Philly Chit Chat

Cabaret by the River: An Elegant Evening at Andalusia Historic House, Gardens & Arboretum

An evening of music, philanthropy and timeless elegance unfolded along the Delaware River on Saturday, October 3, 2026, as Andalusia Historic House, Gardens & Arboretum hosted its 33rd annual Cabaret by the River fundraiser.

This year’s featured entertainer was acclaimed pianist and vocalist Billy Stritch, whose remarkable career includes a 25-year collaboration with legendary entertainer Liza Minnelli, as well as touring with Tony Bennett as his pianist and musical director. Stritch brought a touch of Broadway glamour to the intimate riverside celebration.

The sold-out black-tie affair welcomed guests for cocktails, gourmet dining, a live auction and a special cabaret performance, all set against the spectacular backdrop of one of the Philadelphia region’s most treasured historic estates.

John Vick, Executive Director of Andalusia Historic House, Gardens & Arboretum, addressed guests during the evening, thanking them for their generous support and their commitment to preserving the historic estate, its magnificent gardens and its rich cultural legacy for future generations.

The annual Cabaret by the River is a wonderful reminder of how Philadelphia-area philanthropy brings people together to celebrate and preserve the region’s extraordinary cultural treasures.

And there’s still time to experience Andalusia this fall! The historic property remains open for its 2026 season through November 13, with garden visits, historic house tours and a special Open Saturday on November 7. It’s a beautiful destination for a leisurely autumn afternoon, just north of Philadelphia.

Another favorite event I love covering at Andalusia is its annual Garden Party & Kentucky Derby celebration, held each spring. Guests gather among the spectacular gardens overlooking the Delaware River for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and an afternoon of festivities before watching the Kentucky Derby live on a giant screen. It’s always a fashionable and fun way to celebrate the Run for the Roses while supporting this historic treasure.

The 2027 celebration is in the works! While the date and ticket prices have not yet been announced, you can check Andalusia’s official Garden Party page for updates and ticket information as it becomes available.

Check out more photos from this event at my CBS Philadelphia column. Hope to see you there!

Thanks to Andalusia for providing PhillyChitChat with photos from the cabaret event. Shot by Mark Stehle Photography

Socially yours HughE

Ardmore Day Celebrates 75 Years of Community Spirit on the Main Line

Downtown Ardmore came alive on Saturday, October 17, 2026, as the Ardmore Business Association celebrated its 75th anniversary with Ardmore Day, a festive afternoon of shopping, entertainment, food and family fun in downtown Ardmore. Special guests included FOX 29’s Bob Kelly, Philadelphia Eagles mascot Swoop and Eagles cheerleaders.

The free annual celebration, centered around Schauffele Plaza, featured the popular Ardbark Dog Parade and Costume Contest, a classic car show, a family corn maze, bumper cars, live music and activities for all ages.

The Ardbark contest will be judged by local businesses with a special connection to animals: Ardmore Animal Hospital, Main Line Urgent Vet, Ruff House Dog Center and VEG ER, along with longtime ABA board member Harry Althouse, formerly of Harry’s Treasures.

Local restaurants, merchants and businesses joined the festivities with food, sidewalk sales and special activities, showcasing the vibrant small-business community that makes Ardmore such a popular Main Line destination.

Congratulations to the Ardmore Business Association on 75 years of supporting local businesses and bringing neighbors together.

Ardmore Day was a wonderful reminder of the importance of shopping local and celebrating the communities that make our region special.

The children’s Halloween costume was well attended with Dracula taking the top price.

For car enthusiasts, a Vintage Car Show took place on Rittenhouse Place .

For ABA President Nina Greberman, the 75th anniversary is an opportunity to recognize the organization’s history while celebrating the people who continue to make it relevant today.

After 75 years, the Ardmore Business Association continues to advocate for local businesses, answer questions, bring businesses together and create events that connect the community. Ardmore Day is a celebration of that history and a look ahead to what comes next.

I can’t wait to head back to Ardmore and do some holiday shopping. I’ve discovered there is plenty of parking.

ABA Annual Holiday Tree Lighting

Friday, November 27 at 6:00 PM | Schauffele Plaza, Ardmore
Join the Ardmore Business Association for one of our favorite holiday traditions — the Annual Holiday Tree Lighting!

Bring the family and get ready for a little holiday magic as we welcome Santa & Mrs. Claus arriving on a firetruck! Watch Santa light up our Christmas tree and help us kick off the holiday season right here in Ardmore.

Enjoy FREE hot chocolate and cookies!

It’s a wonderful opportunity to gather with friends and neighbors, support our local community, and make some special holiday memories together.

Art, fashion, and philanthropy came together Friday evening, October 16, as the Barnes Foundation welcomed Philadelphia’s cultural leaders, philanthropists, artists, and fashionable social crowd for its annual Barnes Art Ball on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

With a nasty storm threatening, because really, hasn’t that been the theme of 2026, the VIP cocktail party was moved indoors at the iconic museum on the Parkway, but I was able to grab a few shots before the rain drops.

This year’s celebration was inspired by Noguchi to Asawa: Designing Postwar America, the Barnes’s fall exhibition highlighting the extraordinary influence of Japanese American artists on midcentury art and design.

Congrats on Jo Tiongson-Perez Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at The Penn Museum on her recent Emmy win: for the Penn Museum’s video project around the making of the Ancient Egypt and Nubia Galleries produced in partnership with Maestro Filmworks.

The exhibition is on view through January 10, 2027, giving visitors plenty of time to experience it.

Beyond the glamour, the Art Ball raises vital funds supporting the Barnes Foundation’s educational programs, exhibitions, collection care, and community initiatives.

Dinner by CONSTELLATION CULINARY GROUP

Decor by Susan Norcross, The Styled Bride

Another fabulous Philadelphia soirée bringing together philanthropy, culture, and community in support of education and the arts.

Socially Yours, HughE

Philadelphia’s Design Community Is Going Revolutionary for the 2026 Beaux Arts Ball

Following the unforgettable 2024 celebration at Lynnewood Hall, the Beaux Arts Ball returns in honor of America’s 250th birthday. Celebrating the nation’s diversity, unity, and creativity, the event brings together Philadelphia’s design community for an extraordinary evening of dancing, celebration, and stepping into another era.

On Saturday, October 24, Philadelphia’s creative community, including architects, designers, artists, educators, students, and supporters of the arts, will gather at Girard College for the 2026 Beaux Arts Ball, hosted by AIA Philadelphia and DesignPhiladelphia.

Known for blending architectural history, satire, and high fashion, the Beaux Arts Ball has celebrated themes like “Lunacy!” and the 2024 theme, “All That Is Gilded Is Not Gold.” This year’s theme, “Be Revolutionary: America Turns 250,” invites guests to channel iconic figures, historic movements, or revolutionary ideas, from Benjamin Franklin to Beyoncé. Classic black tie is always welcome!

Saturday, October 24, 2026
6 PM to 11 PM
Girard College, Philadelphia
INFO AND TICKETS CAN BE FOUND HERE

Proceeds benefit DesignPhiladelphia’s K-12 Design Education program,which is dedicated to significantly increasing access to design education for K-12 students in
Philadelphia.

Work to Ride Celebrates Second Annual Philadelphia Arena Polo Championship

Philadelphia’s Work to Ride welcomed spectators to its Second Annual Philadelphia Arena Polo Championship on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at the McCausland Arena at Chamounix Equestrian Center in Fairmount Park.

The event brought together current Work to Ride student-athletes, alumni, and accomplished polo players for an exciting day of competition, community engagement, and fundraising in support of the organization’s youth development programs.

The festivities featured two polo matches, beginning with a morning competition showcasing Work to Ride students and alumni. The afternoon championship featured Mt. Gordon Farms taking on Mars Equestrian, giving spectators an up-close experience of the fast-paced sport inside one of the region’s most distinctive equestrian facilities.

Legendary Society Photographer Susan Scovill and her daughter Lucy

Beyond the matches, guests enjoyed food from Candy Girl, Wokworks and The Coffee Club PHL, refreshments from MilkBoy, local vendors, live DJ entertainment, lawn games, and an interactive experience with the Philly Goat Project.

The championship also marked an important chapter for Work to Ride after the reigns to the organization were passed to Kareem Rosser, a former program participant and nationally accomplished polo player, and now executive director. Former executive director and founder, Lezlie Hiner, Work to Ride has helped generations of underserved Philadelphia youth develop confidence, leadership, teamwork, and educational opportunities through horsemanship and equestrian sports.

Proceeds from the championship support the organization’s continued growth, including expanded after-school programming, riding lessons, summer camps, and other opportunities designed to introduce more Philadelphia children to the equestrian world.

Spectators filled the bleachers, as well as the VIP tables along the rail.

Work to Ride is more than polo. It’s about mentorship, education, and creating opportunities for Philadelphia’s youth. You can help change lives by donating, volunteering, or spreading the word. Support this incredible Philadelphia nonprofit at WorkToRide.net

See you next year!! HughE

Philadelphia’s arts community came together for a colorful night of creativity, celebration and support as The Clay Studio hosted its annual Mud Ball 2026 on Saturday, September 26.

The signature fundraiser filled The Clay Studio’s North American Street home with artists, collectors, supporters and friends for an evening celebrating ceramic art and the creative community that has made the organization a Philadelphia institution.

Held at The Clay Studio’s home at 1425 N. American Street, the annual celebration brought together Philadelphia’s arts community for an evening of cocktails, food, ceramics, entertainment and dancing, all while supporting one of the city’s most important institutions dedicated to ceramic arts.

And this really is a party with a purpose.

Mud Ball is The Clay Studio largest fundraiser of the year, with proceeds supporting arts education, scholarships, exhibitions, artist residencies and community engagement programs throughout Philadelphia. Funds raised also help keep The Clay Studio’s exhibitions free and open to the public seven days a week.

One of the evening’s most popular traditions returned with the Mystery Cup Grab. For $25, guests selected a mystery box containing a one-of-a-kind ceramic cup handmade by an artist from The Clay Studio community. Guests also had a chance to bid on original ceramic works in the silent auction and try their luck on raffle prizes featuring artwork, experiences and local favorites.

The evening featured food from 12th Street Catering, live entertainment from Brian Sanders’ JUNK dance troupe and, as the night went on, dancing under the stars on The Clay Studio’s rooftop deck.

Beyond the party, the impact of Mud Ball extends throughout the year. Support helps The Clay Studio provide arts experiences for more than 5,800 underserved children and adults through its Claymobile community engagement program, support its resident artists and provide approximately $60,000 in adult and youth scholarships to help remove financial barriers to arts education.

The Clay Studio has long been more than a place to see beautiful ceramics. It is a place where artists work, students learn, communities connect and generations of Philadelphians have discovered what they can create with their own two hands.

Mud Ball celebrates all of that, while giving everyone a pretty good excuse to dress up, raise a glass, buy some art and dance the night away.

Check out the Fall Exhibitions HERE

More photos at CBSPhiladelphia, and a future Philly Style Magazine issue.

Philadelphia added a stylish new tradition to its social calendar as the JMK Foundation hosted its inaugural Philadelphia White Gala at the National Constitution Center on September 2.

Guests arrived dressed in white for the celebration, creating a striking scene inside the Kenneth C. Griffin Great Hall Overlook, with Independence Mall providing the perfect Philadelphia backdrop.

The evening marked the first signature gala for the JMK Foundation, founded by three pilots, James Schwerner, Michael Todd and Kyle Rodriguez. Guided by the principles Faith. Service. Community., the Foundation is focused on building opportunity for the next generation through aviation access, scholarships and mentorship.

The inaugural Philadelphia White Gala benefited Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and featured cocktails, passed hors d’oeuvres and Philadelphia-inspired culinary stations by Rhubarb Hospitality Collection, along with a silent auction and remarks from representatives of the JMK Foundation and CHOP.

Organizers envision the White Gala as an annual Philadelphia tradition, bringing together the city’s business, nonprofit, healthcare, military, civic and cultural communities in support of service and opportunity.

And judging from the fashionable crowd gathered for the first one, the Philadelphia White Gala may have found itself a permanent place on the city’s September social calendar.

To learn more follow them in Instagram or check out their website

The 7th Annual Bite for the Fight Food Festival brought together great food, celebrity chefs and a wonderful cause on Saturday, September 19, at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA.

Hosted by the Fight On Makenna Foundation, the popular dine-around event featured tastings from dozens of regional restaurants, craft cocktails, local brews, fine wines, live cooking demonstrations and a silent auction.

Celebrity chefs Brian Duffy, Ariane Duarte and Kenneth J. McDuffie joined Harvest Seasonal Grill’s David Schorn for an afternoon of culinary demonstrations and meet-and-greets.

The dine-around style tasting event drew hundreds of guests and coincided with National Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. Every dollar raised benefits quality-of-life programs for pediatric cancer patients and their families at CHOP.

Guests enjoyed bites and beverages from The Blue Elephant, Robert Ryan Catering and Design, Bald Birds Brewing Company, Brick & Blaze Pizza Company, Angie’s Vietnamese Cuisine, Harvest Seasonal Grill, Dad’s Hat and many more.

Founded in 2018 by Rich and Michelle Massi of Pottstown in honor of their daughter Makenna, the Fight On Makenna Foundation supports quality-of-life programs for pediatric cancer patients and their families at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

“Our goal is to continue to fund programs that make a difference to families and children battling pediatric cancer,” said Rich Massi.

The winners of the 2026 Bite for the Fight Food Festival were: Sedona Grill and Taphouse for Best Savory Bite and Cierra’s Sweets for best Sweet Bite! Thanks for everyone who turned out to help the kids by supporting the Fight On Makenna Foundation

Thanks Andre Flewellen for shooting this for PhillyChitChat.
PR Garden Wellington in partnership with Jaimi Blackburn
At the Philadelphia Expo, in Oakes PA