Around the Square Summer Review 2017
WE’RE SOCIAL. Table of Contents
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President’s Welcome ...................................................................................... 1
Furry Friends Spotlight .................................................................................. 2
Friends of Rittenhouse Square Little Friends of Rittenhouse Square Young Friends of Rittenhouse Square
Keeping Your Pets Happy and Healthy in Rittenhouse Square ....... 4 19th Annual LFRS Festival .............................................................................. 6 Young Friends of Rittenhouse Ball on the Square ................................. 8
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Ball on the Square.............................................................................................10
Ball on the Square Patron Party .................................................................24
@littlefriendsofrittenhouse @rittenhouse_youngfriends
Upcoming Events ..............................................................................................29
Hashtags Donate Your Time The Friends are always looking for volunteers who can donate their time and energy to help Rittenhouse Square. Throughout the year, there are a variety of different projects that we could use extra help in the office. From general administrative work like invitation mailings to more crafty antler and holiday giveaway assembly – a few hours of your time could make a huge difference. We are also always looking for extra event staff! Please contact 267-586-5675 or info@friendsofrittenhouse.org to let us know if you are able to help.
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President’s Welcome Dear Friends:
As many of you are aware, Betsy Hummel has stepped down from her role as President of The Friends of Rittenhouse Square. Betsy ran our organization for seven years and her tireless efforts have made the organization and the park a stronger, more beautiful treasure for the city. I would like to thank Betsy for her many years of service and entrusting me with the role of incoming President. I am honored to serve our community and this historic landmark that we are fortunate enough to have in our neighborhood.
We had a busy start to the summer with our June fundraising events. Money raised from the June events will go to the continual maintenance of Rittenhouse Square. Thank you to our volunteers,
100th Year
ANNIVERSARY OF THE GOAT In June, 2018, the Friends of Rittenhouse Square will be celebrating a milestone anniversary for a cherished member of Rittenhouse Park. Billy the Goat has resided in Rittenhouse Square for 100 years! We are in the process of planning some special things to commemorate this historic event, but we need your help. Everybody most likely has a photo of the goat with someone dear to them. Start looking for those photos of your child, grandchild or even you as a child on the goat, family photos around the goat, etc. We’d like to try and incorporate some of these into what we are planning for the celebration. Please scan your precious goat photo and send to: info@friendsofrittenhouse.org.
event chairs and the committees for another successful year! If anyone has interest in getting involved in our fundraising events for 2018, please contact us as we welcome your ideas and help.
Our goal is to make the Square an enjoyable place for all Philadelphians. I look forward to helping in our mission to preserve, protect, and beautify the park.
Renée Dubyk President, Friends of Rittenhouse Square
State of the Square The Friends are working with City officials, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, the police, community organizations and several key individuals to resolve the Park issues that have escalated over the summer including the homeless population, drug use and smoking ban. A full update will be presented at the Membership meeting on November 15th. A current membership is required to attend the meeting.
Our Mission The mission of the Friends of Rittenhouse Square is to preserve, protect and beautify Rittenhouse Square. Rittenhouse Square is part of the Fairmount Park System, operated in partnership with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.
Meet Barclay Clark FURRY FRIENDS SPOTLIGHT
Breed: Terrier mix. I am a rescue pup so we aren’t entirely sure. Age: Almost 2.5 years old Place of Birth: I was born in Compton, California and raised in Rittenhouse Favorite Food: NY Strip Steak from Barclay Prime Favorite Rittenhouse Square Activity: Chasing squirrels and birds and checking out the other dogs! Favorite Hobbies: Sunbathing, playing with all my toys and lounging in bed. Best Friends: My best canine friend is my cousin Piper, a Pitbull Coonhound mix. As for humans, I love my family and all the doormen at The Barclay, especially Yosef who always gives me treats! Favorite Spot to Nap: My “pita” bed or perched on the top of any sofa.
About Furry Friends The Furry Friends of Rittenhouse Square are the pet members of The Friends. Your pet can join at www.friendsofrittenhouse.org or by calling 267-586-5675. In each edition of the newsletter, one of our Furry Friend members will be featured. If you would like to have your pet considered for inclusion join today or if they are already a Furry Friend, email us at info@friendsofrittenhouse.org.
TO BUILD A SQUARE, GROW A CIRCLE.
We’re proud to be part of the circle of friends who’ve lovingly supported the most beautiful Square on earth. Thank you, Friends. Richard J. Green Chairman and C.E.O.
Member FDIC
Timothy J. Abell President
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Keeping Your Pets Happy and Healthy in Rittenhouse Square
Kenneth J. Drobatz, DVM, MSCE, DAVCIM, DACVECC, Director of Emergency Services, at Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital Summer is in full swing bringing many outdoor activities for both owners and their pets. But as with most things good, there are always some things to be aware of and careful about. Summer means getting outdoors on walks or in dog parks and interacting with other dogs. Although many dogs are friendly, others get nervous in new situations. Always keep your dog on a leash while in the park, and ask your fellow park goers for permission prior to introducing your dog to theirs to prevent any surprising altercations. Getting outdoors also allows our pets to interact with other species. Rabies is a concern in Pennsylvania so please keep your dog up to date on vaccines and keep them from interacting with wildlife, especially skunks (let alone the skunk’s capability to instill a tenacious and powerful odor on your pet!). The streets around Rittenhouse Square are very busy. Dogs should always be kept on a leash and watched closely to prevent them from excitedly running into the street. Like people, some dogs react strongly to insect bites and bee stings. Sometimes these stings can result in swelling of that area or of the face. In severe instances, these reactions can become uncomfortable or cause difficulty breathing, elevating the situation to a medical emergency. Summer heat and humidity can make it difficult for our pets to keep cool, especially with their furry coats. This is especially true for short faced dogs such as Bulldogs, Pugs, and others. When dangerously overheated, our pets can suffer from heat stroke, which can be life threatening if not treated immediately. In extreme temperatures, strenuous outdoor activity should be limited, and there should always be a ready water source and well-ventilated shady areas made available to help cool down your pet. Similarly, do NOT leave your pets in cars on hot days or even moderately warm days. The temperature within a car can skyrocket within minutes and can rapidly overheat your pet to dangerous and life-threatening levels. Even leaving the windows open “just a crack” is NOT enough to prevent a very high temperature from developing within the automobile. Be careful having your pet walk on hot concrete or blacktop. Sometimes these surfaces get so hot they can burn your pet’s feet! Don’t let parasites and infectious disease put a damper on your summer! As the number of dogs visiting the park increases, so does your dog’s risk of exposure to various illnesses. Keeping your pet up to date with vaccinations and monthly parasite preventatives can help prevent viruses and infectious diseases such as parvovirus and Lyme disease. Additionally, some of these ticks can infect people with certain diseases, such as Lyme disease. Many people bring food or snacks to the park that shouldn’t be fed to your pet. Keep a watchful eye on your animals to help prevent them from eating harmful discarded food or food unknowingly offered to them as a treat. Additionally, don’t allow your pet to be around, lick, or ingest carcasses from wildlife that have died. Certain bacteria found in these tissues can cause significant illness in your pet if ingested. Summer is a time for fun and enjoyment for both you and your pet. As always, use common sense when having your pet outside. Enjoy the park this season! And remember, if you have any concerns about your pet, call your veterinarian or Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital. Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital • 3900 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 Appointments: 215-746-8387; Emergencies: 215-746-8911 www.vet.upenn.edu
WE SPEAK BELLA WE ALSO SPEAK EMERGENCY & CRITICAL CARE The region’s only Level I Facility AND recognized Veterinary Trauma Center
Ryan Hospital | 3900 Spruce St. | 215.746.8911 | www.vet.upenn.edu
2017 LITTLE FRIENDS FESTIVAL
On June 14th, over 600 Little Friends and family members descended on the park for an afternoon of fun. Complete with a fantastic DJ, face painters, balloon tiers, obstacle courses, rides, information stands, and a bevy of wonderful food and drink provided by local shops, this year’s Little Friends Festival was an unmitigated success! Special thanks to Republic Bank for providing this year’s t-shirts and to all of those who helped organize and devoted their time to the Little Friends Festival, as well as the businesses that provided sponsorships and refreshments for scores of Little Friends. Our sincerest thanks go out to our hard-working and tireless festival co-chairs, Susanna Brown, Arielle Kerstein, Margaux Pelegrin, Jennifer Toll Schulman. All of us here at The Friends of Rittenhouse Square look forward to next year’s Festival with great anticipation!
PRESENTED BY THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Thank you to our sponsors: BILLY GOAT SPONSORS Cole & Grant Brown Andrew, Ben & Jacob Schulman Allan Domb Real Estate In Memory of Betty Elgart Aster The Baldwin School Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach Realtors Friends Select School Germantown Friends School The Philadelphia School Pine Forest Camp, Camp Timber Tops & Lake Owego Camp Primrose School of Center City Philadelphia Republic Bank Springside Chestnut Hill Academy Savino Thorne William Penn Charter FROLICKING FROG SPONSORS Ari “City” Block & Ezra “City” Block Community Partnership Schools The Nazarian Family Colin & Ben Pelegrin Nicholas & Jason Robbins Nate & Harry Shapiro
LION’S BED SPONSORSHIP Advocare Society Hill Pediatrics Cobblestone Kids Pediatric Dentistry CREATE at Sue’s Art Class Studio Jack, Max & Ike Grodin and Oliver & Emma Freedman Eli & Maya Kerstein Alana & Noah Laver Music Theatre Philly NEST Center City Olde City Day School Primp & Play Tall Pines Day Camp CHEERFUL CHERUB SPONSORS Family of Star C. Foster Toba & Lawrence Kerson COMMUNITY PARTNERS All Entertainment &pizza Ben & Jerry’s Burns’ Family Fresh Grocer CBS 3 D’Angelo’s Ristorante Italiano Family Fun Entertainment
Festival Foods HipCityVeg Insomnia Cookies Joe’s Pizza The Lara & Joe Show Lil’ Pop Shop MacGuffin Theatre & Film Company Mac Mart Metropolitan Bakery Norma Michaels Entertainment Philadelphia Ethical Society Randazzo’s Pizzeria The Rittenhouse Rittenhouse Market Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Association Schlesinger’s Restaurant & Delicatessen Shake Shack Slice Snap Custom Pizza Temple Beth Zion – Beth Israel
This year The Young Friends Ball on The Square was held at the preeminent Stotesbury Mansion on Walnut Street, playing host to 200 young friends for an evening of food, drinks, dancing and a silent auction. Our Young Friends then joined guests at The Ball on The Square to dance the evening away in style. The success of this event can be credited to our Young Friends Ball Co-Chairs: Peter Dilsheimer, Courtney Katz, Cory Siegfried, and John Ventura, who spearheaded the event. The Co-Chairs and committee members were hard at work to ensure this year’s Young Friends Ball was not only a sold out event but it was an even bigger success than previous years. We would like to give a special thank you to our sponsors who have helped make this year’s Ball one to remember.
Thank you to our 2017 Sponsors: 1919 Market Eberlein Design Consultants Fox Rothschild Fox School of Business
Friends Hospital Jay Butler Linda Lightman Peroni Nasturo Azzurro
PNC Wealth Management Pub & Kitchen Pure Fare Rittenhouse Realty Advisors
2017 Ball on the Square On the evening of Thursday, June 15, 2017, the Friends celebrated the Annual Ball on The Square. The funds raised from the Ball will be instrumental in funding the on-going care needed to maintain the beauty and integrity of Rittenhouse Square. The 2017 co-chairs Robyn Lewison and Faith Weiss did an extraordinary job and raised over $380,000! The Pre-Ball Champagne Reception took place once again at The Rittenhouse and there were 500 in attendance on a gorgeous summer night. Brian Kappra and the team at Evantine Design created an electric yet elegant aesthetic. Guests enjoyed a menu from STARR Events which included a crab verde salad, roasted beef tenderloin accompanied by pressed potatoes and a dessert duo of buttermilk panna cotta and chocolate cremeux. Attendees danced into the night to the sounds of the Eddie Bruce Orchestra. Mark your calendars for next year’s Ball on The Square on Thursday, June 21, 2018. Make sure to renew your membership by March to receive your invitation.
Preservationist Sponsor: The Governor’s Woods Foundation Ball Cocktail Reception Sponsor: Firstrust Bank Entertainment Sponsor: Hilarie & Mitchell Morgan Platinum Sponsors: 1911 Walnut on Rittenhouse Square Allan Domb Real Estate Anapol Weiss Cissy & Eugene Block BOYDS PHILADELPHIA deme & Jefferson Plastic Surgery The Glenmede Trust Company, N.A. Neiman Marcus The Rittenhouse TD Wealth Steve & Sabrina Thorne Program Book Sponsor: Joanne & Donnie Davidow Invitation Sponsor: Elaine Levitt Gold Sponsors: Dean S. Adler & Susanna Lachs Adler AKA Hotel Residences Clemens Construction Company, Inc. James G. Fulton, Jr. & Eric B. Rymshaw Mary Genovese-Colvin & Margaux Pelegrin Amy & Bill Green Freeman’s The Honickman Family: Lynne, Harold, Margie, Jeff The Hummel Family: Dennis, Betsy & Holden Levy Baldante Finney & Rubenstein, P.C. Robyn Lewison & Walter Bailey Susan Martinelli Shea Mark R. Nicoletti, Sr. West Capital Management & WSFS Wealth Silver Sponsors: Alterra Property Group BB&T Wealth Management Leslie & Marc Benner Sharyn Berman & Chuck Meyers
Joanne M. Berwind Janice & Arthur Birenbaum Amanda Burden, MD & Guy Aiman D’Angelo’s Ristorante Italiano Jody Dimitruk & Johanna Loke: Berkshire Hathaway Renée Dubyk & Allen Tucci Barbara Eberlein, Eberlein Design Consultants Ltd & Eberlein Classic Homes Dr. & Mrs. John Eshleman Fineman Krekstein & Harris, P.C. Firstservice Residential Rosalie & Harvey Goldberg Golomb & Honik, P.C. Nancy & Ben Heinzen Dave Kietrys & Jack Edler Karen Knudsen & Brian Costello LAGOS Linda & Fred Lightman Leslie & Maurice Mitts Mary Parenti & Rich Castor Rachel & John Paz Wendy & Paul Rosen David A. Schwartz & Jim Miller Irene & Fred Shabel Joseph Weiss & Sharon Pinkenson West Laurel Hill Justin B. Wineburgh, Esq. and Rachel Gardner Sill Randi Zemsky & Bob Lane Joseph S. and Renee M. Zuritsky Bronze Sponsors: The Bronzed Bee Barbara Brown-Ruttenberg Kristen Foote Irina Sigal Dressmaker Artur Kirsh Fran & Leon L. Levy Kate & Sam Sidewater Media Partner: CBS 3 Event Partners: Cuisine by Starr Events Décor by Evantine Design Music by Eddie Bruce Orchestra Public Relations by Cashman & Associates Special Thanks to: Philadelphia Parks & Recreation
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Ball on the Square PATRON PARTY This year’s Ball on the Square Patron Party, a special evening for sponsors and patron level ticket purchasers, was held on May 31 and was sponsored by The Glenmede Trust Company and Allan Domb Real Estate. Guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres throughout the evening along with a beautifully executed silent auction. The Patron Party also served as a chance for guests to purchase treasure chest keys to win a Breitling watch donated by Govberg Jewelers or make a $250 pledge towards a new azalea bush. The evening raised an additional $25,000 towards the beautification of the Square.
THANK YOU TO OUR PATRON PARTY AUCTION DONORS: Audrey Claire Barneys New York Foundation Blue Mercury Comcast-Spectacor Fringe Arts Festival Govberg Jewelers Henry Davidsen LAGOS Le Chéri The Logan MJS Restaurants Mütter Museum Philadelphia Orchestra Pure Design The Prime Rib Rouge Spa Riva STARR Catering Group STARR Restaurants SUGA The Bronzed Bee The Philly Pops Twenty Manning Grill Urban Farmer
Thank you to our 2017 Ball on The Square Committee Co-Chairs Robyn Lewison & Faith Weiss
Event Committee Deborah Baird Claudia Balderston Sharyn Berman Janice Birenbaum Cissy Block Barbara Brown-Ruttenberg Amanda Burden Nicole A. Cashman RenĂŠe Dubyk Barbara Eberlein Kristen Foote Amy Green
Nancy Heinzen Margie Honickman Betsy Hummel Linda E. Johnson Brian Kappra David Kietrys Laura LaRosa Linda Lightman Hilarie Morgan Mary Parenti Lisa Popowich Dana Rosen
Joy Sardinsky David Schwartz Irene Shabel Carole Shanis Lynn Shecter Kate Sidewater Ashley Skinner Sabrina Thorne Richard Vague Jackie Whyte Randi Zemsky
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CO-CHAIRS Tony Forte & Ryan Hummel • Dr. Larry Kaiser & Lindy Snider David & Susan Lipson • Jesse & Beka Rendell
Upcoming Events Fall 2017 Sep 15 - 17
Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show
Sep 16
18th Street Outdoor Cafe
Oct 13 - 15
Rittenhouse Square Craft Show
Oct 14
18th Street Outdoor Cafe
Nov 4
LOVE Your Park Volunteer Day
Nov 15
Membership Meeting
Nov 28
Holiday Lighting (Rain date November 30)
LOVE Your Park Day Volunteers are needed for the 2017 Fall Love Your Park Day on Saturday, November 4, to help plant daffodil and tulip bulbs in the park. Work starts at 9:00am by the Gardener’s Cottage and continues until 12:00pm (or when work is complete). Groups are welcome; please make sure children arrive with adequate supervision. If you would like to help, please contact info@friendsofrittenhouse.org to sign-up.
This event is weather permitting and may be cancelled due to rain or extreme temperatures.
Coming Soon: Mural Arts Monument Lab The Mural Arts Philadelphia is co-producing a nine-week citywide art and history installation called Monument Lab. The collected works of twenty local and international artists will be set up in Philadelphia’s parks, including Rittenhouse Square. Each of these temporary works will be accompanied by interactive pop-up “labs” used to spur on creative conversations led by youth research teams. Each site will feature a Saturday afternoon (1pm - 4pm) spotlight, displaying the works of local artists and neighborhood partners. The exhibits will be open to the public from September 16 – November 19. More details to follow.
For more information about Friends of Rittenhouse, please visit www.friendsofrittenhouse.org