The Social Diary of Philadelphia. Gossip, Tidbits, Celebrity & Philly Famous Sightings. Follow me on Twitter @iphillychitchat EMAIL ME Buzz@ phillychitchat .com
another chef is planning to exit within two years of the eateries opening.
First it was executive chef Scott Swiderski, who's resume included a long time stint at Buddakan and a New York Minute stay at The Corner in Midtown Village. He was the opening chef at Serafina in April 2011 and then left a year later in April 2012. I recall a sous chef was moved into the position until they found their next big chef name.
Enter Chef Tony Clark (2nd from left) who's resume includes the Four Seasons, The Rittenhouse, Tapestry, his own Tony Clark's restaurant and he still operates The Old Grange by Tony Clark in Cape May.
Chef Tony Clark will now be the executive chef of the restaurants at Valley Forge Casino Restaurants. They include Pacific Prime, Valley Tavern, Asianoodle, American Grill, Viviano, Nosh Deli and Italian Market.
P.S. I wonder why they keep putting big named talented chefs in this position. Serafina is a chain restaurant, with set successful tasty recipe's. How much experiment with the food can really go into a menu like that?
Opps running late. Enjoy the pixs while I put the content in by NOON. And remember please don't take your photo off for 24hrs. (PS if your photo isn't here, it might show up in another publication as their photographer wasn't on hand when I was there last nite.)
Last night the Constitution Center held an opening night party. This event was for invited guests as well as paying guests. It's a great because a lot of my readers always want to know how can I go to one of these parties. If you're not in the media, this is the next best thing to being an insider. Lauren Saul, Ashley Berke, Kat Maher, Jenna Winterle, Hauyen Ta, and Valerie Tomarchio
Hadas Kuznit in the glow of her pregnancy, Joey Sweeney, Philebrity, John McDevitt, Kyw1060 and Rick Nichols. Sweeney headed out to the opening night of the orchestra after the party (OMG what's happening to him. First the Rittenhouse Ball, now the orchestra?), Hadas, John and I headed over to Twisted Tale to catch The 9S Funk Band. (I adore these peeps in this photo. Mentors in my 5 years as PCC. Missing Michael Klein and Mike Jerrick. I'm getting verklempt now)
David Eisner, the president and CEO of the National Constitution Center greets the guests and chats about the exhibit.
Mr Philadelphia Al Lee shows me his custom suit with his name on the inside. It says "Made for Mr Philadelphia" An apt name not because he won some swim suit contest, but because he's over at the The Independence Visitor Center as the best Philly informed ambassador as well as social media guru.
Amy and Graham Copeland, Margaret Cronan, Chief Communications Officer/NCC and Jim Cuorato, President and CEO of The Independence Visitor Center
Guests shimmied to live jazz music by the Ben Mauger Orchestra,join in ’20s era dance performances and lessons by Mixed Pickles Vintage Dance
Company, and enjoy exclusive access to American Spirits before it opens to the public.
Interactive elements and immersive environments bring to life the sights, sounds, and experiences of the time period.
Jillian Haas and Keara Piekanski check out one of the exhibits. I went through fairly quickly, but I would say to really enjoy the exhibit give yourself at least ninety minutes.
From October
19, 2012 through April 28, 2013, the era of flappers and suffragists,
bootleggers and temperance lobbyists, and real-life legends like Al
Capone and Carry Nation will come vividly
to life in the National Constitution Center’s world-premiere exhibition American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition. Spanning from the dawn of the temperance movement, through the Roaring ’20s, to the unprecedented repeal of a constitutional
amendment, this first comprehensive exhibition about Prohibition will explore America’s most colorful and complex constitutional hiccup.
After a rain delay of a week, ChestnutHill will held its 28thAnnual Fall for the Arts Festival on Sunday, October 14, 2012.
The free festival offered more
than 165 artists and craftsmen specializing in oils and watercolors, sculpture,
photography, drawings and fine crafts, plus live musical entertainment on two
stages, food and fun for the whole family.
Tari Zarka Glassworks. So adorable
Patricia Totton of P2Ware Art Tile. Cute coat
Musical performers
include Dukes of Destiny, The Rich Posmontier Orchestra, The Tom Sartori Band
and Zydeco a Go Go.
ChestnutHill was recently named one
of 10 best neighborhoods in USA by the National Planning Commission,
after being nominated by the City of Philadelphia Planning Commission. It
was named one of
2010’s Distinctive Destinations in the nation by the National Trust for
Historic Preservation and 2012 Best Main Street Shopping by Philadelphia Magazine.
Lynn Fleming of Fredricka
NEXT WEEK There will be wizardry and wonder in the air as Chestnut
Hill once again transforms itself into Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley for Harry Potter Weekend, while Chestnut Hill College hosts the 3rd Annual Philadelphia Brotherly Love Quidditch Cup Tournament.
On October 26-27, the Chestnut Hill neighborhood will play host to a weekend’s worth of spellbinding events that will keep children and adults, and wizards and muggles, entertained.
All weekend long, shops and restaurants will magically change into
places right off J.K. Rowling’s pages. Visit the Leaky Cauldron, Madam
Puddifoot’s Tea Shop, Weasley’s Wizarding Wheeezes, Hogwarts Greenhouse
and many more.
The complimentary Knight Bus Trolley in Chestnut Hill will help you
stroll the avenue to catch magic shows, costume contests, movie
screenings, shopping and more.
Last year’s Harry Potter Weekend was sensational, and we can not wait for its return.
I might be this for Halloween. All the Big Bird costumes are gone.
Friday, October 26
Dumbledore will open the festivities on Friday evening at 6 p.m. at
the Top of the Hill Fountain Plaza with a parade of Quidditch teams.
Later that evening, adult wizards and muggles can join the Harry Potter
pub crawl and (new!!) “The Hunt for the Horcrux” scavenger hunt.
Meanwhile, the younger set can enjoy the Diagon Alley Straw Maze at
Woodmere Art Museum, then jump on their broomsticks and fly to the
Chestnut Hill Hotel at 7 p.m. for a showing of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. For a nominal fee, others can brave the darkness on a scary Ghost tour leaving from the Chestnut Hill Hotel, 6:30-8 p.m. Saturday, October 27
On Saturday, cheer on your favorite Quidditch team at the 3rd Annual Philadelphia Brotherly Love Cup
at Chestnut Hill College from 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. on the softball field.
Free and open to the public, the tournament showcases 16 college
Quidditch teams from the Philadelphia area and beyond and will feature
two Quidditch pitches with games played simultaneously for spectators to
view. The best three teams will compete for the Cup in the final
bracket of the tournament. Sunday, October 28
Quidditch 101, coached by Chestnut Hill College Quidditch players,
will be offered on Sunday on the estate lawn at SugarLoaf at 11 a.m.
Trick-or-treating and a costume parade in Chestnut Hill will follow
later in the afternoon. Meanwhile, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. the stables at
Northwestern Equestrian Center will be open to the public for their
annual Halloween costume parade, open house and arena games. Meet
Tenebrus, a Thestral from Hogwarts, and more. How to Get There
Taking public transportation to Chestnut Hill is encouraged for
wizards and muggles alike. On Saturday, October 27, the complementary
Hogwarts Express Shuttle will be making stops at the Chestnut Hill West
Station all day, with stops at Chestnut Hill College and the Top of the
Hill. More info soon.
Check out a cool video preview of the Quidditch Tournament, below. Harry Potter Weekend 2012
When: October 26-28
Where: Throughout Chestnut Hill
Cost: Free; some activities carry nominal fees Please visit www.chestnuthillpa.com
for more information.
On Saturday, October
27, Rittenhouse Row will host our annual Halloween Celebration. The
event includes a children’s party and costume contest at the Radisson
Plaza-Warwick Hotel from 10AM until noon and FREE public
trick-or-treating at participating Rittenhouse Row member locations.
THE 2012 RITTENHOUSE ROW HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION AND TRICK-OR-TREAT
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2012
WHO: Rittenhouse Row
WHAT: The 2012 Rittenhouse Row Halloween Celebration and Trick-or-Treat
WHERE: The Radisson Plaza Warwick Hotel Philadelphia (Halloween Celebration)
220 South 17th Street
Trick-or-Treat all over Rittenhouse Row
WHEN: Saturday, October 27th from 10AM until 12PM (Halloween Celebration)
Trick-or-Treat from 10AM until 5PM
WHY: Families
will enjoy a children’s costume contest with prizes, a mini brunch
buffet and fun Halloween themed activities from Rittenhouse Row member
businesses.
Please
bring a book to donate to The Gift of Life House and remember to grab
your map for Trick-or-Treating at Rittenhouse Row member locations.
Chef Terence Feury announced the appointment of Anna Schneider to the position of general manager at his new restaurant Tavro Thirteen
in Swedesboro, New Jersey. "Anna is an incomparable addition to the
stellar Tavro team," says Feuryl "We are thrilled to be working with
her."
A
native of the northeast, Schneider has spent the past 18 years in the
hospitality industry. After pursuing a promising dance career, Anna
found her true calling as a drink-slinging bartender in New York City in
1994. Quickly working her way up through the industry ranks to GM, she
has worked with many world-renowned chefs, including James Beard
Award-winners Barbara Lynch and Guillermo Tellez. She helped to open
Philadelphia's Square 1682, and most recently she spent five years with
hospitality leaders Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants.**
Located
at 1301 Kings Highway in Swedesboro, NJ. Tavro will open its doors on
Monday, October 22, 2012. The former Old Swedes Inn has been transformed
to house Tavro's fine-dining room, a lounge with live music, and
expansive bar and a gorgeous private party room. The restaurant is set
to become a centerpiece for dining and entertainment in South Jersey.
Just 20 minutes from Center City Philadelphia, the new restaurant has a
thoroughly modern approach to hospitality while maintaining the
building's old world charm and class that made it a destination for
locals and visitors for almost a quarter century.
With
a blend of big city finesse and neighborhood familiarity, Schneider is a
true hospitality professional. Be sure to say hello if you're stopping
in for a drink with friends, enjoying live music in the lounge, having a
romantic dinner, or hosting your next big party. The entire Tavro
Thirteen team is dedicated to providing an incredible experience.
**Oddly the press release doesn't mention her last job which was GM of Valley Forge Casino restaurants Pacific Prime and Viviano. She left that job on October 3. Good luck Anna.
Ugh I ran out of time today. I was working on my philly mag column and I have gym time at 11am. NOW that wouldn't have been the case but I left in the middle of my work out with Steve Hoffman yesterday to chase a Chris Brown lead. It didn't pan out. Then I had assignments and well ran out of time cause I had to sleep. So here are a few pixs from around town some are storied.
I love The Corners new signs. I LOVE that they seem to be doing well. CONGRATS to Chef John Taus and Tony Rim.
I wish I could match up these paragraphs with pixs but I'm posting this from my phone.
Check out Philly Magazine online about noon for my column on the Rolling Stones. It's under The Philly Post section then under the Scene.
COOL MURAL IN MIDTOWN VILLAGE
Thanks to Morris Gosial for the trip on the sailboat down the Cheseapeak last week.
You'll recall in April, Phillies Cole Hamels and wife, Heidi, hosted a Hamels Foundation
dinner with Chef Jennifer Carroll and I covered it in my Philly Mag Column HERE. The event was filmed for an episode
of Bravo TV's "Life After Top Chef' reality show, but I wasn't allowed to say so cause I signed a confidentiality agreement. Tonight the show will air on Bravo, maybe I'll be on with Andy Cohen After Dark or wWatch Phillies Ace
Pitcher cooking in the kitchen, alongside Chef Carroll to prepare a four
course dinner for sponsors and even his teammates! Proceeds benefited
The Hamels Foundation. This episode will air Wednesday, Oct 17th, 2012 on Bravo TV at 10pm EST
Ladies don't always lunch, many times they serve on charitable boards and committees. The Do Gooders I would call them. This year Laurel House celebrates its 10th year of the ‘Breaking the
Silence’ luncheon and fashion show on November 8, 2012. The luncheon
will be held at Overbrook Country Club.
This year’s theme is ‘Women
supporting Women’ and recognition of the committee’s 10- year commitment
to raising awareness about domestic violence and funds through this
popular event. The founder of the Women’s Committee, Tiffany Jones, will
be the keynote speaker. A fashion show will be presented by Maureen
Doran and SKIRT of BrynMawr and will feature designer Diane Von
Furstenberg clothing and accessories. Laurel House is a non-profit
agency based in Norristown. It provides supportive services for victims
of domestic violence and their children.
Earlier this month I attended the invitation stuffing party, which was held at Tammy Reid's home, where the ladies of the committee address, stuff and stamp the invitations to be sent to people who might want to attend this important event.
Tiffany Green, Michelle Karalis, Lisa Brandt, co-chair Natasha Bolis, Tammy Reid, and co-chair Alicia Payne
Kristy Sevag, Sheila Norton, Jen McGowan, Krissa Wischer, Ann Marie De Cain
Nancy Scarlato, Lenka Holgren, Julia Fleischner, Michelle Hamilton, Victoria Kreiter and Shari Noteware
Tammy Reid's house is adorable. It was all decorated for Halloween and I
had one too many twix bars. She has pumpkin containers everywhere
filled with the delicious treats. She also had a lovely spread of brunch
items and fruit for the gals and is a most hospitable hostess. Laurel House is very dear to hear so if you're available come out to support the cause, enjoy lunch, meet a lovely ladies and see a fun fashion show. Tickets Here
Book Signings & Celebrity Appearances: Teresa Giudice, Bravo reality star, signing copies of Fabulicious! On the Grill 5/23/13 6:00 PM at The Penn Bookstore - Walnut Street. Philadelphia, PA
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