Fall officially hit Philadelphia at 11:09 p. m. on Wednesday. Fall is the official start of what used to be called the social season, meaning parties, events and show openings. Well, Philadelphia had a head start this year, since we just finished a successful Restaurant Week and the incredible Fringe Festival. On Friday, Sept. 24, the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund holds its annual fundraiser, Heroes. This year they honor Mazzoni Center, Chris Bartlett and Whole Foods. Just a couple weeks away is the William Way LGBT Community Center main fundraiser of the year, Indigo Ball.
This year, Indigo takes a new theme, transforming the ballroom at the Doubletree Hotel into New Orleans. Guests are asked to come dressed as if they are heading to Mardi Gras. Rather than a sit-down dinner at assigned tables, it will be a dance party with food served throughout the night. It’s on Oct. 2. Get your tickets soon as they’re sure to sell out.
Last Monday night, entertainer Eddie Bruce gave a private preview for his friends of his latest show, “Once in a Lifetime: The Anthony Newley Songbook,” at the Cabaret at the Prince Music Theatre. Beforehand, all I knew of Newley was that he wrote a couple of Broadway shows, and I assumed I would know only three or four songs in the entire show. Delightfully, Bruce has created a show full of nuggets of music that all of America knows — but had no idea that it came from a single source, Newley. Imagine music from Willie Wonka to Goldfinger. It was a fun and captivating evening, with Eddy in great form and his vocals belting out of the theater. Eddie is a Philadelphia treasure and this private show was a rehearsal for his Sept. 26 opening at New York’s famed cabaret Feinstein’s at the Loews Regency.
Almost there — an entire column without one political note. Can I do it?
RSVP, the nation’s first gay cruise line, is about to celebrate its 25th anniversary with its first cruise to Hawaii. The cruise and anniversary have many special features. It’s on a great ship, NCL’s Pride of America, and it sails during Halloween. Imagine Halloween in Maui with 300 other gay vacationers. While there are many vacation companies out there that work inside the LGBT community, RSVP was the first exclusively gay cruise line 25 years ago. Former CEO Charlie Rounds brought the idea of first-class vacations for the community and made it a reality. Happy 25th.
Mark Segal is PGN publisher. He is the nation’s most-award-winning commentator in LGBT media, having just received the 2010 Columnist of the Year Award from the 2,000-member Suburban Newspapers of America. He can be reached at [email protected].