Valanni
1229 Spruce Street Philadelphia, PA 19107

Start:   Thursday, January 19, 2012  6:00 PM
End:   Thursday, January 19, 2012  8:30 PM

On Thursday, January 19th, Valanni and the Morris Animal Refuge will be teaming up to promote the hottest, or shall we say, furriest event of the Spring: The 2012 Fur Ball. To prepare for the Fur Ball, the two Washington Square West neighbors will be hosting a pre-event happy hour.

RSVP for FUR BALL >>>

Philadelphia’s own Boyz II Men will finally get their due with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  The iconic R&B group (Wanya Morris, Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman)  will be honored with the first star of 2012, and will be placed near legendary Motown artists like Stevie Wonder and The Supremes.

Boyz II Men was formed in 1988 and  have won four Grammys and sold over 60 million recordings.

“I’ll Make Love to You” and “One Sweet Day” (with Mariah Carey), each exceeded records for the longest period of time a single remained at number 1.

Their achievements were enough to earn Boyz II Men recognition as Billboard Magazine‘s most successful musical group of the 1990s

The unveiling ceremony will take place on Jan. 5, 2012!

If you have been around the stadiums lately, you may have noticed some new construction taking place. The new home of Xfinity Live! is well on its way, bring the best of sports and entertainment right to South Philly.

Comcast, The Cordish Companies and NBCUniversal, are bringing together state of the art experiences including: outdoor viewing experience, an colossal indoor 32-foot million dollar SONY LED screen: an NBC Sports Field (A 300-foot artificial turf field): NBC Fantasy Board and NBC Sports Game Experience within the Broad Street Bullies Pub.

In case that doesn’t fancy you, the newly released details for the $60 million first phase include The Original Philadelphia Cheesesteak Co.,Chickie’s & Pete’s, Nick’s Roast Beef, The Spectrum Grille, Broad Street Bullies Pub, PBR Bar and Grill, and Victory Beer Hall.

Not too shabby, huh?

Parking will not be a nightmarish experience that often comes with large scale venues. All together there will be 20,000 for guest. On non-event days parking will be free. During events, parking will be free one hour after the start of the event.

Hiring will be taking place within the next few weeks with a job fair taking place at the Wells Fargo Center. They are looking to employee up to 720 employees.

Beyond the entertainment and dining purposes, it represents a smart economic growth opportunity for Philadelphia.  It will be interesting to see how the notoriously passionate fans of Philly respond to this venue. This progressive and high-tech fan experience is tentatively scheduled for a  April 5^th 2012 opening.

Philadelphia Style Magazine Holiday cover party was certainly a swanky event last night. Melania Trump made an appearance as the host for the party. She graces the December 2012 cover debuting her sixth line of her “Melania® Timepieces & Fashion Jewelry” collection. I am sure she has done the Donald Proud and quite frankly, she is even more stunning in person.

Melania Trump, the 41 year old knock out in a U-neck cut dress with slightly flared skirt.

Photo from simplecelebrity.net

Guest enjoyed this chic event at the Ritz Carlton, tasty Holiday cocktails provided by Pernod Ricard, as well as hors d’oeuvres by 10 Arts Bistro & Lounge. Some of the other red carpet guest included Mayor Michael Nutter and NBC10’s John Clark.

Photo Information:

{The all about Philly team enjoying the night.}

{All about Philly with NBC10’s John Clark.}

{The guest enjoying drinks and hors d’oeuvres.}

{All about Philly with Mayor Nutter}

Philadelphia is encouraging to keep budding fashion designers right here in the city of brotherly love. The brand new fashion initiative is known as The Philadelphia Fashion Incubator located within Macy’s in Center City.

The program provides aspiring designers the vital tools and business resources to grow their own fashion company. An ecosystem to nurture young talent that could help evolve Philadelphia as a high fashion city.  During the press conference this Tuesday morning, Mayor Michael Nutter showed his support and passion for the program.

“We want to encourage that kind of success…encourage the young entrepreneurs to continue their work, to grow and thrive. Philly is fashion.” Said Mayor Nutter

The mayor continued to invite every business to support with funding and donations. Some of the current supporters include Macys, City of Philadelphia, TD Bank and MOORE College of Art and Design.

Pictured her taking a tour of the Incubator is Kerry Scott and Kevin Parker of Philly Fashion week. “We are excited to see the evolution of the growth of the fashion scene. It’s going to put Philly on the map.” Said Parker

Only a limited tickets are available to make sure it is not too crowded you cannot get beer samples – do not wait to buy them as they are sure to sell out in advance.

VIP Tickets Include: (3pm – 8pm)

• Extended 2-hour VIP pre-party from 3:00-5:00pm
• Breakout sessions featuring seasonal beers paired with food/desserts. Provided by Rolling Barrel and GiGi  Find out what pairs best with pumpkin beers, stouts, and holiday ales – then sample for yourself!
• First-Taste on all the different beers of the festival
• A cool custom tasting glass – yours to keep

General Admission Tickets Include:  (5pm – 8pm)

• Beer samples from multiple craft breweries
• A custom tasting glass to keep
• Light food buffets Provided by GiGi
• Live Music

Tickets are just $30 (early bird until 11/4), $35 (after 11/4) for General Admission and $40 (early bird until 11/4), $45 (after 11/4 or at the door, if not sold out).  Tickets are available for purchase on this website only.  Tickets will only be available at the door ONLY if the event is not sold out.  We recommend purchasing advance to save money and assure that you can get a ticket.  Last year, tickets sold out in advance.

Be sure to tell your friends.  It is going to be a great time!

For Information and Tickets Click Here!

Parx Got Talent show is open to the public with free admission. Guests must be 21 years and older for admission into the casino and all shows.

PENNSYLVANIA – Wednesday, August 24, 2011 – Parx Casino®, 2999 Street Road in Bensalem, PA, announces the first season of the new live talent competition series

Parx Got Talent!

Debuting on Thursday, September 8th at 7pm in 360 – Parx Got Talent will be the hottest talent competition for contestants to perform on stage in front of a live audience. Participants will have the chance to win over $7500 in cash prizes. For 10 weeks, pre-registered contestants will sing, dance, juggle…you name it…live on stage at 360 and the top 2 finalists each week will move on the finale show on Thursday, November 17th.

Parx Casino® is one of the most exciting entertainment destinations in the region featuring free concerts, live bands, hot DJs, celebrity appearances and now you! Register online at parxcasino.com/pgt and get ready to become a star at Parx! All contestants must be 21 years or older – complete rules and regulations listed on the website.

Parx Got Talent show is open to the public with free admission. Guests must be 21 years and older for admission into the casino and all shows. For additional information on Parx Casino® please contact Carrie Nork Minelli, 215.801.9389 (m), cnorkminelli@parxcasino.com

Fashion-savvy local shoppers celebrated new additions to the 611 Lifestyle’s LUXE LIFE men’s line at Matthew Izzo. Shoppers sipped signature 611 Lifestyle cocktails as they shopped for new spring and summer men’s apparel during this special one-day-only sale.

About The 611 Lifestyle:
An epicenter of the DJ lifestyle and dance music culture from 1993 to 2007, 611 Record maintained a following long after its doors closed with the 611 Lifestyle collection of clothing and accessories. Created by 611 Records founder DJ Nigel Richards, the 611 Lifestyle embraces the mantra that all beings are granted only one life – it should be lived to the fullest.

The 611 Lifestyle is comprised of two clothing and accessories collections – DJ LIFE and LUXE LIFE. The DJ LIFE collection is inspired by the original designs that 611 Records carried in its store such as simple, bold t-shirts with phrases like, “I Love the DJ.” DJ LIFE products also include record and laptop bags, jackets, and iPhone cases, all of which incorporate 611’s signature black and white logo. The LUXE LIFE collection features more sophisticated, high-end items for those who love the DJ life and have grown into adulthood, and anyone who appreciates a unique twist on classic men’s and women’s styling.

All DJ LIFE T-shirts are printed in Philadelphia, and all items within the LUXE LIFE collection are manufactured in Philadelphia and New York.

For more information about 611 Lifestyle please visit, www.611lifestyle.com.

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PHILADELPHIA (May 4, 2011) – Celebrating their ongoing commitment to the community, the Philadelphia Mural Arts Advocates are ecstatic to host the 2011 Wall Ball on Wednesday, June 1^st!  Funds raised at Wall Ball provide critical operating support to help the Mural Arts Program continue its work beautifying Philadelphia’s neighborhoods and serving its constituents.

“The Wall Ball not only gives us the chance to raise money and spread awareness for the Mural Arts Program, but is also a fantastic way to celebrate the arts in Philadelphia with the people who support us throughout the year,” says Wall Ball board member and event chair Margelle Liss. “We’re thrilled about our new location and are hoping to make this year the most successful Wall Ball yet!”

The evening will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m. for event sponsors at Northern Liberties newest hot spot, Tendenza. Sponsors will enjoy guest appearances and samplings by local celebrity chefs George Perrier and Marc Vetri. The main event will take place at The Piazza at Schmidts from 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. To wrap up the evening, Philadelphia Renaissance Operation for the Mural Arts (PRO Mural Arts) will co-host an after-party with Fourth Wall Arts Salon from 9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. to include cocktails, light hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment by renown DJ Grand Master Supreme, and dancing.

Wall Ball 2011 is generously presented by Citizens Bank. General “Guest” tickets can be purchased for $200 per person. “Patron” tickets can be purchased for $300 and include an advertisement in the program book. “Benefactor” tickets can be purchased for $500, and include access to the pre-event sponsor reception.  PRO Mural Arts after-party tickets can be purchased for $25 per person in advance, $35 at the door; Guest-level and above tickets include admittance to after-party.

To learn more about the 2011 Wall Ball and the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, please visit:  http://muralarts.org/event/wall-ball-2011. To purchase tickets visit: https://muralarts.org/shop or call 215.685.0759.

“My recent series of trips to Cuba reawakened my passion for sharing this culture with our guests, and as a result, we have created a variety of new ways to bring Cuban soul to the heart of Philadelphia,” says Chef Pernot.  “We’re targeting all five senses, with everything from beautiful photos from my visits to the island to an expanded menu with more traditional and nuevo items to special dinners with visiting chefs from Cuba.”

The restaurant itself will undergo changes inspired by Chef Pernot’s travels in Cuba, updating its signature decor and bringing fresh appeal to their soaring bi-level space, including brighter, more food-focused lighting and more authentic details such as new signage replicating Hemingway’s most famous Cuban haunts: La Bodeguita del Medio, where he enjoyed his favorite mojitos, and El Floridita, the creators of the daiquiri.  As part of the rejuvenation, and throughout their 10^th anniversary year, Chef Pernot will showcase vibrant photographs from his journeys to the forbidden island in the restaurant’s second floor dining room, La Galeria.

His journey will also be showcased via new items on the menu and a new style of service that includes offering  a greatly expanded first course selection of more than 25 of piqueos (small plates), ceviches, soups, and salads, which are served as soon as they are prepared.  “This friendly, interactive, small-plate dining style allows our guests to enjoy a wide variety of flavors and explore more of the new menu that we will serve in our brightened, bustling atmosphere,” says Chef Pernot.  “For entrees, we’ve added elevated versions of homey classics and nuevo interpretations such as fresh seafood, slow-roasted meats, tropical vegetables and plantains, bringing Cuba Libre back to its roots.”

Starting Wednesday, June 1 the new, inspired menu will be introduced and will include items such as:  Dorado a la Plancha, seared Mahi-Mahi with forbidden black rice and squid asopado with Mojito salsa verde and chipotle aioli; and a vegetarian option of Ravioles de Calabaza, roasted calabaza squash, goat and mascarpone cheese filled half moon raviolis with caramelized pearl onions, baby spinach, sherry vinegar reduction sauce and toasted pumpkin seeds.  There will also be an expanded Ceviche selection, with four new varieties including:  Callos con Pomelo, citrus-marinated sea scallops, grapefruit, avocado and blood orange-passion fruit sauce; and Carne de Cangrejo, jumbo lump Maryland crab meat, smoked cheddar cheese with tomatillos and candied peanut salsa.  The menu will also feature reformulations of Cuba Libre’s classics, influenced by Chef Pernot’s recent travels, such as Arroz con Pollo, chicken thighs and a crispy chicken leg croqueta with saffron short grain rice, wild mushrooms, green peas, Manzanilla olives, chorizo chips and asparagus salad; and Vaca Frita, tender braised and crisped, shredded flank steak, roasted onions and citrus-garlic sauce with white rice and Cuban black beans, a dish he created after his experiences in the home kitchen of Chef Angel Roque of Café del Oriente in Havana.

Cuba Libre’s famed Tropical Brunch, served on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., will also change.  The new menu, comprised exclusively of small plates, has been christened “Brunch Without Borders” – meaning that guests will have the option of ordering a la carte or paying a fixed price of $25 for unlimited dining.  New menu items include: One-Eyed Ropa Vieja Hash, shredded beef brisket stewed with tomatoes, bell peppers, and red wine on a hash of Yukon gold potatoes, boniato, maduros and corn, topped with a fried egg; Huevo Habanero, a poached egg in enchilada sauce with grilled white corn; and Medianoche de Salmón, Mojito-cured salmon and Boursin grilled sandwich with sweet grape tomatoes and pickled cucumber salad.

To pair with his menu updates, Chef Pernot has created culinary-inspired cocktails such as: Rhubarb and Guava Mojito; Passion Fruit Pisco Sour; and Papá Doble Daiquiri, a nod to the drink El Floridita created at the specifications of its most loyal patron, Ernest Hemingway, who earned the nickname Papá Doble across the island for his affection for a strong drink.  Cuba Libre’s Papá Doble, made with rum, Luxardo Maraschino liqueur, red grapefruit juice and muddled limes served over crushed ice, features the newest of Cuba Libre’s seven signature rums, Bacardi Solera Cuba Libre 10^th Anniversary.

Bacardi Solera Cuba Libre 10^th Anniversary Rum is a celebration of Cuba Libre’s tenure in and devotion to Philadelphia.  With a beautiful mahogany and amber color with spice hints of vanilla, toasted caramel, cinnamon and nutmeg, the rum is the latest addition to a series of seven noteworthy rums that Cuba Libre has specially labeled as their own.

In 2006, Chef Pernot came to Cuba Libre in search of a place to expand his repertoire after his restaurant, the critically acclaimed ¡Pasión! closed.  Credited for introducing nuevo latino cuisine to Philadelphia, he helped take the Cuba Libre concept beyond the local markets to Orlando, FL and Washington D.C.  Chef Pernot has received many accolades including being named one of Food & Wine’s “Best New Chefs” in 1998 and Esquire’s “Chef of the Year” in 1999.

Chef Pernot, also a two-time James Beard Award-winning chef and author, has been hard at work on his second cookbook, which will document the evolution of Cuban cuisine.  Featuring popular dishes from the restaurant alongside contemporary plates, the cookbook will serve as an interesting and engaging way for guests to bring their experience at Cuba Libre home or share it as a gift.

In the fall, Chef Pernot will invite some of Cuba’s finest chefs to participate in a collaborative cooking series, many of whom will be leaving Cuba for the first time.  Together, the chefs will prepare dishes, showing their history and significance within Cuban culture.  Once tradition is honored, creativity will flow when chefs draw inspiration from the ingredients that surround them – ingredients that may be unavailable to them in Cuba – to cook up new, exciting flavor combinations that will surprise and delight the palate.  These dinners, named “Pop-up Paladares”, will reunite Chef Pernot with the chefs who so graciously hosted him in their own paladares, Cuba’s popular restaurants set inside a chef’s own home.  These paladares were one of the first opportunities for private enterprise allowed by the Castro-era Cuban government.  More information on these special meals will be available as they get closer; they are expected to begin in the fall.

“On my trips, the places where I felt the most connected to the land and people were at paladares,” says Chef Pernot.  “These meals really brought to life the re-emergence of Cuba’s culinary creativity and the welcoming spirit of the culture which showed me the true meaning of hospitality.  I want to return the generosity I was shown and also share my experience with our guests at Cuba Libre.”

Finally, guests whose appetites have been whet by the anniversary festivities can join Chef Pernot on a culinary and cultural tour of Cuba, which he will lead in fall 2011. Drawing on his extensive travels there, he will create a custom itinerary that includes his favorite restaurants and paladares.  These trips are open to patrons of Cuba Libre outposts in Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Atlantic City and Orlando and anyone who wishes to be a part of the experience.

To carry out their vision, Chef Pernot, Gutin and Cohen have assembled a new team.  Executive Chef Jasper Alivia, who previously worked as Executive Sous Chef at Cuba Libre Philadelphia and as Sous Chef to Chef Peter Hoffman at Savoy, one of the first farm-to-table restaurants in New York City, returns to the restaurant with culinary experiences that will be invaluable in carrying out the reformulated menu.  General Manager James Jackson, a 2002 graduate of The Restaurant School with a degree in Restaurant Management, has held positions with Starr Restaurant Organization and Chef Roy Yamaguchi of Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine.  He became Managing Partner of Roy’s, a position that groomed him for his new role at Cuba Libre.  Director of Sales and Local Marketing Hannah Yoffa was the Global Event and Meeting Planner at Harith Productions before joining Cuba Libre.  Her interpersonal skills and interest in global cuisine make Yoffa a natural addition to the group.

Gutin and Cohen are the founders and principals of GuestCounts Hospitality, Philadelphia’s premier restaurant, catering and nightlife organization, featuring top chef talent and a variety of dazzling venues.  In addition to their catering division led by Chef-Partner Jean-Marie Lacroix, which includes Culinary Concepts, Max & Me Catering and Gourmetro Catering, the group owns and operates Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar, with locations in Orlando, Washington D.C., Atlantic City and Philadelphia and 32˚ Luxe Lounge, a high energy “ultra-lounge” specializing in European bottle service with locations in Philadelphia and Atlantic City.

Cuba Libre started as a vibrant window into a distant culture in Philadelphia’s Old City 10 years ago.  Today, their four locations in Philadelphia, Atlantic City, NJ, Orlando, FL and Washington, DC are transportive restaurants whose decor and menu evoke the forbidden pleasures of Cuba.  Cuba Libre Philadelphia serves lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.  Brunch Without Borders is served from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.  Dinner is served Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. until 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 3 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 3 p.m. until 10 p.m.

For more information about their year-long 10^th anniversary celebration, or to make a reservation, please visit www.CubaLibreRestaurant.com or call the restaurant directly at (215) 627-0666.