|
|
|
ICE CUBES: From hallowed hall to party ball
I spent Saturday night on Broad Street, bouncing between the 155th anniversary of the Academy Ball and Concert at the Academy of Music and Jerry Blavat's tenth anniversary of performing at the Kimmel Center.
ICE CUBES: From hallowed hall to party ball
I spent Saturday night on Broad Street, bouncing between the 155th anniversary of the Academy Ball and Concert at the Academy of Music and Jerry Blavat’s tenth anniversary of performing at the Kimmel Center.
It was, as always, fascinating to see the transformation of the Academy from hallowed hall to party ball. This year, rather than make partygoers leave after the concert, the Ball was extended until 1 a.m. They lowered the grand old chandelier in the main room, turned the orchestra’s rehearsal hall at the Academy House into a dark makeshift disco and let her rip. Yo-Yo Ma, Diana Krall, David Morse, and Yannick Nézet-Séguin were there, but the performers almost seemed secondary to the party itself. Before the Ball, there were smaller fêtes, like the one at R2L for the Young Friends of the Academy Ball, as well as the Pre-Party Reception for the Academy Ball, hosted at Tiffany & Co. and held by The Central Committee for The Philadelphia Orchestra. The latter event is the one where guests were invited to purchase one or more Tiffany Crystal Atlas Bowls for $200 each, with one winning Bowl holding a Tiffany diamond pendant (Dr. Janice Gordon won that joint)
Down the street, there was another snazzy jazzy dressy party going on — one where Geator/author Blavat held court on the stage of the Kimmel with assorted staged guests like Ben E. King, Shirley Alston Reeves, Chris Montez, Lenny Welch, Darlene Love and Philly’s The Trammps spinning musical solid gold. Blavat had more costume changes than Lady Gaga and wound up a participant in each and every act’s routine. Afterward, just like the Academy did by continuing its Ball after the Concert, Blavat kept the party going at the Kimmel’s Tier 1 spot and held court for all the performers, as well as the likes of Philly legal eagle Nino Tinari and radio jock Pierre Robert. Much red wine was had.
(a_amorosi@citypaper.net) (@ADAmorosi)
- Activism
- Arts
- Arts Events
- Books
- Dance
- First Person Fest
- Last Chance
- Museum
- On the Fringe
- Philly Artists
- The Curator
- Theater
- Visual Art
- Arts News
- Artist Profile
- Arts Preview
- Street Art
- Been There, Done That
- Big Ups
- Comedy
- LOL With It
- Stand-up
- Critical Mass
- DVD
- Events
- Friday Fill-in
- Ice Cubes
- In Memoriam
- Interview
- Just Do It
- Just Opened
- Kaleidoscopic
- LGBTQ
- Art Phag
- Mailbag
- Movies
- Film Fest
- Movie Review
- On set
- Scenester
- screening
- trailer!
- Music
- 10 Track Mind
- Album
- Album Review
- Concert Review
- DJs
- Local Support
- Now Hear This
- One Track Mind
- Philly Bands
- Show
- Somebody Else Was There
- Song
- The Showdown
- concert photos
- jazz
- DJ Nights Blogged
- Night Watch
- Now See This
- Poetic License
- Printed Matter
- Radio
- Shopping
- Coveted
- Fashion
- What We Heart
- TV
- 24
- Idol Hands
- Mad Men
- ProjRun
- True Blood
- Useless Lost Recaps
- Couch Potato
- Shore Trash
- Turned ONN
- TopMod
- Video Games
- Free Online Game
- PSP
- PlayStation 2
- The 1-Upper
- Wii
- Web Junk
- CAGE MATCH
- Free Online Toy
- Weekend Omnibus
- Win
