So you wanna see Philebrities, huh? Writing Dirt gives a boy some perspective on what constitutes a celebrity, and let me be the first to break your heart: They don’t come to Philadelphia.
Unless you’re Elton John. Chances are when the big names roll through town, heavy promotion precedes them. If not, heavy coverage follows when they do happen upon our hamlet.
For those ambitious few of you who wish to learn about the city’s movers and shakers, here’s a good guide to finding them.
Stephen Starr rules the roost: Momentous press coverage, impeccable design and haute cuisine act as glue to the city’s social scene. On any given night you might find the “money nobodies” at any Starr restaurant.
Sports execs from the likes of the Sixers and the Eagles prefer sleek sushi from Morimoto. The TV kids love Jones, once a nest to the Real World producers and crew. Buddakan is largely a tourist flock, kids. Sorry for all you Asian-Caesar lovers.
Nightlife Denizens: The Philadelphia club scene may have died long ago, but there’s a hell of a wake still going on. Here’s a tip for you rave children who want to huddle near your promoter’s cool flame: They all live on or near South Street. Local 13 kingpin Demetrious Pousatis and PR diva/girlfriend/glamour-puss Shannon Niland regularly haunt The Latest Dish and Swanky Bubbles to unwind from their Callowhill-area bashes.
Snap: If you only track the talked-about to become one yourself, you may as well follow the cameras, darling. For example, Philadelphia Style is likely to be at any Nicole Cashman party.
Philth magazine, too, throws monthly events and devotes heavy coverage to them in print.
There’s Bar Noir, of course, with sometimes DJ A.D. Amorosi who conveniently writes “Icepack” for City Paper. Make a good enough impression and perhaps he’ll give you a shout out in his weekly gossip column.
Old School: The media elite are picky with their haunts. Some of them plop down in ungodly places like Houlihan’s near the studios on the Main Line.
The more selective pound cocktails at The Palm, boasting locals like Mark Segal (Philadelphia Gay News publisher), politicos (Sen. Vince Fumo) and even TV news legends like Walter Cronkite.
Matt Donnelly can be reached at matthew.donnelly@temple.edu.
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