HughE Dillon: The Phillies Become Waiters For a Night
Last night at Morton’s steakhouse in Center City, Philadelphia Phillie Ryan Howard and teammates traded in their uniforms for aprons and acted as waiters, all for a great cause as proceeds from the $250-a-ticket event went to benefit The Ryan Howard Family Foundation.
The event started off with a silent auction, and ended with a live auction emceed by Scott Palmer. Guests also enjoyed appetizers, dinner and dessert served by their favorite Phillies.
ABOVE: Cassie, Molly and Kathy Gilkin with “waiter” JA Happ. Other Phillies serving that night included Chase Utley, Shane Victorino, Cole Hamels, Raul Ibanez, Kyle Kendrick, Placido Polanco, Ryan Madson, Jamie Moyer, Jose Contreras, and Ben Francisco.
Although most things went smoothly, I did catch a few players in the weeds. But as they were being shadowed by professionals things would get back to normal fairly quickly.
ABOVE: Kate Wilhelm, executive director at Fairmount Park Conservancy, Chris Chimicles, Kevin Boyle, and Ray Pennacchia, of Novacare. The Ryan Howard Foundation is funding a ballfield project that the Fairmount Park Conservancy is spearheading in the Hunting Park section of Philadelphia.
Mayor Nutter stopped by. Here, he greets longtime Phillies fan Eva D’Alfonso and her family.
Cole Hamels and all the players were more than happy to pose with fans young and old. ABOVE: Avery Carter, Juliette Gabriel, Megan McCafferty, Matthew Gaberial, Elizabeth Carter and Timmy Carter.
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Shane Victorino with fans Grant and Blake Sokol. Their mom Beth Sokol takes a picture.
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What is Colette Gabriel saying to Chase Utley?
She’s telling him that it’s her house in Haddonfield that everyone mistakes for his. Readers of my blog PhillyChitChat know that I receive a lot of inquiries on whether Chase Utley and his wife Jen Utley live in that big house on Kings Highway. I found out in the spring who lived there, and mentioned it on PhillyChitChat.com. Last night when I saw that both Colette and Chase were at the same event I did the introductions. Colette told Chase that sometimes people knock on her door asking for Chase. They once caught someone snooping around in their garage, and she has several boxes of Phillies memorabilia, lots of hats, and letters from fans who love him … and some who hate him too!
ABOVE: Colette Gabriel, Chase Utley and Juliet Gabriel. Juliette just had an exciting weekend herself as she was Miss Night In Venice on Saturday night in Ocean City for the annual boat parade. (Colette’s arm is bandaged because at the celebration, she was cutting vegetables and the knife slipped and she ended up getting a few stitches!)