets in the City, Facebook or in their newsletters. 

In order to write a story about the event I use the press release distributed by PR; as well as what I observe, including chit chatting with guests.  I choose the photos to run in PhillyChitChat, and I write the story using my own words (I think my readers know this as I sometimes get complaints on my spelling and sentence structure.)

I have a contributing contract with Philly Magazine for one column a week, and they assign those events to me, and two random shots, usually a celebrity or notable person. (Thank God I have an editor there.)

For all other events:

Philadelphia Magazine and Fox 29 are outlets for publication. (Similarly to when they are pitched by companies, Publicists, and PR agencies to cover their events, products, or clients.) Hiring me to shoot your event doesn't guarantee placement in any of my affiliates and that is clearly spelled out in contracts with the parties that hire me.  Ultimately, I submit/pitch my work to the editors at the respective media outlets and they select stories for coverage.  In fact, those editors don't even know which events were paid and which were not. Any allegations claiming otherwise are simply false. (& I don't receive any additional compensation ie double dipping for you in the know.)

P.S. You don't have to hire me to come out and photograph your event.  Most of my events are not client driven, and so I want you to continue to pitch me.  

** If Philly Mag accepts a pitch for photos from an event I shot, I give them 10 exclusive shots. After 90 days I will send them to the client.


Thanks so much for stopping by. HughE

Music To Our Ears: Heart and Soul in University City

Heart and Soul is an interactive public art exhibition happening right now until June 17 from the folks at University City District (UCD), that seeks to combine performance and visual art encouraging people to find their inner Beethoven. 

For the opening, eight night pianos that had been decorated by different artists were on display at the Porch at 30th Street Station. They were placed at different locations throughout University City yesterday (see map below)

It's music to their ears as Summer, Maria Whitney and little Violia dance to the tunes that Neil is playing.

Artist Katie Holeman who piano will be placed at 43rd and Baltimore Ave. at Clark Park and Mark Christman, communications manager for the University City District

Frank Pazolski tickles the ivory on artist Melissa Maddonni Haims piano. She is a fiber artist based in Philadelphia. She explores alternative materials, mostly recycled, reclaimed or rescued, with knitted and crocheted elements and found objects. Her piano can be found  at 33rd and Market Sts. at Drexel University,

Rose Lessner tells me that artist Thom Lessner piano which is an 80’s looking sports car should be played by a metal God like Dee Snider.  Find it at 32nd & Powelton Streets at Drexel Park.

Artist Joe Boruchow's black and white cut out piano can be found at 39th and Walnut Sts.,

You have to see this one to believe it, it's like a flying machine. 

 Joshua Harris is teaching Marleny Franco a little music theory. That's what the UCD people hope happens when you come across one of the pianos. Sit down, experiment, enjoy, remember those piano lessons your mom thought was so important. See if you can play chopsticks again.

Drexel students Penelope Long and Ari Melman

The University City District's Lori Brennan, Mark Christman and Sarah Rauers are excited to see their idea come to fruition. Lori tells me that the piano's will be tuned everyday, covered up at night and locked down so they don't end up rolling down the street. They are here for everyone to enjoy, so take the time like

Professor Terry Adkins who shows us how it's done

Elaine Fare, Annmarie Sinni and Nicole Guanzon love the Heart & Soul Project, and The Porch. They work nearby and use it often.

In the area on Market St. between 30th Street Station and the site of the former US Post Office building is “The Porch” at 30th Street Station. Once a dangerous walkway on the side, The Porch is now a 40-foot-wide space complete with tables and chairs, umbrellas and foliage. 

You can go indoors to the food court and enjoy eating al fresco, or just enjoy the outdoor space with a book or with friends. Elaine C Hendricks and Zelphia Ellerson (Zelphia and I realized we worked on the Sam Katz for Mayor campaign way back when.)

Tim Gibbon, Nicole Zeimis and Laura Colket love the porch and all it has to offer, especially the lounge chairs were

they can watch the sunset off the buildings of Center City. It's a beautiful thing.

HEAR AND SOUL: The eight locations each feature a piano decorated by a different local artist. They include Terry Adkins at The Porch, and Joe Boruchow at 39th and Walnut Sts., 

 For a map of all eight pianos and artist bios check out http://universitycity.org/heart-soul.

MY PHILLY MAG COLUMNS THIS WEEK - & a little gossip

Often I'm not home when my Philly Mag columns go live, and I am often on the go, go, go and forget to post them or push them through my social media outlets. I thought I would post them here today for you to see what I wrote on Philly Mag this week in The Scene section. I really work hard on those columns, each one can take up to two hours to write. Hope you enjoy. Have a great weekend.

CHECK OUT my column in PHILLY MAG TODAY, About the Voice Foundation Gala last weekend
http://blogs.phillymag.com/the_philly_post/2012/06/08/hughe-dillon-voice-foundations-voices-gala/

I had never heard of the Phila Arts & Council Awards. That was a fun event, and interesting to see all the movers and shakers come out from behind the desk. (sorry about Martha Graham Crackers eyes, I tried to correct the red in photo shop, and now she just looks demonish.) HERE

Ball on the Square Patron Party. I heard someone was mad I tweeted that it was held at someone's former house and she was on the guest list. Hey it's the truth, it was her former house and she was on the guest list. If it were my former house it would feel weird seeing it with other peoples furniture and taste, but I'd want to visit it again. I've always dreamed of knocking on the door of the peeps who live in my childhood home to see if I could tour it again.  Rittenhouse Square Patron Party.


Dallas rides into town again: 


LAST WEEK

The Philadelphia Award:  So much fun, and super personalities attended. I just got my new camera and am learning on the job, that's why there's a little in consistency in the photos. I probably should have used one of my older models on such an important event. What do you think? Did they come out OK?  I loved, loved, loved meeting Aileen Roberts sisters. Fun Irish gals with lots of spunk.

Beyonce at Revel

I didn't appear on Fox 29's Good Day this week. I was just slammed with work and wanted to get it all done so I could go to the beach today and visit my mom and sister. Did you see she's renting her house out. Check it Here


BTW Rachel Ray ate at Rouge yesterday and didn't tip. WTF. I'm sure she thought it was taken care of.

Also Colin Farrell was seen taking one last stroll through the neighborhood yesterday. His time here is nearly at the end. Such a super guy. Thanks for donating your signature to the Career Wardrobe's purse auction. I totally hooked that up and was glad to do it.

Rumor smummer, I wrote about Harrison Ford coming to Philly to film Paranoia at least 2 weeks before you "heard a rumor." Then I tweeted it constantly. Gees some people, I just don't understand them. I usually ignore most of your dribble about your exclusives that I actually wrote about already, but I thought we had mended those fences. Let's see I haven't talked about a big film coming in August yet, could you pull that rumor out of your...

Congratulations to John and Lauren Colabelli on their nuptials last week. (PS I will never spell Lauren's last name incorrectly again.)

There's another big wedding happening in our area, but it's not Anne Hathaway's like the rumor mill says on Twitter. Thank you so very much to my tipster for thinking of me though. Can't wait to hear who got married under the big tent in Cape May.

If you like what you see at Philly Mag, LIKE my column for each story and share it with your readers. I would really, really appreciate it. It helps my numbers and keeps me fed as well as allows me to bring it all to you.

Thanks so very much, HughE

OMNI HOTEL TO AUCTION $50,000 WEDDING TO BENEFIT ALEX’S LEMONADE STAND FOUNDATION

OMNI HOTEL AT INDEPENDENCE PARK TO AUCTION $50,000 WEDDING TO BENEFIT ALEX’S LEMONADE STAND FOUNDATION AND THE FIGHT AGAINST CHILDHOOD CANCER

PHILADELPHIA, PA  – The Omni Hotel at Independence Park is donating a big girl’s dream to make a little girl’s dream come true.

The hotel, together with a group of select vendors across the city, is auctioning a complete wedding package worth more than $50,000 to benefit Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation in its battle to cure childhood cancer. The auction – entitled aweddingforalex.com - will begin June 9, 2012 8p.m. on eBay. The minimum opening bid will be $10,000. Final bids coincide one week later on June 15, 2012 at 8p.m. A preview of this spectacular package is at www.aweddingforalex.com as of June 2, 2012.

The package includes an exquisite ceremony and reception for up to 140 people and an all-inclusive resort honeymoon in Mexico, photography, flowers, hair and make-up for the bride and her party, a wedding cake, wedding bands a penthouse suite – the works. Put simply, it is the best of Philadelphia coming together to benefit a truly magnificent cause. 

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation is named for Alexandra Scott, a little girl with cancer who, at the age of four, set up a lemonade stand in her front yard as a way of helping raise money to cure childhood cancer.

Amanda Hemingway, Director of Human Resources and Christopher Laufer, Director of Sales. Both of  at the Omni Hotel at Independence Park

 Alex passed away in 2004, when she was only eight years old – but not before raising more than a million dollars for her cause. The Foundation that bears her name continues. It has raised millions of dollars and funded more pediatric cancer research projects nationwide.

The Omni Hotel at Independence Park is located at 4^th and Chestnut streets in the city’s historic Old City section. The wedding ceremony and reception will be held at the hotel’s acclaimed Azalea restaurant and includes everything from filet mignon to a premium open bar. The hotel recently underwent a spectacular, $4 million renovation. The couple will spend their wedding night in the Omni’s penthouse suite with its magnificent living room, luxurious marble baths and commanding view of the city.

The lucky couple will begin with a rehearsal dinner at the lovely Union Trust Steak House with 30 of their family and friends. They will then host their wedding August 17, 2013 at the Omni Hotel at Independence Park. Carl Alan Floral Design has donated 20 centerpieces for the reception.

Hair and make-up services are being provided by Marc Voci Salon and Color Bar, Delaware County's premiere salon for chic and progressive hair. Hair and make-up services will be completed in the Omni’s penthouse suite. The groom’s tuxedo will be provided by Beau & Co., a British influenced custom clothing company that was created to spread an infectious passion for unique, custom-tailored garments. The groom will received a made-to-measure, full-canvas, custom suit or tuxedo, along with a bespoke dress shirt, more than 40 individual measurements of the groom will be taken to get the perfect fit and there are hundreds of fabrics and many individual style options for the groom to select from, to create something truly unique for the wedding. It is also an opportunity to add a number of custom details to celebrate the big day, such as a monogram of the wedding date on the shirt sleeve or inside of the jacket.

           

Barsky Diamonds, on Philadelphia’s famous Jewelers Row, is donating the wedding bands. And the bride can custom design her cake with the help of the experts at the Classic Cake Company.  Sparks Photography, who has photographed some of the city’s most notable society weddings and events, will be taking pictures. DJ Services will be provided by Synergetic Sounds & Lighting.

When it’s all over, the couple will fly round trip and enjoy their honeymoon at the all-inclusive Dreams Tulum resort on Mexico’s stunning Riviera Maya. Omni Hotel and Resort Cancun Mexico. The resort is home to world-class restaurants, splendid white sand beaches and an atmosphere of relaxed perfection. Staff will even deliver dinner and drinks to their private balcony – anytime of the day or night.

Complete information on every part of the wedding package can be found at the auction’s official web site -  aweddingforalex.com.

The Omni Hotel at Independence Park, 401 Chestnut Street, is a four-diamond European-style luxury hotel that  offers elegance and style at its best - all within walking distance of the Liberty Bell, U.S. Mint, Independence Hall and the Benjamin Franklin House.  Situated just 10 minutes from the Philadelphia International Airport, the Omni Hotel at Independence Park offers the ideal Philadelphia hotel location.

###

About Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of cancer patient Alexandra “Alex” Scott (1996-2004). In 2000, 4-year-old Alex announced that she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for all children with cancer. Since Alex held that first stand, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement, complete with thousands of supporters across the country carrying on her legacy of hope. To date, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 charity, has raised more than $50 million toward fulfilling Alex’s dream of finding a cure, funding over 200 pediatric cancer research projects nationally. For more information on Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, visit www.AlexsLemonade.org. 

Tuesday is the Great Chef's Event at the Navy Yard in Urban Outfitters. 

 (Sponsored)

SETH IN THE CITY, sexy at 57 floors above the City

High above the maddening rush hour crowd and sipping SIPS peeps

As I mentioned on my segment for Fox 29's Good Day Philly last week, the Friends of DA Seth Williams were having a fundraiser for his next campaign in 2013 at the Residences of Liberty Place last night.

Mitchell Kaplan, Esq of Zarwin Baum, Chef Daniel Stern, R2L (who catered the party) and DA Seth Willaims

"Ladies, dress like a star and put on your sexiest shoes. Gentlemen, dress to impress!"

Greeting guests at the 57th Floor of Liberty Place Residences was Gina Sweet-Comrie and Demetrius Widerman

Stacey Cummings and Claudia Tucker-Keto were on hand to support Seth Williams' next run.

Gar Giles and Cheryl Mosley

Lakeisa and Latasha Hill, with Linda Jackson and Tanya Hill of Exotic Glo jewelery

Yorel E Pressley and Salters B Davis IV

I left about 6:20PM to run to another event, but would return at 8:30PM to see how the Seth in The City grooved after the sun set.

As the sun set the sexy came out: Darrely Irizarry, Executive Director of Seth's Political Action Committee Lisette Gonzalez, Clament Newport, Janiel Ruffin, Marisol Maldonado and 

Alex Urevick-Ackelsberg, Greta Russo, Lotus Events, and Antoine Johnson‏, House of Talent Pa (Look for the fashion stylist guru's reality TV show to hit the airways this summer on the Bounce Network.)

Luz Centeno, Betty Slafman (The Loveliest Betty of them all!), Stacey Kracher, Aida Strata and Zeli Penna (Zeli@friendsofsethwilliams.com)

Wanda Albert, Pandora Wood and Councilwomen Blondell Reynolds Brown

Seth Williams and Mike Quick, former American football wide receiver who played his entire career with the Philadelphia Eagles, and can now be heard on the Philadelphia Eagles radio broadcasts on WIP 610 AM and 94.1 FM along with Merrill Reese. 

Next up, on July 27th dress to impress and participate in the All White Line Dance Party at Parkside Banquet Hall

Photos: The Delaware Valley Legacy Fund's (DVLF) HEROES Brunch

The Delaware Valley Legacy Fund's (DVLF) HEROES Brunch took place at the Sofitel on Sunday.

  The Delaware Valley Legacy Fund (DVLF) strives to increase philanthropy and grantmaking to support the community needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex (LGBTI) and straight-allied communities. DVLF advances philanthropy for the LGBTI community through endowment building, fundraising, community outreach and education. Amber Hikes, John Moeller, Executive Director of DVLF and Morgan Levine. Amber and Mogan are co-producers of The Stimulus Party, a diverse and popular monthly women’s party in Philadelphia.  2012 Business/Corporation HERO Award:Stimulus Productions

Robert Szwajkos,  Brad Bolino, Samantha Giusti, Manager of Corporate and Foundation Relations at WOMEN'S WAY, and Rudy Flesher,

Songstress Jen Creed entertained the crowd making the crowd smile with her Judy Garland, and Liza Minnelli songs. The event was held on the 2nd floor ball room of the Sofitel. I haven't really covered too many events there and it was very spacious, lit well and had a nice cocktail area right outside the larger room. I'd like to see more events in this space.

Carlos Aviles, Program Manager at Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education (GALAEI)

DAVID TORRES

The board president of the GALAEI and named one of 40 people named Delaware Valley’s Most Influential Latinos by the Philadelphia Multicultural Congress and Impacto Latino Magazine, and Adriana Rivera, Raices Latina Pride Philadelphia

Robert Metzger, Kevin Barry, Mark Segal, founder & publisher of the Philadelphia Gay News (when I was a kid that's how my mom found out I was gay, she found a bunch of them in my desk drawer while I was away at college, opps, [hm why was she looking in my desk drawer in the first place?) Jason Villemez and Dan Calhoun. Dan just participated in Weigh It Forward, a charity weight loss. He looks great. Here's an article on it in the PGN

 Samantha Giusti, Gloria Casarez, Casey Cook, Ray Murphy, Olinshar Ngiyen and Tricia Dressel

National Nonprofit Organization HERO Award: 
Trevor Project

Adriana “Andi” Rivera

Having recognized the need to have increased visibility for Latino LGBT communities, Andi took the initiative to organize what has since become Raices Latino Pride Philly. Raices is comprised of 12 Latino LGBT community leaders and has a mission to promote, educate, enrich, empower, unite, represent, and celebrate the LGBT Latino heritage. 

Individual HERO Award:Adriana "Andi" Rivera

David Lee Preston, Assistant City Editor, Philadelphia Daily News and Ronda B. Goldfein, Esq., executive director of the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania, is a nationally recognized advocate for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Craig Beyerle, Mark Beyerle, Specialty USA, Steven Maisel, Gigi Nilpour and Linda Berger

Bobby Saritsolou and Christina Kallas-Saritsoglou

Ed Bomba, Heshie Zinman, Chris, Mike, Mark Seaman and Janathan Vu

Ed Bomba, Heshie Zinman, Community Activist, LGBT Elder Activist, Social and Economic Justice Advocate, Radical Faerie, Chris Bartlett, Executive Director for the William Way LGBT Community Center, Michael Marsico, James Duggan, Mark Seaman and Janathan Vu

D. Mark Mitchell President of DVLF, with PR princess Christie Honigman, The Honigman Group, and John Moeller, Executive Director of DVLF (actually he resigned the day after as he is going to work with Planned Parenthood. Looking for an executive director for DVLF now. So jealous of that cute outfit.). Good luck to him.