On January 14th, 2012 over 1000 people gathered for the 18th Annual Hair O’ The Dog Black Tie Party at the Hotel Westin Philadelphia and I was lucky to be among the party goers.
What the heck is Hair O’ The Dog? Well, the expression, “Hair of the dog” refers to an old school method of curing a hangover. Basically, the concept is that you have a drink “the morning after” and it slows down the body’s natural “withdraw” process; thus, lessening the effect of a hangover. Baby steps instead of cliff jumping. The founders (Daniel Cronin and Rob Molinaro) of HOD chose the name because of the party’s proximity to New Year’s Eve. Apparently this is how Philly collectively solves its NYE hangover. How’s that for brotherly love!?
Despite the fact that Hair O’ The Dog has a longstanding reputation for being Philly’s swankiest party this was my first time attending. Where have I been for the best 17 years? Clearly in the wrong place, because this party was by far one of the best I have attended in the city of Philadelphia. The atmosphere was classy and sophisticated but fun. It’s rare that you find an event of this caliber that isn’t stuffy. Or a party that fun and wild that isn’t also a little scary. But the lovely staff of Hair O’ The Dog pulled it all off with the perfect mix of excitement.
There was something for everyone. Aside from the standard appetizers and drinks there were specialty cocktails and fancy hors devours, a photo booth with festive props for camera whores like me and Kate and even a bottle service lounge presented Cheerleaders that featured the sexy DJ Licious.
Everyone was dressed to the nines and the Philly fashionistas were out in full effect rocking both designer and custom outfits from Herve Leger, BCBG and even Philly’s own Nicole Miller and Aci Nae just to name a few.
There were multiple rooms with different entertainment which included live music by Drop Dead Sexy combined with The Legendary DJ Johnny Looch, a dance floor rocked by the sounds of DJ BEAT STREET and the DYNAMIC DUO of Adrian Hardy and Manny Roman, and even live pop art by painters Glenn Stevens and Perry Milo. But I honestly had a lot of fun in the hallways too, there was so much going on that no area was boring, not even the bathroom (but I’ll keep those details to myself ).
Just as important as the fantastic atmosphere were all the fabulous people in attendance. Kate and I had the pleasure of snapping some photos with some of our favorite Philly movers and shakers. Here are a few highlights.
Ken Davies, owner of City Fitness in Northern Liberties where me and Kate have been getting our “FIT” on recently. (F.I.T. stands for functional interval training and WE Fit is City Fitness’s one of a kind group training classes. City Fitness just opened up a new location in the Graduate Hospital area.
Susie Celek and Julie Dorenbos of Skin Palette who sprayed tanned Kate and probably hundreds of the attendees before the event. Kate promised Julie that she would wear anything BUT white….Opps! In the end the dress surived and wouldn’t have looked even half as good without that perfect spray tan!
Ed Knight Culinary Deliveries in West Chester (my FAVORITE pizza place and my FAVORITE chef).
Brian Nagele who owns and operates Kings Oak Lane restaurant and just recently bought Arrow Swim Club which will now operate under the name of North Shore Beach Club and will be making all sorts of fun changes. Starting with slashing the original $1000.00 membership to $500, but only for a limited amount of people, so get your application for membership in soon!
Kate with teacher and model Tara Marie and Lauren Harris, Preston and Steve calendar cover girl.
Tom Domalski, owner of Whisper nightclub along with bottle servers Jess and Sam. And, Matt Nadu of the CW crew.
Whisper Club and G Lounge were the hosts of the official after parties which rocked on until 3 and 6 am respectively. I decided to go to Whisper but the party once well under way when I arrived and it was a great time as usual. Kate made it to g and had this to say about her first HOD experience …
“Hair of the Dog was such a nice change of pace from my normal “nightlife” routine. It was great to see a lot of people I don’t see out regularly and the attendance was large enough that I met lots of new friends as well! It was the perfect chance to stretch those social “butterfly” wings from their current winter hibernation. And despite the self-induced stress of waiting till the last minute to find something suitable to wear, I still always love an excuse to dress up.”
Welcome to my new video column affectionately titled, “FUCIK” = Fun Unconditionally Cuz I’m Kate”, where I showcase the Mini-Adventures of Kate Beaver. I’m checking things off my Philly bucket list left and right! Come with me as I step outside my box, and into the world. And if you’re interested, I’ll make sure you know how you can do it too!
So, just say “FUCIK” and make time for your own adventure, Philly!
Todays Mini-Adventure of Kate Beaver: TargetMaster
Ok, I admit…I not exactly a gun advocate. I’m actually quite concerned about the gun laws in our city and their need to be beefed up. So, what better way to explore my understanding of a topic than to open my mind to it? So, I “WO-maned” up and headed to Targetmaster with my friend Drew (a competitive shooter) for some lessons in firearms. And guess what, after I got over my initial fear, I actually had a lot of fun.
I haven’t changed my stance on how I feel about our city and its gun laws, but I fully support the right of those who follow our laws to choose how they want to enjoy life.
Wanna go to? Check out their website! TargetMaster
Targetmaster Indoor Firearm Range & Gun Shop
Much thanks to Targetmaster and Drew for this adventure!
Looking for something different to do this Friday? Come out and support a good cause and do a little bowling all while helping out the youth of Philadelphia.
Last year’s bowling benefit was such a hit that they are doing it again! The Covenant House Young Professionals (CHYP) are hosting “Strike Out Youth Homelessness” – all proceeds benefit at-risk and homeless youth of Philadelphia and surrounding communities. Join us Friday, May 20th at North Bowl from 9pm-Midnight. The night’s festivities include 3 hours of bowling, open bar, light appetizers, raffles, and prizes for the top bowlers. So break out those bowling shoes and polish that bowling ball, because it’s time to throw some rocks for charity! For more info or pictures from last year, find CHYP on Facebook.
On Saturday, March 5, 2011, a fight broke out at the Sporting Club at the Bellevue! And boy, was it a rough one! Ok, it didn’t exactly “break out”. And, no one was tossed for inappropriate behavior. The fight was a boxing match to benefit the Students Run Philly Style program. Students Run Philly Style is PhillyIn’s fave program, because it’s support kids and helps them to achieve their goals. They do this by “connecting students with adult mentors who help them imagine and accomplish goals beyond their dreams, including the completion of a marathon.”
Several valiant, amateur fighters from the Philadelphia area took to the ring for our entertainment, putting their skills and pride on the line. One of my favorite fights was the “senior” division, the salt and peppered ”Old School” took the big win! But, most people were there for the main event, Susie Celek (wife of Brent Celek, tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles). She’s one tough cookie, and Brent cheered her on every step of the way, which resulted in a big W for Susie.
I bumped into a few friends at the event:
Myself with the ladies of Students Run and most importantly, the students!
Students from left to right: Shameek Ransom, Lexis Verticelli, Shabazz Ransom, Tiana Whitting, Rachel Baxter, Anthony Matthis, Emmanuel Berneaud.
Comcast Sportnet’s Marshall Harris was the MC for the event. Quite a dapper one at that! Marshall is a good friend of the Students Run Philly Style program as well.
The “Gentleman” Chazz Witherspoon, a heavyweight fighter and 2005 St. Joe’s graduate. Chazz has been hugely successful, despite not even beginning to box until his sophomore year in college. As of August 2010,his record stands at 27-2 with 17 knockouts.
PhillyIn friend, Courtney Grant, was my hot date to the event. You’ll be seeing alot of this beautiful face at a brand new restaurant opening this spring in Rittenhouse! Stay PhillyIn for more details!
Interested in helping out Students Run? Or just love running? Well, you’re in luck, because this weekend is the big “gener8tion” run! Online registration ends today, so sign up NOW! If you miss the deadline,you will be able to register on race day at 7 am at the Navy Yard! Get there early!
What is gener8tion run?
gener8tionrunis an 8K run/.8K walk and a family festival. It is the signature fundraising event of Students Run Philly Style, the only program in Philadelphia that helps youth go farther through mentorship and long distance running.
When: SATURDAY APRIL 16, 20118K run starts at 8AM .8K walk immediately follows 8K start
PhillyIn loves to support the kids of our city! So this Tuesday we will be showing our love by attending this really great event. Here are the details…
Join us at one of our favorite restaurants to support the Philadelphia Inner City Girls Soccer team, Anderson Monarch. They have no budget and need new uniforms immediately. Let’s show our support for these young ladies by coming out!
For some people, sports are “just for fun”. They are a weekend activity, fun family bonding time, or simply good exercise. For others, it can be an escape. An escape from bullying, from family problems, or from the rigours of everyday life. For a young child, it can open doors to places they never knew excited. That’s where the Anderson Monarchs Girls Soccer Club comes in.
The mission of the Anderson Monarchs Girls Soccer Club (based at Smith Playground in Philadelphia) is to provide high level soccer training and competition and academic support to inner city Philadelphia girls, but it’s become so much more than that. They give the girls skills, community, support, and hope.
They participants have achieved success on the field, in the classroom, and recently also in the press. (See the movie trailer here.) Word of mouth and the positive press has resulted in a steady growth in their program to the point that they CANNOT continue without more public support!!! They have never turned away a girl who could not afford their modest costs.
Philadelphia socialite Hacina Saadi is responsible for putting the “shin-dig” together, so you can be rest assured that it will be a good time.
So come enjoy:
Half-off bar food and cocktails
Silent Auction
Meet athletes
ALL FOR FREE ADMISSION
Talk to PhillyIn Cast members and meet our very own Amber-Joi Watkins as she makes an appearance as Miss Pennsylvania USA.
Any charitable donations to the Anderson Monarchs would help them monumentally. They operate under non-profit umbrella Soccer Sisters United, Inc. Can’t attend but want to help out? You can make a donation at www.SoccerSistersUnited.org
Spring is coming, and my favorite up-and-coming Philadelphia clothing line has just began releasing its spring-time attire. Once again, Seun has continued to push the graphic tee back in the right direction.
Duke and Winston has upgraded and refined some past best selling graphics as well as adding a few new styles that are sure to become go-to tees for many guys in the coming spring/summer months. And don’t forget, they also carry a women’s line. This is the last line that will be purely graphics based as I will be relaunching the brand as a polo line later this year.
I have a confession to make. I quit ballet. I was young. I was bored. I was impatient. And, I wanted to dance like Paula Abdul or Janet Jackson. But that was then. This is now!
Looking back, I wish I had given myself a “good talking to”. “Listen little girl! Suck it up! If you do this now, life will be so much richer when you’re older!”
Alas, though I continued to study “jazz” and “tap”, and expanded my repertoire by taking “hip hop” and eventually even taking “modern” for a spin; regrettably, I never returned to ballet. It’s shameful, I know.
Somehow, I managed still to finesse my way into a career as a professional dancer. Hard work, fitness, and passion can take you far, I suppose — Oh! — and really big, ginormous smiles. Did I mention them? (Dad always says, when I dance, I light up; like someone has plugged me in and flipped the switch. “No fluorescent bulb, my girl. Incandescence!” – I can’t speak to that. I never see me. In fact, I see very little when I dance. I mostly hear. The music. It’s all about the music.)
So, here I am, a little sad, but very grateful, finally acquiring a taste for the dance-path-not-taken — ballet. Mostly, thanks to a friendship with PA Ballet soloist, Barette Vance, that grew quite by chance out of an interview I conducted for PhillyIn. And, although I prefer modern pieces, filled with intensity and intrigue, that push creative boundaries, I determined to see the ultra-classical Swan Lake. It is the “Year of the Swan”, after all.
Even if you’ve recently experienced the disturbing pleasure of this year’s mega thriller, “The Black Swan” — what you may NOT have noticed, is that many of those fine young ladies and gents pirouetting and “arabesque-ing” around Academy Award winning actress, Natalie Portman, are members of our very own Pennsylvania Ballet! Way to go, home team!
I can almost taste the tension building in the PA Ballet’s practice studio, as rehearsals for Swan Lake begin. A demanding piece to be sure! The distracting adoration an Oscar winning smash can elicit! The heightened, if only superstitious, concern of friends and family for one of their own taking on a role that drove the fictional Nina mad! The inevitable crunch for time, and the risk of a major production with which every lover of ballet is familiar! The angst! It feels ripe for its own movie trailer. Should we pity, the sacrificial lamb (er, swan) thrown into this vortex of anxiety by being selected for greatness.
There’s the uncanny fact, strange but true, that Roy Kaiser, Artistic Director of the PA Ballet, had selected “Swan Lake” for this season BEFORE he discovered that his troupe was needed for “Black Swan”. Eerie huh? Might make the hair on the back of my neck stand up a little, had I been a dancer who had just participated in the making of such a dark film, only to witness my artistic director, shortly thereafter, striding into the room and announcing that we’d be dancing “The Swan” again (and without Natalie). I mean, come on!
After attending a matinée performance at the Academy of Music, I was fortunate to catch THE “sacrificial swan”, Brooke Moore, who has starred as Odette/Odile this season.
KATE: I got dizzy watching you on Sunday! How many turns DO you actually do in that scene? (For those of you who haven’t seen Swan Lake or Black Swan, there’s a very challenging turn sequence, in the third act, that Portman’s character famously struggles with in the movie. Brooke made it look like a piece of cake. Black forest cake!)
BROOKE: I think there are about 30.
KATE: Wow, and I’m still perfecting my double! (Double turn that is — not cake. I’ve already perfected the double when it comes to cake. “Seconds please!”). So, the PA ballet selected two swans to alternate performances. Did the director fear that one of his swans might crack under the pressure?
BROOKE: “I didn’t find out I was doing the part until four weeks ago! The reason we even GOT the opportunity was because two of our principals are pregnant. So they passed the torch to us.” (Brooke — a soloist, and her friend, Lauren Fadeley — a corps dancer, alternate as the Swan Queen). “This is probably the biggest part I will ever play.”
“At first, it was a little daunting, because, not only is it technical, but there’s the emotional and the character aspect of it – it’s not something you want to do in three weeks. You want more time to build. But I had an incredible partner. Once we started going, there was no turning back. It was really exciting and a lot of fun for me too, because I absolutely love the acting side.”
KATE: Girls dream about this role, but I’ll admit, I’m a big fat scaredy cat. The movie gave me chills. (My date will confirm that I had my eyes covered for much of it.) Were you at all nervous or superstitious?
BROOKE: “I saw the movie with fellow dancers at the premiere. And, I did know we were doing Swan Lake. But, I DIDN’T know I would be playing the Swan Queen. (Natalie Portman’s character). The day after I found out, my boyfriend joked, “Should we go see Black Swan for character research?”
KATE: The acting part is a certainly a challenge, and Portman has now received an Oscar for her performance. Do you see any parallels with Portman’s character?
BROOKE: “In the movie, she’s kind of the opposite of me. White swan came really easy to her. But she had to really fight for black swan.”
KATE: O really, so would say you’re more of a Black Swan?
BROOKE: “Well, I’m actually more of a grey swan! But yeah, if I had to pick, I’m more Black Swan. I’m extroverted and outgoing. And, I’m definitely not naïve and innocent. Black Swan is more of my own personal character. A little feisty! I mean, I AM a red head.”
KATE: So, we have a multiple personality disorder going on here. No wonder she loses her cool (and her marbles) in the movie. What do you do to transform from the one character to the other, mid-show?
BROOKE: “Honestly, during performances – the wardrobe change from the white tutu to the black tutu – it sort of switches the character automatically. And the music really drives me.”
KATE: The tutus are stunning. I was downright tickled at how sparkly you were! (And somewhat jealous. – How “Black Swan” of me.) Sorry, I forgot, for a moment, that we were talking drama! Black Swan is a Hollywood Thriller. But, what are some of the realities and pressures in the life of member of a professional ballet company?
BROOKE: “The general tone from the movie was mostly correct. I mean, it is a very competitive world. One of the principals explained it to me — that this role in particular – well — it’s a role of a lifetime.”
“And it truly is. I’m sure there were others who wished to be cast in the role. After all, growing up, most dancers would kill to be Swan Queen. Nevertheless, everyone was so supportive, all of my friends, everyone else in the company. I couldn’t have done it without their support. That’s how demanding it is; and how much work has to be put into it; and how much emotion. If I hadn’t had the support from the other swans on stage, and from all of my friends really encouraging me, it wouldn’t have happened.”
KATE: Just watch out for Mila Kunis when you’re back stage! Any other parallels?
BROOKE: “A little bit of trying to get the directors eye and his attention, that’s basically true. Really, just the portrayal of how hard we work, and how much we put into it. The movie IS ballet, just exaggerated. It took all of the things that ARE actually there and took them way past.”
KATE: I just hope there’s a “no sharp objects in the dressing room” rule?
BROOKE: Laughs, “No, most of us are pretty sane!”
KATE: So, now we’ve come to the best part, the ballet has re-established their Young Friends program that includes special deals for the 21-39 crowd. The “PhillyIn” crowd if you will. And it kicks off this weekend. So why should young people come to the ballet? Give us the sell!
BROOKE: “It’s true. Most of our audience consists of children, on one end, and of an older generation that have attended the ballet forever, on the other. There’s a lack of 20s-40s in the middle. I think that there is something in the ballet for everyone; whether its storied ballets like Swan Lake (some people love them) or whether it’s the more contemporary pieces.
Personally, I want to share what I love so much, and what I’m most passionate about, with people who are going through the same things in life as me. Come see what I do, and what I’ve been working on since I was 8. You don’t know what you’re missing.”
Pennsylvania Ballet Young Friends is a newly-formed group of young professionals ages 21 to 39 who support Pennsylvania Ballet and serve as ambassadors to a younger generation.
Members of Pennsylvania Ballet Young Friends are offered distinctive opportunities to expand their understanding and enjoyment of Pennsylvania Ballet through special events with an exclusive behind-the-scenes perspective, like parties with Pennsylvania Ballet dancers and invitations to studio rehearsals. Membership begins with an annual donation of $100. For a full list of member benefits or to join Pennsylvania Ballet Young Friends, visit paballet.org/young-friends.
So are YOU a White Swan or a Black Swan?
If you’re interested in being a Young Friend, but want to take it for a “spin” before making the commitment, (I know as a “young person” with “my mind on my money and my money on my mind” I like to give things a trial run) than join Pennsylvania Ballet Young Friends at Swan Lake.
Saturday, March 12, 2011. 8 p.m. Performance
Academy of Music, Broad and Locust Streets
Young Friends are ballet supporters ages 21-39.
The special deal on performance tickets for the Young Friends event are sold out! To attend, you can purchase a regular performance ticket from Ticket Philadelphia (215.893.1999) and separately purchase an after-party only ticket through the Ballet at cfreeman@paballet.org or 215.587.6913.
After-party: $40
The Orpheus Club: 254 S. Van Pelt Street (between Locust and Spruce & 21st and 22nd Streets)
Mingle with Young Friends and Pennsylvania Ballet dancers after the performance.
Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served.
Drinks will be provided by Chambord Flavored Vodka, Black Swan Wines and Flying Fish Brewing Company.
Guests are encouraged to dress in their best black/white attire.
For more information on the Young Friends Membership, visit http://www.paballet.org/young-friends.html
For additional information about the Swan Lake event or Young Friends, contact Christina Freeman, Annual Fund Manager, at cfreeman@paballet.org or 215.587.6913.
*Swan Lake Photos by Candice DeTore Alexander Iziliaev courtesy of the PA Ballet
Sixer Dancer photo by Jesse Garrabrant
Kate’s Nutcracker photo courtesy of my mom. Hi mom!
**Did you see Swan Lake? Have you been to the ballet? Would you become a Young Friend? Add your comments at the bottom!
This weekend, walking down a street in China, I was suddenly transported to Paris. — “Really?”– You say. Cross my heart! It happened! Courtesy of the newly renovated PA Convention Center in Chinatown, which is hosting the World Famous Philadelphia International Flower show, featuring “Springtime in Paris” all of this week (March 6-13). Oui! Oui!
Thus far, I’ve been blessed with opportunities to travel Italy, England, Ireland, Costa Rica and China. But I have yet to travel my dream destination, Paris (despite an intense desire to peer out upon the roofs of Paris from the tippy-top of the Eiffel Tower). So, you can imagine my delight when I discovered that Paris had come to me!
Why the adoration for a city I’ve never seen? Well, I’ve never been to Paris…but Audrey Hepburn has! And my love for Paris and Miss Hepburn occurred simultaneously as I watched her transformation from a shy, teenage wallflower to a chic, sophisticated, jetsetter in the classic movie, “Sabrina”.
Now, Audrey was not from France. (And, her break-out role was actually in a movie that was set in Rome.) But, I watched her cook, dance, and romance her way through the “City of Lights” in movie after beloved movie – “Funny Face” (with Fred Astaire), “Love in the Afternoon” (with Gary Cooper), “Charade” (with Cary Grant), “Paris When It Sizzles” (with William Holden), “How to Steal a Million” (with Peter O’Toole), ”Two for the Road” (with Albert Finney), and my favorite, “Sabrina” ( with William Holden and Humphrey Bogart). There is simply something about Audrey that whispers “Paris” with every breath.
She inspired in me, a whimsical adoration for all things French; dreamy visions of Paris neighborhoods, fresh croissants from a local patisserie, shopping the Champs Elysees , and feasting upon cheese, breads, and wine in an open-air bistro. I practiced talking with her sweet, demure accent (which wasn’t French at all, but had a French air about it. — She was actually born in Ixelles, Belgium.) “Charrrmed, I’m sure.” My sister rolled her eyes as I practiced this greeting on her, hoping to add it to my repertoire. She said I came off sounding snooty. How is it that Audrey always pulled it off so amiably? – O well. C’est la vie.
But, back to the flower show! As PhillyIn friend, Courtney Grant, and I strolled under the Eiffel tower towards a spectacular moving Carousel Stage, l heard a rather familiar tune being sung by Phyllis Chapell of Philly Musette. It’s the very same song that has been twirling in my head since the Flower Show announced their “Springtime in Paris” theme. “La vie en Rose.” The same song that weaves in and out of Sabrina for the length of the film… there’s Audrey again. And now – I really feel it – Bonjour! I’m officially in Paris.
“Oooooh, look at this!” “Wait, come here, check this out” “Wow, this is crazy over here!” Courtney and I developed serious cases of ADHD. As we started roaming the exhibits, I found myself overwhelmed by all the fantastical creations.
Speaking of, “La vie en rose”, the exhibit bearing that name, by Moda Botanica, was one of my favorites. The color progression of thousands of roses was stunning, but the fact that you can also view the display through rose colored translucent lenses made it wondrous.
“La vie en rose” is a French saying that loosely translates to “looking at the world through rose-colored glasses” (more literally, “the life in pink”) and after my arrival in Paris, and a brief stop to “smell the roses”, I certainly was.
We floated over to another lovely piece, Reves de Fleurs (Dreams of Flowers): Flowers by David; a lush, display of “horticultural dream-catchers”, fashioned of romantic colors and fabulous fabrics, that I would love to host in my own bedroom. Better yet, I could crawl right into the luxurious bed within the display and continue my reverie of me, as Audrey, turned loose in Paris.
Right next to “Reves de Fleurs” (with colors so complimentary, we first mistook it for part of the same exhibit), was Robertson’s Flowers: “Impressions of Notre Dame”. The scene was set for an enchanting wedding and reception at Nortre Dame. (Courtney and I joked that Reves de Fleurs might be “the honeymoon”.) This exhibit was so extravagant and romantic that, if I were getting married, I’d be tempted to order the whole display. Lucky for me, and for my checkbook, that day remains a distant glimmer. (Perhaps I could content myself with a “horticultural dream-catcher” for my “trousseau”.)
“Hey, that looks like you!” Courtney pointed out a curvy “shadow art” figure. (I’ve been known to occasionally make my own shadow art, dancing with my silhouette at G lounge.) Michael Bruce Florist: “Urban Graffiti Shadow Art” would win my “most interesting exhibit” award for 3 reasons. The “pre-shadow” figures looked nothing like the shadow they created. I found that particularly impressive. There was a “Go Green!” recycling theme to it. And, finally, it was pleasingly playful –The Can-Can dancer was, for instance, made out of, well, cans!
Hunter Hayes Landscape Design: “En Plein Air” was really fun to watch, because there was a live model being painted by two artists within the display. Final paintings were even available for purchase. I’ll let you figure out how! (Thanks to a reader for this update: ”For purchasing information in regards to the art for sale, contact Studio Incamminati.”)
Schaffer Designs: “An American in Paris”, another favorite of mine, creatively expressed. Imagine a 360-degree diorama with four scenes from the film framed as vignettes, complete with the movie references (running on repeat) within their respective sections of the display. More dancing and another classic movie! (All my favorite themes used to embellish the Parisian theme, and crafted into it quite neatly.)
A slightly darker display can be found in the American Institute of Floral Designers’ (AIFD): “Underground Paris”. Well, we knew Paris had one. Most cities do. Inspired by the subways and the historic catacombs of Paris, the unique skull/ flower combinations are “chilling” with a certain fatal fascination.
A few other notable exhibits included the mini gardens in the horticultural section; the Pennsylvania Bonsai Society: “Bonsai Extraordinaire”. (Not sure how that fit into the theme. I’m betting that they had an explanation there that I missed. Nevertheless, they were so striking, I didn’t really require an explanation); and a fashion display in the design section of floral arrangements inspired by Haute Couture gowns.
Alas, my only true disappointment was that lack of French food on hand. I was excited about the “patisserie” signs above the small food stand, but was disappointed to find your typical convention food, salad, sandwich, and cookies. Lucky for you, all the other days of the convention have some sort of food and wine demonstrations and tastings to enjoy! Just be advised to check the schedule for the cooking demonstrations; or make a reservation for Garden Tea . There is a dearth of French foods to tickle your taste buds on this trip to “gay Pari” (though you can find a few tasty bites amongst the vendors).
If that doesn’t work out for you, I highly recommend crossing the street and experiencing Reading Terminal Market’s many offerings. It’s a Philly favorite of mine, despite the crowds (Only open till 6pm). Bon appétit!
As long as I’m looking at the world through rose-colored glasses, I still have the correspondingly Paris inspired PIFA (Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts) to look forward to in April. And until then, I suppose I’ll just don my beret and wander over to Parc on Rittenhouse Square for a wine and cheese plate on the first day warm enough to do so… I love “Philly in the Springtime”.
I can’t tell you everything (and my photos don’t do it justice, but there are even more in the gallery below)! So go see it for yourself!
Young Philadelphia, interested in attending? You can go any day between now and Sunday, but for you, I suggest one of these special events:
Happy Hour at the Flower Show & Restaurant Discounts: Wednesday, March 9. Cash bars plus “Springtime in Paris” signature cocktail, FREE wine and spirits tastings till 7pm (Grand Hall) and show your Flower Show ticket and get 10-15% off participating restaurants. [Tickets]
Girls Night Out: Thursday, March 10. Looks like a grand time, but sacré bleu! It’s sold out! So, I won’t tease you with the details. Cheers to those of you who got your tickets ahead of time.
Why are Philly foodies piling into cars and making a 45 minute pilgrimage to Montgomeryville, PA for sushi? Given that you can’t seem to point your umbrella in any direction in center city, without landing on a new sushi palace. (Starbucks beware. Wherever will you put your next one?) The answer to the first question posed? – That would be “Ooka” – less expensive than Morimoto; more scrumptious than most. If you LOVE sushi, you will FALL IN LOVE with Ooka! (And, these are the words of a sushi lover – yours truly.)
My love affair with sushi began long before it became the “it” item on menus all across this fair city. (And, I mean loooong before…Back in the “Ew! You eat raw fish?…Yah weirdo” days.)
I sat in a small booth with my family at the Asakura Palace in Landowne as my dad ordered for us “a la carte” in Japanese. He usually let me select a few items via the sushi photo cheat-sheet on the table. At some point, I’d wander upstairs to the bathroom, just to take a peek at the private room. Through the Shoji [doors], I could glimpse the tatami mat floors and imagine parties with traditionally dressed guests eating at the very low table. A demure young woman would be ritually mimicking “geisha” pouring tea very precisely. It all seemed particularly appealing and exotic to me. It was a dream of mine to eat in that room. Sadly, I never did come across an on-going party to crash.
Despite being a “once-in-a-while” picky eater as a kid, I loved sushi. (It probably helped that, being so young, I didn’t truly understand what I was eating. Thanks mom and dad!) Needless to say, I was overjoyed when the rest of the world, and especially Philly, caught up to my inexperienced, yet somewhat global palate. Even more exciting, was the day my friends stopped saying “Ew!” and started saying “Where can we go for sushi?”
These days I’ve been spoiled by the easy access to exceptional sushi restaurants all within my eager grasp (and, more importantly, my price range). I want to try it all; and now am brave enough to order exotic items I have yet to understand without the coaching of others. (As long as I get a pile of wasabi on the side.)
Despite this long “affair” with sushi, I’m embarrassed to say that my first trip to Ooka was a complete and utter accident. In fact, it almost didn’t happen at all. Believe in serendipity! After all, how often would a city-oriented girl like me get to Montgomeryville?
I confess, I was there for a gig with PhillyIn friend Margo. Lo and Behold! Out of nowhere, a young chef invites us to stop into the sushi restaurant wherein he works.
We weren’t that hungry and sushi in “Strip Mall, PA” didn’t seem a particularly exhilarating prospect. Yet, something gently, persuasively, nudged us down the street. Whispers of “Ooooooka” soothingly radiating in my ear drum.
As soon as we entered, it seemed we had been teleported back to Center City. Believe me, this restaurant would feel right at home on Chestnut or Walnut. And yet, here it stands, on 309 in Montgomeryville, all by its lonesome.
We were then treated to a spectacle of the senses. The colors and tastes and smells all came and went far too quickly. The meal was intoxicating. I HAD to go back for more (and bring some of the PhillyIn gang along for the ride). And I’m not the only one.
We can thank the inspiration of Chef Shoji Hiyakawa for this hidden gem. After serving as an executive chef at Morimoto, he has gained quite a reputation of his own, and deservedly so. The freshness of the food turns even the simplest piece of sashimi, into a heavenly experience. Ooka takes the specialty maki roll to a whole new level. (No, there is no “Spice Girl” maki on this menu. I promise you, you won’t miss it.) Chef pairs unexpected ingredients in ways that dance around your mouth. His expert play of textures and aromas had me, quite literally, squealing with delight.
Chef Hiyakawa’s knack for finding just the right balance of “fresh and light” and “salty and sweet” and downright, mouth-watering flavors is probably what led the chef to create his “No Soy Sushi”.
Wait just a minute! Touted as a “Sushi Revolution” Chef Shuji Hiyakawa is trying to pry all the soy sauce, wasabi and ginger out of our hands. “Hold up there Mister Man! Not so fast!” (I admit, I am a number one offender. I will not only smother my sushi in all the dressings, I will lick my chopsticks when I’m done.)
According to the menu, the “No Soy” is 7 pieces of “boutique sushi paired with our chef’s artisanally crafted sauces”. Translation – every piece has its very own special sauce, created specifically for that bite. Chef Hiyakawa says, “Each piece is intricate and complex, but the way the flavors pop make it worth all the work it has taken to create.”
Ok. Ok! I took the challenge and reaped the lip-smacking rewards!!!
If drinking is more your thing, you’re in luck! Not only does Ooka boast an extensive list of delicious signature cocktails, they have an impressive sake list as well. PhillyIn sat down with our very knowledgeable bartender, Ryan for a little lesson on what Ooka has to offer.
I suggest a Lychee Cosmo Martini, or the Sake Sangria.
If you’re the “some that like it hot” type, go for the Wasabi Mary.
I’M not much of a Sake drinker, but both I, and the new PhillyIn Interns, Mollie and Melissa, were simply “tickled” by the Princess Sake which was described as “Tinkerbell ‘weeing’ on your tongue.” Which was fairly accurate, but for all the right reasons. Consider it a Sparkling Sake.
If YOU’RE not much of a Sake drinker, you are in luck again! Ooka periodically offers Sake Tasting Nights where $30 will allow you the opportunity to taste their wide assortment of sakes and enjoy free hors d’oeuvres in a lounge-like atmosphere.
And onto — DESSERT! If you know anything about me, you know I have an insatiable sugar addiction. But, let’s face it, the Japanese are not known for their sweets. It’s usually a fruit cup or some of that beany ice cream and possibly a fortune cookie if you’re at some confused Chinese/Japanese sushi combo joint; and you’re out the door.
Yet, Chef Hiyakawa outdoes himself again, because I, Kate, Official Miss Sweet Tooth of PhillyIn.com declare, that not only did I rather thoroughly ENJOY my dessert, I was tempted to lick the plate. (Perhaps I did, but only when no one was looking. Really, you can’t take me anywhere – safely!) Desserts are very seasonal, so much of what you see in our photos may not be available now (specifically, the pumpkin dishes).
Hot Menu: The Saikoro Steak Appetizer “hot stone beef, asparagus, shishito pepper, and garlic puree” made with the Chef’s grandmother’s teriyaki sauce. Melts. Mouth. Enough said.
I also loved: Tuna Bites: pistachio crusted tuna, mango-strawberry salsa, togarashi spice– served on spoons, the mix of tastes and textures are a classic example of what Ooka does best.
I’m not willing to share: The chocolate parfait dessert – An artist palate of four mini-desserts that I could taste separately or play “Chef Hiyakawa” myself, blending in new and different combinations for each and every bite. Sorry folks, there just isn’t enough to go around (and may be seasonal) – call me selfish.
My favorite cocktail: Sake Sangria
Standout Dishes:
Sushi Menu: No Soy Sushi – 7 pieces of custom made flavor burst!
Hot Menu: Aromatic Scallop Appetizer a “wasabi-panko scallop, edamame hummus, yuzu foam” (This in appetizer, i.e. very small portion. Just an fyi.)
Fav Sake: Ichinokura. The Princess, a Sweet Sake Sparkler.
Best bang for your buck: Any of the lunch deals. Or try the Omakase Chef tasting if you want a frugal feast.
*For more of the PhillyIn gang’s Ooka recommendations, see the end of the article.
Looking to save a little dough? Or just test the waters? Come to Ooka for lunch and give it an inexpensive whirl.
If you’re adventurous like me, (or indecisive), go for the “Omakase”, and let the chef pick the meal for you. 6 courses, $35 (or $70 if you go for the alcoholic drink pairing) – that’s a lot of bang for your buck; and, if I’ve learned anything about the menu at Ooka, it’s the astute knowledge of the pairing of flavors that sets them apart from the rest. The staff knows their stuff; so don’t be afraid to ask. (pumpkin dishes mention in video are only available seasonaly)
If all this isn’t enough, they also have a full Hibachi grill that keeps the place popping for groups looking for a show. (No word on whether they have a private room with tatami mats to host my next birthday party though.)
Ooka’s menu is modern, yet simple. The menu changes seasonally because the focus is on fresh. Often, ingredients are picked straight from the garden both for food and for their signature cocktails (no pre-mixers here).
Suffice to say, I whole-heartedly concurred with Philadelphia Magazine when they bestowed upon Ooka the tasty title of “Best Sushi in Philadelphia” despite not actually being IN Philadelphia. It just… IS! (And perhaps, one day – Walnut Street — It could happen…. a gal can dream, can’t she?)
Ooka is a taste adventure that is worth the journey. Your taste buds will thank you later.
Ooka Japanese Restaurant
764 Bethlehem Pike, Montgomeryville, PA 18936-9601
(215) 361-1119
If you visit Ooka you GOTTA try: As far as the food, the scallop with edemame hummus was by far my favorite. It was very flavorful, and you could tell was very fresh, because it did not have a strong seafood flavor.
My favorite cocktail: All of them! If Japanese cuisine isn’t your thing, even going for cocktails would be worth the trip. I tried some of the most original and delicious drinks I have ever had, and they are all made from scratch and unique to anything I’ve ever tasted.
Fav Sake: Never having tried Sake before, the experience I enjoyed most at Ooka was the various selections of sake.
I also loved: The only part I enjoyed more than the delicious food was the service and hospitality that the manager and bartender provided. They were very friendly and outspoken, and met all of our needs with the utmost diligence. To say they were knowledgeable about Japanese cuisine would be an understatement.
MELISSA: PhillyIn Intern
If you visit Ooka you GOTTA try: The Lobster Dynamite Roll had the perfect tastes of lobster, spicy tuna, mango, avocado and sweet chili sauce—all of which are my favorite ingredients—rolled up in the perfect mouthful of deliciousness!
I’m not willing to share: The Dessert Bento Box. The different delicious options all strategically placed on the plate made me want to curl up in a ball of comfort…far, far away from society.
My favorite cocktail: The Lychee Cosmopolitan had me daydreaming about flying off to an exotic island in the Pacific Ocean.
Standout Dishes: Everything stood out at Ooka! The fish and meat all taste fresh and well-flavored, and the cocktails were extremely unique and reminiscent of the summers in Japan I never had…
Hot Menu: The Saikoro Steak was brilliant—tender, full of flavor (the Chef’s grandmother’s very own teriyaki sauce recipe) and making me crave more!
Fav Sake: The Ichinokura Sparkling Sake was delightful. Felt just like a fairy kiss on my tongue.
I also loved: The Spicy Tuna Tacos with the crispy gyoza, guacamole foam and nori-sour cream. Did I mention that they have guacamole foam? <3
Best bang for your buck: The sushi! Ooka had by far the best sushi this side of the country. Large portions and the authentic flavor are so worth the drive.
MOLLIE: PhillyIn Intern
If you visit Ooka you GOTTA try: Dessert and drinks! I admit, I’m not that into seafood. My fav things were the sweet treats and the signature cocktails!
I’m not willing to share: Green Tea Chiffon Cake, Cinnamon Ice Cream (seasonal)
My favorite cocktail: Lychee cosmopolitan: stoli vanil, soho lychee liqueur, cranberry and the Plum Tea: pearl plum vodka, crushed plum oolong, mint
Standout Dishes: Pumpkin Creme Brule + their homemade cinnamon ice-cream
I’m sitting at Darling’s Diner engaged in some serious girl talk with Barette Vance.
“PI: So no ballet boyfriends in the mix. How about a non-ballet boyfriend? BV: “Nope! I am single and ready to mingle!” She smiles slyly and giggles. PI: So, what precisely are you looking for among the “Men of Philadelphia”? BV: “Let’s see…I’m looking for someone who is ambitious. Also, I need to be with someone who doesn’t take himself too seriously. I think having good family values and morals is really important. I want someone who will love me for just me. Also, someone who makes me want to be a better person. A best friend. Someone I can share my life struggles with and know that we’ll make it through and at the same time, have that extreme passion that you feel when you’re the only two people in the middle of a room and there’s a hundred people around you. I want to feel that deep connection with someone…So, that’s what I’m looking for.” PI: That’s all? Mr. Everything? BV: She laughs. “Yep, that’s what I’m trying to find. I’m definitely out there dating…but haven’t found the right one yet.” PI: (Mr. Everything, if you’re out there, feel free to email the editor at talktokate@phillyin.com. I might pass your info along to Barette…unless you prefer brunettes )”
Flash forward, January 2011
By now, most of you are familiar with our favorite “Hip Hop” Ballerina, Barette Vance. (Or, perhaps you’ve been shipwrecked in the middle of the Pacific for the last year, and just been rescued. If so, welcome back! And you can check out her In-Focus interview here!)
Sadly, Mr. Everything never sent that email. Alas, he didn’t have to. He had met Barette already and was waiting patiently “in the wings”. But this ballerina was too busy practicing to know the show had begun.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
I know. By now, you’re wondering if Mr. Everything has a name, and if I’m going to make you wait to the “series finale” to find it out.
Well, he does. And, it’s not “Lucky Guy”, though that would be an accurate description.
His name is Chris Widell, a South Jersey native and Drexel grad, who works as a Players Services Host at a local casino.
PI: So, Chris, what were your first thoughts when you met Barette? (Note that I refrained from asking if she was dancing on a couch at the time, like she was when I first met her.)
CW: I wanted to get to know who she was right away. I am a sucker for blondes. What can I say? I was not aware until much later that she danced in the ballet.
PI: So, Barette, what were your first thoughts when you met Chris?
BV: I couldn’t help but notice how cute he looked in his suit. (He was a host at Parc, a popular French restaurant on Rittenhouse Square, at the time. Hence, the “cute” and “suit”.)
PI: You met Chris in February, but didn’t go on your first date till April? What gives?
BV: I was really enjoying my single life after a hard breakup earlier in the year. I thought Chris was gorgeous, but knew this wasn’t a good time to give someone my all, and I could tell Chris was the kinda guy who deserved that.
PI: A wise man recently told me “the only way to truly tell if a guy really likes you is to make him wait”. Barette mentioned that it was quite awhile between your first meeting and your first date. So, you waited? Why?
CW: Well, the romantic reason was that I was truly intrigued and fascinated with her from the first. She is very driven and motivated with what she believes and cares for in life. I knew if it did work out, she would be 100% committed to me and what we were going to be able to build together. The more practical reason — I was working nights, from 8pm to 6am, and sleeping on my day off.
Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend
PI: Once you started dating, you’re engagement happened very quickly. How did you know this was the girl you wanted to be with for the rest of your life?
CW: When you know, you know.
PI: Word on the street is that you were engaged long before you formally proposed?
CW: We had that “I want to marry you” conversation and I was not at all nervous to talk about that with her. I was more nervous about the actual public proposal that came much later. Even though, she promised to say “yes”.
PI: What’s the deal, Barette? He MUST be special if he got a “yes” out of you with no ring.
BV: Chris and I didn’t exactly follow the traditional engagement path, in that we agreed to get married before he got down on one knee to place a ring on my finger. In June, after returning from a friend’s wedding together in Bermuda, Chris told me that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. We subsequently began planning for our future together, opening a joint savings account, setting a date for the wedding, and choosing a venue.
PI: What did your friends and families think of this whirlwind romance and engagement? Did they disapprove?
BV: Others might have thought we were moving too fast. (We had only been dating for two months.) But, it felt so right that is was easy to take this next step. Our families, and good friends, instantly saw how compatible we are, and were very supportive of our decision.
PI: Ok, so you knew you wanted to get married, but what about the real deal proposal?
BV: Chris officially proposed on December 4th, 2010. He did it on the stage at the Academy of Music after the opening night performance of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. That night was already extremely important to me, as I was performing one of my favorite roles–Dew Drop — Chris’s proposal made it that much more special. He had arranged it so that my family, including my dad (who lives in California and is not on the east coast very often) could be in Philadelphia for the big event.
PI: Chris, were you nervous when you formally proposed, even though she promised to say yes? Ya know, we girls have been known to change our minds on occasion, if for no better reason than to keep you boys on your toes.
CW: Well, I asked her father if I could marry her, which I admit made me a little nervous. But, you gotta do it. As for the proposal, I was more excited than nervous. I basically got on my knee and said, “Here’s your ring”. Then she cried, took it, and ran away to show her friends, leaving me on the stage before I could say anything more! She did come back (we’re glad to note) and I just laughed and said “Barette, will you marry me?”
PI: Barette, was that moment still a rush, even though it wasn’t quite a surprise?
BV: I am the kind of person who always figures things out. And I hate surprises! So this was perfect for me. I was beyond excited, when it all happened. I was happy! I know that I have never cried like that in my whole life. It was the best day of my life so far!
PI: Tell us about the ring?
BV: It’s perfect! The center diamond is a radiant cut that is surrounded on either side by a trillion and set in a thin platinum band. The ring was designed, picked, and set by renowned jewelry designer and close friend, Jamie Wolf.
Going to the Chapel
PI: What’s your “bride style”? Are you worried you’ll become a “Bridezilla”?
BV: Chris calls me “Bridezilla” (Just to get under my skin!), but I think of myself as more of a “blushing bride”. (PhillyIn has yet to confirm this with Chris.) I am so beyond happy to marry Chris, that there is no “Bridezilla” about me. Planning this wedding is proving to be easy, since we have very similar taste, and, since Chris agrees with everything I want.
(Side note: Another feature of Mr. Everything — that PhillyIn had yet to identify — He agrees with everything his True Love does, thinks, wants.)
PI: Tell us about dress shopping. Who’d you bring? How many dresses did you try? How did you know you’d found “the one”?
BV: My eye kept catching this one dress by Monique Lhuillier. So, I called to find out which store close to Philly had it for me to try on. The closest was Kleinfeld (“Yes!” that Kleinfeld, from TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress”). My mom, my fellow dancer Lily DiPiazza, and good childhood friends Laura Breckenridge and Gabby Yudenich went with me for support, and advice. They say not to buy the first dress you try on, but I’ve always had a very good sense of my own style. I knew the moment I put on the Monique that this was THE one. I did, however, try on 5 more dresses just to make 100% sure. And, to make it official, Dianne (the stylist) took us out to where the show is filmed to shout out “YES” to the dress!!
PI: I know you’re a huge fan of the BCBG line by Max Azria. Did you know you wanted the bridesmaid dresses from BCBG?
BV: I did know that I wanted them from BCBG. I like their fit, and they represent how I feel about fashion. I had been looking for some months, and at one point considered looking elsewhere. Then one day, they suddenly appeared. Just like when I saw my dress, I knew that these would be perfect. I didn’t need to see more. All the girls, Chris, and our parents fell in love with them.
PI: So give us the details, Barette. Where and when?
BV: We are getting married on November 5, 2011, at Cabo Azul–a romantic resort that opens onto the beach. The color scheme for the wedding is pink and silver, and the menu is traditional Mexican.
PI: Chris, since you’re planning a destination wedding, what made you guys choose Cabo?
CW: To be honest, that’s what she wanted. She loves the area, and I wanted to get our marriage off on the right foot, so I just agreed!
Sounds like a successful beginning to me! (Inquiring minds might want to know, do you have any single brothers?)
Congratulations to Chris and Barette from all of their friends at PhillyIn!!
).
Looking back, I wish I had given myself a “good talking to”. “Listen little girl! Suck it up! If you do this now, life will be so much richer when you’re older!”
The scene was set for an enchanting wedding and reception at Nortre Dame. (Courtney and I joked that Reves de Fleurs might be “the honeymoon”.) This exhibit was so extravagant and romantic that, if I were getting married, I’d be tempted to order the whole display. Lucky for me, and for my checkbook, that day remains a distant glimmer. (Perhaps I could content myself with a “horticultural dream-catcher” for my “trousseau”.)
“Hey, that looks like you!” Courtney pointed out a curvy “shadow art” figure. (I’ve been known to occasionally make my own shadow art, dancing with my silhouette at G lounge.) Michael Bruce Florist: “Urban Graffiti Shadow Art” would win my “most interesting exhibit” award for 3 reasons. The “pre-shadow” figures looked nothing like the shadow they created. I found that particularly impressive. There was a “Go Green!” recycling theme to it. And, finally, it was pleasingly playful –The Can-Can dancer was, for instance, made out of, well, cans!
