Philadelphia magazine held its annual Best of Philly Soirée at Dilworth Park, and this year was unequivocally their best “Best of Philly” party yet. Nearly 1,000 fashionable, fun, scenesters and business folks filled the park and enjoyed hor d’oeuvres by Brulee Catering and small plates by Jose Garces’ Rosa Blanca cafe. Many of the “Best of” restaurants served their winning dishes, like the delicious crab fries from Varga Bar and The Olde Bar’s version of shrimp cocktail. There was a whole table of Philly soft pretzels from the Philly Pretzel Factory, and there were open bars with beverages provided by Stella Artois. Sip-and-Glo Juicery was on hand with their healthy juices. It was a great night, and an innovative event space. Congrats to Philly Mag for putting on a successful party.

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HughE Dillon covers parties, events and more for Philadelphia magazine’s The Scene. You can follow him on Twitter at @iPhillyChitChat and visit his daily online social diary PhillyChitChat.com.

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On Monday night at Twenty Manning, a sponsor party was held to announce the details of the 2015 Audi FEASTIVAL, which will take place on September 17th, 2015. On that night, the FringeArts Headquarters on 140 N. Columbus Boulevard will host an exclusive, chic party for the hottest movers and shakers in Philadelphia’s business, culinary and arts scenes — but most importantly, a fundraiser for FringeArts, whose Philadelphia Fringe Festival runs from September 3rd through 19th. The co-chairs for FEASTIVAL this year are Jesse & Beka Rendell, David & Susan Lipson, Tony Forte and Ryan Hummel. Guests at the patron party enjoyed samples of dishes that will be served at the gala, as well as an open bar. The purpose of a patron party is to thank the sponsors for their support and to preview what they can expect at the gala on the 17th. Tickets are still available and can be bought here.

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HughE Dillon covers parties, events and more for Philadelphia magazine’s The Scene. You can follow him on Twitter at @iPhillyChitChat and visit his daily online social diary PhillyChitChat.com.

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Philadelphia Montessori Charter School hosted its inaugural “Anything Is Possible” Garden Party Wednesday night to celebrate the completion of the school’s garden and playground. The playground, which is adjacent to the elementary school in Southwest Philadelphia, was a community project where students, teachers, volunteers and many partners worked on the competition including KaBoom!, the CarMax Foundation, The Philadelphia Water Department, Spor Chargers, metal sculptors Steve Webb and Alex Morgan and the Philadelphia Orchard Project. There’s a jungle gym, a garden surrounded by a mosaic wall, and a beautiful metal sculpture that lights up at night.

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HughE Dillon covers parties, events and more for Philadelphia magazine’s The Scene. You can follow him on Twitter at @iPhillyChitChat and visit his daily online social diary PhillyChitChat.com.

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On Friday, September 11th the Mural Arts Advisory Council hosted its second Salon this year at at local artist Caryn Kunkle’s Philadelphia studio. The event attracted more than 100 guests including Ed Rendell, Jane Golden and Mural Arts Advisory Council Co-chairs Teresa C. Nino and Rachel Luber-Cevera.

Guests enjoyed a delicious dinner provided by Zavino’s as well as local artist curator Frederick Calalang ,who makes a delicious mac and cheese and empanadas. Cocktails were provided by Yards Brewery. There was live painting from Gabe Tiburino, screen printing by Hope Rovelto, and live music performed by Chelsea Reed & The Fairweather Five. Guests also had an opportunity to take home a piece of original artwork and other gifts, donated by local businesses.

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HughE Dillon covers parties, events and more for Philadelphia magazine’s The Scene. You can follow him on Twitter at @iPhillyChitChat and visit his daily online social diary PhillyChitChat.com.

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The Moyer Foundation’s Champions for Children Luncheon was held Tuesday at the Crystal Tea Room in Center City. The room was packed with Phillies fans, friends and supporters of former Phillies player Jamie Moyer and David Montgomery the chairman, minority-owner, and former President of the Philadelphia Phillies.

The well-liked Montgomery looked great after battling cancer in recent years; he and his wife Lyn greeted old friends and family, some who had traveled cross-country to be there with them for the event. Jamie and Karen Moyer founded the Moyer Foundation which funds Camp Erin Philadelphia, a camp serving grieving children and teens, in partnership with UPENN’s Wissahickon Hospice, and Camp Mariposa Pennsylvania, a partnership with the Penn Foundation, for kids of addicted parents.

Champions for Children Honorary Committee co-chairs were Dan Hilferty, Independence Blue Cross, Denis P. O’Brien, Exelon Utilities, Judith M. von Seldeneck, Diversified Search and Edward G. Rendell. Rendell said that he wishes there was a camp like Camp Erin when he was a young boy, as his father died when he was 14 and it was a very difficult period for his family. To have a place to go and be with other kids going through the same grieving process would have made life much easier.

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HughE Dillon covers parties, events and more for Philadelphia magazine’s The Scene. You can follow him on Twitter at @iPhillyChitChat and visit his daily online social diary PhillyChitChat.com.

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The Franklin Institute held a gala opening for Vatican Splendors, a new exhibit to coincide with Pope Francis’ visit to Philadelphia. Art patrons and supporters of the science center walked the red carpet and into the museum where trumpeters guided them toward the exhibit on the upper floors where over 200 works of art and historically significant objects depicting the history of the Church and its impact on art, history and culture will be housed until February 15, 2016. Guests then dined in the Grand Hall with music by The Herreras and danced and enjoyed dessert to Blues Junior band (Mole Street Productions) in the Atrium. At 9 p.m. the museum welcomed the Franklin Institute Young Friends to the party, which continued until nearly midnight.

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HughE Dillon covers parties, events and more for Philadelphia magazine’s The Scene. You can follow him on Twitter at @iPhillyChitChat and visit his daily online social diary PhillyChitChat.com.

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Stephen Starr’s Continental celebrated it’s 20th anniversary with a party on Sunday night bringing together original servers from the week the restaurant opened, alumni servers from over the years, customers, family and friends. Guests enjoyed passed hors d’oeuvres, a charcuterie spread and an amazing dessert buffet.

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HughE Dillon covers parties, events and more for Philadelphia magazine’s The Scene. You can follow him on Twitter at @iPhillyChitChat and visit his daily online social diary PhillyChitChat.com.

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Fall gala season has arrived. Wednesday night the Philadelphia Orchestra held its opening night and dinner at the Kimmel Center. Friday, Opera Philadelphia celebrated its opening night with a grand celebration on Broad Street, under a white tent that withstood the winds of a nor’easter that soaked the region last week. A parade of glamorously dressed guests arrived for the cocktail party and dinner before the opening night of La traviata, an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. Dr. Ady L. Djerassi and Dr. Robert Golub  were Opening Night Gala chairs. After La traviata, where the audience gave the performers a three-minute standing ovation, theatergoers and young friends enjoyed an after party under the tent on Broad Street,. Proceeds from the gala went go to fund “Opera on the Mall,”  which is on October 16. It’s a free HD broadcast of La traviata which will play on a movie screen in front of Independence Hall that evening. It was rescheduled to October 16 after rain cancelled it last Saturday.

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HughE Dillon covers parties, events and more for Philadelphia magazine’s The Scene. You can follow him on Twitter at @iPhillyChitChat and visit his daily online social diary PhillyChitChat.com.

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Wednesday night a room full of movers and shakers gathered at the Independence Visitor Center to pay tribute to a national LGBT trailblazer, Mark Segal, who was celebrating the publication of his long-awaited memoir, And Then I Danced: Traveling the Road to LGBT Equality. The night began for most of us crossing the NBC10 picket line of striking photographers; John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty was a few steps behind me, shaking hands with a few of the protestors — members of his union — and giving them his support. In comes David L. Cohen, executive vice president of Comcast, NBC10’s parent company. No problem. Cohen and Dougherty exchanged a handshake, and the two talked for a long time, even posing for a photo for me. Both then joined the long line of other guests waiting their turn for the man of the hour Mark Segal to sign their books.

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HughE Dillon covers parties, events and more for Philadelphia magazine’s The Scene. You can follow him on Twitter at @iPhillyChitChat and visit his daily online social diary PhillyChitChat.com.

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Last week PHLDiversity, a division of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, (PHLCVB) hosted its 2015 Annual Luncheon at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. Emceed by Emmy award-winning journalist Cynthia Gouw, the luncheon celebrated “The Impact of Diversity.” Celebrating Philly’s spirit of cooperation and inclusion, industry and community leaders were honored for their continued impact on the community’s diverse hospitality and tourism industry. Honors included the Community Recognition Award, given to Dr. Stephen S. Tang, president and CEO of the University City Science Center; the Industry Appreciation Award, given to Jay H. Shah, CEO of Hersha Hospitality Trust; and the Bring it Home Award given to Mayor Michael A. Nutter, Congressman Bob Brady, and Former Governor Ed Rendell for their efforts in bringing the 2016 Democratic National Convention to Philadelphia.

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HughE Dillon covers parties, events and more for Philadelphia magazine’s The Scene. You can follow him on Twitter at @iPhillyChitChat and visit his daily online social diary PhillyChitChat.com.

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Luke Palladino, Chef/Owner LP Steaks and fiance Kristine Kurilko.

Monday night Chef Luke Palladino held a sneak preview party for friends, family and guests at his new eatery, LP Steak at ValleyForge Casino Resort. The upscale steakhouse passed around samples of classic cuts of prime beef, chops, and seafood. The full service bar served local spirits and craft beers, poured California and Italian wines, and created classic cocktails with the Palladino twist. The 4,400-square-foot space officially opens on Friday night and was designed in a rustic steakhouse feel by Gruber Design Associates. LP Steak joins the Luke Palladino Hospitality Group, with restaurants in Philly and Atlantic City, NJ.

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HughE Dillon covers parties, events and more for Philadelphia magazine’s The Scene. You can follow him on Twitter at @iPhillyChitChat and visit his daily online social diary PhillyChitChat.com.

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The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern Pennsylvania held their 100th anniversary gala last night.

Guests walked the purple carpet and posed for a handful of paparazzi, then continued into the purple-themed Kimmel Center where they enjoyed several cocktail parties. Upstairs on tier two, guest performers Vanessa Williams, Macy Gray, Stephan Jenkins, Marlon Wayans and Shontelle mingled with VIPs. Meanwhile, downstairs in Commonwealth Plaza another cocktail party was going strong in the beautifully designed area decorated on a grand scale by Petah Bashano Event Décor and Design and food by Garces Catering.

Since its inception in 1915, the Big Brothers Big Sisters has offered mentoring to thousands of boys and girls by reaching out and believing positive adult role models make a difference. And they do, many of the speakers during the program said.

Several people and organizations were honored during a program in Verizon Hall, including Comcast, The Bentley Family, Dr. Wilson Goode, Fox Rothschild, and two long time volunteers, Tom McElvogue and Joan Tishgart. The goal for the evening was to raise $1 million dollars; that goal was exceeded, but there is still an opportunity to raise even more funds to help mentor a child.

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HughE Dillon covers parties, events and more for Philadelphia magazine’s The Scene. You can follow him on Twitter at @iPhillyChitChat and visit his daily online social diary PhillyChitChat.com.

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The Second Annual Fashion Under the Shambles took place Wedesday night and the weather was delightfully cool, encouraging fashionistas to break out their stylish fall clothing. The evening started with a cocktail party, with sponsors Bridget Foy’s, Bistro Romano, Cavanaugh’s Headhouse and His and Hers Restaurant. By 7 pm, guests filled the rows of seats along the runway; Cory Wade, master of ceremonies, took the stage and chatted about the impressive fashion scene happening in Philadelphia before introducing the 21 South Street district businesses that would be showcased during the 60-minute show. At the conclusion of the show Corey encouraged folks to come to Fabric Row’s monthly shopping stroll on October 23.

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HughE Dillon covers parties, events and more for Philadelphia magazine’s The Scene. You can follow him on Twitter at @iPhillyChitChat and visit his daily online social diary PhillyChitChat.com.

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Bill Culp, Karen Lynch and Allyson Lynch. The Lynch’s are mother daughter breast cancer survivors and were thrilled to be able to attend the Pink Tide Gala together.

Susan G. Komen Philadelphia presented its 14th annual Pink Tie Ball, this year at Vie. The theme was Pink Tide Ball, and the event space was magnificently decorated by Scott Rothenberger’s PLACE with lots of sea creatures, trees, and jelly fish at every corner to the delight of guests. The event attracted nearly 650 of the community’s most avid breast cancer supporters to further help Komen Philadelphia save lives and advance research.

The evening started out with a cocktail party, where guests dined on all the delicious Cescaphe delights including seafood, pasta and salad. Then they headed into the main event space for dinner and the program. There were two award winners: ShopRite Supermarkets, which received the “Friend in the Fight” award for supporting Komen events and the company’s employee-friendly medical benefits package; American Association for Cancer Research, which received the “Beacon of Hope” award.

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HughE Dillon covers parties, events and more for Philadelphia magazine’s The Scene. You can follow him on Twitter at @iPhillyChitChat and visit his daily online social diary PhillyChitChat.com.

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Peter Dilsheimer and Madison Alig, with Jaclyn Osterstock and Derek Jameson.

The Wistar Ambassadors hosted Eat, Drink, Dance and Cure Cancer last Friday night at Loews Hotel on the 33rd floor. The Wistar Ambassadors are a group of young residents of the Philadelphia region, between the ages of 25 and 40 years old, who want to learn more about the bold new advances in cancer research at The Wistar Institute — and find new ways of raising local and national awareness of these efforts.

There were several scientists on hand, easily recognized in their lab coats, to chat about the latest research Wistar. Guests enjoyed light bites, bid on silent auction items such as trips, clothing and other experiences, and danced to the tunes of Dj Adrian Hardy. This Friday, Wistar Institute honors Dr. Russel E. Kaufman for his contributions as President and CEO of The Wistar Institute for the last 12 years.

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HughE Dillon covers parties, events and more for Philadelphia magazine’s The Scene. You can follow him on Twitter at @iPhillyChitChat and visit his daily online social diary PhillyChitChat.com.

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Last night was the long-anticipated opening of the play Rizzo from Theatre Exile [Read David Fox’s review of the play here]. The event drew lots of political powerhouses from years gone by like Frank Rizzo strategist Marty Weinberg as well as the current the Democratic contender for mayor, Jim Kenney. There were also family members in the audience, friends and people who weren’t fond of Rizzo on hand to see the show. Before the performance, there was a cocktail party down the street at the home of long-time theater supporters Pam and Gresham Riley, where author Sal Paolantonio, who wrote the book the play is based on, appeared. Also there was Joe Canuso, founding partner of Theatre Exile, and director of Rizzo.

Following the play, there was an after party held at The Plough & the Stars. Rizzo is running at Christ Church Neighborhood House, 20 N. American St. through November 8.th I was glad to catch it last night; Scott Greer and the cast were amazing. Everyone I talked to really enjoyed it, and said it really captured the angry and morose Rizzo as he tried to change his personality, and run for a third term as Mayor of Philadelphia in the early ’90s before his untimely death.

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HughE Dillon covers parties, events and more for Philadelphia magazine’s The Scene. You can follow him on Twitter at @iPhillyChitChat and visit his daily online social diary PhillyChitChat.com.

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Last Monday night, the Sixth Annual XIX Most Fashionable Women in Philadelphia were honored at the restaurant XIX in the Hyatt at the Bellevue. Created six years ago as the signature event of the Philadelphia Collection, the annual event recognizes extraordinary women who are not only fashionable, but philanthropic.

The women (listed alphabetically):

• Alice Bast, President & CEO, National Foundation of Celiac Awareness
• Emily Bittenbender, Managing Partner, Bittenbender Construction, LP
• Wendy Clark, Lady B, The Voice of Hip Hop
• Rosemary Connors, Journalist, NBC 10
• Doreen Creede, Creator, Style Maniac, Editor-at-Large, Founder Magazine
• Anne Ewers, President & CEO, The Kimmel Center Inc.
• Varsovia Fernandez, President & CEO, Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Valerie Gay, Executive Director, Art Sanctuary
• Caryn Gubin, Director, Patient Care Services Medical Rehabilitation Centers of PA
• Ursula Henwood Keating, Director, Workforce Diversity & Inclusion, Comcast
• Stacy Holland, Executive Director, The Lenfest Foundation Doreen Holmgren, Philanthropist
• Mary Pat Kessler, Director, Member Relations Business Clubs of America
• Karen Knudsen, Director, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Chair Department of Cancer Biology
• Tiffany Newmuis, Director, Democratic National Convention
• Lori Nicoletti Peruto, General Counsel, Philadelphia Suburban Development Corporation
• Nicole Paloux, Owner, Red Balloon Public Relations, Theatre
• Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, Council’s Majority Whip, Committee Chair on the Environment, Vice Chair of the Committee on Education
• Cecilia Torres, Owner-Founder, Casa Papel joined
• Mary Dougherty, owner of Nicole Miller Philadelphia,
• First Lady Lisa Nutter 
• Janice Waitkus of Lagos

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HughE Dillon covers parties, events and more for Philadelphia magazine’s The Scene. You can follow him on Twitter at @iPhillyChitChat and visit his daily online social diary PhillyChitChat.com.

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Emily Hassinger, Michelle Finley, Margo Rose, and Stacey Mullen.

The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation hosted the second annual Blitz, Bowties, & Bourbon fundraiser at Union Trust last night. Guests enjoyed local cuisine from Finley Catering, Sbraga, Bank & Bourbon, Palladino’s, The Farm and The Fisherman, Le Castagne, Capital Grille, Roman Restaurant Group, and Tradestone Confections.

Money from the fundraiser goes to expanding the foundation’s youth programming in Philadelphia. Current initiatives focused on the health, safety, and well-being of the city’s young people include “Get Ready Fest: Feeding Philadelphia” and the “No PHLY Zone Challenge,” dedicated to educating youth athletes and their families on health and safety issues through the foundation’s Youth Sports Safety Initiative.

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HughE Dillon covers parties, events and more for Philadelphia magazine’s The Scene. You can follow him on Twitter at @iPhillyChitChat and visit his daily online social diary PhillyChitChat.com.

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Shawn Standen, Stephanie Lee, Thomas McCann and Megan Yarnall.

On Saturday, Devereux — a leading national nonprofit behavioral healthcare organization — hosted its annual Hope Gala at the Crystal Tea Room in Philadelphia with the theme “Into the Woods,” making a mystical Halloween evening.

The event was a masquerade black tie ball, but if you didn’t have a mask you could have it painted on by Cait’s Faces, and many people did. Proceeds from the Hope Gala benefits Devereux’s programs which serve more than 3,500 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and behavioral health challenges in southeastern Pennsylvania. The black-tie event included a cocktail reception and a sit-down, buffet dinner by the Finley Catering. After dinner the young friends of Devereux enjoyed an “Enchanted Forrest” afterparty with DJ Jasmine Chess. The gala’s decorations were amazing, with trees, weeping willows and the most magnificent table decorations by Hoffman Design Group, Inc.

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HughE Dillon covers parties, events and more for Philadelphia magazine’s The Scene. You can follow him on Twitter at @iPhillyChitChat and visit his daily online social diary PhillyChitChat.com.

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On Saturday night at the Palomar Hotel, aspireLIFE’s 6th annual party, JAM 2015, took place. Nearly 300 people packed the top two floors of the Kimpton hotel where its ballrooms are, as they enjoyed light bites, specialty cocktails, bought raffle tickets by the arm length, and danced into the wee hours of the night.

Hosting the evening was George Azar, co-founder of JAM. He is a 15-year survivor of cancer who wanted to find a way to give back, and thus created this event with John Frederick and Brie and Justin Bernstein. Proceeds from the evening went to the America Cancer Society.

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HughE Dillon covers parties, events and more for Philadelphia magazine’s The Scene. You can follow him on Twitter at @iPhillyChitChat and visit his daily online social diary PhillyChitChat.com.

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